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Best Portable Power Bank/Supply For Travel And Camping 2024

How Portable Power Banks Changed The Way I Travel

As a tech-nerd, I bring my electronics with me no matter where I go.

My iPhone, laptop, Nintendo Switch, and GoPro get used every day and when you’re out in the middle of the woods with no electricity, it becomes a challenge to keep them alive.

Related Product: If compatible, us a solar panel like the Portable Powkey 60W Panel (click to view on Amazon) to charge your portable power bank.

I remember before I bought a portable power bank how I would spend time in front of outlets at Starbucks, restaurants, even some retail stores.

I always had the charger with me in case I would run into an outlet. But let me tell you, I am glad that’s a thing of the past.

When I bought my 10,000mAh portable power supply, it was very expensive compared to what’s available today.

Today you can buy a portable power bank that will charge your phone for a whole week for the price I paid just a few years ago.

Since USB has evolved, and USB-C can charge laptops and even gaming consoles like the Nintendo Switch, one big battery could be all you need for all your devices.

In this review, I would like to share the best portable power bank chargers on the market for travel and camping.

I decided to pick products from several price points to give you an option no matter what kind of budget you have.

If you don’t know what mAh means and how to calculate how many times you can charge your device, scroll down to the Frequently Asked Questions where I will go through this.

See Also: Best Portable Power Station/Solar Generator For Camping & Travel

One more thing, while there are power banks with built-in solar panels, they’re way too small to be efficient and convenient.

Leaving batteries directly in sunlight is also not recommended.

If you want to charge your power bank with solar, I recommend buying a solar panel that you connect to the battery bank.

Preview
INIU Portable Charger, Smallest 22.5W 10000mAh Power Bank, USB C...
My Choice
INIU Portable Charger, 22.5W 20000mAh USB C in & Out Power Bank Fast...
Portable Charger Power Bank 26800mah,Ultra-High Capacity Safer...
AC Outlet
Omni 20+ 20000mah Laptop Power Bank Portable Charger |...
Most Capacity
Krisdonia 50000mAh Laptop Power Bank 5/9/12/16/19/20V Portable Laptop...
mAh
10,000mAh
20,000mAh
26,800mAh
20,000mAh
50,000mAh
USB-C Port
USB-A Ports
2
2
2
2
2
Other Ports
Micro USB (Input)
AC Outlet (100W) / Wireless Charging (10W)
DC (Input), DC (Output)
Battery Indicator
Simultaneous Charging
Allowed On Airplanes
Size
5.3 x 2.8 x 0.6 in
5.3 x 2.8 x 1 in
5.9 x 3 x 0.6 in
5 x 4.8 x 1 in
7.7 x 5.9 x 1.1 in
Weight
7.4 oz
12.8 oz
11.8 oz
1.4 lbs
2.55 lbs

Preview
INIU Portable Charger, Smallest 22.5W 10000mAh Power Bank, USB C...
mAh
10,000mAh
USB-C Port
USB-A Ports
2
Other Ports
Battery Indicator
Simultaneous Charging
Allowed On Airplanes
Size
5.3 x 2.8 x 0.6 in
Weight
7.4 oz

My Choice

Preview
INIU Portable Charger, 22.5W 20000mAh USB C in & Out Power Bank Fast...
mAh
20,000mAh
USB-C Port
USB-A Ports
2
Other Ports
Battery Indicator
Simultaneous Charging
Allowed On Airplanes
Size
5.3 x 2.8 x 1 in
Weight
12.8 oz
Preview
Portable Charger Power Bank 26800mah,Ultra-High Capacity Safer...
mAh
26,800mAh
USB-C Port
USB-A Ports
2
Other Ports
Micro USB (Input)
Battery Indicator
Simultaneous Charging
Allowed On Airplanes
Size
5.9 x 3 x 0.6 in
Weight
11.8 oz

AC Outlet

Preview
Omni 20+ 20000mah Laptop Power Bank Portable Charger |...
mAh
20,000mAh
USB-C Port
USB-A Ports
2
Other Ports
AC Outlet (100W) / Wireless Charging (10W)
Battery Indicator
Simultaneous Charging
Allowed On Airplanes
Size
5 x 4.8 x 1 in
Weight
1.4 lbs

Most Capacity

Preview
Krisdonia 50000mAh Laptop Power Bank 5/9/12/16/19/20V Portable Laptop...
mAh
50,000mAh
USB-C Port
USB-A Ports
2
Other Ports
DC (Input), DC (Output)
Battery Indicator
Simultaneous Charging
Allowed On Airplanes
Size
7.7 x 5.9 x 1.1 in
Weight
2.55 lbs

Last update on 2024-03-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Best Portable Battery Banks Reviews

1. INIU 10000mAh 22.5W Power Bank

INIU Portable Charger, Smallest 22.5W 10000mAh Power Bank, USB C...

