![]() The main constraint here is weight and size, so the goal is to get as much energy as possible within a power pack that’s still reasonable for extended foot travel.ġ0,000mAh to 20,000mAh is the current sweet spot of energy density and portability. High energy density (storage capacity per ounce of weight) that’s portable enough for a go-bag. But in an emergency, you don’t know when you’ll get grid access again, so you’ll want to use your power bank in ways that maximize its storage capacity and long-term health. In daily life, most people use these power banks for a quick single-device top-up when they can’t find a wall plug. Lifespan and capacity are more important than convenience. That context matters, because it leads to choices that are different than for typical business travel, camping, or everyday carry needs. To pick which products to buy for this review, and which are the winners, we first think about what things will be like in an emergency and how you’ll actually use these power banks when you need them most. No one-pack solution in this review gives you this level of flexibility for optimizing charge speed and battery life. So with those two chargers and four port options, you can decide if you want to charge slowly over USB-A or Micro-USB (for more battery life), a little faster over 12W USB-A, or really fast over 18W USB-C (for less battery life). For example, the NOVOO has a pair of slow-charging 7.5W USB-A and Micro USB ports, plus a fast-charging 18W USB-C port while the Anker has a fast-charging 12W USB-A port. You also increase your safety and flexibility by carrying two different models/brands. The weight penalty is usually just 1-2 oz compared to a single pack, for example.Ĭombined with the benefits from having two of something instead of one, we now personally carry both the NOVOO and Anker 10,000 mAh. energy density), size, weight, and cost as a single 20k pack. The way these packs are built means that two 10k packs are about the same capacity-to-weight ratio (ie. Left to right: NOVOO Explorer, Anker PowerCore 10k, Anker PowerCore II 20k, HX160Y6īigger is always better with batteries, so we’d normally try to steer you toward a 20,000mAh pack if you’re someone who can afford to dedicate as much as 12oz of pack weight to a USB charger.īut in this case, unless you really need the big pack (see next pick), we’re taking the unusual step of suggesting you carry two 10,000mAh packs instead of one big pack. You’ll pay a premium for the Anker name and higher capacity per ounce, though, and it’s not as outdoors-friendly as the NOVOO. The unit’s single USB-A dedicated output port has PowerIQ circuitry that can charge at up to 12W if you need a quicker charge. It’s also backed by Anker’s well-established reputation for quality and support. This 6.35-ounce power pack is the smallest and lightest 10,000mAh charger we tested. If you’re looking to keep your weight budget to the absolute minimum while still carrying enough charge to refill an iPhone three or four times, then the best ultra compact bank is the Anker PowerCore 1000. This is the lightest and most compact charger we tested, so it's perfect for when weight and space are at a premium. One warning about NOVOO: this is an Amazon-only Chinese seller, so don’t have high expectations for support if something’s wrong with the unit (although Amazon will step up if you have a problem within the return window). But if you do need a fast charge, the USB-C port can do 18W charging via the power delivery (PD) protocol. The lone USB-A port is only 7.5W, but that low wattage is a good thing for prepping purposes, because you can drain the pack more slowly to squeeze more energy from it. The NOVOO is very reasonably priced, and it delivered plenty of charge in our electrical testing. More: Learn the basics of off-grid power and prepper tips for batteries. It’s waterproof (which we validated in a dunk test), the LED light is legitimately useful, and the rugged design does add durability without costing much more money or weight. Although we generally think “survival” features in these kinds of products are a gimmick to avoid, such as built-in lights or compasses that are only designed to get you to click “Buy,” in this case the NOVOO won us over. If you only buy one thing, check out the NOVOO Explorer 10,000mAh, a top performer both on paper and in our own performance review. It's lightweight and packable, and the price really low so the value is off the charts. This outdoors-friendly power bank stores plenty of charge and can handle submersion in water. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |