Best portable chargers for travelers reviewed

So let’s cut the chase what most folks would like to know is how many times one can charge their iPhone or tablet. The aspect that makes this power bank so special is its size to capacity ratio. The fully charged device can charge your iPhone 6s about 3 and half times and your Samsung s7 about 2 times. For tablets like the iPad mini about 1 and a half times. The 2.4A is what you find on most fast chargers in the market as well.

This device has only one port though so you can’t charge multiple devices at the same time. It’s also worth noting that this power bank doesn’t support Qualcomm quick charges. Are you in the habit of dropping things frequently? Well not to worry, this portable charger can absorb almost any shock or impact. Its compact design was something we liked too. It’s quite ideal for going backpacking. Especially as every pound seems to matter. You can simply slip this into your pocket or backpack & forget about it.

Travelers who are not particularly travelling to places with unreliable power supplies but just want a temporary backup power source will find that the Powercore+ mini perfectly fits the bill. This is about as light as they come too, making it great to place in any carry-on or backpack. The build quality is excellent with a very compact interior design too. There is an indicator for the charge level along with a power switch, other than that there are not too many bells & whistles.

If you have the latest galaxy s7, the iPhone7 then this might not be enough for a full charge & can get you only 3 quarters of the way there. This is the trade-off for having such a small device. The 3350mAh battery is ideally suited for older devices as they have lesser capacities. Also, the output is just about 1A so it is not as quick as the 2 or 2.4A charger found on most devices on our list. Additionally, the efficiency can tend to decrease over time. This is common for all battery packs but since you are dealing with just 1 charge it could be a factor if you intend to use it very often.

It includes a flashlight like many others but unlike many others, the flashlight is large and very powerful. The weight, you might have guessed is slightly on the higher side but the capacity is correspondingly large which can prove very useful. You can easily hook it onto your belt strap as well instead of keeping it inside a backpack or rucksack. It’s water resistant as well which can work great for folks in rainy or snowy conditions.

The exterior is tough and is great for surviving impacts. You can charge most devices about 3 to 5 times on one full charge. The Unifun is another that makes use of the lithium polymer core which offers great savings in terms of weight. Like many in the market, you can easily use the device up to 1000 charging cycles. This charger can come in really handy as your phone does tend to use up battery trying in to re-establish signal in the backcountry. Overall, the Unifun is most definitely our pick for the ardent adventurer.

The RAVPower sure can hold a lot of power. It gets a lot of simple things right as well. We liked the charge indicator which might seem like an inconsequential thing but is extremely useful. Unlike many others, you can see how much battery you have used up at all times. This 28000mAh battery ensures the device is bulkier than an iPhone in itself which might not be ideal for day hikes but can work for long term backpackers & travelers.

The iSmart technology present also regulates how the charge flows to that all devices are charged in an optimal manner. This is a desirable trait in any power bank with multiple outputs. The auto shut off feature is also handy in the event of damage or short circuiting. The RAVPower does have a few short falls. The trade-off for having such a large battery is the charging time it takes for the battery pack itself. This can range from 12-24 hours depending upon whether you use a 2.4A or 1A charger. Nonetheless, a good choice for those looking for a portable charger with an enormous capacity.

The waterproof feature is not something that’s common amongst chargers and is great to have especially if you decide to go on a cruise or on a fishing trip. Unlike the Anker solar charger which we will touch on later, this one is a battery pack and can store the charge it gathers.

The not so good traits are more related to the speed to charge a device and the time it takes to charge itself with the help of the sun. This travel charger really needs proper exposure to sunlight for the charging process to be at optimum which means you might have to wait north of 8 hours for a full charge. The 5000mAh battery ensures you can charge most phones about 2 times fully. The output ports to the phone are 1A and it’s much slower than the others on our list. In other words, it can take about 4-6ish hours to charge your phone fully. Overall, a very economical option & environmentally friendly option for those in scenarios where they get a lot of sun and don’t mind the recharge pace.

The first question you may have might be related to its portable. Yes, the device is slightly on the heavier & bulky side but is still portable. It will easily fit into a purse or a backpack which makes it an excellent choice for a group of campers. There is an LED indicator & dust covers for each slot which was something we liked very much. Another aspect that will please folks is the price. The value for money aspect is quite good when compared to most power banks in the market today.

The downside is clearly its weight especially if you are individual or don’t travel too often. The higher capacity battery means it can take a long time to charge fully but the upside is that the USB-C slots do tend to charge the device a lot faster. Despite its ability to handle the rough conditions and dust, it is not waterproof. This would be a neat trait to have we thought to make it a truly complete portable charger for camping groups.

Its size is just marginally bigger than Anker mini which makes it one of the top most portable battery packs on the list. The charging speed is pretty quick but the device can charge only one device at a time. Tablets can be charged but not completely as well. When you are out & about in the wilderness this would indeed be a great device to have.

Some users have reported durability issues with the device after constant usage for many months. However, Poweradd have great customer service which certainly makes this product one to have. You can typically charge your phone in about 2-3 hours. Charging the power bank itself will take closer to 4 but is highly dependent upon the charger you use. This device also comes with a nice thick cable that is quite flexible meaning you can fold in & place it in your backpack with confidence.

The speed is also quite good with a total 2.4 to 3A output in the sun which is excellent considering no electricity or power socket is needed. We liked that the PET plastic faced solar panels were very durable and can fold into any backpack quite comfortably. The steel holes come in pretty handy as you can attach the device to your backpack when you are on the move. The pouch also does a good job of holding your phones & tablets.

Like most products in the market, this however, has its trade-offs. Whilst it is extremely lightweight, the surface area is large, hence it can be a bit big to fold and transport. Also as the name suggests you are required to be in direct sunlight for fast charging to take place. If you are camping for many days and have bad weather this might help you out too much. This, however, is just 1 scenario. Whilst this is a portable charger it does not however, store charge like a traditional battery pack. For those who are looking to go eco-friendly and don’t mind spending the extra buck then the 21W solar charger is a great option.

A neat feature included is a flashlight which can be pretty handy when you are out and about. There are indicator lights unlike the ones on some Anker models. The Dulla also has a polymer battery instead of a Lithium Ion battery found on most phones & chargers. This helps them keep the weight down a lot better.

The major downsides in our opinion are primarily related to the charging speed on offer & the bulky size. While it is slim and sleek it is almost as long as a nexus 7 tablet which can make it a bit hard to carry around comfortably. The charging speed is not quite as fast as most 2.4A output external batteries. The sluggish charging is also reported by other users when charging two devices. Nonetheless, if you are okay with the length of the device it’s a great travel charger for one to have.

This external battery is also made up of original LG batteries which are much more reliable & safe. Again you can charge most devices about 3-4 times depending upon the size of the battery. It does have only one output port so you can only charge multiple devices linearly.

This device, unlike other chargers, is capable of pass-through charging but it’s not recommended to do so as the battery life can get severely depleted over time. Older models are generally not supported for quick charge 2.0 meaning they can take almost twice the amount of time to be charged. Nonetheless, it’s still much faster than a conventional charger.