Best Lightweight Backpacking Power Banks

Last Updated on 12/2024 by Mom Goes Camping

Whether it’s for your phone, GPS tracker, camera, or headlamps, you are probably going to need some power during your backpacking trip.  A backpacking power bank is simplest way to make sure your devices don’t die on you.

Luckily, power banks have gotten a lot lighter over the years and can get more than 1,600mAh of power per ounce.  Some backpacking power banks are even durable and waterproof too.

Here’s the best power banks for backpacking.  If you don’t know how much power you will need or what to look for then scroll down to read the complete guide.

Quick Picks:

• Best Overall: NiteCore NB10000 (10,000mAh, 5.3oz)
• Runner Up: Anker PowerCore 10000 (10,000mAh, 6.3oz)
• Best for Charging Multiple-Devices at Once: InfinityLab InstantGo (10,000mAh, 8.8oz)
• Best for High-Power Needs: NiteCore NB20000 (20,000mAh, 11.45oz) or NiteCore Carbo (20,000mAh, 10.4oz)
• Best for Winter or High-Altitudes: NiteCore Summit (10,000mAh, 6oz; 20,000mAh, 10.7oz)

 

Comparison Table

Product	mAh	Weight (oz)	mAh per Oz	Outputs	Pass-through?	PD/QC
NiteCore NB10000 Gen II	10,000	5.3	1,887	2	No	Yes
NiteCore NB20000	20,000	11.45	1,746	3	No	Yes
NiteCore Carbo	10,000	5.5	1,805	2	No	Yes
NiteCore Carbo	20,000	10.4	1,912	2	No	Yes
NiteCore Summit	10,000	6	1,647	2	No	Yes
NiteCore Summit	20,000	10.7	1,869	2	No	Yes
NiteCore NC	10,000	5.94	1,683	2	No	Yes
Anker PowerCore Compact	5,000	4.8	1,040	1	No	No
Anker PowerCore 10000	10,000	6.35	1,575	1	No	No
Anker PowerCore 10000 PD	10,000	8.8	1,336	2	No	Yes
Anker PowerCore 20100	20,100	12.6	1,595	2	No	No
Skullcandy Fat Stash Mini	5,000	4	1,250	2	No	Yes
SkullCandy Fat Stash 2	10,000	7.4	1,351	2	No	Yes
InfinityLab InstantGo	10,000	8.8	1,136	3	Yes	Yes
Goal Zero Flip 24	6,700	4.6	1,457	1	Yes	No
Goal Zero Flip 36	10,050	6.8	1,478	1	Yes	No

 

Best Lightweight Power Banks for Backpacking

1. NiteCore Power Banks

Choose If: You are willing to pay a bit more for an ultralight power bank

Review:

NiteCore makes a lot of lightweight power gear specifically designed for outdoor use.  I have the Gen I version of their NB10000 power bank (shown above) and am quite pleased with how well it’s retained its capacity over 3 years of use. Since I bought my NC10000, NiteCore has updated that model and come out with numerous other ultralight power banks. Regardless of which model you choose, you can’t go wrong.  All models have advanced features, like overcharge protection so you don’t destroy your devices if left plugged in, and trickle charge for  sensitive items like wireless earbuds. I love the simple battery life indicator: three full bars when it’s full, two bars when it’s 70% full, one bar when it’s at 30%, and blinking when it’s almost empty.

All NiteCore power banks are water-resistant to IPX5. They are also very rugged since they are made out of a carbon fiber shell. The downside is that NiteCore power banks are significantly more expensive than other backpacking power banks, though. They are also fairly slow to charge and don’t has pass-through charging.

NiteCore Power Bank Series:

• NB Series: These are very lightweight power banks. They have trickle charge for sensitive devices.  They have fast charging and the 20,000mAh version has multiple outlets, so is a good option for thru-hikes where you want to recharge in town quickly.
• NC Series (high altitudes and low temps): The batteries in these NiteCore power banks don’t swell in high altitudes. It also has a built-in flashlight.
• Carbo Series (impact resistant): The carbon shell on this series is very resistant to pressure and breaking.
• Summit Series (very low temps): This power bank series is designed to work at very low temps of -40F. It even has a heating mode to improve efficiency!

 

Available at Amazon and GarageGrownGear

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2. Anker PowerCore Power Banks

Choose because: Reputable brand, great capacity-to-weight ratio, and affordable price

Review:

Anker is one of the best known brands for backpacking power banks (as well as other gear like portable solar panels). They have dozens of different power banks in different capacities. It’s actually confusing as heck trying to figure out the difference between them.  For backpacking, the PowerCore series is the best because it has a great weight-to-capacity ratio.

Another reason to choose Anker power banks is that they actually deliver close to their advertised efficiency.  Whereas other power banks might only give 2/3 of their listed power, Anker gets up to 90% efficiency. They have a durable design and a good 18 month warranty.  They are actually affordable too, so definitely worth buying instead of a knockoff brand. The only real downside is that these power banks aren’t very fast and aren’t waterproof.

