Gear Up: Mophie Battery Charger iPhone Case

mophieMany of us seek the trails and untouched beauty of the American wilderness to get away from the distractions and chaos of everyday life, but some of the things we consider distractions can be quite useful in the backcountry. Let’s take smartphones, for example. With the hundreds of outdoor-related apps available on the marketplace today—GPS, photography, fitness monitors, etc—smartphones, for some, combine several individual devices into one. Battery life is where the most concern is, though, but today we’ll take a look at a phone case that will help solve this issue. Keep reading for an in-depth look at the phone charging cases from Mophie.

There are a few different types of portable phone chargers available today, but Mophie’s are actual cases for your iPhone that can be charged and then activated with an easy to read LED switch when your phone runs low on battery. They consist of sleek, compact designs that don’t add noticeable weight or size to your phone, which is a great bonus. Furthermore, Mophie offers several different models for a variety of devices to suit your needs.

Sticking with smartphones, though, you’ll find four different cases for the iPhone 5, each available in different colors and ranging in price from $80 to $150. Yes, this may be a bit costly for most people, in terms of a battery case, but it’s a great asset when you travel a lot or find yourself on the trail for days at a time.

Mophie’s iPhone chargers are rechargeable for over 500 full cycles (when the case is charged from no battery to full battery.) After 500 cycles, the case may no longer give a full charge. I have a friend who’s owned his for three years now, though, and his phone case still gives around 80% charge each time he uses it to recharge his phone.

I know there are some of you who turn your noses at electronics on the trail, but many outdoorsmen enjoy having their phone for taking photos, the GPS features, or for keeping track of miles and fitness. You don’t have to receive calls or texts, but knowing that you can reach help in an emergency is good for peace of mind, and knowing that you have a case that will recharge your phone is an added bonus. For the more tech-savvy outdoorsman, Mophie’s line of phone charging cases is a great addition to your gear.