It’s always a smart idea to bring a power bank with you on your outdoor adventures. Power banks can provide extra charge for your phone, smartwatch, GPS system, and other necessities.

Because you will likely be away from access to grid power during your expedition, you need to find a reliable power bank that retains its charge well, quickly charges your devices, and has a good weight-to-size ratio.

You also want to make sure that you’re truly buying what you pay for. Today’s power bank market really has two sectors: known brands and obscure brands. With known brands like Anker, myCharge, and many others, the companies have established reputations. You know that what you’re getting is a solid product, and these companies have great return policies if your power bank doesn’t work.

However, when you’re shopping for power banks, especially on Amazon, you will come across plenty of unknown brands. These brands, which usually only exist online, sometimes employ shady tactics like fake reviews to lull customers into a false sense of security.

It’s important to look at both positive and negative reviews to get an idea of the reality of a product. These products can sometimes be awesome– you just have to check.

So, with all of that in mind, what should you look for when choosing a power bank?

Here are the key elements you should keep in mind when choosing a power bank for hiking or backpacking.

Capacity can often be the deciding factor between two power banks, but how much power do you really need? Milliamp hours are just numbers. We have a complete guide to understanding power bank capacity, but here’s a general guide to how much power certain common devices need for a complete recharge.

With all of these considerations in mind, here are our top picks for hiking and backpacking power banks. These banks were chosen based on reliability, durability, value, and other key features that make them great for outdoor adventures.

One of the most important considerations when choosing a power bank is size. Here is a quick guide to our picks based on their capacity. Once you find one with the capacity you need, scroll down to find out more!

This tiny power bank is the most compact option on our list– it’s barely over 4 inches long and only 1.3 inches in diameter. It doesn’t carry as much charge as the other options, but it’s perfect for day hiking or as an extra emergency backup.

This durable power bank is shock-proof, water-proof, and dust-proof. It can charge three devices simultaneously and delivers power extremely quickly through its two high speed ports. We’ve personally tested this power bank and can vouch for its durability and ability to perform in high stress situations. If you’d like to know more about this power bank and what we put it through, we have a full review of it here.

Extremely slim for such a large capacity, the Charmast 16800 Ultra Slim QC power bank has four outputs, two of which are quick charging. It’s compatible with virtually every device has a rubberized cover to prevent damage to your other belongings– you can just toss it in your bag and go.

This sleek power bank supports both wired and wireless charging, meaning that if you’re only recharging your phone, you might not need to bring a cord at all. It weighs less than half a pound and lets you charge multiple devices at once.

This high capacity power bank provides ultra-fast charging and provides a ton of power at a great price. You can charge three devices simultaneously, including power-hungry devices like tablets and more delicate devices like wireless headphones and fitness trackers.

Slim, compact, and easy to carry, this power bank has an integrated USB-C cord so that you might not have to bring an extra cord with you. It’s great if you’re having a town day while thru-hiking because it supports pass-through charging, meaning it charges your device first while it’s plugged in, then the charger.

myCharge portable charger

This is the updated version of the myCharge Adventure Charger we reviewed previously. Its rugged design makes it perfect for heavy outdoor use. It’s a little heavier than other chargers of a similar capacity, but the fact that it’s IP67-rated for water and shock proofing means that it’s virtually indestructible. If you’re hiking in a rainy area or your adventures include climbing, kayaking, or other potentially power-unfriendly activities, you’ll be glad for the extra protection.

The Nitecore NB 10000 has an ultra-tough carbon fiber case that protects it against dust, moisture, and drops. It was designed for outdoor sports and law enforcement– situations that demand reliable high performance. This is an ideal power bank for when you don’t have a lot of space, since it’s less than half an inch in thickness– you can slip it pretty much anywhere in your bag.

This rugged power bank is designed to withstand drops. Rubber caps protect all of the ports for protection, and the power capacity is simply massive. This power bank is great if you’re going to have a long time between access to power, or if you’re going somewhere with extremely rugged terrain or precipitation.

This slim model can charge most phones from 0 to 100% at least twice, and features fast-charging technology. The only downside is that its only output is USB-A; many cords that come with modern phones are USB-C to USB-C, so if that’s the case with your phone, you’ll need to get an extra cord for this model.

There’s more to consider when choosing a power bank than just its capacity and size. You need to consider what you’re going to be using it for, and how it will fit in with your preferred kind of hiking or backpacking.

Power banks are great for small electronics, but if you’re charging something larger, or something that only has an AC plug, a power station might be a better option. Power stations are larger than power banks– some of the largest can even power major electronics. If you’re car camping, on a long trip, or are planning on off-grid van life or staying in a cabin, you should check out our articles on Jackery power stations and our comparison of Jackery and Anker power stations.

Power is extremely important when you’re in the backcountry. You need to be able to power your GPS, phone, and other devices, and not having access to power can cause serious problems if you get lost. All of these power banks are great choices for outdoor adventures– take one of them with you the next time you hit the trail.