Anker PowerCore Models:

• PowerCore Compact 5000 (5,000mAh, 4.8oz): The mAh per ounce on this power bank is actually pretty low (just 1,040mAh per oz.), but it’s a great little power bank that takes up hardly any space in your pack.
• PowerCore 10000 (10,000mAh, 6.35oz): This has a very compact at 1,575 mAh per ounce.  That makes it one of the lightest backpacking power banks available. Note it is NOT compatible with devices with an input below 50mA, such as some GPS devices.
• PowerCore 10000 PD (10,000mAh, 7.52oz): It is slightly heavier than the previous version, but has two outputs so you can charge two devices at once. It also recharges significantly faster (3.3 hours vs. 4.7 hours).
• PowerCore 20100 (20,100mAh, 12.6oz): Choose this power bank if you need to charge multiple devices at once quickly.  It’s got 2 outlet ports at 2.4A each.  It’s also got a great mAh per ounce ratio.

 

Available at Amazon

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3. Skullcandy Fat Stash Power Banks

Choose If: You want a lightweight power bank with a digital display

Review:

The Skullcandy Fat Stash power banks don’t seem to have as good of technology as the NiteCore and Anker power banks when it comes to holding a charge and overcharge protection. However, the digital display that shows remaining battery life as a percentage is amazing if you are actively monitoring your remaining juice. The Fat Stash power banks also charge quickly and you can charge 3 devices at once (max 20W output with Fat Stash 2).  If you only need a 5,000mAh power bank, then the Fat Stash Mini has the most capacity-per-weight of any power bank that I’ve found.

Available at Amazon and REI

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4. InfinityLab InstantGo Power Banks

Choose If: You need fast, pass-through charging of up to 3 devices at once, and are willing to pay more for it

Review:

InfinityLab InstantGo power banks aren’t made for backpacking, but they are still very lightweight.  The main reason you’d want to get this power bank is because it has 30W PD charging and supports pass-through charging.  When charging 3 devices at once, you get a max output of 18W.

There are two versions of the InstantGo power banks: wireless and integrated cable. The integrated cable version is 0.6 ounces lighter. However, the integrated cable is only for output. You can’t recharge with it, so you’ll need to bring another cable if you plan on recharging during your hike.  If you don’t have Qi devices for wireless recharging, though, the integrated cable version is better.

Note that there is also a 5000 mAh version of the InstantGo. But, at 5oz, it doesn’t have enough capacity-per-weight to meet the lightweight requirements for backpacking.

Available at Amazon and REI

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5. Goal Zero Flip Power Banks

Choose If: You need pass-through charging and don’t mind recharging via a male USB

Review:

Goal Zero is well known for their solar panels and cool gear like lanterns.  They also make a 6,700mAh and a 10,000mAh lightweight power banks for backpacking. The weight-to-power ratio isn’t the best, but the power banks do support pass-through charging.

However, I really don’t like the flip design. To recharge the power bank you must fold-out a male USB. This is fine if you are bringing an adapter plug (which would add weight).  But, otherwise, you risk the fold-out USB breaking if you hang it off of a connector.  I wouldn’t have even included these power banks here, but someone might prefer the male connector type.

Available at Amazon and REI

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What About Power Banks with Built-in Solar Panels?

I used to think power banks with mini solar panels on them were awesome and practical.  Then I actually tried one.  Guess what? Turns out it is NOT a good idea to leave a power bank out in the blazing hot sun!  The model I had worked for a while and then quickly died.  I’ve heard the same from other users.

On top of that, most have no power display so there’s no way of knowing the charge level.  You can easily over-charge the power bank, meaning it gets fried.  But leave it out too little and it won’t have enough power for your needs.

If a reputable brand (instead of cheap Chinese generic brands) started making one of these, I might give it a try.  Until then, I’ll keep my power bank and solar panel separate.

 

What Capacity Power Bank for Backpacking?

Power bank batteries have capacity measured in Milliamp hours, or mAh. This stands for how much power the battery can provide per hour. The amount of capacity you need for a backpacking trip ultimately depends on which devices you’ll bring and how often you use them. For example: if your device requires 1000 Milliamps per hour, then a 3,000mAh battery will (in theory*) keep it going for 3 hours.

General Guidelines:

• Overnight trip: 5,000mAh*
• Two-three night trip: 10,000mAh
• Week long trip: 10,000 or 20,000mAh
• Photo gear: 20,000mAh (and also a lightweight solar panel)

 

*Note: In my humble opinion, 5000mAh power banks are a waste. They don’t weigh much less than a 10,000mAh power bank, but give you double the energy (you never know when something might go wrong and you have to extend your trip!). So, unless you only go on short backpacking trips, getting a 10,000 power bank is probably the way to go.

 

Calculate Exact Power Requirements:

For a week-long backpacking trip, a 10,000mAh power bank is more than adequate for me.  This is enough to recharge my headlamp and camera.  I mainly use a paper map for navigation though, so don’t need to charge my phone or a GPS. If I was relying on more gadgets, I would need a 20,000mAh power bank.

