A reliable battery pack is essential for maintaining connectivity and safety during backpacking trips. With the increasing reliance on electronics such as smartphones, satellite messengers, and headlamps, having a trustworthy power source is no longer a luxury but a necessity. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into top-performing battery packs suitable for backpacking, providing technical insights and detailed comparisons to help you make an informed decision.
Contents
- Key Takeaways
- How To Choose A Battery Pack For Backpacking
- Best Battery Packs For Backpacking
- Anker PowerCore Slim: Best Lightweight Battery Pack For Backpacking
- Charmast: Best Portable Battery Pack For Backpacking
- Anker 747 Power Bank: Best High Capacity Power Bank For Backpacking
- T-Core Power Bank: Best Single Charge Battery Pack For Backpacking
- How We Chose Our List Of Best Battery Packs For Backpacking
- Conclusion
- Battery Pack FAQs
We will evaluate these battery packs based on critical metrics such as weight, charging speed, and usable power, ensuring that you find the best fit for your backpacking needs. Whether you are a seasoned backpacker or just starting out, this guide will help you navigate the market and choose a battery pack that meets your technical requirements and enhances your outdoor experience.
Key Takeaways
- Essential factors in selecting a battery pack include weight, size, mAh capacity, charging efficiency, energy density, power output, and operating temperature range.
- This guide provides a technical analysis of leading brands—such as Anker and QuadraPro—highlighting their features, benefits, and specifications, including cell type, capacity, and suitability for various applications.
- Our selection focuses on reputable brands to ensure reliable performance and security, considering factors such as manufacturer reputation, technical specifications, and safety features..
How To Choose A Battery Pack For Backpacking
When choosing a battery pack for backpacking, or for any other purpose for that matter, there are a few aspects you should consider. We will cover some of the main things to look out for before we begin the list of our chosen products.
Weight
The weight of a battery pack is certainly something to consider, especially if it will be used for hiking or backpacking. If it were sitting on your desktop, never moving, then the weight would not be something to worry about.
However, when hiking or moving about, the weight can be important as it will take up space in your luggage as well as slow you down. That’s why a good balance between weight and capacity is worth looking out for.
Size
Size is another aspect that you should consider in addition to the weight of the battery pack. As mentioned earlier, the battery pack will take up precious cargo space, and this space is at a premium when you need to have your most useful tools on you.
A battery pack that will take up a smaller amount of space is certainly something you would hope for when backpacking.
mAH Capacity
While the size and weight of the battery pack are important to consider, the capacity is one of the most important aspects of all. The higher the capacity, the more you will be able to charge and power devices.
If it can fully charge a smartphone multiple times, then that is great to have, especially if more than one person will be using it. However, the bare minimum you should aim for is that it should have enough capacity to charge a modern smartphone at least once.
Efficiency
When out backpacking or hiking, you likely won’t have hours and hours to wait around for your device to charge. Decent efficiency is a must, as the faster the pack can charge your devices, the better.
Battery Technology Overview
Understanding battery technology can help you choose the most efficient power source for your backpacking adventures. Most battery packs utilize either Lithium-Ion or Lithium-Polymer cells, each offering distinct advantages:
Lithium-Ion Batteries
- Energy Density and Weight: Lithium-ion batteries are renowned for their high energy density and lightweight properties, making them highly suitable for high-capacity power banks. This is crucial for backpacking, where minimizing weight while maximizing energy storage is essential.
- Applications: Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in various applications, including consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and renewable energy storage. Their high energy density allows for longer battery life and better performance in demanding conditions.
- Charging and Discharging: Lithium-ion batteries can be charged and discharged multiple times, but their performance can degrade over time due to the lack of complete reversal of the chemical processes during charging and discharging cycles.
Lithium-Polymer Batteries
- Safety and Form Factor: Lithium-polymer batteries offer enhanced safety due to the use of a solid polymer electrolyte instead of the liquid electrolyte found in lithium-ion batteries. This solid electrolyte reduces the risk of leakage and thermal runaway, making them safer for use in backpacking gear. Additionally, lithium-polymer batteries can be designed in flexible form factors, resulting in slimmer and more versatile designs ideal for ultralight backpacking.
- Design Flexibility: The flexible nature of lithium-polymer batteries allows for more innovative design options, such as curved or irregular shapes, which can be beneficial for fitting into tight spaces in backpacks.
Emerging Trends in Battery Technology
- Solid-State Batteries: Research is ongoing to develop solid-state batteries, which replace the liquid electrolyte with a solid material. This technology promises higher energy density, faster charging times, and improved safety by reducing the risk of fire.
- Alternative Chemistries: There is a growing interest in alternative battery chemistries such as lithium iron phosphate (LFP), sodium-ion, and lithium-sulfur batteries. These alternatives aim to reduce costs and environmental impacts by using more abundant and less expensive materials.
Importance in Backpacking
- Energy Efficiency: Understanding the differences between lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries can help backpackers choose the most efficient power source for their needs. High energy density and lightweight properties are critical for minimizing the overall weight of the backpack while ensuring sufficient power supply.
