camping lakeside with flashlight and headlamps

Power Through the Outdoors: Tips from Kevin Jorgeson

July 29, 2015COMtnMom
camping lakeside with flashlight and headlamps
I’ve always got a flashlight and headlamp ready to go in my backpack, for camping or just a hike.

My family loves to head out and go camping at every opportunity. We make an effort to be screen free during these times, to try and maximize our enjoyment and appreciation of the outdoors.  But there’s still some crucial outdoor gear we never leave home without, and  many of it requires batteries.

Headlamps, lanterns, flashlights, and walkie talkies… all go-to items.  These need long lasting battery life both for safety reasons, and to enable you to power through your outdoor adventures even longer.

Making smores while camping using a lantern
Our ‘smores building station, by battery powered mini lantern.

Although I’m not a rock climber, I wanted to share these cool tips from Kevin Jorgeson.  Kevin is a climbing and outdoors expert, most notably known for his record-breaking free climb of El Capitan’s Dawn Wall.  He enjoys outdoor adventuring at night, and Duracell makes the only batteries he trusts for his long climbs.

And be sure to check out the awesome giveaway of some outdoor gear at the end!

Walkie Talkies ready on camping trip
Having walkie talkies handy when camping is awesome, to keep in touch (especially when there’s no phone service) whenever your party splits up to go hike, bike, or fish.

Power Through the Outdoors: Tips from Kevin Jorgeson

Outdoor climbing can be incredibly rewarding, but it also poses a new set of challenges that requires expert planning and the right gear. Climbing expert Kevin Jorgeson can attest first-hand to the critical role gear plays. To help more people get outdoors this summer, he shines a light on taking your climb from the wall to the wild with these quick tips to tackle the unpredictability of the outdoors no matter day or night:

  1. SAFETY FIRST: The most important thing to invest in is your safety, which means having  equipment that is dependable. I like having tools that I know are durable and can withstand long climbs and multiple uses. For climbing, you need a strong belay device, a harness with the right features for your climb, and a rope that is built for high performance.
  2. IF THE SHOE FITS: Even as a beginner, you need good climbing shoes. Regular running shoes do not allow you the flexibility or grip you need for climbing. A good climbing shoe is like a second skin, but optimized for support and friction. They should fit snugly, and often, the harder you climb, the more snug the shoes should be. Know that they’re not good for walking distances, so you’ll need shoes to wear to the base of the climb.
  3. PACK LIGHT: We can’t predict the weather when climbing. It may not get cold, it may not rain…but it always gets dark. I usually have at least two light sources, and always pack battery-powered portable lights that I can wear while climbing. I do a lot of my free climbs at night because cooler temperatures prevent my hands from sweating which help my grip. Some headlamps allow you to adjust the light level, and that can make a big difference.
  4. DEPENDABLE POWER: Your pack should only include the essentials — and those essentials should be products that you know and trust not to fail. Battery power is so critical in the outdoors, especially when you are depending on it to power your night climb. During my free climb of El Capitan’s Dawn Wall, Duracell Quantum was the only battery I trusted to provide dependable power because it lasts longer in 99% of devices vs. the next leading brand*.
  5. NO PAIN, NO GAIN: In addition to any medicine you take daily, I always recommend having Ibuprofen. Even when you’re well prepared, the outdoors can be grueling and strenuous, and every true outdoorsman knows to bring basic first aid.
  6. GET A GRIP: Climbing is all about your grip. Whether training indoors or climbing outdoors, tape can be helpful for two reasons. First, it can be used in a preventative manner to support your tendons, which are under a lot of stress when climbing at your limit. Second, it can be used to quickly cover up cuts in your fingers while still allowing you to keep climbing. In addition to tape, don’t forget to always use chalk to help keep your hands dry. After all, friction is everything.
  7. MOTION ACTIVATED: Your climbing gear needs to match the weather and the type of climb you’ll be doing, but in general, you always want to look for jackets that are designed for motion and provide insulation. Find fabrics that you feel comfortable in and don’t weigh you down. Some of them have SPF protection, which is a big plus when you’re out there and exposed to the sun.
  8. REFUEL: Hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate some more. Not only will you need to refuel because of the workout, but being outdoors will dehydrate you even more quickly. Make sure that you have a water bottle with a tight seal to prevent spills when not in use. I also recommend having one that can keep contents hot or cold for a long period of time. I hydrate with water throughout the day, but when I need an extra boost I’ll use it for coffee too.
  9. CARRY-ALL: There are no lockers in the outdoors. Everything you bring climbs with you — which is why it’s so important to only bring the essentials. Equally important is finding a pack that is tough enough to withstand rough climates and rough climbs, and that doesn’t add any more weight.
  10. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE: When I was 10, I discovered rock climbing after a visit to my local gym. I practiced for years on indoor walls, learning the technique before I headed outdoors. Even now, I constantly practice to hone my craft. Beginner or not, practice practice, practice.

