I have two questions for you:

1.  Do you buy disposable AA and AAA batteries?

2.  Why?

Disposable batteries are a waste.  And I’m not just talking about putting zinc, lithium, carbon, etc. into landfills.  I’m talking about a waste for you.

You’re a frugal farmer and loathe spending money on stuff that’s not an improvement to your technical gear arsenal. Continuously buying batteries sucks – no value added.

Also, you stress about being prepared.

There’s no need to leave the house for a self-contained trip and wonder, “Did I put new batteries in my headlamp.”

Being in the middle of setting up camp in the pitch black and having your headlamp die is an epic fail.

Get a rechargeable battery kit.  Save many dollars and juice up all the essential gadgets for camp at home*.

Do this NOW!

I use the Energizer Rapid Charger**.  After reading a few reviews that were all favorable, I decided to get it.

Here’s my take (short version):

• This thing is now 3 years old and still works like the day I bought it.
• It came with me on the bike across the country – jostling and nudging against the other gear like rush hour bus commuters.  Still works.
• It’s been in 0 deg. to 100 deg. Temps. Still works.
• Charged up the same 12 batteries hundreds of time. They all still hold a lengthy charge.
• It has never failed.

Full Review

For me, launching on a bike tour means my lights, camera, radio, headlamp are all loaded with charged up batteries.

Note:  I also carry 2 spare AA & AAA each in case of a blackout in camp between visits to an AC outlet.

I love durable products that I don’t have to think about.  That’s what I got here.

My little Coolpix camera while small is a battery eater.  I would have spent probably $100+ bucks during the 3 months across the country just snapping away like the picture happy amateur I am.

This is not a problem with rechargeables.

The device couldn’t be more user-friendly.  Put the battery in the slot with the positive (+) side facing the springy, top port.  Then plug it in.  Easy peasy.

You’ll hear the little internal cooling fan ramp up and the LED will show RED.

When the LED is GREEN you’re charged.

Note: If you get a flashing RED then one of the batteries is caput or the non-energizer battery you snuck in there in not compatible.

Depending on the type of batteries, how dead they are, and if you put in 2,3, or 4 in the device, the charge time is anywhere between 10 to 25 minutes.

Here is the actual time chart off the spec. sheet:

I believe these times are from fully depleted to fully charged.  In practice, I’ve never run the batteries all the way out.  I’m usually topping them off from 1/4 – 1/2 charge to full charge which takes less than 20 minutes.

The Rapid Charger is more expensive than the most of the other units they offer (I paid $32). But, out in the field (Diners and Coffee Shops) I need my shit charged by the time I finish that Western Omelette.

Full Kudos to the batteries themselves.  I’ve had the same 12 batteries for three years just like the charger and they are still going strong.

I could add up what I would have spent on disposable batteries over that time, but I’m not.  I’m writing this on a short bike tour out in the Berkshires of Western Mass. And I’m tired.

Just know that it’s much more than the $32 (charger)+ $25 (batteries) = $57 (total).

Note:  4 packs of Energizer AA or AAA rechareables cost $10 – $12 bucks.

Wrap up

This is a gear favorite for me.  It just works.  No thinking about it.  No tinkering.  No frustrations.  All my devices have power.  That’s awesome!

*I know most batteries today are USB rechargeable so you can just plug it in while you update your blog.  But, I’m at a transition period between the new and the old.  I’m not going to update a piece of gear just to charge it off my computer.

**I have no affiliation with Energizer.  Like all my gear reviews.  I love stuff that just works and want to tell you dedicated Readers about it.