Electronics are essential items in many hikers’ backpacks, so getting the best power bank to keep them going on trail is really important. Whatever your electronics setup looks like, we know it can be a real drag when something runs out of juice in the backcountry.
We’ve researched more than 40 power banks over the last four years, and tested 25 of the most promising battery packs on trail to bring you this guide. Whether your charging needs are extensive or you just need a simple battery to top up your phone every once in a while, our expertise will help you find the best power bank for your adventures.
Most hikers carry a smartphone, but you may also have things like wireless headphones, a rechargeable headlamp, and a fitness or GPS watch that need to be charged up on trail. We like carrying our tech gadgets in a fanny pack so they’re close at hand when we need them.
Quick Picks for Power Banks
Check out this quick list of our favorites if you’re in a hurry, or continue scrolling to see our full list with in-depth reviews.
Best power bank overall: INIU 20000 PD ($30)
Best ultralight power bank: Nitecore NB 10000 Gen 2 ($60)
Best budget 10,000 mAh power bank: INIU Megapower 10000 ($27)
Best large-capacity power bank: Charmast 26800 ($43)
Budget power bank with an excellent weight-to-power ratio: OKZU 10000 ($28)
Most compact power bank: Charmast 10000 Mini ($30)
Best single-charge power bank: Goal Zero Flip 24 ($30)
What’s new
After logging more miles with our top power bank picks and testing some new ones, we’ve made some updates to our list:
- The Iniu 20000 PD power bank remains our number one pick and is now even more affordable.
- The Nitecore NB 10000 Gen. 2 battery bank moves into our number two spot due to its low weight, durability, and quick charging.
Iniu 20000 PD
Best power bank overall
Price: $30
Weight: 12.2 oz.
mAh: 20,000
Time to full charge: 6 hrs. (USB-C)
Pros
- Very affordable
- Quick charge output
- Recharges quickly
- Large charging capacity
- Large digital battery display
- Can charge multiple devices at once
- Pass-through charging
Cons
- A bit heavy/bulky
The convenience of the Iniu 20000 PD makes it one of our go-tos for times when we need to power multiple devices or when we’ll be away from wall power for an extended period. It charges pretty dang fast for how large it is (about six hours with a USB-C cable and a quick charge block), and it can charge a smartphone to 50% in just 30 minutes. The large digital display also makes it easy to see exactly how much juice you have left instead of having to guess at what indicator dots might mean. The Iniu 20000 is a bit bulkier and heavier than many other batteries, but we think it’s worth the carry if you tend to need a lot of power for things like mapping apps and photography.
Nitecore NB 10000 Gen 2
Best ultralight power bank
Price: $60
Weight: 5.3 oz.
mAh: 10,000
Time to full charge: 3.5 hrs. (USB-C)
Pros
- Compact
- Ultralight
- Durable
- Recharges quickly
- Quick charge output
- Pass-through charging
- Can charge two devices at once
Cons
- Expensive
- Battery life indicator isn’t very clear
The Nitecore NB 10000 (Gen 2) is a great choice for those whose priority is keeping weight and bulk to a minimum. It’s smaller than most other 10,000 mAh batteries and it’s the lightest medium-capacity power bank on our list. The sleek carbon fiber housing makes this battery both lightweight and durable – two attributes hikers will surely appreciate. The one gripe we have with the NB 10000 is that the battery life indicator isn’t very clear, but this isn’t a huge deal once you get a feel for how this battery works with your devices. The NB 10000 is a little on the pricey side, but the short recharge time, low weight, and compact size make this an ideal battery for longer backpacking trips.
Iniu Megapower 10000
Best budget 10,000 mAh power bank
Price: $27 (often on sale for less)
Weight: 7 oz.
mAh: 10,000
Time to full charge: 4 hrs. (USB-C) / 7 hrs. (micro USB)
Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Can charge multiple devices at once
- Quick charge output
- Pass-through charging
Cons
- Not as efficient as some
- A little slower to charge than other 10,000 mAh batteries
The Iniu Megapower 10000 is an affordable power bank that will provide the average smartphone with 2-2.5 charges. This mid-capacity power bank is lightweight, compact, and it can charge multiple devices at once. It takes slightly longer to charge than other batteries with the same capacity, so it may not be the most efficient choice for thru-hikers who need a quick turnaround in town. But if you’re looking for an affordable battery with a good balance of weight to power, the Megapower 10,000 is hard to beat.
