Likely, the first camera gear you think of might includes lenses, a camera bag, maybe a tripod. All of these are great, but if you run out of power, they won’t do you any good at all. So, one piece of camera gear you’ll definitely be happy to have when you’re out and about taking photos is a replacement battery.

Having a fully charged spare camera battery can save the day. If you’re shooting video or using your camera in cold conditions, you will go through your battery life more quickly than you realize, and the last thing you want is to miss those beautiful end-of-day shots you were planning to take.

Each DSLR, point-and-shoot and mirrorless camera requires a specific shape and style of battery, so prioritize compatibility when shopping. Many camera batteries are lithium-ion batteries—keep in mind that you cannot put lithium batteries in checked luggage on a plane.

As is the case with all batteries, it is best to plug camera batteries into camera battery chargers only as long as required. Batteries heat up when charging and that heat can diminish the life of the battery over time. So, leaving batteries plugged in long after they have finished charging may have undesirable repercussions.

Cold temperatures also affect batteries. When working in cold conditions, you can help yourself maintain longer battery life on a single charge by keeping batteries at a comfortable temperature. Keep your camera in a warm place when possible, and store spare batteries on your person rather than in your camera bag for warmth.

Another important item to have in your bag is a spare camera memory card. You don’t want to have to spend time deleting unwanted photos to open more space on your card. To make sure you have everything you might want, look at this list of 10 must-have camera accessories.