Chucks, modern technology, how we cant survive without it......what happened to the old orienteering thesus?.....has map reading gone out of the window ??...........I feel sorry for you

Hi DW you can buy solar mats or panels they aren't very big come with an assortment of ends,my sister brought hers off the internet for use when she was in the Arctic in April to charge her i pod said it was ok maybe worth a look she paid about £35 for her kit.
fl

Wish I could contribute but this is all over my head I'm afraid!

i have a charger that runs on good old fashion battiers to charge my mobile not sure about your GPS though (i got a blackberry) bought in the pound shop has dif attachments so you would have to check it fit your phone

Hi MM, I do use a paper map when walking but I like to use my GPS to record my tracks so when I get home I can see exactly where and how far I have walked. Its also a really good backup for when I'm on the moors and the mist comes down and visibility is at best 5 meters (I know I've been there). So no map reading hasn't gone out the window. As for my phone, I think its important to always take a fully charged phone with you, you never know when you may need it.

Hi FL, I've looked into the solar option but I think it will take too long to recharge the battery using a solar panel.

Hi Wiggy, I like your idea and will look in the shops for one.

Milvus don't worry its over my head as well.

how about those wind up chargers on the market,n this is no "wind up",
MM

Hi Snickers, The problem with charging from my car is that without the car ignition turned on the power outlets don't work and if I leave the ignition on but don't start the engine after 10min the ignition time out and automatically turns off. But I've been searching for power packs and I think I have found the answer at maplin.co.uk

http://www.maplin.co.uk/200w-portable-power-pack-225153

Hi DW. I bought an extended battery pack suitable for the GPS that you have, produced by memory map, quite easily available in good outdoor retail shops, I think it was about £20. No spec given on the packaging about how long it would extend usage time for etc. Hope this is of help. Allan

Hi 'Summit for a Weekday'. I've already got the extra battery pack for my memory map GPS. With both the GPS and the extra battery pack fully charged I get about 9 hours which isn't long enough for a full week of walking. I'm going to buy the power pack from maplin.co.uk hopefully it will last the week.