These days the phone is a multi-tool, acting as emergency beacon, GPS, camera, flashlight, and communication device. To keep that phone powered, it’s a good idea to bring a power bank. If you will be out long enough for that power bank to become depleted through charging devices, you will need a wall block to recharge your power bank at the next outlet you come upon. There are combination battery/wall blocks out there and though they will save weight and space, they are usually lacking in the technology department, offering slower charging speeds and less ports. I’ve included in my reviews, the most light weight and compact wall blocks and power banks on the market, as long as they employing the current top fast-charge capabilities as of spring 2018 (Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 – 3.0, USB-C, PD, and any proprietary equivalent, such as Anker’s “Power IQ” technology).
I find solar chargers to be inefficient, even in optimal conditions. This, plus the typical size and weight of a decent solar set-up being on the high end of my tolerance, made me give up on them for fast and light expeditions. Obviously, they serve a great purpose at base camp and might even be worth it for a short multi-day trip in sun exposure. Sustainable energy is a good thing, it’s just not light and efficient enough to make sense on a long trail just yet.
The following are the stats and my humble opinions on some of the power sources I’ve used, or researched and wish to use, on the trail:
Wall Chargers / Wall Blocks
Anker Wall Charger with 18W USB-A Quick Charge 3.0 Output – $17.99
Weight: 68.50 g / 2.41 oz
Dimensions: 2.1″ x 2.2″ x 1.1″
QC 3.0 Output:
3.6V – 6.5V — 3A
6.5V – 9V — 2A
9V – 12V — 1.5A
The Anker Powerport QC 3.0 single port wall block charges up to industry standard fast charging speeds. It is backwards compatible with any Quick Charge 1.0 or 2.0 devices as well and should support fast charging with a USB-A to USB-C cord for USB-C ported devices.
This is the wall block I took on my 2017 Florida Trail thru hike to power both my phone and my power bank. It worked very well, allowing me to charge my almost depleted Galaxy S7 up to almost 100% in about an hour. Then I would have to sit there and try to fill up my power bank afterwards, which could take more than several hours.
This method got me through the hike with my phone only dying once, during a five day stretch between power outlets, so it worked. However, now if I am bringing both a phone and a power bank, I will bring a wall block with dual ports, so I can charge both devices at the same time.
I have realized that the charging speed of your phone matters less than how quickly your power bank can recharge. Think about it: if you are charging your phone off of your power bank, you are typically doing this at camp, while you sleep, or on the trail while you are hiking. Rarely will you be charging your phone from your power bank while awake and sedentary. Therefore, how quickly your phone charges matters less, because you will rarely be sitting around “waiting” for it to charge. With a power bank, though, the only way to charge it is while sitting around idle while it is tethered to the only available power outlet. So, while having a fast charging phone is a good thing, having a fast charging power bank is more important, so you can spend more time walking and less time waiting.
There is a new version of this wall block here.
Anker Quick Charge 3.0 Dual Port 31.5W Wall Charger – $28.97
Weight: 128.28 g / 4.52 oz
Dimensions: 2.6″ × 2.6″ × 1.1″
QC 3.0 Output:
3.6V – 6.5V — 3A
6.5V – 9V — 2A
9V – 12V — 1.5A
This Anker Powerport+2 weighs almost twice as much as the Anker Powerport+ 1, but has an extra charging port, so you can charge your phone and power bank at the same time. The output for both Anker Powerport wall blocks is the same.
The first port on the Powerport+2 is Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, which supports fast charging. The second port does not support Quick Charge, but uses Anker’s Power IQ technology, which runs at 12 watts max compared to QC 3.0 at 18 watts.