Charmast 26800 Ultra Slim QC
Best large-capacity power bank
Price: $43
Weight: 15 oz.
mAh: 26,800
Time to full charge: 9 hrs. (USB-C) /11 hrs. (micro USB)
Pros
- Excellent value (usually on sale)
- high charging capacity
- quick charge output
- charges multiple devices at once
- durable
Cons
- Heavier/bulkier than others
- takes longer to charge than some
The Charmast 26800 is the largest capacity battery on our list, and at its typical sale price of around $40, it’s also one of the best deals. This massive power bank can charge a modern smartphone around six times, and it also has an output high enough to power larger devices such as a tablet or laptop. Oh, and did we mention it can charge an impressive four devices at once? While the Charmast 26800 is a bit heavier and bulkier than the batteries we typically like to backpack with, it’s perfect for travel or for hiking trips where photography is a focus and you’ll need a way to power camera batteries or other larger electronics.
OKZU 10000
Budget power bank with an excellent weight-to-power ratio
Price: $28
Weight: 6.8 oz.
mAh: 10,000
Time to full charge: 3 hrs.
Pros
- Affordable
- ultralight
- recharges quickly
- quick charge output
- pass-through charging
Cons
- Only charges one device at a time
The OKZU 10000 is a killer deal – it’s the most affordable power bank on our list, yet its specs are on par with more expensive batteries. It’s lightweight, it recharges quickly, and it has quick charge output, but it can only charge one device at a time. This may not matter if your charging needs are simple, but you may want to consider paying a little more for a power bank with dual charging if you want the ability to charge multiple electronics simultaneously. That said, the OKZU 10000 is an awesome value, and you could even carry two of them for less money and weight than most 20000 mAh chargers.
Charmast 10000 Mini
Most compact power bank
Price: $30
Weight: 6.7 oz.
mAh: 10,000
Time to full charge: 3.5 hrs. (USB-C) / 10 (micro USB)
Pros
- Ultralight
- excellent value
- compact
- recharges quickly
- quick charge output
- can charge multiple devices
Cons
- Not as efficient as others
- no pass-through charging
If keeping your battery as compact as possible is your main priority, the Charmast 10000 Mini is your guy. This battery is smaller than a standard deck of cards – that’s nearly half the size of other batteries with the same charging capacity. Despite the tiny package, the Charmast 10000 still has the features of full-size batteries – like quick charge compatibility and multiple device charging. In our testing, we did find this bank to be slightly less efficient than some others – meaning a bit more of the 10,000 mAh capacity is lost between the bank itself and the device being charged. That said, this pocket-size battery will still give around two full charges for a modern smartphone.
Goal Zero Flip 24
Best single-charge power bank
Price: $30
Weight: 4.6 oz.
mAh: 6,700
Time to full charge: 6 hrs.
Pros
- Affordable
- Compact
- Ultralight
Cons
- Small charging capacity (charges the avg. phone once)
- No quick charge output
- Power input can be hard to use
We’ve been using Goal Zero power banks for many years now, and we love them for their low weight and compact size. The Flip 24 is a tiny power bank that will fit in any pocket, and it’s perfect for outings close to home when you only need a little extra power. This battery will only charge a smartphone once or twice, so we typically use it for day hikes or as an emergency charger. If you need more juice, the Flip charger also comes in a 36 (about three charges) size. But we would recommend going with a different power bank for longer trips since this one can be a little difficult to charge on the go.
What’s Most Important to You in a Power Bank?
PRICE
Power banks are getting more and more affordable, and it’s possible to get a super efficient and compact battery for very little money nowadays. Cost starts to ramp up if you’re looking for an ultralight bank, but most of the inexpensive batteries on this list are still reasonably lightweight.
