Updated December 15, 2023

To avoid a dead phone on your travels, pack a travel-friendly portable power bank. The right external power pack will not only keep your devices charged, but it will allow you to do so while on the move.

Do you need a portable power bank?

If you rely on one or more devices to take photographs, carry boarding passes, pay for stuff, navigate city streets, store a digital transit card, book an Uber, or make emergency calls, there’s a strong chance you’ll need a portable power bank.

But, what type should you get? What will influence your choice? Here are three questions that might help.

1. Which devices will you need to charge?

If it’s to top up a phone while out and about, a wallet or lipstick charger might satisfy your needs. If it’s to keep a laptop operating for several hours without access to another power source, you’ll need something with a much larger capacity.

2. How often will devices need to be charged?

Your devices will likely be fully charged at the beginning of your journey and the start of each travel day. But what if you’re on the trail, in transit, or staying in accommodation without power?

3. How much weight and space can you tolerate?

Does the battery need to fit in a wallet, pocket, or day bag? Are you committed to carry-on travel and your carrier has a limit of 7 kg / 15 lb? You’ll want to find a product that’s light enough to meet your charging needs without claiming more space and weight than is necessary. 

Features to look for in a portable power bank

I used the above three questions to help narrow my search. In the event it’s helpful, here are some of the things I considered.

• I travel with an iPhone 14 Pro, iPad mini 5, Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200 pocket camera, a small Olight I1R2 Pro 180 Lumens rechargeable flashlight, a self-cleaning LARQ water-purification bottle, and Bose QC 20 noise-cancelling headphones. On extra long travel days at my destination, I wanted to maintain a decent charge on my phone. On back-to-back long-haul flights or long bus rides, noise-cancelling headphones and my iPad mini 5 invariably need a boost.

TG90 Power Bank and Bose QC 20 

• Hiking, camping, and staying in accommodation without power is another consideration. On a trip that included a hike on New Zealand’s Banks Peninsula Track, one of the overnight huts was without power. Before that trip, I replaced my Anker 3200 mAh Astro Mini, a ‘lipstick charger,’ with the Jackery Bolt 6,000 mAh unit.
• With the constant changes and improvements in the technology space, I now travel with a TG90 10,000 mAh portable charger.

My current choice: TG90 10,000 mAh portable power bank

• I like the versatility of a 10,000 mAh external charger. With the ability to charge my phone up to three times on a single charge, it covers scenarios that include long-haul travel, camping, hiking, and situations where AC power is expected but doesn’t exist or isn’t working. 
• The built-in lightning, USB-C, and micro-USB cables mean not having to deal with cable clutter. When not in use, they insert securely into their designated slots and sit flush with the body of the unit.
• I love the slim design and how flexible the built-in charging cords are. The TG90 is almost the same size as my iPhone 14 Pro and the flexible lightning cord permits charging the phone while both are sitting back-to-back in a pocket of my purse.

• With the high speed 5V 2.1A maximum output, I can charge three compatible devices at the same time using the three built-in cables. There’s an additional USB-A and USB-C input/output port at the top of the unit.

• It comes with a twelve-month warranty and claims of 500+ recharge cycles over the life of the battery. A short (12 in / 30 cm) micro-USB to USB-A charging cable to charge the power bank is included. There’s no charging block so a USB-A to AC charging source is needed.
• It’s handy to have the 10,000 mAh capacity printed on the cover along with the safety symbols. This is helpful in the event the capacity is questioned during security screening prior to a flight.

• The build quality is excellent and the integrated cables are durable. They’ve held up very well so far. The cover feels and looks like quality leather and easily accommodates a tether tab and a lost-and-found sticker.
• It measures 5.71 x 3.13 x 0.58 inches (14.5 x 8 x 1.5 centimetres) and weighs 7.4 ounces (209.79 grams) so mean it can be easily carried in a pocket, purse, or day bag.

Conclusion

The reality is that there are times when having a charged phone is not just convenient, but a necessity. When a phone’s battery is approaching zero, who needs to interrupt travel plans to search for a power outlet?

Whether heading into the bush, hopping on a train, or pounding city streets in a foreign land, in this day and age a portable power bank is a very useful travel aid.

If you found this post helpful, please share it by choosing one or more social media buttons. What about you? Do you travel with a portable power bank? If so, what is your favourite? Please join the conversation in the comments. Thank you.

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