We all dream of unplugging on path, spending time within the timber and away from know-how. That’s, till we need to take an image, work out the place our subsequent water supply is, or name a shuttle into city. Prefer it or not, know-how has crept its approach into thru-hiking identical to it has the remainder of our lives. Most hikers now use their telephones to navigate, doc their treks, and name for emergency assist when issues go south.
When assembling a packing checklist, getting the suitable cables and wall chargers isn’t on the highest of many individuals’s to-do checklist. A frighteningly massive variety of components can affect the burden, effectivity, and efficiency of your entire digital system. With infinite choices and opinions, its onerous to chop by the noise and work out what you actually need.
Therefore the existence of this information: right here you’ll discover (largely) all the pieces it’s good to know to design a thru-hiking electronics system that works for you.
Fast Navigation
Units
Energy Banks
Wall Chargers
Cables and Adapters
Units
The gadgets getting used on path (telephones, headlamps, and so forth.) are the core of your electronics packing checklist and can largely decide which battery banks, chargers, and cables are acceptable. That is the perfect place to start out determining your electronics system.

My electronics for subsequent yr’s hikes (minus a cellphone). The primary upgrades over my previous model are an extended cable and utilizing one charger block as an alternative of two.
Telephones
It’s undoubtedly normal to hold a smartphone throughout a thru-hike. For many hikers, it’s pivotal for navigation, documentation, and resupply logistics. With how superior and dependable smartphones have turn into, these gadgets have turn into one-stop outlets, and all different electronics have sturdy arguments for being left behind (moreover a headlamp, in fact).
Most individuals will merely carry no matter cellphone they have already got right into a thru-hike. In case you are searching for an improve or at all times searching for the perfect of the perfect, there are a number of key issues.
Pictures: First, digital camera high quality is a distinguishing characteristic between completely different fashions and types of smartphones. Shopping for an older or price range mannequin goes to offer considerably worse picture high quality. Whereas smartphone picture high quality is plateauing within the excessive finish fashions, there may be nonetheless catching as much as do in the course of the market.
Dimension: Second, display screen measurement is a surprisingly pivotal a part of smartphone choice. “Plus” sized cellphone fashions typically include a greater array of cameras and help you see extra context on a digital map. The unlucky downside that always goes missed is portability. Most hulk-sized fashions gained’t slot in sewn-in hipbelt or shoulder strap pockets. Athletic shorts even have chronically undersized aspect pockets. Rigorously take into account the place you’ll retailer gadgets that have to be accessible throughout the day.
Different issues: In my view, battery capability and weight are minor issues. Larger telephones have larger batteries however eat extra energy, so useful runtime tends to be related. For related sized screens, the burden between manufacturers is normally comparable and might’t be made a key consideration over extra elementary issues like working system and digital camera high quality for all however essentially the most devoted ultralight zealots.
Charging: Apple is being pressured to include the USB-C charging normal due to European Union rules. As an Android person, I’ve been all USB-C for years anyhow and look ahead to the one cable to rule all of them. I extremely advocate getting your cellphone system onto this connector sort; it makes life quite a bit simpler.
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PLBs
Private Locator Beacons (PLBs) are an more and more widespread backcountry digital system. Whether or not for private nervousness, nervous household at house, or these susceptible to backcountry medical emergencies, this group of gadgets has labored its approach into many packing lists.
Whereas the extent of service varies, at a minimal, PLBs will ship a one-way emergency message to a command heart, which might be relayed to an area SAR group. Many fashions now embody different useful options like preset non-emergency messages, two-way messaging, and navigation.
Anticipate gadgets on this class to run a number of hundred {dollars} and have a month-to-month or annual service contract as an ongoing value. Most will weigh between three and eight ounces, relying on display screen measurement and bodily buttons.
You’ll have heard that the brand new iPhone has an SOS characteristic just like a PLB. Whereas it really works more often than not, its not as dependable as a devoted system but. I nonetheless carry an inReach, however test with me in 5 years and that will now not be the case.
