Re: Has anyone hiked with the Goal Zero Switch 8 Solar Recharging Kit? The whole kit is only 90 grams.

I hiked the first 260 miles (to Big Bear) of the PCT this April using Goal Zeros's 3.5 panel and Guide 10. This system weighs 14.2 oz including Goal Zero's NiMH AA batteries and was called their 3.5 kit when I purchased it.
It gave me all the power I could use with my Droid which was my GPS, email, trail journaling, YouTubeing, web access, video camera, still camera, night time reading, and MP3 player (with music and audio books). The phone was on ALL THE TIME .... I loved it. I was also carrying Half Mile's paper maps printed on letter size paper with compass but they never came out of their zip lock bag .... I found the Backcountry Navigator to be fantastic and my phone was in my shirt pocket ready for use at all times.

I would still be on the trail using this system if it had not been for the stress fracture in my upper tibia.

Now for weights, kits, etc: (yes, Goal Zero's web page is ... let's just say .... confusing.)
[Most of the weights I have given are from my postal scale and a couple are from REI's web page.]

With the Goal Zero system (for backpacking) there are 2 panels. The Nomad 7 weighing in at 12.8 oz and the Nomad 3.5 weighing 8.2 oz.

Then you have 2 battery systems: The Guide 10 weighing 2.2 oz that takes 4 AA NiMH batteries (an additional 4.2 oz) for a total of 6.4 oz (Goal Zeros's NiMH batteries)  *or*  the Switch 8 Lithium battery pack weighing 3.2 oz. (I have not used nor had in my hand the SW8)

Goal Zero mixes and matches these 2 panels and 2 battery packs to get their different kits.

I chose the Guide 10 because I wanted the versatility for charging AA and AAA batteries (I have the AAA adapter)  With 4 2300ma NiMH batteries I get 1.5 charges on my phone. 
I charge the batteries going up the trail and recharge the phone from the Guide 10 at night ... the phone never turns off so I've got my middle of the night clock, night light, book to read or listen to, and alarm clock. I only used it as my night clock because I was always too tired to need to read and the birds always woke me up in the morning at fist light.

I bought the Goal 10 thinking I'd sometimes put lithium batteries in it, not carry the solar panel, and save about 9 oz.
However, the Guide 10 WILL NOT work with lithium batteries as Goal Zero states in their documentation.... I've tested this. 
It will work with alkaline and other brands of NiMH batteries.
Some NiMH batteries do not work well in the cold but the Goal Zero batteries worked just fine in sub freezing temps.
Lithium batteries will usually give up after a couple years and are worthless after that but are the lighter option and work well in cold temperatures. 

'til later
Jon (Gandalf - PCT 2013)



--- In [email protected], Roleigh Martin <marti124@...> wrote:
>
> Has anyone hiked with the Goal Zero Switch 8 Solar Recharging Kit?  The
> whole kit is only 90 grams.