If you want to figure out exactly how much power you need, follow these steps:

1. Tally up the mAh/day amount for each gadget you are bringing.
2. Multiply this number by the how many days your backpacking trip will be (or how long until you can recharge it).
3. To play it safe, assume that the power bank will only deliver 66% of its advertised capacity.
4. Divide the total mAh you need by 0.66.

Example: If you need 3,000mAh of power to keep your phone charged for a 3-day backpacking trip.

3,000/0.66 = 4,545mAh

 

Important: No power bank delivers its full capacity! Because of efficiency issues, most power banks will only deliver 66-74% of the listed capacity.  So, a 10,000mAh power bank may only really give you 6,666mAh. (1, 2) Some better power banks are more efficient, like the Anker power banks that deliver around 80%-90% of their listed capacity. This is why Step 4 has you dividing your power needs by 0.66.

 

Size Up for “Just In Case”

I am a bit of a disaster prepper and always like to consider worst-case-scenarios.  You never know when you might have to spend an unexpected night on the mountain because of bad weather or an injury. So, it’s good to size up your power bank just in case.

It’s not worth shedding 2oz from your pack weight if your safety is put at risk by letting your navigator battery die!

Aside from safety, consider whether gear dying would ruin your trip. For example, would you be devestated if your camera battery went dead and you couldn’t take photos until the next recharge at town?   If yes, then it’s probably worth the weight of carrying a much larger power bank.

 

Power-Saving Tips

By using your devices smartly, you can drastically cut back on power needs.  For example,

• A Garmin inReach should last you weeks if you only turn it on when sending messages.
• Bringing a GPS device will use less battery than if you use your phone for navigation.
• Keeping your phone in airplane mode and disabling unnecessary apps will allow the phone battery to last much longer.

 

Choosing a Backpacking Power Bank

Aside from capacity, you’ll also want to look at the weight of the power bank, you’ll want to look at:

• mAh per ounce
• Charging speed
• Number of outlet ports
• Brand quality
• Other features

mAh per Ounce

It’s pointless to get a lightweight power bank if it won’t meet your power requirements.  So, when it comes to weight, you should really look at mAh per ounce.  Aim for at least 1,400 mAh per ounce.  If you need special features, then you might only get 1,000 mAh per ounce.

 

Charging Speed and PD/QC

Look at both the input and output speeds of the power bank.  Slow power banks will only charge at around 2A whereas the faster ones charge at 3A.  Most good power banks also have Power Delivery (PD) and/or Quick Charge (QC) capabilities. Confusingly, PD/QC speed is listed in watts instead of amps, and is usually 18W or 20W per port.  For comparison, a 2.4A charger at 5V delivers 12W.

If you are just recharging some small devices like headlamps on short backpacking trips, charge speed doesn’t matter much. However, charge speed matters on long thru-hikes! This is because you will need to recharge your power bank in town and it is first come, first serve.

On popular trails, you may have to wait in line for HOURS! You will go crazy waiting around town for your power bank to refill. One backpacker even noted how he had to stay at hotels in order to refill his power bank, so it ended up being expensive too.

Notes:

• If there are multiple out ports, the speed is divided between the ports.  For this, you’ll need to pay attention to “max output.”
• How fast a power bank can charge also has a lot to do with the cables.  So make sure you invest in some good quality cables and not the cheap Chinese knockoff ones.
• Faster isn’t always better.  It can fry sensitive devices like wireless earbuds. Good power banks (like the NiteCore ones) have a “trickle charge” option for these types of devices.
• Get an 18w wall charger with two ports for recharging in town.  You’ll be able to charge multiple devices much faster (or can share one slot with another backpacker).  It must be be slim profile so you don’t block the port next to it.

 

Pass-through Charging

Pass-through charging means you can recharge the power bank while it simultaneously charges devices connected to it. This feature is great to have if your are thru-hiking. Yes, it is more efficient to charge devices directly from an outlet, but then you’d need to worry about bringing extra wall outlet adapters.

 

Number of Outlet Ports

If you need to charge multiple devices at once, you’ll need more than one outlet.  Just note that charging speed typically reduces when you plug in multiple devices.

 

Brand Quality

I’ve learned my lesson about buying cheap knockoff brands of power banks.  While some do work well (at first), they tend to lose their capacity quickly.  I had one completely stop charging on me. Luckily it was on a camping trip and not a long backpacking trip.

 

Extra Features

Some other nice features which are worth paying extra for or even worth the extra weight are:

• Digital displays or power level indicators (LOVE this feature)
• Water-resistant
• Durable casing
• Wireless charging

 

What About Solar Panels?

If you have very high power needs (such as if you are doing a lot of photography), even a 25,000mAH power bank probably won’t cut it.  You’ll want a portable solar panel to keep charged.

Bear in mind that solar panels are often hyped up.  They are cool, but require very sunny conditions to work well.  They can also be heavy, bulky, and annoying to worry about.  But, there are plenty of reliable solar panels which range from ultralight 5 watt solutions to higher wattages. See these best ultralight solar panels for backpacking.