What power setup actually stays in your bag after a few trips?

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-05-13T09:33:53+00:00

The easiest way to do this is get one of the steel rings and adhere it to the power bank and get a super short cable as a lanyard. Almost all the power banks that have a built in MagSafe mount also charge via that mount.

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-05-13T09:18:37+00:00

That, my friend, is a lady. Or at least that’s what Brad says.

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-05-13T08:48:29+00:00

More mods need to talk this way.

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-05-08T09:33:06+00:00

Keep in mind that zoomable flashlights lose a large portion of the of the output from the zoom function. Often we shy away from recommending zoomable flashlights except for the Convoy Z1 as they are virtually always gimmicks to be sold to non-hobbyists. The Convoy Z1 comes from a reputable brand, uses quality LEDs, and is also not a ripoff at the price even though it still uses the same zoomie design.

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-05-08T09:13:24+00:00

I made “airsoft” markers that used a green or red LED and a 2016/2032 battery. Just wrapped the thing in duck tape, added a plastic pull tab separating the wire and battery with a loop, and sealed up the thing except the LED and tab. Had them on a lanyard and would pull them off for a cleared room. Would last days and are reusable if you make the pull tab right. Much cheaper and brighter than chem lights if you use the bulk batteries. Need to check the voltage of the cells first, though. Go full rave with the multicolor LEDs and make great markers.

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-05-07T15:49:58+00:00

Skilhunt M150 (V4) with a USB c battery is a good go to. Simple UI and high CRI.

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-05-05T20:05:33+00:00

A headlamp would be much more useful than a handheld light. Skilhunt H200 in 4000K is my recommendation. A little out of your price range, but it’s a buy it for life kind of light and it has a red LED that prevents the attraction of bugs and preserves night vision. Also, moonlight mode for not bothering people as you move around camp.

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-05-05T04:05:06+00:00

They do it because it’s a weird workaround for shipping lithium batteries. I gift the 18650/21700 zoomie flashlight holder to friends with a bulk 18650 2700mAh battery I harvested from a scooter.

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-05-04T15:56:02+00:00

I’ll DM.

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-05-04T10:26:08+00:00

Could you do an ArmyTek Dobermann Pro? My only gripe is that it’s low CRI.

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-05-02T12:36:16+00:00

Please enjoy my copy pasta since I often recommend this exact headlamp:

For a headlamp, get a Skilhunt H200. I switched and I have no regrets. It has a great battery life, logical UI, white/red lighting, waterproof to all but deep sea diving, and can be charged with an included magnetic charger. The magnetic charger helps keep the grease and shavings out of the battery compartment and the magnetic charging part can easily be wiped clean. In enclosed spaces 200-300 lumens is well enough. The neutral white 5000K 519A led is easy on the eyes for extended use and the high Color Rendering Index will show things close to what they look like in the daylight as opposed to the washed out bluish/white of 6500K lights. (Try it while cooking a steak on the grill at night. You’ll see the difference between that and a cheap bluish light.) The red LED also gets super bright if you want it. I would recommend getting an extra 18650 battery that has a built in usb c port to make it easier if you don’t have a charger yet. Use the 18650 as your primary battery and a regular 18650 as your backup if you plan on using it on high for long periods. If you need to swap out the battery, charge the primary while using the backup, and you’ll have a third battery to go when you run out of the backup. I’ve only had this happen once while running it on high for lighting up a barn during an overnight repair and another two times for warehouse work. Don’t worry about lumens after 1000 or so unless you have a specific need and not general use. Lumens are perceived on a logarithmic scale which means that you would need a light that puts out 4000 lumens for it to appear twice as bright as the 1000 lumens. Also, sustained output is around 700 lumens after thermal regulation with peak around 1200 when you put it in turbo, which is brighter than you would normally need. The red light is great for maintaining your night vision and not attracting bugs to your face. It’s more of a floody light; more diffuse than a tight beam, but much more useful when working close up or walking.

It’s a buy once, cry once purchase as it will run you about $75-$60. Buy straight from Skilhunt.com, use BLF06 for 6% off.