Beneficial Items:
Garmin inReach Mini 2
Zoleo
Motorola Defy
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Handheld GPS
Handheld GPSs are devoted backcountry navigation gadgets. They’re sometimes very rugged and waterproof and have sturdy location accuracy. This system class has handed its reputation peak, nonetheless, with smartphones largely filling the function. Smartphone GPS apps can connect with extra satellites, have quite a lot of interactable maps to select from, and might load a virtually infinite variety of waypoints.
There are a number of massive PLBs that may play double responsibility as a handheld navigator, however I personally don’t see any benefit for three-season backpacking and gained’t advocate any items right here. In case you are nervous about navigational backup, carry a water-proof map and discover ways to use it.
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I discovered the onerous approach that even “rugged” gadgets have their restrict. Amazingly, this inReach nonetheless works. I upgraded to V2 after this incident, which gained me a USB-C port (as an alternative of micro USB) and a few primary navigation features
Headlamps
Headlamps are the one backcountry digital just about everybody can agree is an absolute important. The know-how right here took an enormous step ahead with LEDs, and once more with lithium rechargeable batteries.
There’s an unbelievable plethora of lights in the marketplace now, however the standards are fairly easy: output sufficient gentle to see in camp. Whereas there’s a ginormous rabbit gap to dive into with LED modules, element efficiencies, and dimmable settings, most backpackers are utilizing their lamps minimally to cook dinner or go to the toilet at the hours of darkness. There’s loads of non-obligatory options like excessive output modes, crimson lights, battery saver modes, and extra.
For me, so long as it outputs 300-400 lumens and weighs beneath two ounces, I’m just about joyful. When you have a particular use case like night time mountain climbing, you need to be capable of determine the modifications you want independently (extra gentle output, strong battery life, and so forth.).
Whereas there are nonetheless loads of alkaline (AA or AAA sort) battery headlamps in the marketplace, the rechargeable lithium class is rapidly taking up. I extremely advocate lithium batteries as they are often “topped off” from an influence financial institution, have higher vitality density and chilly efficiency, and don’t require a perpetual spare or searching down costly replacements in small cities.
Beneficial items:
Nitecore NU25 UL
RovyVon Aurora A5 G4 (clips to hat, no headband)
Black Diamond Spot
READ NEXT – Greatest Backpacking Headlamps for Via-Mountain climbing
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The beloved first technology Nitecore NU25. Many take into account the brand new model a downgrade sadly.
Good Watches
Good watches are a rising class of backcountry equipment, with huge names like Apple, Garmin, Suunto, and Coros pushing new fashions yearly. In comparison with a daily watch, you get a plethora of useful smartphone integrations and environmental stats.
For the informal on-trail hiker, you gained’t be fixing any main issues that may’t be solved by a fast look at a smartphone. Many health nuts will nonetheless carry alongside their smartwatch for well being statistics. Off-trail hikers may even see some further profit in fashions with in-built navigational options like compasses or altimeters.
I don’t use one and don’t but see their necessity, so I’ll skip suggestions on this class as properly. When you plan on bringing one, be certain that to carry any specialty charging cables and price range for its energy consumption, which varies wildly between fashions.
READ NEXT – GPS Watches: Which Are Greatest for Via-Mountain climbing?
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Headphones
After a number of hundred miles, most thru-hikers will break down and begin binging podcasts whereas on the transfer. Others may take pleasure in speaking to a buddy or member of the family on that superb part of path with cell service. Most hikers will find yourself with a pair of headphones in some unspecified time in the future of their hike.
I strongly choose wired earbuds, even for lively use. They’re extra dependable, low-cost, eat much less energy, and are more durable to lose.
Whereas Bluetooth audio has negligible influence in your cellphone’s battery, Bluetooth headphones eat energy on their very own too. They’re additionally heavier and more and more require specialty charging circumstances with their very own built-in batteries. Transferring energy out of your common battery financial institution to your charging case to your precise wi-fi headphone is prone to include a 50-plus % effectivity loss as properly, robbing you of valuable juice.
