Extras: If you’ll be taking this along on some rough activities, consider ones that have helpful extras. A built-in solar charger can be a huge boost when you’ll be away from a power source, as well as a compass, and a bright LED flashlight with an SOS mode. A carabiner clip also securely latches on to anything, making it easy to grab when needed. 1. Goal Zero Sherpa Power Bank That app is essential because there's a Find My feature built into the battery. It doesn't work like an AirTag over UWB, it's only Bluetooth, but it's useful if you misplace your battery in your office (or you have multiple batteries, like I do). Keep a close eye on how much juice you have so that you can maintain your power bank at the optimal charge. If you didn’t know, China is the world’s dominant producer of consumer electronics, and it certainly holds true when it comes to waterproof power banks.

The next question is how you want to charge your device. You can find a power bank that charges your phone (or even your Apple Watch) wirelessly. These will usually charge slower, but they can be very convenient if you want to leave wires at home. Fully charge all your devices before you head out – that way you can save your power bank’s juice for when you really need it We are registered in England and Wales under company number 04488504 and our registered office is at 4-6 Parkside, Christchurch Road, Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 3SQ. Letting battery banks (or any battery) drop down too low will reduce the battery capacity over time. Unplug your battery once it hits full chargeA spec you’ll often see is mAh, which stands for milliamps hour. The mAh spec is a measurement of power over time, the higher the mAh the more power the battery contains. To fully charge a phone you’ll need 3,000 to 5,000 mAh. Watts Most portable solar chargers have smaller panels of around two watts or less, so the panel serves as a slow, emergency-charging system and the battery does the lion’s share of the work. If you know you’ll be away from an electric outlet for a while and need to rely more heavily on the solar aspect of the unit, you’ll want to opt for a larger solar panel. If this is the case, a folding panel charger might be a better option since they are still relatively compact.

The extra-bright flashlight that’s built-in is especially great for camping, and the unit also charges speedily too, filling an iPhone Pro Max to 100% in just over an hour. Tylt also wisely left enough of a gap between the battery and the bottle that you can coil a small USB-C cord (included) into that space. That way, even if you're not charging wirelessly, you're not adding a lot of extra bulk to your bag. It's a smart setup. This bank gives you the extra boost of battery needed when you’re outdoors away from a power source, along with being built rugged and ready for drops in mud and water. The Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless, is the best option for most. It comes from a reputed brand and offers wired and wireless charging support. So even if you don't have a charging cable on hand, you'll be able to wirelessly power your phone with the PowerCore III. This rugged powerbank also has a 260-lumen flashlight built-in, which is a nice emergency feature should you need it. DownsidesThe most important question to consider when buying a power bank is what will you be charging? If you are charging a small smartphone and that's all, a simple power bank will suffice. If you plan on charging a laptop occasionally as well, or many devices at once, you'll want something with more power and more features.