Rather than continue to post this on the "sticky thread," I'm starting a new thread for this topic. It hasn't been oovered for a couple of years. I know there are increasing numbers of people interested in this issue, and i know very little about it (as a Luddite I avoid batteries as much as I can, taking them only for my camera and headlamp).

So have at it, folks! I'm transferring a post from BrianLe, our resident Triple Crown thru-hiker, to this thread--you'll see it above.