AUKEY Wall Charger with 30W USB-C 2.0 & 18W USB-A Quick Charge 3.0 Outputs – $29.99
Weight: 127.14 g / 4.48 oz
Dimensions: 2.52” x 2.48” x 1.14”
Type-C PD 2.0 Output:
5V — 3A
9V — 3A
12V — 2.5A
15V — 2A
20V — 1.5A
QC 3.0 Output:
5V — 3A
9V — 2A
12V — 1.5A
Anything having to do with USB-C power that is labeled more that just USB-C, such as “USB-C 2.0”, “USB-C PD”, “PD 2.0”, “PD 3.0”, etc is designed to be powerful enough to charge laptops and tablets. Each denotation equals a larger amount of power able to be pulled.
If you have a smartphone that charges using a standard USB-C port, a USB-C 2.0, 3.0, PD, PD 2.0, etc will not charge it any faster than the 18 watts the smartphone can pull. All USB-C chargers are backwards compatible, so they will charge your phone regardless, but no faster than a regular USB-C charger would.
However, if you are bringing newer USB-C ported tablets or laptops on your trip, this is the wall charger you want. The USB-C 2.0 port provides enough juice for your larger USB-C devices, and ALSO provides a USB-A outlet with Qualcom Quick Charge 3.0 output, allowing you to charge a USB-C ported device while also charging a standard USB-A at the highest speed possible.
Anker PowerPort II Dual-Port USB-C PD & USB-A Power IQ 2.0 Wall Charger – $29.99
Weight: 150.25 g / 5.3 oz
Dimensions: 2.7″ x 2.7″ x 1.1″
USB-C PD Output:
5V — 3A
9V — 3A
15V — 2A
20V — 1.5A
Power IQ 2 Output:
5V — 3A
9V — 2A
12V — 1.5A
This dual port wall block with USB-C capability is, again, overkill for your phone. “USB-C PD” stands for USB-C “Power Delivery”. The technology boosts wattages, again, to provide power to larger laptops and tablets with USB-C ports. USB-C PD will still fast charge a typical smart phone at standard fast charge speed of 18W. The Anker Powerport II will also charge USB-A devices at very high speeds. Anker’s new Power IQ 2.0 technology senses your devices’ needs and pulls the strongest appropriate current for it, meaning Power IQ 2.0 will fast charge even QC 3.0 devices. The output numbers for Power IQ 2.0 vs Quick Charge 3.0 are off by the tiniest decimal point, in Quick Charge’s favor, but the difference is minimal; they both push 18 watts max.
Anker PowerCore Fusion 5000mAh Portable Wall Charger & Power Bank Combo- $25.99
Weight: 186 g / 6.6 oz
Dimensions: 2.8″ x 2.8″ x 1.2″
Capacity: 5000mAh
Input:
AC Input: 100-240V~0.5A 50-60Hz
Micro USB Input: 5V=2A
Output:
USB Output (when plugged into AC): 5V=2.1A (2.1A Max Each Port)
USB Output (when not plugged into AC): 5V=3A (3A Max Each Port)
Why carry both a wall block and a power bank when you can carry a combination of the two? Because the the capacity is smaller and the power supply technology is not great. Only 5000 mAh means not a lot of backup power and the inputs and outputs don’t support QC or IQ 2.0 speeds.
The capacity is only half of what most thru hikers accept as a standard size to get you from outlet to outlet. The most popular power banks are around 10000mAh, which will charge most smartphones 3 – 4 times. The PowerCore Fusion only packs enough juice to charge a new smartphone 1 – 1.5 times.
Though the Amps are actually in the same realm as a lot of other top of the pack power banks, the PowerCore Fusion does not support any Quick Charge technology. The Fusion does use Anker’s proprietary Power IQ technology, it is only the original version, not the faster Power IQ 2.0. While the Anker Powercore Fusion saves both weight and space in your pack, it does not save you time. If you are not worried about how fast and far you can hike on your trip and you have time to kill near an outlet, you can save quite a bit of weight with this multi-use item.