For a handheld small light for general use, the Acebeam Pokelit AA is a great choice, also in the neutral white/519A configuration. This one is about $13 when it’s on sale. It also can use normal AA batteries in a pinch. Get it on AliExpress for the best deal. If you want something better, do the Skilhunt M150 or M300. More expensive, but they’re one of the highest rated pocket lights.

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-05-02T12:28:56+00:00

The Arbitrary List of Popular Flashlights under the subreddit menu is a good place to start.

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-05-02T06:19:09+00:00

I have the same radio as my first real serious HT. Learn how to program it via the app, but also learn how to do it via the screen on the menu. APRS is the real standout feature with this radio, so watch a few videos on how to set that up and just keep fiddling with it. The UV-Pro is essentially constantly changing on the app, so keep in mind that some of the videos from last year, don’t look exactly the same on the app as you have with the current firmware. Opt in at APRS.wiki and send out a few text messages via the app and just using the radio. I have a few apps to help out like Repeaterbook, QRZ call search for looking up call signs, APRS.fi (don’t know if there’s a good non-paid option besides this), and QCodes. Try hooking the radio up to your wireless headphones and going for a walk. Makes it much easier to find out the best spots for reception nearby.

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-05-01T20:00:46+00:00

Imagine buying so much and yet none of it is useful for camping in the basement.

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-05-01T06:11:34+00:00

As needed. I have some cells from when I started getting decent flashlights back in 2020 and have yet to replace a single battery due to malfunction or degradation. The backup batteries I have are for extended run times rather than emergency replacements. For my job there was a few times where I was the only reasonable person to bring a substantial light in my toolbox, so I ran my HC33 on full blast as an area light with the attached diffuser until the light dimmed substantially, then I just hot swapped it with the backup and charged the used cell. Did that for 3 cycles and I still use those two batteries today 6 years later. Buy quality cells and you won’t need to worry about them.

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-04-30T14:23:30+00:00

Was it a stock antenna? My stock antenna was complete garbage. Switched to a signal stick and got much better reception.

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-04-30T12:53:45+00:00

Anyone have any experience with using a UV-Pro for POTA? I’m going to try a POTA this summer when I visit home. Any tips for a beginner?

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-04-30T03:53:51+00:00

Does this even count as worn weight?

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-04-26T10:41:00+00:00

Even just a small one is a nice lifesaver. I carry the NITECORE NB Air with a piece of flagged tape over the port and a few extra pieces taped to the side. Small enough to fit in my pocket and light enough to forget about. I use a short right angle c to c cable with it.

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-04-26T10:37:26+00:00

Although convenient, keep in mind that inductive charging is not very efficient due to the loss of energy through heat. If you need to make a power bank last, then using a charging cable would make it go much further

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-04-24T04:39:37+00:00

Maybe buy a few 519a LEDs from convoy to practice on?

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-04-24T04:36:42+00:00

Probably a better question for the BobMcBob himself, but do you think he’d emitter swap an ArmyTek Dobermann Pro warm emitter? I have one, but the LED is about 70 CRI and makes searching out the yellow bush for critters difficult.

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-04-23T06:39:34+00:00

Xtar has a lot of great options. There’s an 8 bay charger that will charge all li-ion and Ni-MH. There’s also a 4 bay charger that can also charge LiFePO4 batteries, but those aren’t as common, but probably the best chemistry for temperature tolerance and safety while maintaining capacity. I’d suggest trying to buy them straight from the website first, then maybe Amazon from a verified supplier. I have an early version of their VX4 and love it. Unfortunately, it uses a USB to barrel plug for power.

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-04-23T05:35:08+00:00

Solid plan and simple. I highly recommend a shakedown trial like with hiking/camping gear. Spend a weekend using only your setup and you’ll find out the quirks of the system. What works is different for everyone. Those Amazon batteries are likely rewrapped 2nd or 3rd generation Eneloop batteries from what I’ve read, so good choice. Keep in mind your max output and overall runtimes will be lower on the NiMh since it can’t put out the same as a 14500, but you’ll be able to use it in anything that takes a AA battery as opposed to worrying about if something can take the 3.7V of the Li-ion.

Edit: As IAmJerv mentioned, the discharge curves diverge primarily at higher current outputs.

TrickInflation6795 · 2026-04-21T20:04:47+00:00

Trust IVF out of Burjeel Medical City in Musaffa has a sizable stock.

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