Keeping a phone charged while skiing

[Nick]

Do you guys have any issues with your phone while skiing? I swear mine runs out after 4 hours even if it's just sitting in my pocket turned off. (Samsung Galaxy nexus). I'm not sure if my phone in particular has issues with the cold. I turn off most everything (GPS, wifi, bluetooth) screen is off in my pocket, but it still just drains.

I tried an external battery and that helped but it's still not 100%. Problem is it's nice to check in with people particularly if you have friends on the slopes. I texted a lot during the summit to coordinate meetups / etc.

 

[dmc]

I keep my iPhone next in an inner pocket to stay warm. Shut down all apps I don't need.
Lasts all day - may have to givve it a boost at happy hour for the night...

 

[Puck it]

Lithium ion batteries do not like the cold at all. Keep the phone close to body. Charge does come back somewhat when it warms though. The other thing that eats battery life if you are in an area that it is constanlty looking for signal. This kills the battery.

 

[kingslug]

its the cold..I tested this at K..outside pocket dead in no time ..inside good all day...

 

[MadMadWorld]

Do you guys have any issues with your phone while skiing? I swear mine runs out after 4 hours even if it's just sitting in my pocket turned off. (Samsung Galaxy nexus). I'm not sure if my phone in particular has issues with the cold. I turn off most everything (GPS, wifi, bluetooth) screen is off in my pocket, but it still just drains.

I tried an external battery and that helped but it's still not 100%. Problem is it's nice to check in with people particularly if you have friends on the slopes. I texted a lot during the summit to coordinate meetups / etc.

If you have a Droid, try the Screen Filter app. The biggest drainer on batteries is the screen. Makes a huge difference

 

[drjeff]

Do you guys have any issues with your phone while skiing? I swear mine runs out after 4 hours even if it's just sitting in my pocket turned off. (Samsung Galaxy nexus). I'm not sure if my phone in particular has issues with the cold. I turn off most everything (GPS, wifi, bluetooth) screen is off in my pocket, but it still just drains.

I tried an external battery and that helped but it's still not 100%. Problem is it's nice to check in with people particularly if you have friends on the slopes. I texted a lot during the summit to coordinate meetups / etc.

I had a similiar problem with my old Droid Razr. Then I went and got a new phone, where my 1st criteria was "what phone has the longest battery life for someone that uses it a good deal of time per day?" Since the person I was asking who was the manager of my local Verizon store is the cousin of one of my employees, I took her answer at face value and now have a Droid Razr Maxx HD that I have been running all ski season long with GPS tracking apps on, plenty of "where are you now?" texts + e-mails + facebook messenger posts to friends, plenty of web surfing during warm up break and Apres ski action in the lodge, etc, and I'll still have over 50% battery life left at the end of my day (my phone gets taken off the charger and put in my coat pocket usually about 7AM on a ski day and won't hit the charger again until usually 5PM or so.

It's just the reality of a batteries decreased performace with increased use over time that it sounds like your facing Nick :smash:

 

[Warp Daddy]

My cheap ass little tracfone w orks no problem at all in the cold , even in the outside pockets

 

[o3jeff]

I think it was recommended in another thread to keep a hand warmer in the pocket with the phone

 

[BenedictGomez]

It's just the reality of a batteries decreased performace with increased use over time that it sounds like your facing Nick

Yup.

Step 1) Go to EBAY
Step 2) Buy authentic (but obviously counterfeit) batteries from China for about $3 each
Step 3) Enjoy

The Chinese batteries are nowhere near as strong as the OEM originals, but you can generally pick a few of them up "But It Now" for $10 or $12 with a handy wall charger (which I like better than the corded chargers that come with phones), shipped from China to your door in about 6 days. They're so cheap I'd rather buy these and treat them as "disposables" than buy a better OEM battery for substantially more $$$.

 

[Cornhead]

Yup.

