Battery choices
- Li-ion rechargeables: Great capacity; keep spares warm in an inside pocket.
- Primary lithium (CR123/AA lithium): Better cold performance than alkaline.
- Avoid alkaline: Drops voltage quickly in cold and can leak.
Keep them warm
- Store spares against body heat; rotate warm cells into the device.
- Use short duty cycles; power down between scans if the device boots quickly.
- Avoid leaving gear in cold vehicles; acclimate gradually to prevent condensation.
Runtime habits
- Lower screen/brightness if available; disable unneeded recording to save power.
- Use standby/sleep modes when you can still wake fast.
- Carry a small power bank for USB-powered thermals (where supported).
For gear recommendations tested in mixed weather, see our Night Vision & Thermal guide.