Budget backup battery for Apple products?

[3angelsmom]

Can anyone recommend a backup battery for Apple products? We are traveling to DL this summer (first time cross country) and will have a 2 hr ride to the airport, 1.5 hr flight, 2 hr layover, and another 5 hour flight. DD12, DD11, and DS7 need to be entertained so we will need external batteries for their ipad minis.

I don't want to spend a fortune, but also don't want to waste money like I did this past Christmas when I purchased 3 Groupons for batteries so cheap the distorted metal ends didn't fit!

Also, would love recommendations for cases to keep it all organized. Last trip we put the ipod, ear buds, backup battery, ubs cables and outlet head in ziploc bags for each kid but by the end of the trip things got tangled up or misplaced.

 

[scrapquitler]

Can anyone recommend a backup battery for Apple products? We are traveling to DL this summer (first time cross country) and will have a 2 hr ride to the airport, 1.5 hr flight, 2 hr layover, and another 5 hour flight. DD12, DD11, and DS7 need to be entertained so we will need external batteries for their ipad minis.

I don't want to spend a fortune, but also don't want to waste money like I did this past Christmas when I purchased 3 Groupons for batteries so cheap the distorted metal ends didn't fit!

Also, would love recommendations for cases to keep it all organized. Last trip we put the ipod, ear buds, backup battery, ubs cables and outlet head in ziploc bags for each kid but by the end of the trip things got tangled up or misplaced.

We all got these (or one that looks almost exactly the same if it's not this brand) for christmas last year. They work well for us and we haven't had any problems at all. They are inexpensive enough that you could buy a bunch of them if you needed more than one recharge. http://www.amazon.com/Flashlight-Po...4&keywords=external+battery+charger+for+phone

I used to have a Mobi JuicePack Air for my iphone, which I loved, but one time when I dropped my phone, the corner where the plug of the juice pack was got broken It probably saved my phone from damage, but I never replaced it because it is a rather expensive item.

 

[wannagoback]

I got this, but mine only has one USB port. It worked well for my purpose! I did want to point out that you don't necessarily need anything specific to apple products. You'll need the cord that you already own to plug in to the USB port. Many chargers now have the USB which lets you plug in a variety of devices!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/881055-REG/xuma_bub_80g_8000_mah_portable_battery.html

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You should be able to find outlets at the airport to recharge during your layover.

 

[SueInBoston]

You should be able to find outlets at the airport to recharge during your layover.

Yes there are outlets but I wouldn't count on them as there are about 3x more people waiting to charge than outlets available.

 

[blessedby3]

We will have 5 iPhones with us on our June trip. I bought the Jackery giant portable charger to recharge our phones. It can charge 2 phones at once. Here is a link to the one I ordered:
http://www.amazon.com/Jackery-High-...&qid=1400332661&sr=8-1&keywords=jackery+giant

 

[wenrob]

We will have 5 iPhones with us on our June trip. I bought the Jackery giant portable charger to recharge our phones. It can charge 2 phones at once. Here is a link to the one I ordered:
http://www.amazon.com/Jackery-High-...&qid=1400332661&sr=8-1&keywords=jackery+giant

My teen DD has this (I think she has one size down?) in her purse right now in Disneyland. She says she can get three full charges for her phone from it. I'd think you'd want each person to have their own. Anyway, it's teen on the go approved.

 

[3angelsmom]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I will check them all out. In addition to the plane, I would love to carry around something all day that can charge multiple devices at once or get more than one charge out of it. Much easier than reminding everyone to pack all the accessories in their day bags every day.

As for outlets in the airports, we've had no luck at PHL. The few working outlets got claimed quickly and many of the others didn't work. I'm hoping we'll have better luck with layovers in Chicago and Phoenix.

 

[robinb]

I got this, but mine only has one USB port. It worked well for my purpose! I did want to point out that you don't necessarily need anything specific to apple products. You'll need the cord that you already own to plug in to the USB port. Many chargers now have the USB which lets you plug in a variety of devices!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/881055-REG/xuma_bub_80g_8000_mah_portable_battery.html

I have the same battery and it works great! I love that I can charge 2 things at once. The only drawback is that it weighs about 10 ounces.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Yes there are outlets but I wouldn't count on them as there are about 3x more people waiting to charge than outlets available.

It depends on the airport. They are plentiful at some, including SFO and SEA. Many planes have power at the seats as well, even in economy.

 

[BelleBeautyandtheBeast]

We have this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZBZ64Q/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i02?ie=UTF8&psc=1 that I bought for $40 at Amazon.

My requirements were the same as yours, the charger needed to charge more than one device at a time and it needed to be capable of doing multiple charges before needing to be plugged in again.

This particular one comes in a little pouch, I tossed our cables in there too and we were good to go.

It works. DS used it over and over when we went to WDW in March for a few days. I used it once or twice. It's only downside is it is a bit heavy. I carried it in my pocket all through the parks, I'm a big fan of the "No bags" line lol.

 

[Nechville]

I have a smaller jackery I can get three phone charges out of. Been very happy with it and I always carry in my purse.

 

[ksh1111]

I have 2 different portable chargers, each cost about $20. The Anker is small, 4" long and 6 oz, I would guess. Amazon for $20. The other one is a Rayovac charger, uses 4 AA batteries, cost $17 on Amazon. I used the Anker in DL last month, much better than paying $2/hour to charge my phone in the charging lockers.

The other thing that may help is taking a small monster power outlet strip to go. Again, available on Amazon for around $10. That way, you can plug into an outlet and 4 other people can also charge at the same time! Most people will happily share the wall outlet if you provide a power strip!

 

[3angelsmom]

Genius!