I’m often embarrassed to admit I do.
But look at this. Crow is up front with her electronic dependence.
For the upcoming PCT trip I’m bringing the iriver T10 2gb MP3 player with fm radio. It weighs 1.7 ounces 48 grams without battery. It has a little clip to clip it on to anything or clip it on to the neck lanyard it comes with.
… one AA battery; the battery is supposed to last 45 hours. I put a lithium battery in it because it is lighter and last longer then a regular battery, so I’m thinking maybe it will last 100 hours on one battery.
If I super compress my files, I think I can get 100 hours of stuff on it. It also records, so a person could record their thoughts along the way with the built in microphone.
… I have ordered a pair of Sony MDR-ED21LP Fontopia In-The-Ear Headphones …
… Last summer, my son downloaded, for me, 300 hours of “This American Lifeâ€, a NPR radio documentary show. Sadly I have listened to all 300 hours—twice. But that would have made great listening, on the trail.
For music on the trail, I find folk, country and show tunes the most effective hiking music, with most stuff by Johnny Cash being about the most perfect hiking tempo.
As The Crow Flies» Blog Archive » Radios and mp3 players for the long distance hiker.
I’ve carried a Rio Cali for years, finally losing it atop the highest mountain in Tasmania.
After some research I opted for an iPod Nano. The proprietary battery is a problem — but I plan to get the portable charger, as well.
Another planned add-on is the Griffin iTalk microphone.
I mostly listen to audio podcasts (BBC, CBC, NPR, TWIT, etc.) as well as books on MP3.
I only listen on the trail when I REALLY need it. But in the tent at night the MP3 is a Godsend.
What about you? Do you carry an MP3? What do you listen to?
Leave a comment below.
besthike.com 
You might think I’d be one of those most likely to carry an audio player like an iPod on the trail. But I don’t, and don’t imagine I ever will.
On some trips, I’ll take an iRiver to use as a recorder, but the memory is totally empty when I start out. Sometimes I’ll take a bigger and bulkier professional recorder — one that weighs over 5 pounds — but that’s when I’m specifically working on a show from the field.
As far as I’m concerned, all of those electronics are too much unnecessary weight for my “real” wilderness trips. I usually am trying to travel as light as possible. And besides, the sounds in nature are, to me, far better than anything artificial that I could bring along.
Now on the road to the trailhead, I sometimes do bring an audio player, and I have lots of interesting podcasts to catch-up on while on the drive.
Well said.
Especially from a podcaster like yourself. (I’m listening to you on my hikes.)
Good on you.
On the way to the trailhead, absolutely. On the actual trail, almost always not. While they can help pass the time when you’re trekking along a trail you’ve done a few times before, most of the time – like Steve – I much prefer the sounds of the wilderness.
We get so much noise and digital chatter in our daily lives, it’s nice to have a break once in a while.
I agree! Plus, living in the present, and having an awareness of what’s around me, is its own reward. Down with technotyranny!
Check out my website for a great way to keep your headphones from getting lost and dirty on the trail. http://www.buderap.com.
Budreaps are light and compact and can hold your headphones around your neck when you’re not listening to your music and just want to hike to nature sounds.
Podcasts and books on mp3? No way, not for me. Music!!!
Never on a trail in Alaska when I might run into a grizzly… which is almost always. On other trails in other states — definitely, well, sometimes. Often the scenery is just too magnificent or the terrain too dangerous to be listening to music. When I’m truly in wilderness, that is just too spectactular to be wasting with earbuds playing music. But on trails or sections of trail that aren’t especially mezmorizing, gimme some loud music and that’ll help pass the time and take my mind off a heavy load. The only drawback is wanting to stop to dance for awhile.
I’m currently considering what music I’ll bring on the A.T. with me. I’ll probably have 2 or 3 hours hours worth each and every day. The A.T.’s nothing incredibly special compared to much of western America so music’ll be a great way to help pass the time especially while hiking during the Fall and Winter versus the during the crowded season.
I was yesterday day hiking Arches National Park. (Very bear and cougar safe.)
I never enjoyed Coldplay more.
The combination of that unique, wondrous scenery with the musical score was the highlight of the day.
There ya go! I don’t know why anyone would be embarrassed to admit they carry an mp3 player when hiking!!!
What often makes a great meal even better? Sometimes for me it’s a nice pint o’ Guinness, for some a nice glass of wine.
What can make a great hike even better? How about some music you love?!!!