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INIU is a relatively new brand that quickly has become popular in the portable power bank market.

It makes batteries in different sizes, and the first one I am adding to the list is its 10,000mAh model.

It’s a very small and portable battery, which is large enough to charge most phones at least twice.

Even though it’s small, its feature-packed. It has a battery indicator shown as a percentage, several outputs, and quick charging.

The USB C PD port is both an input and an output, and can output up to 22.5 watts.

The max input wattage is 20W. That’s extremely fast for a portable battery this size.

To charge your devices at close to 20W, it needs to support fast charging.

See Also: Best Lightweight Hiking & Backpacking Chairs Reviewed

The latest iPhone 12 series, and the older iPhone 11 Series support 18-20W.

The Samsung, LG, and Google phones and devices that support QC charging can be charged at up to 18W.

Using the USB A ports, you’ll be able to charge phones, tablets, headphones, smartwatches, and similar devices at up to 18W.

One neat feature with the INIU 10,000mAh is the small built-in phone holder that lets you stand the phone up on its side while it’s charging.

It’s a small flap that folds out to support the phone in landscape mode.

With a compatible PD wall charger, the battery can recharge in as quick as three hours. INIU makes and sells a compatible that will do the job.

One of my favorite features is the battery percentage shown on the front of the battery.

Instead of having 3-5 LED lights that indicate how charged the battery is, you’ll get an exact percentage.

The percentage makes it easy to track and know how much of the battery your device require, and when it’s time to recharge.

Included with the INIU 10000mAh 22.5W Power Bank is a USB A to USB C cable to charge the battery, and a storage pouch to protect it during travel.

PROS

  • Battery percentage shown on battery
  • Fast Charging
  • USB C PD (20W in, 20.5W out)
  • 2 USB-A Outputs
  • Travel pouch, USB C cable included
  • Airplane friendly

CONS

  • Doesn’t include PD wall charger

2. INIU 20000mAh 20W Power Bank

INIU Portable Charger, 22.5W 20000mAh USB C in & Out Power Bank Fast...

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INIU doesn’t only make the best 10,000mAh power bank I reviewed above, but also, in my opinion, the best 20,000mAh model.

This one is very similar to the 10,000mAh above, but it’s twice the size in terms of battery capacity.

With a 20,000mAh battery, you’ll be able to charge an iPhone 11 over four times, and a Samsung S20 over three times.

There are two USB A ports capable of outputting up to 15W to compatible devices, and one USB C PD port capable of outputting up to 22.5W.

The max input wattage is 20W, and is compatible with the .

See Also: How To Make Coffee While Camping (Stove & Campfire Coffee)

You’re going to need at least a 20W PD charger to recharge the battery quickly. In this case, quickly means six hours from 0 to 100%.

A LED display that shows the battery percentage can be found on the front of the battery. It also shows whether the battery is charging or discharging.

While it doesn’t have the phone holder found on the 10,000mAh model, it does have a built-in flashlight that can be useful at night if you’re out camping.

The INIU 20000mAh 20W Power Bank includes a USB A to USB C cable, and a travel pouch to protect the battery bank during travel.

PROS

  • Battery percentage shown on battery
  • Fast Charging
  • Built-in flashlight
  • USB C PD (20W in, 20.5W out)
  • 2 USB-A Outputs
  • Travel pouch, USB C cable included
  • Airplane friendly

CONS

  • Doesn’t include PD wall charger

3. QTshine Portable Charger Power Bank

Portable Charger Power Bank 26800mah,Ultra-High Capacity Safer...

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If you’re looking for the largest portable battery you’re allowed to bring onto an airplane, this is it.

With its 26,800mAh battery capacity, it’s close to the upper limit of what’s allowed by the TSA (at least in the United States).

Because of the high capacity, you’ll be able to charge an iPhone 11 up to six times, a Samsung S20 up to six times.

It has two USB ports, one that can output 5V 3.1 amps.

See Also: Review For Full Time RVers: Cotopaxi 18L Luzon Del Día Pack

The input for charging is via mini usb. It can charge quickly at 2.1 amps.

On the front, there are 4 LED lights that will show you the battery level.

Both USB outputs can be used at the same time and charge more than one device at a time.

A micro USB cable is included with purchase of the QTshine Portable Charger Power Bank.

PROS

  • Battery percentage shown on battery
  • Fast Charging
  • 2 USB Outputs
  • Micro USB input
  • Airplane friendly

CONS

  • Doesn’t include PD wall charger
  • No USB-C

4. Omni AC/DC/USB-C Portable Power Bank

Omni 20+ 20000mah Laptop Power Bank Portable Charger |...

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If you need to be able to plug in 110V devices, this power bank from Omni might be the one for you.

It has a built-in inverter that powers the AC outlet.

It can output up to 100 watts, which means that it will power a lot of small devices like tablets, a Nintendo Switch, some TVs, and some laptop chargers.

To keep the inverter cool, there are some air vents on the bottom of the battery, so if you’re using the AC outlet you should make sure it’s ventilated enough to not overheat.

In addition to the AC outlet, there are two USB-As and a USB C port.

The USB C port supports up to 60W input or output, and the USB A port supports QC 3.0 which means up to 18W.

For DC power there’s a 100W DC input/output next to the USB-C port.

See Also: Best Propane Camping Stoves – From Small To Large

There is also a 10W wireless charger on the top of the portable power station.

The battery capacity is 20,000mAh, which is small enough to be allowed on an airplane, and the design is very compact even though it a full-size AC outlet.

With a compatible USB C PD 45W charger or DC barrel port, the battery can be recharged in as little as 3 hours.

On the side there is even a little OLED screen that tells you everything you need to know about the kind of power the battery is ouputing, charging speed, and more.

There is an on/off button, an AC button, and a USB button to control the different settings.

One thing to note about this battery is that you can actually use the AC outlet while the battery is charging.

Not something you see with many AC portable power stations.

The Omni AC/DC/USB-C Portable Power Bank includes a USB cable and a USB-C charging cable.

PROS

  • AC Outlet (100W max output)
  • Fast Charging
  • USB C PD (60W in/out)
  • Airplane friendly
  • Wireless Charger
  • OLED Display
  • 100W DC Barrel Output/Input

CONS

  • Doesn’t include PD wall charger

5. Krisdonia NJF-5X 50,000mAh

Krisdonia 50000mAh Laptop Power Bank 5/9/12/16/19/20V Portable Laptop...

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Last up is the Krisdonia NJF-5X. If you’re looking for the portable power bank with the highest battery capacity in today’s comparison, you’ve found it.

50,000mAh won’t be allowed on airplanes, but if you’re traveling by ground this power bank will keep your devices charged for possibly a week depending on use.

When it comes to inputs and outputs, you’ll get two USB-A ports 5V 9V 12V/3A capable of quick charging phones and tablets.

There’s also one USB-C port powerful enough to power a Nintendo Switch unless it’s connected through HDMI.

And last but not least, a DC output which is for charging laptops and notebooks.

Krisdonia includes 28 types of laptop charge connectors to make sure that you’ll be able to charge your specific brand of laptop.

It even comes with a MagSafe 2 cable so owners of older MacBooks can charge up.

See Also: 25 Gifts For RV Owners/Enthusiasts (Fun, Practical, Unique)

When charging your notebook with the Krisdonia portable power bank you’ll set the voltage depending on what your notebook charger says.

It’s capable of 5V, 8.4V, 9V, 12V, 16V (16.5V, and 20V (19V, 19.5V). In other words, if you’re not very tech-savvy it might not be your best choice.

A DC input charges the power bank from 0 to 100% in about 8 hours.

What I really like on the Krisdonia portable power bank is the battery percentage shown next to the ports.

There’s nothing better than a percentage so you know exactly how much juice is left in the power bank. It also tells you the voltage it’s set to.

So what’s included in the box? A bag for the battery bank, a DC charger, a Magsafe 2 cable, a DC cable output, a USB-A cable, and 28 different laptop charge connectors.