In case you are utilizing wi-fi earbuds, they seemingly have a microphone for making calls or recording an audio diary. In the event that they don’t, I recommend a wired mannequin with a microphone. Holding your cellphone as much as your ear whereas strolling, hitching, or along with your cellphone plugged into the wall is mighty annoying.
I don’t emphasize sound high quality for a mountain climbing unit. Motion and the ambient sounds round you’ll make it onerous to note the distinction, and the value premium is difficult to swallow once they take a swim at a river crossing.
Beneficial Items:
Panasonic ErgoFit Wired with Microphone (you’ll seemingly want a dongle)
Apple Earpods (be certain that to select appropriate connector on your cellphone)
Google USB-C Wired Digital Earbuds
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Cameras
Standalone cameras are on their approach out for many hikers. Smartphone pictures have turn into so good that most individuals is not going to recognize the distinction from a bigger point-and-shoot or DSLR digital camera.
Whereas I carried a full-frame mirrorless digital camera for the primary 1500 miles of the CDT, I ditched it the primary time I noticed my household. It was heavy and clunky to drag out for a fast shot in comparison with my slender cellphone. I actually discover the standard distinction, however most individuals don’t, and I took many extra photographs utilizing my cellphone.
In case you are a vlogger or hobbyist photographer, you most likely already know the ache that comes with digital camera batteries. Every model carries a number of battery fashions, typically particular to particular person cameras.
Whereas determining learn how to cost them might be low in your precedence checklist whereas choosing a digital camera, having a mannequin that may cost straight off the digital camera’s USB port as an alternative of an exterior charging system is a pleasant little bit of effectivity.
In case you are consuming multiple battery per part, you’ll seemingly get higher vitality density by carrying a bigger exterior financial institution. Carrying spare digital camera batteries isn’t a nasty transfer by any means although; the comfort of immediately swapping it out with the lifeless one is unmatched.
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A uncommon occasion the place I introduced a digital camera on a visit. I additionally introduced three further batteries, as my digital camera is an atrocious energy hog and susceptible to dying at inopportune instances. Fortunately, we solely did eight-mile days.
Energy Banks
Now that you recognize which gadgets you might be bringing, it’s time to determine learn how to hold them powered. There are quite a lot of components right here, and determining the optimum configuration requires some area expertise and trial and error.
Some stuff you may need to take into account are system battery sizes, what number of instances you’ll need to recharge every within the area, how lengthy your resupplies are, and how briskly you need to get out and in of city.
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How To Perceive Amps, Volts, and Watts (for the Nerds or Compulsively Obsessed)
Training on electrical engineering is difficult to come back by, and consequently there are quite a lot of misnomers and misuses to be discovered on-line. In case you are searching for a simple reply on “what’s the perfect energy financial institution,” you’ll be able to skip this entire part. I gained’t be offended.
For the needs of mountain climbing, there are 4 primary traits to know, Volts (V), Amps (A), Watts (W), and Time (hours/H). Electrical energy, at a primary stage, works quite a bit like water.
Volts (V) are like water strain (PSI). Voltage is the pushing energy of electrical energy. Think about a bathe with excessive water strain versus a low move unit. The upper strain strikes extra water by the identical diameter pipe, that means extra water being disbursed.
Amps (A) is like the dimensions of the pipe. If the pushing strain (Voltage) is identical, a much bigger diameter pipe will transfer extra water than a really skinny pipe.
Watts (W) is the mixture of Volts and Amps, and represents the general price of motion for electrical energy. It may be likened to “gallons per minute” and tells you how briskly a specific amount of electrical energy will get from level A (the grid) to level B (your cellphone or battery financial institution). The equation is actually (Watts = Volts x Amps), and is a greater comparability between gadgets than Volts or Amps alone.
For instance, older gadgets sometimes cost at 5V and 2A, that means a 10W total cost price. Newer telephones and battery banks are appropriate with a variety of voltages, that means they could additionally settle for 9V at a 1.1A price, or nonetheless a 10W cost price. At a primary stage, there isn’t any distinction between the 2, so evaluating simply Volts or Amps between gadgets is just not going to offer you a significant image of your charging price.