Power Banks
Anker PowerCore+ 10050 Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 Power Bank – $29.97
Weight: 240.12 g / 8.46 oz
Dimensions: 3.8″ x 2.4″ x 0.9″
Capacity: 10050mAh
QC 2.0 Input:
2A
QC 2.0 Output:
2A
Though QC 2.0 is a bit antiquated, I included the Powercore+ because it is the power bank that I used on my 2017 Florida Trail thru hike. At the time, Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 was the fastest charging technology available for my android phone, a Galaxy S7. It would charge my phone to full about 3.5 times, and my phone only died once, during a long stretch of wilderness taking many pictures and videos.
The Anker Powercore+ 10050 uses QC 2.0 technology for both input and output, which made it the fastest charging and recharging compact battery in its class, in those days. It served me well on the trail. It charged my phone in around an hour, but took more than several hours to replenish itself when connected to an outlet.
The newer version of this battery, the Powercore + 10050 QC 3.0 uses Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 for both input and output, so it charges and replenishes even faster and is actually a tiny bit smaller.
Anker PowerCore+ 10050 Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 Power Bank – $34.99
Weight: 235.01 g / 8.28 oz
Dimensions: 3.7″ x 2.4″ x 0.9″
Capacity: 10050mAh
QC 3.0 Input:
5-7V — 2.1A
7-9V — 1.6A
9-12V — 1.25A
(claimed time to charge bank: 4 hours)
QC 3.0 Output:
18W max (claimed 80% charge in 30 mins)
The Anker Powercore+ 3.0 is the latest version in the Powercore+ line. It utilizes Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 in both output and input, providing the fastest possible USB-A speeds available and way faster recharging times.
Anker PowerCore II 10000 PowerIQ 2.0 Power Bank – $31.99
Weight: 191.06 g / 6.73 oz
Dimensions: 3.8″ x 2.4″ x 0.9″
Capacity: 10000mAh
Power IQ 2.0 Input:
5-9V — 2A (claimed recharge time: 4 hours)
Power IQ 2.0 Output:
5-9V — 2A
9-12V — 1.5A
Anker just unveiled their new PowerCore line, and a few of the models seem very similar. From what I can tell, the only difference between the PowerCore II and the PowerCore Speed, is the charging technology employed.
The PowerCore II uses Anker’s proprietary Power IQ 2.0 technology, which senses your devices needs and supplies the maximum amount of appropriate power. The PowerCore Speed uses Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 technology. Since Power IQ 2.0 pulls 18 watts just like Qualcomm QC 3.0 does, the results are comparable. So, essentially it’s a branding thing; you are either buying Qualcomm technology in an Anker bank or buying Anker technology in an Anker bank.
The big difference here is weight and speed, with the PowerCore II being the lighter and faster recharging option.
RAVPower 10000mAh QC 3.0 Input & Output Power Bank – $29.99
Weight: 192.77 g / 6.8 oz
Dimensions: 5.75″ x 2.83″ x 0.6″
Capacity: 10000mAh
QC 3.0 Input:
5V — 2.4A
9V — 2A
12V — 1.5A
18W Max
QC 3.0 Output:
5-6.5V — 3.0A
6.5-9V — 2.0A
9-12V — 1.5A
18W Max
The Ravpower QC 3.0 10000mAh power bank is Rav’s entry into the Quick Charge 3.0 input/output market. Compared to the best selling Anker equivalent, the Rav 10000 weighs less, but is larger and has slightly less capacity.
Hercules Z1: Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 Input/Output 10050 mAh battery pack – $16.99
Weight: 194.70 g / 6.86 oz
Dimensions: 4.2″ x 2.4″ x 0.9″
Capacity: 10050mAh
QC 3.0 Input:
5V — 2A
9V — 2A
12V — 1.5A
QC 3.0 Output:
5V — 3A
9V — 2A
12V — 1.5A
Boxtron offers a much cheaper option, at an even lighter weight than either of Anker’s Powercore+ or Powercore Speed batteries. Slightly larger in size, the Boxtron Hercules Z1 has Qualcom Quick Charge 3.0 input and output. Charges from 0% to full in roughly 4.5 hours.