 

The Giveaway

$160 Giveaway Prize Pack - Black Diamond and Duracell

Kevin Jorgeson worked with Duracell to craft this giveaway package of his Black Diamond headlamp, Duracell Quantum batteries and Black Diamond backpack, valued at $160.   I have one of these new sets available, to send to a winning reader for use during your outdoor adventures!

Open to US Residents, ages 18+.  Enter using the form below.  Void where prohibited.

*o*     *o*     *o*

I received some promotional items in compensation for sharing this article.  All opinions are my own.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Comments (111)

  • Vanessa VanWagner

    July 29, 2015 at 12:04 pm

    I would use long lasting duracell quantum batteries for flashlights and lanterns for overnight camping trips…gotta make it to the bathroom safely without running out of power

  • Kimberly

    July 29, 2015 at 12:59 pm

    Most of the batteries would probably get used in toys, but I’m sure some would get used in our travel lanterns too.

  • Anne Perry

    July 29, 2015 at 1:48 pm

    Our spotlight.

  • Michelle J.

    July 29, 2015 at 2:16 pm

    Our flashlights!

  • ron schnell

    July 29, 2015 at 2:41 pm

    Our radio’s

  • Jenn H

    July 29, 2015 at 2:45 pm

    The batteries would be great to keep the camera running for long trips and adventures!!

  • Denise S

    July 29, 2015 at 3:53 pm

    I would use them in flashlights.

  • Sandy Klocinski

    July 29, 2015 at 4:01 pm

    I would use the batteries in a variety of different things, one of which is my wirelss track ball and wireless keyboard

  • Adrienne Gordon

    July 29, 2015 at 4:06 pm

    For my lanterns and speakers

  • Katharine Davis

    July 29, 2015 at 4:28 pm

    Lanterns. walkie talkies and my kids handheld game systems

  • Tamra H

    July 29, 2015 at 5:23 pm

    I would use them for my camera & camera equipment! Always need a good charge on those. 🙂

  • Sabrina P

    July 29, 2015 at 5:33 pm

    I’d use them in flashlights the kids would steal them for video game remotes.

  • Cheryl B.

    July 29, 2015 at 5:37 pm

    I would use them for my handheld GPS, I use it for geocaching and hiking.

  • Sara Zielinski

    July 29, 2015 at 5:48 pm

    I would use the duracell quantums for cameras and video game controllers.

  • Kimberly Hilbert

    July 29, 2015 at 6:29 pm

    Our tv remote, it seems the batteries are always dying in it.

  • Margaret Smith

    July 29, 2015 at 8:12 pm

    I’d use these for our tv remote and for our outdoor radio.

  • Sarah Lynch

    July 29, 2015 at 8:16 pm

    I would use the batteries for remotes and Xbox controllers.

  • Shelia S

    July 29, 2015 at 8:21 pm

    I would use the batteries in flashlights so I wouldn’t have to worry about them.

  • McKim

    July 29, 2015 at 8:29 pm

    I would use them in my grandson’s remote control cars.

  • allison

    July 29, 2015 at 8:38 pm

    Our flashlights on our camp trips! 🙂

  • Tammy Horn

    July 29, 2015 at 9:49 pm

    I would use them for my lanterns and portable radio.

  • Missy Marie

    July 29, 2015 at 10:17 pm

    I would use it for night fishing off the pier. We go every summer to Edisto and love to fish at night.

  • Estelle S

    July 29, 2015 at 10:48 pm

    I would use the Duracell Quantum batteries for our flashlights.

  • Elizabeth

    July 29, 2015 at 11:40 pm

    I would use them on the remotes, the kids game controllers, and all the flashlights we have.

  • Wendy Pesce

    July 29, 2015 at 11:54 pm

    I would use for flashlights

  • angie

    July 30, 2015 at 12:36 am

    I’d use it on portable lamps and remotes.

  • Wil C

    July 30, 2015 at 12:39 am

    I have a 16 month old pretty sure a fair number of his toys require batteries and I could always use some more.

  • Alison Gibb

    July 30, 2015 at 12:59 am

    My son would likely steal them all from me. He would use them for his gaming devices.

  • Serge B

    July 30, 2015 at 1:02 am

    My headlamp for hiling

  • Ann Fantom

    July 30, 2015 at 1:24 am

    I would use Duracell Quantum batteries for our camping lantern and flashlights

  • Darlene Owen

    July 30, 2015 at 1:34 am

    I have a lot of clocks that need batteries, I would use these for them.

  • lanae

    July 30, 2015 at 1:49 am

    I would use them on our next family camping trip!!!

  • Megan Zuchowski

    July 30, 2015 at 2:08 am

    We would use it to power all of our many electronics!