- Reliability and Safety: The safety features of lithium-polymer batteries and the reliability of lithium-ion batteries are essential considerations for backpackers, who often operate in remote and challenging environments where battery failure could be critical.
Integration with Other Technologies
- Battery Management Systems (BMS): Advanced battery management systems are crucial for optimizing the performance and safety of both lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries. These systems help in monitoring battery health, preventing overcharging, and ensuring efficient energy use.
- Energy Storage and Renewable Energy: The integration of batteries with renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, is becoming increasingly important for sustainable backpacking practices. Understanding battery technology can help backpackers make informed decisions about their energy storage needs.
Best Battery Packs For Backpacking
Anker 737: Overall Best Battery Pack For Backpacking
Our first pick is the Anker 737, which we feel is one of the best battery backs for backpacking overall. Let’s show you why we felt that as we look at the various details of this battery pack.
About The Brand
When it comes to battery packs and charging technology, it’s fair to say that Anker is one of the most well-known and respected brands. You will almost certainly see at least one Anker product when looking at charging devices, and this reputation has been earned due to consistently high-quality products.
Key Features And Benefits
- Powerful two-way charging: Power delivery technology ensures fast charging, either from the battery pack or from the pack itself.
- High Capacity: The capacity of this pack is 24,000mAH, which they estimate will charge a modern smartphone around 5 times.
- Smart Display: The smart display screen will show you the remaining charge and other aspects to keep in mind, making the use of the charger much easier.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Two Way Charging
- High capacity, making it useful for multiple people/devices
- Smart display makes using it easier
Cons
- Perhaps a bit bulky if space is limited in your backpack.
QuadraPro By Frog And Co.: The Best Solar Battery Pack For Charging
When you’re backpacking, it’s pretty obvious that outlets for charging will not be readily available, so having alternate charging methods is always welcomed. That brings us to the QuadraPro by Frog and Co, a battery pack that features solar charging for emergencies.
We also have a full review for this battery pack that you can look at for a more in-depth description.
If you would like additional options for a solar-powered battery pack, then you can check out our list of the best solar-powered battery packs.
About The Brand
Frog and Co. are a subset of Survival Frog, a well-known distributor and producer of survival tools. They work with everything from survival food to general tools. No matter what they produce, they take a hands-on approach and ensure that everything they offer meets a high standard of quality and usability.
Key Features And Benefits
- Solar Charging: The solar charging capabilities of this pack are very useful. You can unroll 4 solar panels that can charge the device in around 12 hours of full sunlight.
- Decent Capacity: The battery has a capacity of 6500 mAH. This should be enough for around 3 charges of the average smartphone.
- Durable: It is made from durable, hardy materials that make it perfect for backpacking.
- Water Resistant: You don’t have to worry about a bit of water exposure frying the device, as it can withstand minor water exposure.
- Built-In Flashlight: A small flashlight is built into the device to help you navigate.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Solar Charging
- Durable for backpacking
- Water Resistant
Cons
- Solar charging takes quite a long time.
Anker PowerCore Slim: Best Lightweight Battery Pack For Backpacking
Next up, we have another product from Anker, the PowerCore Slim. This one packs less of a punch than the other Anker product we’ve seen already, but it is more portable, which may make it ideal for some people.
Key Features And Benefits
- Fast Charging: Fast charging technology makes it very efficient. Anker estimates that it can charge an iPhone to 50% in just 30 minutes.
- Capacity: It features a decent capacity of 10,000 mAH, which should be enough to charge a smartphone a few times.
- Highly Durable: A fire-resistant casing, temperature control, and other safety features make it easy and safe to transport around.
- Compact: The dimensions of the pack come in at 5.89 x 2.7 x 0.57 inches, making it easy to slip into a backpack.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Compact
- Durable
- Decent Capacity
Cons
- None, unless you need a higher capacity for a group of people.
Charmast: Best Portable Battery Pack For Backpacking
They say dynamite comes in small packages, and that cliche certainly rings true with this battery pack by Charmast. This little guy is very small and compact but still has decent capacity for you to take advantage of.
About The Brand
Unlike the previous two brands, Charmast is a bit less known. Looking at their Amazon home page, you can see that they have an impressive range of charging products apart from the one we’re looking at here
Key Features And Benefits
- Super Compact: At just 3.56 x 2.44 x 0.87 inches, this battery pack is palm-sized and could fit into even the most tightly packed backpacks.
- Good Capacity: Despite the minuscule size, the battery pack still has a decent capacity of 10,000 mAH.
- Smart Charging Technology: Smart charging technology ensures that optimal charging is chosen for specific devices for faster charging.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Compact size
- Decent capacity
- Fast and efficient charging
Cons
- Size could be a little too small for some, as it can be easier to lose
Nitecore: Best Ultra Light Battery For Backpacking With Flashlight
We have another light, portable option for you to consider with the Nitecore NB10000. This is another option that offers a good balance between capacity and portability.
About The Brand
Nitecore is another brand that isn’t quite as recognizable, but their Amazon Page shows an impressive range of lighting, charging, and tactical products that have a wide range of uses.