From a lesser known brand, but comes with customer service and a 12 month warranty, which is a shorter duration than some warranties offered by other companies.
Anker PowerCore Speed 10000 Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 Power Bank – $35.99
Weight: 203.82 g / 7.19 oz
Dimensions: 3.9″ x 2.4″ x 0.9″
Capacity: 10000mAh
Input:
2A (claimed recharge time: 8 hours*)
QC 3.0 Output:
24W max (claimed 80% charge to phone in 30 mins)
The PowerCore Speed series is part of Anker’s new flagship line of power banks. The Speed batteries are lighter and slightly thinner than their comparable 10050mAh PowerCore+ counterparts, but do not have Quick Charge inputs, meaning they recharge slower when hooked up to an outlet. The Powerspeed 10000’s output is QC 3.0, with a higher max wattage than the PowerCore+ series, meaning it can power devices like tablets and small laptops at a higher speed, but your typical smartphone will still only charge at 18W, the same speed as with the PowerCore+ 3.0 batteries.
The upgrade from a PowerCore+ battery to a PowerCore Speed battery has to do only with weight. You will save about 1.25 ounces, but you will spend more time waiting for the PowerCore Speed to recharge. Charge times from the banks to devices are comparable.
*I have spoken to experienced thru hikers that have gotten faster than claimed charge times: 5.5 hours to recharge this bank when connected to a QC 3.0 wall block.
RAVPower 10000mAh 5V/3A USB-C & USB-A 10000 Power Bank – $29.99
Weight: 207.91 g / 7.33 oz
Dimensions: 5.8″ x 2.8″ x 0.6″
Capacity: 10000mAh
Input (Type-C):
Type-C Port: 5V — 3A
(claimed recharge time: 4 hours)
Micro USB:
USB-A Port: 5V — 2A
(claimed recharge time: 5.5 hours)
Output:
Type-C+USB A: 5V — 3.1A Max
Type-C Output: 5V — 3A
iSmart USB-A Output: 5V — 2.4A
RavPower makes one of the only lightweight USB-C ported power banks out there. I have not seen a lighter weight USB-C power bank, but its dimensions are larger than some more compact models on the market.
It has three ports: one USB-C, one USB-A that uses iSmart technology which is fast, but doesn’t push 3A like USB-C or QC 3.0, and one Micro USB to charge up the power bank itself.
RavPower claims that its USB-C 10000mAh power bank can use both the USB-C and the Micro USB ports at the same time to recharge the power bank. This equals a claimed recharge time of 3.5 hours, the fastest recharge of any comparable capacity power bank on this list. However, while charging the power bank via the USB-C port, I tried adding another power bank through the Micro USB port at the same time to boost charging speeds. The power bank providing power never lit up or turned on, meaning that was not engaged in the charging set up…maybe I did something wrong.
Tronsmart Presto 10400mAh USB-C & Quick Charge 3.0 USB-A Power Bank – $26.99
Weight: 230.20 g / 8.12 oz
Dimensions: 6.2″ x 2.1″ x 0.7″
Capacity: 10400mAh
Input (Type-C):
(Type-C): DC:5V/3A
Output:
Type-C Port:
5V — 3A
QC 3.0 USB Port:
5V-6.5V — 3A
6.5V-9V — 2A
9V-12V — 1.5A
The Tronsmart Presto 10400 power bank uses its USB-C port for both input and output, meaning you will get super fast charging and discharging via USB-C/PD technology. The second port is a Qualcom Quick Charge 3.0 USB-A port, for fast charging most standard USB devices. You can only recharge this power bank via a USB-C port.
From lesser know brand, but this power bank was ranked best USB-C capable compact power bank by thewirecutter.com, a consumer reports website I trust. Also comes with customer service and a 18 month warranty.
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sammertime 