Final is Time, the important thing to vitality capability. If watts represents move and are analogous to gallons per minute, we all know how briskly a bucket may replenish, however not how lengthy it takes to fill or how huge the bucket is.
Letting a five-gallon-per-minute bathe run for 5 minutes will get you 25 Gallons of water. Equally, pouring 5 Watts of energy right into a battery for five Hours will get you 25 Watt-Hours (Wh) of electrical energy.
Sadly, many battery banks and telephones checklist their battery capability in Amp-Hours (Ah) or milliamp-hours (mAh). This leaves the person to fill in voltage to get an image of precise capability.
For instance, the favored Nitecore NB10000 energy financial institution is bought as a “10,000 mAh battery financial institution,” however within the superb print, the battery voltage is 3.85V. This implies its precise capability is 38.5 watt-hours (which we get through the use of our equation for wattage: 38.5 Wh = 10Ah x 3.85V).
Once you go to switch that bucket of vitality to your cellphone nonetheless, it is going to accomplish that at 5V (or, in some circumstances, 9 – 18V). When measured at 5V, the vitality score is simply 7,700 mAh (38.5Wh / 5V). To get the actual capability of a battery (in a financial institution or a tool), strive changing to Wh.
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Though it’s onerous to learn (and perceive), Nitecore does disclose their nominal battery capability (38.5WH) and charging speeds straight on the system. When you do the mathematics, the “rated” battery capability is simply 32WH.
Too Lengthy, Didn’t Learn. What’s the Greatest Energy Financial institution?
If that looks as if a bunch of gobbledygook numbers and math, don’t fret. A kindred nerd on Reddit has distilled knowledge from tons of of energy banks into this useful spreadsheet, which provides you an much more full look with effectivity issues and vitality density (out there energy per kilogram of battery weight).
Crucial quantity to a hiker must be the vitality density, which is available within the chart. In order for you a much bigger financial institution, take a look at the “output mAh” for actual numbers and choose larger or smaller as wanted.
One other essential consideration is charging instances, that are additionally listed. Charging time is extra helpful than charging wattage, since all batteries will sluggish the speed of charging as they get nearer to full. If you wish to keep away from the city vortex, having a battery that reaches full rapidly might be crucial.
Options like “wi-fi” charging and digital screens are lifeless weight, and very inefficient. You may be throwing away nearly half your energy financial institution through the use of a wi-fi charger as an alternative of a easy cable.
I personally am very keen on the Nitecore NB10000. It has excellent vitality density, prices fast, offers a USB-C port that may obtain and ship energy, and a legacy USB-A port for these electronics that haven’t fairly gotten as much as the fashionable period. They’re additionally silly costly.
At about half the value, a easy unit from Anker will get the job achieved, at the price of vitality density, charging pace, and most often, move by charging.
Beneficial Items:
Nitecore NB10000 (Gen 2)
Anker 313 (Powercore 10k)
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Sizing Your Battery Financial institution
To measurement your battery financial institution, it’s good to know the way a lot charging you may be doing within the area. The very first thing to do is checklist all of your gadgets, whether or not they sometimes have to be recharged on-trail, and in the event that they do, their battery measurement.
On a thru-hike, I carry my cellphone, wired earbuds, a PLB, and a chargeable headlamp. I solely use my inReach to ship one check-in message a day. Meaning it is going to final a number of weeks and doesn’t have to contribute to battery financial institution measurement. I additionally strive to not be up at night time and might go a number of weeks with out charging my headlamp as properly.
That leaves my cellphone as the one system that must be area charged. I do know from earlier backpacking expertise that my cellphone’s battery will final by itself three days for conservative, low navigational wants/on path days. If I’m actually cranking by podcasts or navigating quite a bit, which may drop to 1.5 or 2 days.
I refuse to have resupplies longer than six days aside, which suggests I want wherever from one to 3 cellphone prices within the area (in the event you go away city along with your cellphone at 100%, you get to skip your first cost out of your financial institution). My Pixel 6’s battery has a 17.8WH capability (simply decided with a Google search), so I want at most 53.4WH of exterior battery (three prices of 17.8WH). With an precise energy capability of 33.7WH, a single Nitecore NB10000 falls in need of my worst case situation.