Best value power banks
Best budget power banks
Best high-end power bank
WEIGHT
Since weight adds up quickly in a backpack, finding the best balance between weight and charging capacity is key. If you have multiple electronics to charge (or devices with large batteries), you may want to go with a slightly heavier power bank with more milliamp hours. If you don’t have many electronics or you don’t use them much on trail, you can save some ounces by choosing a smaller-capacity battery.
Lightest power banks
Battery banks with the best balance of weight to charging capacity
NUMBER OF CHARGES
Milliamp hours (mAH) tell you how much juice a power bank provides.
A 20,000+ mAH power bank will charge an average smartphone about 4 times. This size is great for powering large electronics (like a camera) or multiple devices on long trips. We recommend going with a large-capacity bank in this range if you frequently head out for 4-5 day trips, carry a large amount of rechargeable electronics, or you’re sharing with a hiking partner.
Many hikers with more modest power needs find that a 10,000 mAH battery does the trick. Smaller banks will recharge faster, often cost less, and are usually smaller and lighter. Go with this size (or smaller) if you’re looking for a power bank for daily use around town, you’re usually not on trail for more than a couple days at a time, or if you’re the type that likes to truly disconnect when out in the backcountry.
Best 20,000+ mAh power banks
Best 10,000 mAh power banks
Best power bank under 10000 mAh
CHARGE TIME
It’s becoming more common for power banks to have quick charge (or power delivery [PD]) compatibility. Not only does this charge your devices much quicker, but the power bank itself can reach full charge a lot faster. We find this especially important on longer trips and thru-hikes that include stops for resupply, because quick charge allows you to get in and out of town much faster. Be sure to use a quick charge block to take advantage of this feature.
Best quick charge power banks
OKZU 10000 – Photo credit: Casey Handley (CleverHiker.com)
Nitecore NB 10000 – Photo credit: Casey Handley (CleverHiker.com)
INIU 20000 PD – Photo credit: Casey Handley (CleverHiker.com)
Photo credit: Casey Handley (CleverHiker.com)
Critical Battery Bank Considerations
HOW MANY CHARGES WILL I GET?
A lot of factors go into how many charges you’ll get out of your power bank, like how large your phone battery is, how many devices you’re powering, and the outside temperature. On average a 20,000 mAh battery will charge a standard smartphone about four times, a 10,000 mAh battery will provide about two charges, and smaller capacity power banks typically provide one to one and half charges.
CHARGING CABLES / BLOCK
To get your power bank to full as quickly as possible, make sure you’re using a quick charge block and charging through the quick charge port (usually indicated by a little lightning bolt). Some power banks have multiple quick charge ports – typically a USB-C port and a USB-A port. You probably won’t notice much of an efficiency difference between using a short cable, a long cable, or a cable with multiple dongles. But we can tell you that it’s often worth it to pay a little more for a quality cable that will be durable on the trail or for travel.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
Most power banks are decently waterproof and dustproof – look for the IP rating in the manufacturer specs to determine how much moisture/dust it can tolerate. Just like with your smartphone, very cold temperatures can drain the life of your power bank. When we expect temperatures to dip below freezing, we take precautions to protect our electronics. We recommend keeping battery-powered devices in your pocket or wrapped in a sock during the day and in your sleeping bag at night when the temperatures drop.
PASS-THROUGH CHARGING
Pass-through charging is an especially convenient feature for long hikes that include a resupply. It allows you to charge devices off of your power bank while the bank itself is charging. This is an efficient way to juice up all your electronics at once and it can get you out of town a little quicker after a resupply.
Honorable Mentions
The following power bank didn’t make our final list, but it’s still got a lot of good things going for them. You never know, one of them might be perfect for you:
Anker PowerCore 26800 PD Bundle
This is a very large-capacity battery bundled with a quick charge cable and charging block for powering larger electronics like laptops and tablets. It’s fairly expensive, but it’s a convenient choice for folks looking for a battery bank for traveling.
