Hacks to help you keep your gadgets powered up on a holiday

There’s nothing quite like pulling your phone out to capture that surreal European sunset on your trip, only for the unfortunate dread of a low-battery notification to creep up on you. Suddenly, you’re in panic mode, fumbling to connect a power bank while watching that perfect Instagram moment fade away with your battery percentage.

But here’s the plot twist – this battery drama often has nothing to do with your charging habits. Temperature is the secret villain here, especially when you’re exploring mountain peaks or chilly destinations. And this power-draining conspiracy doesn’t just target your phone – it affects your entire tech entourage: smartwatches, cameras, e-readers, GPS gadgets, and anything else with a USB port and a heartbeat.

Keeping your devices powered up on your next trip

Before you learn how to conserve power, it’s always a good idea to ensure you’re packing right. Whether you’re journeying to the mountains, planning to lounge by the beach with a margarita or backpacking across countries, it is critical to pack light on your travels. Here’s what you should essentially have in your day bag.

Power banks: A no-brainer, right? But we’re here to move the obvious out of the way. Power banks are fundamental when it comes to long-distance travel. Even if you consider yourself careful, your device battery will, at some point, drain. A power bank ensures an intermediate source that can tackle unforeseen circumstances, and you can stay rest assured on your trip, as long as you remember to juice it up as well!

While a 10,000mAh power bank is sleeker, there’s a good chance you might have to power it up more frequently, based on your travelling style. Although slightly more bulky, a 20,000mAh power bank, such as the Croma 20,000mAh 22.5W Fast Charging Power Bank, can keep you covered for a day or two, at best.

Solar-powered power banks: This may seem a little out of the ordinary, but a solar-powered power bank is a great companion if you plan to spend your day in the great outdoors. If you’re someone who prefers to hike or backpack, you can make the most of these power banks by carrying them along on your day trips.

ALSO READ: Power banks: Everything you need to know

Of course, a lot of the time, its efficiency is dependent on weather conditions, but it’s more likely to have juice if you’re stuck without power in the middle of the day. That said, a solar-powered power bank is definitely a viable solution for those travellers who want to be environmentally sustainable and also save some bucks.

Spare batteries: While smartphones today come with built-in batteries, you can always rely on spare batteries for other gadgets that you’re carrying. For instance, you can always make sure you have spare, powered-up batteries for your camera, drone or a GoPro Hero.

There’s a good chance that you may not have a dedicated charging station at the end of your journey, especially if you’re travelling in extreme conditions. In these cases, having one or, at best, two spare batteries for your gadgets could be deemed helpful. Try not to go overboard so that the weight of your backpack remains under control.

Tips and tricks for your batteries to last longer on a vacation

Now that you have your checklist in place, here are the hacks you need to keep in mind:

Turn flight mode on and power saving mode whenever possible

Your phone is practically your digital Swiss Army knife on trips, handling everything from maps to photos to social media. When you’re not actively using it, flip on flight mode to prevent it from wasting precious juice hunting for networks in the middle of nowhere.

Your phone doesn’t know you’re off-grid and will drain itself trying to find service. Enabling power-saving mode is also a good way to put non-essential background processes into hibernation. For Instagram-worthy moments that you want to capture without distractions, aeroplane mode doubles as your “photography mode” – no calls or notifications to interrupt your perfect shot.

Carry the right charger and power cables

Using a random charger is like feeding gourmet food to your pet rock – pointless and potentially harmful. Mismatched chargers not only take forever to power up your device but can also secretly drain the battery faster afterwards.

ALSO READ: Best accessories every travel enthusiast must have

Pack those original chargers with the correct wattage – your devices will thank you with longer battery life. Invest in quality cables, and avoid bargain cords that might save you a few bucks now, but cost you precious vacation memories later!

Don’t turn your devices on/off frequently

Each startup is like your device running a full health checkup – impressive but extremely power-hungry. Modern gadgets are packed with more sensors than a sci-fi movie, all demanding power during startup. Instead of powering down completely between photo ops, use sleep or standby modes.

Think of it like keeping your car idling for quick trips rather than restarting the engine every time. This simple habit change can significantly extend your battery life throughout the day, giving you more time to capture those perfect moments.

Use the viewfinder instead of the LCD screen on your DSLR

That stunning LCD display on your camera is secretly the biggest power vampire you can think of. The viewfinder uses minimal power while giving you better framing in bright sunlight. Save LCD usage for video recording where you have no choice.

And, while you’re at it, don’t forget to disable those unnecessary shutter sounds and animations that can drain the battery during your exciting adventures. Many photographers don’t realise how much battery life they can save with this simple switch in shooting habits.

Keep a note of your device’s battery decline

Lastly, grab a pen and notebook to track which apps or settings are the real energy culprits on your trip. Check your battery usage stats to identify which activities are worth the power sacrifice. And, of course, keep devices away from sunbathing alongside you!

By monitoring patterns in your battery usage, you’ll develop a sixth sense for managing power that will serve you well on all future adventures.

With these tips in your kitty, you’re ready to capture every magical vacation moment without the dreaded battery anxiety. Now go make some memories – the fully charged way!