PROS

  • Huge Capacity
  • Battery Percentage Shown
  • Compatible With Tons Of Laptops/Notebooks
  • Fast Charging
  • 2 USB-A Outputs
  • USB-C (PD output)

CONS

  • Heavy
  • Not Airplane Friendly
Laptop being charged with a portable power station while tent camping
You can power a laptop anywhere with the right size and kind of portable power station.

Conclusion About Portable Power Banks

Any portable power bank is better than no power bank.

To have extra battery power can be a lifesaver in some situations and everybody with a phone should have a portable power supply.

Since it’s something that everybody should have it’s also a great gift.

I have given portable power banks to family members that have later told me how nice it’s to have, even if you’re just at home.

Being able to charge up a phone while sitting on the couch instead of having to leave it by an outlet is convenient.

See Also: Top 5 Portable Roasting Sticks For Marshmallows & Hot Dogs

Hiker charging a phone with a portable power station in the mountains
Backpackers and campers use portable power stations to keep their phones and other electronics charged when out in the wild.

Frequently Asked Questions About Portable Power Banks

What’s the difference between USB-C and USB-C PD (Power Delivery)?

Goal Zero has a great post explaining the differences between USB-C and USB-C PD that you can find here.

What portable power banks are allowed on airplanes?

Power banks must not exceed 100Wh. If you know the mAh and volts you can do a quick calculation to find out the Wh.

If you don’t know the voltage, most power banks made with lithium batteries are 3.7V.

mAh/1000 * Volts = Wh

So let’s take the RAVPower Power bank for example, its capacity is 26,800mAh and is made with lithium cells which usually are 3.7 Volts.

26800mAh/1000*3.7 = 99.16Wh

Since the WattHours is under 100, it’s OK to bring on an airplane.

Can I charge a power bank with a portable solar panel?

Yes, if the solar panel has either a USB A, USB C, or DC output, your power bank can most likely be charged with the help of the sun.

For example, the Powkey 60W portable solar panel (click to view on Amazon) has both USB ports and comes with several DC connectors.

This makes it compatible with a lot of the power banks on the market.

Foldable Solar Panel Charger 60W with 18V DC Output (11 Connectors)...

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See Also: Best Portable Solar Panel Charger For RV Camper/Boondocking

How do I calculate how many times my device can be charged?

First you want to know how big the battery is in your device, in mAh.

Then we can quickly check how many times you’ll be able to charge your device.

If a power bank has 10,000mAh capacity, and your phone has a 5,000mAh battery, you should be able to charge your phone twice, right? Since 10000/5000=2.

Well, in a perfect world it would be that easy.

Unfortunately, when the power bank transfers power to your phone there is always some loss due to resistance. They can’t transfer 100% of the power.

How efficient the portable power bank is depends on what kind of battery cells it uses and the quality of the components used.

I recommend calculating with about 80% efficiency, as that is more accurate in the real world.

So we’ll do 10000/5000=2, then 2*0.8=1.6.

This means that a power bank with 10,000mAh capacity can charge a phone with a 5,000mAh battery 1.6 times.

Does X Power Bank support X device?

To know if your device can be charged by a specific power bank, you’ll have to know how much power the device requires, and how many amps and volts the power bank can output.

If you’re having issues finding this information, please leave a comment and I will do my best to help you.

What are some high-quality USB-C cables?

Anker makes high-quality USB-C cables for different uses.

For charging devices with up to 60 Watts, I recommend the Anker Powerline II USB-C to C 2.0 (click to view on Amazon)

For charging devices up to 100 Watts, I recommend the Anker Powerline II USB-C to USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 (click to view on Amazon)

Are portable power banks safe?

Power banks are safe if they’re made with safe components and have safety features.

I recommend only buying power banks from reputable brands that advertise these safety features and/or certifications.

These features include but are not limited to smart charging, overcharge protection, over-voltage protection, and protection against excessive current.

A portable power bank could become unsafe if used wrong. Using it in high temperatures or around water is not recommended.

Have any more questions related to batteries and portable power banks? Leave a comment below.

by Jesse
Jesse has always had an interest in camping, technology, and the outdoors. Who knew that growing up in a small town in Sweden with endless forests and lakes would do that to you?

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