  • Jessica

    July 30, 2015 at 2:14 am

    Definitely that headlamp. We have one and I can’t tell you how invaluable it’s become to our daily life…not just family camping!

  • harolde

    July 30, 2015 at 2:58 am

    I would use them in my headlamp I use in the dark, and our video game controllers.

  • Katrina

    July 30, 2015 at 3:02 am

    We would use them for the camera and lantern on camping trips! The camera batteries always die when we are out and we forget extras!

  • allyson tice

    July 30, 2015 at 3:22 am

    WE would use them for our radio!

  • Kathryn Hyatt

    July 30, 2015 at 3:58 am

    I would use them in flashlights, lanterns, and remotes!

  • Fiona N

    July 30, 2015 at 5:00 am

    I would use Duracell Quantum batteries for flashlights and my son’s toys
    Thank You for the chance

  • Heidi Ingalls

    July 30, 2015 at 8:59 am

    I would use these for flashlights, remotes, and radios.

  • Karen Nadeau

    July 30, 2015 at 9:49 am

    I would use them for the gps we have. We like to go four wheeling and snowmobiling so we use it a lot.

  • Cynthia C

    July 30, 2015 at 11:25 am

    I would use batteries in flashlights and electronics.

  • ana

    July 30, 2015 at 11:52 am

    We always need batteries for flashlights

  • Beth Green ~ A Disney Mom’s Thoughts

    July 30, 2015 at 1:43 pm

    Wow- sometimes I feel we eat batteries at our house! We use them in toys, remotes, toothbrushes, walkie talkies, flashlights and so much more. I should really buy stock in Duracell! 😀

  • Lyndsey

    July 30, 2015 at 1:45 pm

    Our remotes and portable speaker!

  • Rust

    July 30, 2015 at 2:00 pm

    Portable lighting, headlamps, electronics.

  • susan genna

    July 30, 2015 at 2:01 pm

    these would be perfect for use with our hurricane preparedness gear

  • Jen

    July 30, 2015 at 2:03 pm

    I would use the batteries for my lantern and radio.

  • AuraR

    July 30, 2015 at 2:14 pm

    outdoor speakers

  • Kathy Hanley

    July 30, 2015 at 2:53 pm

    I would use them in my mouse, remotes and flashlights.

  • Austin Baroudi

    July 30, 2015 at 3:00 pm

    I’d probably use them in my Wii remote!

  • trisha kilpatrick

    July 30, 2015 at 3:02 pm

    I might use them for my mouse, my sons’ game remotes, and the TV remotes. There are so many items around my house that could use them, actually.

  • deana

    July 30, 2015 at 3:43 pm

    I would use them for my lantern.

  • Barrie

    July 30, 2015 at 4:00 pm

    I would use these batteries for lanterns, flashlights, and radios.

  • nickie

    July 30, 2015 at 5:34 pm

    Our flashlights

  • kelly tupick

    July 30, 2015 at 6:57 pm

    I would use them for our lighting and flashlights. There is nothing worse then reach for a flashlight and it doesn’t work.

  • Heather Hayes Panjon

    July 30, 2015 at 7:01 pm

    I Would Use The Duracell For Our Camping Lanterns.

  • Soo

    July 30, 2015 at 7:27 pm

    We’d use them in flashlights.

  • Kathy Luman

    July 30, 2015 at 8:50 pm

    I would mostly use them in my mouse and in my wii.

  • Erin Hussman

    July 30, 2015 at 9:04 pm

    Toys and the baby monitor.

  • mycraftingworld

    July 30, 2015 at 9:27 pm

    We go through them with the mice, games and controllers for the electronic devices.

  • Arik Issan

    July 31, 2015 at 12:20 am

    Need some flashlights … batteries are always good to be at the ready.

  • timothy luscko

    July 31, 2015 at 2:24 am

    for my flashlights and my gaming mouse

  • Shareen Mioskowski

    July 31, 2015 at 2:27 am

    We are always in need for batteries, it seems we can never buy enough. We would use them for my childrens toys, pillow pets, remotes, cameras, flashlights, and that is just the tip of the iceberg……so many needed lol!

  • tracee

    July 31, 2015 at 3:37 am

    I’d use them in my handheld gps. I don’t have a smartphone (yes, really) so I use the gps to geocache. I’d hate to miss a find because my batteries died! (Yes, I carry spares *grin*)

  • Cathy Truman

    July 31, 2015 at 3:48 am

    I would use them for flashlights and lanterns.

  • heather s

    July 31, 2015 at 3:51 am

    For my flashlights

  • Susan Chester

    July 31, 2015 at 4:18 am

    I would use it for my many remotes.

  • Brittney House

    July 31, 2015 at 5:23 am

    I would love it for my remotes in the house.

  • Michelle

    July 31, 2015 at 5:32 am

    flashlights and remotes

  • Jessica

    July 31, 2015 at 11:22 am

    I would use them on my daughter’s toys.

