5V LiPo - Seems kind of clumsy

Other Hardware Motors, Mechanics, Power and CNC
1

It looks like to power a 5V arduino requires:
LiPo battery with JST connector: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/341
5V DC to DC Step Up: 5V DC to DC Step Up - VPack PCB - PRT-08290 - SparkFun Electronics?
Charger: SparkFun LiPo Charger Basic - Mini-USB - PRT-10401 - SparkFun Electronics

The battery connects to the charger easy enough, connecting the Step Up boards seems very clumsy.
To connect the battery to the Step Up, a JST connector like has to be soldered to the Step Up board: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9749
To connect the Step Up to the Arduino, requires soldering jumper cables to the Step Up board.

I guess this is no big deal, but thought this was fairly common and soldering would not be required.

2

You could mention that to Sparkfun.
See if they would provide a board with all the connections.

3

Good thought. I just added some comments at SparkFun. Stuff like missing connectors slows me up a lot. It's more ordering them then the soldering.

4

I looked a bit more and they have an integrated charger booster: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11231
It needs a header for connecting to breadboard, but they have taken care of the JST connectors! Micro USB though.

Just ordered it. And a plug for SparkFun USPS shipping. It is only like $4. I hate to spend $11 for UPS for a couple of items.