USB charger w/ dyno hub: essential bikepacking gear?

[PhilH]

First time post after extensive lurking: do people find this piece of equipment worthwhile? If not, do you have an alternative you prefer? Recommendations appreciated. On  my previous three day trips I've powered off my iPhone whenever I've been riding to conserve the charge. This year I'm going for 7 days. Solar? Poaching in towns? Other?

[PhilH]

Ps: I already own a wheel built w a dyno hub.

[Endless Trails]

I got myself a dynamo hub and B&M USB-werk last fall when I build up a new bike and I wouldn't go back to not having one. For overnighters, sure no problem. But anything longer than that it's really convenient to be able to charge GPS batteries and my cellphone for music on the go. With the days longer right now I only carry a super small headtorch for camp use but for next fall I'll probably get a new headtorch that runs on 4 AA batteries and not 3 AAA batteries as my current one do in order to streamline my battery carrying a little bit.

[bakerjw]

My Shutter Precision PD-8X hub just arrived yesterday for a new wheelset build.

It's all about having options. If plan A and plan B both go South, then what.

[Lentamentalisk]

I'd say depends on your trips. Length, remoteness, power appetite of your gear, riding at night, etc.

For extended rides at night multiple days in a row, with no stopping in town, and frequently using your phone for music, you'd need a pretty freaking huge battery pack to keep you running. But if you are on super technical single track the whole way, you may never get fast enough to get any charging done.

My trip this weekend is 250 miles of mixed terrain, with plenty of charging options at the campsite. I'm just using a head lamp for pre-dawn and post-dusk riding, which I can charge overnight, I've got a spare set of batteries for the Etrex, and a backup chache battery for the headlamp and phone if need be. When I do inn to inn trips, same thing, batteries work fine.