As a substitute of buying the double sized NB20000, I take advantage of two of the 10k fashions. This retains my setup extra modular; I can bounce a financial institution forward for brief sections, cost one at a hostel whereas strolling round city with the opposite, or cost each on the identical time for top speeds.
How Wholesome Is Your Cellphone?
As batteries become older, they lose capability and effectivity. In case your cellphone is a number of years previous already and desires abnormally frequent recharges, take into account changing the cellphone’s battery (or getting a brand new cellphone) earlier than stacking on extra energy banks.
For about $80 and no weight penalty to your bag, you may be capable of minimize out one other expensive 10k-sized battery financial institution and associated chargers/cables. Having a more healthy cellphone battery additionally makes you much less depending on the exterior financial institution, which is safer within the case of unintended loss or harm.
Within the case of my companion, who has a dated iPhone, changing her cellphone’s battery would double how lengthy it could actually go between prices and take out about 15k mAH of wanted exterior capability. Meaning much less time charging banks on the town, much less wall chargers and cables, and fewer weight within the pack.
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Wall Chargers
Now that your ultimate system is chosen and sized, it’s time to determine your wall charger state of affairs. Each time you get to city, you’ll need to hunt for retailers to get grid electrical energy into your gadgets. Charging quick means you’ll be able to simply get out and in of city in a day. Whereas on path although, all of your wall chargers are lifeless weight. Retaining them gentle and environment friendly is nearly as essential as their pace.
To get a way of how a lot charging bandwidth you want, add collectively the enter charging price of all of the gadgets you’ll sometimes juice up on the town.
For me, I attempt to stroll into city with all my gadgets full (besides the facility banks) to scale back the facility bandwidth I want on the outlet. If my cellphone within reason topped off from the facility financial institution after I hitch in, I solely have to recharge my two Nitecore NB10000s. Every has an influence enter price of about 18 Watts (you’ll be able to simply discover this on-line or labeled in your system).
On events the place I do have to cost my cellphone on the town, it has a 21W price. So charging two gadgets directly, I might have 36 to 39 watts popping out of my wall charger.
Additionally rely the variety of ports you want in your wall charger. Since I solely plan to cost two gadgets directly, I sometimes search for a two-port, 40W charger. Some individuals may solely have only one massive energy financial institution to cost and select a one-port, 40W charger. On the flip aspect, they could choose some further wiggle room to cost their cellphone and two energy banks concurrently by way of a three-port, 40 – 60W charger.

4 completely different ports: USB-A, Micro USB, USB-C, and Lighting (Apple). Hopefully, we’ll simply be coping with USB-C quickly sufficient.
Do not forget that every concurrent system requires extra energy bandwidth and an additional cable. Anticipate so as to add 2 – 4 ounces of charging tools for every concurrent system being plugged into the wall. Its a direct commerce off between time on the town and weight in pack. In case you are recurrently taking neros and zeros, you’ll be able to cost gadgets one after one other to scale back your required tools.
Lastly, attempt to be thoughtful to your fellow hikers in busy path cities and decrease the variety of retailers you take up. Whereas technically getting two single port, 20W chargers weighs much less (1.1 ounceseach, 2.2 ouncestotal) than the typical two-port, 40W charger (at 2.7 oz), you might be additionally taking on extra retailers. At a busy hostel or restaurant, these might be at a severe premium.
With most gadgets now USB-C or USB-C appropriate (by means of a USB-C to Apple Lightning Cable, or a micro adapter), I extremely advocate all of your wall charger ports being USB-C. It’s the best way of the longer term.
I at all times consider how good a charger is by its watts per ounce. The present gold normal is the Anker 511 (Nano Professional 20W) at 20W for 1.1 oz. Most bigger gadgets are going to ship 20W for 1.3 to 1.6oz.
Sadly, its onerous to find out if an organization has put an correct weight right into a website like Amazon, or it might be in a uselessly imprecise format like kilograms. One of the simplest ways to confirm is to test mountain climbing boards like Reddit Ultralight or Backpacking Gentle. Most items that checklist new “GaN” know-how are prone to pack a much bigger punch for his or her weight than these with out.