Step 1) Go to EBAY
Step 2) Buy authentic (but obviously counterfeit) batteries from China for about $3 each
Step 3) Enjoy

The Chinese batteries are nowhere near as strong as the OEM originals, but you can generally pick a few of them up "But It Now" for $10 or $12 with a handy wall charger (which I like better than the corded chargers that come with phones), shipped from China to your door in about 6 days. They're so cheap I'd rather buy these and treat them as "disposables" than buy a better OEM battery for substantially more $$$.

This, I have an extra battery, not sure where it came from, my Brother set me up with the phone, used, Cowboom, HTC Incredible. I use my phone as an MP3 player, so it goes through batteries quite fast in very cold weather. I charged up both batteries while skiing at the AZ Summit, the back up stayed charged even though it was cold, 90% when I plopped it into the phone.

 

[ScottySkis]

I just put my phone on airplane mode, it don't like cold.

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

Ya the thing that really drains it is when u might have normal signal at the base for your carrier but once up high its all messed up , searching for signal roaming etc that kills the battery quick, i was able to keep mine in airplane mode but still have the gps on for alpine replay and it lasted right thru the day and night

 

[bvibert]

I had a similiar problem with my old Droid Razr. Then I went and got a new phone, where my 1st criteria was "what phone has the longest battery life for someone that uses it a good deal of time per day?" Since the person I was asking who was the manager of my local Verizon store is the cousin of one of my employees, I took her answer at face value and now have a Droid Razr Maxx HD that I have been running all ski season long with GPS tracking apps on, plenty of "where are you now?" texts + e-mails + facebook messenger posts to friends, plenty of web surfing during warm up break and Apres ski action in the lodge, etc, and I'll still have over 50% battery life left at the end of my day (my phone gets taken off the charger and put in my coat pocket usually about 7AM on a ski day and won't hit the charger again until usually 5PM or so.

It's just the reality of a batteries decreased performace with increased use over time that it sounds like your facing Nick :smash:

My Razr lasted all day in the same conditions that Nick was skiing at Sugarloaf. It was in need of a charge when I was done skiing for the day though. ALLSKIING thought it was pretty funny that I was reaching for a charger every chance I got during that trip... :lol:

When I bought the phone I was worried about the battery life, but in general I've been happy. That being said my next phone will have more battery capacity.

 

[wtcobb]

Turn off the refresh, too. Or Airplane Mode like Scotty said. No need to check emails on the lifts, and you can manually refresh your inbox if you really need to. I always leave my phone like this so I don't get a million email notifications all day.

 

[andyzee]

Instead of out of bound skiing, I think cell phones on ski slopes should be outlawed

 

[HowieT2]

Instead of out of bound skiing, I think cell phones on ski slopes should be outlawed

you're joking, right?

i dont have a problem with the iphone draining even listening to music all day but if I use a gps app it wont last. I just got the mophie juicepack yesterday so we will see what happens this weekend.

 

[steamboat1]

I've never had a problem with battery life. Then again I've never owned a cell phone.

 

[Nick]

Instead of out of bound skiing, I think cell phones on ski slopes should be outlawed

So here's the thing. I get the sentiment and the point you are making ("skiing is about disconnecting...") but truthfully, phones are the primary means of communication especially if you are with a group of people. I can't tell you how many times during the summit we lost folks and a text message or post that said be at X-chair in 10 minutes got us back together again.

Now, I don't think you need to be checking emails, making work calls, playing angry birds underneath a kicker in the terrain park, etc. but in general I think the phone is incredibly useful on the slopes.

 

[dmc]

When I'm out riding on weekdays - I need my phone if work needs me..
I only usually ride for an hour or two but we have a ton going on right now
Weekends I leave it on to catch up with friends using texting.. Work great...
Don't need those walkies anymore.. they were kind of annoying..

 

[Nick]

I've never had a problem with battery life. Then again I've never owned a cell phone.

Zing

PS: Really? no mobile phone at all?