  • DJ

    July 31, 2015 at 2:05 pm

    I would use them for lanterns when camping with my family.

  • RussR

    July 31, 2015 at 10:49 pm

    I’d use them for the outdoor speakers

  • Nicole Sender

    August 1, 2015 at 7:50 am

    I would use them for my radio!

  • Danielle Marie

    August 1, 2015 at 9:12 am

    for flashlights for sure…. or my wireless mouse.

  • wen budro

    August 1, 2015 at 3:38 pm

    I would use the batteries for my radio, flashlights, and camping lantern.

  • Danielle

    August 1, 2015 at 10:33 pm

    I would use it for our flashlights and remotes.

  • tina reynolds

    August 2, 2015 at 1:54 am

    I would use them in flashlights, handheld gps, remotes we go through a lot of batteries

  • Erica B.

    August 2, 2015 at 4:15 am

    Would be great for our radio.

  • ReggieMann

    August 2, 2015 at 5:07 pm

    Flashlights

  • Ellie Wright

    August 2, 2015 at 5:33 pm

    I would use them in our camping lanterns.

  • Robin

    August 2, 2015 at 7:18 pm

    They will probably be used in toys and the remotes in the house.

  • JenniferB

    August 2, 2015 at 11:55 pm

    all of my flashlights

  • Cheryl Larimer

    August 3, 2015 at 12:26 am

    Our flashlights and portable handheld fan. In the heat of summer fans are a woman’s best friend.

  • Katie K

    August 3, 2015 at 4:01 pm

    I would use them in my headlamp for night hikes

  • Katherine

    August 3, 2015 at 9:35 pm

    They would go in all our flashlights

  • Janine H

    August 3, 2015 at 9:49 pm

    I’d use the batteries in my sons Thomas train–it usually runs out so fast

  • Daniel M

    August 3, 2015 at 9:53 pm

    would use them everywhere!

  • Candice N

    August 3, 2015 at 10:10 pm

    I’d use the batteries for our camping flashlights and headlamps. Nothing worse than running out of batteries in the middle of the night!

  • Susan Smith

    August 3, 2015 at 11:19 pm

    I would use Duracell Quantum batteries for my flashlight and radio

  • melissa Resnick

    August 3, 2015 at 11:34 pm

    my flash light

  • Ben T

    August 4, 2015 at 1:02 am

    These would be great for pre-dawn hikes

  • joe gersch

    August 4, 2015 at 8:31 am

    we would use it for our radio

  • Keeley Sullivan

    August 4, 2015 at 11:23 am

    I would use them for flashlights, toys, remote controls. The uses are endless

  • Claire

    August 4, 2015 at 12:28 pm

    I’d use them for the flashlights and two-way radios in our emergency kit

  • Paula Michele Hafner

    August 4, 2015 at 2:57 pm

    I would use them in the remotes, the fire alarms, and anything else that’s a apin to change the batteries in!

  • Laura J

    August 4, 2015 at 5:04 pm

    Oh I would love to use them for our cameras, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, flashlights, radio controlled boats for the pool! So many things!

  • Aaron

    August 4, 2015 at 8:07 pm

    I would use for electronics.

  • Candie L

    August 5, 2015 at 12:12 am

    We would keep them in the RV for when we are camping. This way we would not get overwhelmed by being in a foreign area. Thank you

  • Peggy Rydzewski

    August 5, 2015 at 12:17 am

    I would use them for the emergency flashlights and radios.

  • Rebecca Peters

    August 5, 2015 at 12:25 am

    I would use it for our flashlights and my kids toys

  • Lisa V.

    August 5, 2015 at 1:07 am

    I would use them for my remotes and flashlights.

  • Shannon F.

    August 5, 2015 at 1:16 am

    We’re looking to invest in walkie talkies too!

  • Jen Harriman

    August 5, 2015 at 1:22 am

    My kids have so many things that use batteries.. seems like everything. Would love to not have to change them so much!

  • Laurie Emerson

    August 5, 2015 at 1:58 am

    We go camping and hiking all the time so I would use them for our flashlights and weather radio.

  • Stephanie Larison

    August 5, 2015 at 2:46 am

    I would use them in my girls’ Leap Pads, remotes, and flashlights.

  • Breanne

    August 5, 2015 at 3:13 am

    I’d use them in lanterns.

  • Shirley Hicks

    August 5, 2015 at 4:08 am

    id use them for my weather radio

  • breanna pollard

    August 5, 2015 at 4:42 am

    I would use them for flashlights and lanterns.

  • matt lehman

    August 5, 2015 at 4:44 am

    i would use these batteries in the flashlight i use most often, since it is camping season and i always wander around in the dark.

  • Lee McKeon

    August 5, 2015 at 4:56 am

    I would use the for out camping laterns

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