Monday, September 14th, 2009...8:05 pm
iPod Nano 5th Generation: The Best Backcountry Companion Yet
If you’ve read my posts about technology, you know I love iPods as trail companions. I’ve struggled lately on the trail: do I bring my iPhone (with camera, movies, music, GPS app - 5 ounces) or just go with my Flip Ultra (video camera that easily uploads to YouTube). To complicate matters, the new iPhone 3GS has a video camera as well as still camera and true built-in GPS and more.They are all relatively light when you consider what you get in a single device.But I just bought the new iPod Nano with a bigger screen (2.2 inches), video camera, music, audio books, and movies, as well as a built-in FM-radio for $149. Best of all, it weighs 1.5 ounces, is 1.5 inches wide, 3.75 inches high and 1/4-inches thick. Since it has flash memory, instead of a hard drive, it comes on instantly and the battery lasts up to 8 hours. The new Nano is a winner.Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.
2 Comments
September 14th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Sure, but you might want to consider the iPhone (or maybe wait for the next iPod Touch refresh which should have the video camera) so you can take advantage of some of those great apps - there are some really great ones that would be very useful in the backcountry. For the basics though, it’s a no-brainer to take the new Nano over something like the Flip.
January 27th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
AGREED!
You forgot to mention the very useful built-in pedometer that doesn’t require special shoes or sensors. But on long hikes this can cause an unwanted drain on the batteries.
There is a company that sells a AA battery kit that will charge your nano - I think 3 or 4 full charges off 2 AA’s. That adds extra weight and all but it just depends on what your priorities are.
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