Are there any players I can buy for using Rockbox?

[PGuru]

@depperl if you are still monitoring this thread, I have one perfect Clip+ and two with touchy headphone jacks, all of which I'd be very happy to mail you for the cost of the postage (US).

I you don't get a response, I'd love to replace my Clip + which has been a loyal servant but no longer maintains battery charge - but I'm not in the US, and in fairness you could get a decent price on ebay for even the non-working ones.

[depperl]

I am terribly sorry for not replying earlier, it has been a lot to do in the last weeks.

@depperl if you are still monitoring this thread, I have one perfect Clip+ and two with touchy headphone jacks, all of which I'd be very happy to mail you for the cost of the postage (US).

That is a very sweet offer -- but I am not in the US neither (Germany), and just as PGuru says as well, my conscience obliges me to tell you that these devices are also offered on eBay for 233.49 € (+ 45.32 € shipping from the UK, so at the moment $ 300 in total...  ), so they are not quite worth their weight in gold yet, but they are almost worth their weight in ... let me research ... almost worth their weight in ruthenium (whatever that is ^^).

[Polarigel]

I too use my Rockbox-player for listening to audio-books in bed- about the same way you do with podcasts. I hold my player in my hand for jumping back in track or changing the volume. Strangely just holding my powered-off player sometimes helps me to sleep  . I used to wake up in the morning lying on my Clip+. The Hifi Walker is larger, but that actually doesn't disturb me. I don't wake up lying on it any more, but that's all.

If you prefer a small item, you could try a mobile phone  with a podcast or audiobook app on your nightstand and a bluetooth remote control (e.g. https://www.amazon.com/-/de/TUNAI-Button-Media-Remote-Control/dp/B07JQ8Q6X6?ref_=ast_sto_dp). My remote (no longer available) is about the size of a Clip+. It can start or stop the audioplayer, jump in the track and control volume. The Hifi Walker is to big for carrying around, so I use the remote in combination with my phone when travelling.