Beneficial Items:
Anker 511 (1 port, 20W, 1.1oz)
Anker 521 (2 port, 40W, 2.7oz)
Anker 523 (2 port, 47W, 3.0 oz)
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Cables and Adapters
By this level you need to know all of your gadgets, energy banks, and wall chargers. Now, its time to attach all of them collectively. I attempt to hold my cable setup as environment friendly as potential. Meaning if I solely have to cost two gadgets directly, I solely need to have two cables. I don’t need cables that solely join to at least one particular system if I can keep away from it.
Most of my gadgets are USB-C based mostly, together with my wall charger, so I have a tendency to make use of cables which are USB-C on each ends. For legacy gadgets that also use micro USB (comparable to my old-style Nitecore NU25 that simply gained’t stop), I purchase low-cost microadapters. They’re lighter than cables and forestall tangles of lengthy, delicate cords.
For iPhone customers nonetheless caught on the lighting port, I extremely advocate a USB-C to lightning cable as an alternative of a USB-A to lightning. They will cost quicker and hold you appropriate with an all-USB-C system.
When you have different bizarre gadgets (like an odd magnetic watch charger, legacy flip cellphone, or specialty digital camera charger), see if you could find a USB-C model of its cable. If not, you may need to select a wall charger with a minimum of one USB-A or cost off your powerbank, which seemingly has it as properly.
With the brand new European Union regulation mandating USB-C because the common charging normal for many small gadgets, prioritizing that port format is future proofing.
When selecting cables, it pays dividends to purchase a greater cable. I just about stick to OEM or Anker, hoping to keep away from incorrect wiring or mid journey brief outs widespread within the low-cost manufacturers discovered on amazon.
Having a protracted cable is undoubtedly helpful for letting you employ a tool whereas its plugged in, however they’re additionally proportionally heavy. On the CDT, I used two one-foot cables to do all my charging. I used to be so pissed off attempting to plan my subsequent part or order alternative footwear whereas the cellphone was plugged in.
For my subsequent hike, I’m transferring to at least one one-foot cable and one three-foot cable. Anticipate an all USB-C, one-foot cable to weigh about 0.4 ouncesand a three-footer to weigh 0.9 – 1.0 oz. If you wish to actually ball out with one thing longer, improve the burden proportionally.
Many cables checklist their max energy price now. Cables with USB-A are formally restricted to 12W, though there are needlessly sophisticated exceptions to that. Whereas sub-20W USB-C cables exist, you’ll save nearly no weight. Do some future proofing and purchase 100W max cables. When you move that threshold, weight will improve dramatically.
For mountain climbing functions, don’t fear about knowledge pace (USB 2.0 vs 3.0 vs 3.2, and so forth). So long as the facility strikes, you shouldn’t have any pressing wants to maneuver huge recordsdata.
Beneficial Items:
Anker 643 cable (3ft, 100W max, 0.9 oz)
Anker Powerline III (1ft, 60W max, 0.4 oz)
USB-C to Micro USB Adapter (0.1 oz)
USB-A to USB-C Adapter (0.1 oz)
Apple USB-C to Lightning Cable
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My electronics packing checklist for a through of any size. Plenty of elements, modest weight
Placing It All Collectively
Placing all these gadgets collectively, my electronics package weighs in beneath two kilos. If wanted, I’ve the flexibleness to cost each my battery banks in just a little over two hours, simply sufficient time to eat a city meal, go to the grocery, and perhaps have a fast bathe earlier than I’m on my approach.
It’s additionally modular sufficient that I can simply ditch an influence financial institution for some weight financial savings or add one other financial institution/cable/wall charger for simply 6.9 oz. For me, it is a nice stability of weight and time on the town, and I don’t think about altering a lot till battery know-how will get quite a bit higher.
Hikers with extra gadgets or extra cellphone time on path are going to pay the value in heavier tools, however for some, that may be a worthwhile tradeoff.
Featured picture: Graphic design by Chris Helm.
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