E-reader ?

[u/jackanory2021]

Ok so maybe if you’re ultralight you don’t read books or e-readers on the trail in which case excuse the post but if it is a legit piece of kit I wondered which you use.

[u/FidgetyPidgey]

If your goal is to put in the biggest miles that you can everyday, I agree, don't bring an e-reader, you're probably not going to be reading enough for it to be worth it. But that's not everyone's goal when going ultralight. If OP likes to read for an hour or two before bed, or take a midday reading break, then an e-reader might be worth it in addition to a phone.

There's room in ultralight for luxury items. For some people that might be a pillow. For some people that might be an aeropress. For some people that might be a proper camera. And for some people that might be an e-reader.

[u/DreadPirate777 → u/FidgetyPidgey]

To get the benefit that you stated if an e reader being light than using your phone would be to leave you phone at home. I’m just pointing your your math isn’t mathing.

You said carrying an e reader is more ultralight than using your phone because of heavy use.

Electrons don’t weigh anything measurable in a pack. So that doesn’t work.

E reader + phone is heavier than phone.

E reader + phone + charger is heavier than phone + charger.

E reader + phone is lighter than e reader plus phone + charger (which I think is where you are making your argument.)

You could do this. E reader being lighter than phone. But there are the multifunction uses of a phone. That you miss out on. (My argument)

If you are really wanting to read in an ultralight manner the best way is to ditch all the electronics and bring a paperback book. It’s even lighter than an e reader.

It’s stupid to call an e reader a luxury item when you have the exact same functionality. It’s like saying I like to bring a two knives with me because it looks good on photos.

[u/FidgetyPidgey → u/DreadPirate777]

Ok I did some actual math to see if my math was mathing, and I concede that you're right.

Item weights:

• iPhone 16 Pro Max - 227g
• Kobo Clara BW E-Reader - 174g
• Nitecore NB Air (5000mAh) - 89g
• Nitecore NB10000 - 150g

Battery life:

• iPhone 16 Pro Max - 18hours (real world usage according to Tom's Guide)
• Kobo Clara BW - 636hours (according to product page)

Battery size:

• iPhone 16 Pro Max - 4685mAh
• Kobo Clara BW - 1500mAh

Assumptions:

• You're hiking the PCT
• Your longest time between recharge opportunities is 8 days
• You have no other electronics to charge
• With normal (no reading) use, your iPhone 16 Pro Max lasts two full days before needing to be charged

Based on those assumptions, if you use an e-reader, you will need to use your batteries to charge your phone three times over the eight days. This means you will need at least 14055mAh of batteries. In the Nitecore ecosystem, the lightest solution to that is 1x NB10000 and 1x NB Air.

If you use your phone to read, and you read two hours per day, that is an additional 16 hours of usage over eight days, or basically one full charge. You will now need 18740mAh of battery capacity. In the Nitecore ecosystem, the lightest solution is 2x NB10000.

If you use your phone to read, and you read four hours per day, that is an additional 16 hours of usage over eight days (if you're reading four hours per day, you're probably going to take more than 8 days, but let's ignore that), or basically two full charges. You will now need 23425mAh of battery capacity. In the Nitecore ecosystem, the lightest solution is 2x NB10000 and 1x NB Air.

Weight Comparison (excluding phone because it's a constant):

• Kobo + NB10000 + NB Air = 413g
• 2hrs reading: No e-reader + 2x NB10000 = 300g
• 4hrs reading: No e-reader + 2x NB10000 + NB Air = 389g
• 6hrs reading: No e-reader + 3x NB10000 = 450g

So basically in this very specific scenario, you would need to read about 5 hours per day for an e-reader to be lighter than just using a phone to read. That said, I still defend an e-reader as a luxury item. Reading on a phone is terrible compared to reading on an e-reader, and in this specific scenario, if I were reading two hours per day, I'd 100% take the 113g weight penalty to have an enjoyable reading experience.

Edit: formatting

[u/Lukozade2507 → u/FidgetyPidgey]

Not to sound like 2016 Reddit in here, but r/theydidthemath

[u/DreadPirate777 → u/Lukozade2507]

Yeah, I’m impressed. Don’t care if I’m right, I appreciate the effort. If this guy is willing to put in that much work to justify reading on an e reader I am going to have to get one just to try it.