Key Features And Benefits
- Capacity: We once again see a capacity of 10,000 mAH with this battery pack, which is quite decent.
- Very Light: It’s compact, slim, and weighs just 5.29 oz. This again makes it ultra-portable.
- Durable: It has a carbon fiber frame and is water resistant, making it perfect for backpacking.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Light and compact
- Still has decent capacity
- Highly Durable
Cons
- There are no major downsides, except the capacity may be too low for a group of people
Anker 747 Power Bank: Best High Capacity Power Bank For Backpacking
If high capacity is what you want the most out of a battery pack, then the Anker 747. This is another great product from Anker that should allow for more charges on your devices.
Key Features And Benefits
- Ultra Capacity: This pack features the highest capacity we have seen so far, at 25,600 mAH.
- Fast Speeds: The Anker 747 uses top-notch tech to charge devices quickly and efficiently.
- Multiple Devices: The 747 can charge up to 4 of your devices at once.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Ultra High Capacity
- Fast charging
- Small and durable enough for transport
Cons
- Is a bit pricier than others on this list
T-Core Power Bank: Best Single Charge Battery Pack For Backpacking
The final pack we have to show you in this list is the T-Core power bank, and this one serves as another highly portable option for you to consider.
About The Brand
Taking a look at T-Core’s Amazon page again shows that they have a fairly extensive range of charging products. They are quite varied to provide for a different range of needs, and their products tend to be rather well received.
Key Features And Benefits
- Capacity: We once again have a capacity of 10,000 mAH, which is great considering how small it is.
- Compact: At just 2.6 x 2.6 x 0.88 inches, this is another highly portable option that will fit into any backpack or pocket.
- Quick Charging: Quick charge technology ensures fast and efficient charging of your devices.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Super compact
- Decent capacity
- Screen that shows charging level built-in
Cons
- Is a bit pricier than others on this list
How We Chose Our List Of Best Battery Packs For Backpacking
When choosing the products on this list, we wanted to ensure a few different things. First of all, we stuck to products that have a proven track record of being great. We had a few well-known brands that have proven themselves, but when we included lesser-known brands, we made sure they provided great products in general.
We also wanted to include a good range of products that cater to high-capacity needs or portability, if that’s what you prioritize.
Conclusion
selecting the right battery pack for backpacking involves a careful balance of technical specifications and practical needs. Key considerations include the battery pack’s capacity, weight, and charging efficiency, as well as safety features and connectivity options.
- Capacity: Measured in milliampere-hours (mAh) or watt-hours (Wh), capacity indicates how much energy the battery pack can store. For backpacking, a higher capacity may be necessary to ensure multiple device charges, but it should be balanced against weight and size considerations.
- Weight and Size: Lightweight and compact battery packs are essential for backpackers to minimize load. Energy density, measured in watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg), is a critical metric to evaluate the efficiency of a battery pack.
- Charging Efficiency: Delivered energy, which is the actual energy a battery pack can deliver through its USB ports, is often lower than the specified energy due to efficiency losses. Understanding these losses helps in making informed decisions.
- Safety Features: Modern battery packs often include safety features such as surge protection, short circuit protection, and fireproof materials. These features are vital for ensuring the safety of both the devices and the user.
- Connectivity Options: The availability of multiple USB ports (USB-A and USB-C), as well as other charging options like wireless charging, can enhance connectivity and convenience during outdoor adventures.
The great outdoors offers an escape but also presents challenges, particularly in keeping essential devices powered. The Anker 737 and QuadraPro, as highlighted, provide solutions that balance portability with power capacity, crucial for navigation and emergency communication. With over 50% of Americans engaging in outdoor activities annually, having a dependable battery pack is essential for safety and convenience, ensuring that you remain connected and prepared, no matter how far off the grid you venture.
– Eddie Penney Emergency Prep Expert
Once you have chosen any of these battery packs, we’re sure that you will be ready for some adventures without fear of your valuable devices running out of juice at the worst times.
While these battery packs are ideal for backpacking, they have other uses as well. For example, we have previously looked at how extreme weather can cause blackouts, which would make a battery pack quite handy to have.
They can also fit into plans for achieving off-grid power, so they’re a great thing to have around in many different circumstances.
Battery Pack FAQs
How Do You Charge the Battery Pack?
Most battery packs recharge via USB input, typically using Micro USB or USB-C ports. For optimal charging speeds, use a high-output wall charger. Some advanced models support pass-through charging or feature built-in solar panels for on-the-go recharging.
How Do You Charge a Phone While Backpacking?
To charge your phone while backpacking, connect it to your battery pack using a compatible USB cable. Ensure your power bank provides the appropriate output voltage and current to maximize charging efficiency and protect your device.
How Long Do Battery Packs Last?
This depends on the capacity and the charging needs of the devices you’re using it for.
Can You Bring A Battery Pack On A Plane?
It should be fine to bring a battery pack on most airlines.
Are Battery Packs Bad For Your Phone?
You should try to charge your phone with conventional methods where possible, but most quality battery packs shouldn’t cause any damage.
