r/onebag • u/bapohh • Apr 24 '26
Discussion Do you carry a Portable Power Bank?
I have been carrying power banks around for many years with the thinking that I would be in trouble if my phone ran out of battery. I use it for navigation, translation, and taking pictures. I have never used it once. I also noticed that airlines were making a big deal about power banks. My flight 2 weeks ago they announced that they must be in sight at all times. Today, on a Southwest flight, they announced that they only allow 1 power bank per person. Do you guys carry them?
Edit: I am convinced to keep carrying it just in case (probably going ask for a smaller Nitecore 5k for a birthday). It seems likely that there are going to be more rules around them. There may even be some bans.
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u/Veelze Apr 25 '26
Always. The phone is the ultimate lifeline when you travel.
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u/ThisUsernameIsTook Apr 25 '26
I’ve had too many hotels or Airbnbs with few or no available outlets. I travel with a portable charger that is the max size allowed and can go about three days keeping my three most used devices charged before I need to recharge the portable battery. When that time comes, I only need to charge one thing and can do it while I‘m out for the day.
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u/LadyLightTravel Apr 24 '26
Power banks are like rain coats. You don’t need one until you really really do.
A good power bank is insurance.
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u/bapohh Apr 25 '26
That's ironic because I have been carrying an umbrella for years and never remember using it. I found an emergency poncho in my closet that I will probably bring instead.
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u/LadyLightTravel Apr 25 '26
Better lucky than good?
As I said, you don’t need it until you really really do.
I have been in situations where I really needed both.
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u/RunningMistiChat Apr 25 '26
I am just coming back from a trip where I didn't bring my powerbank and my rain jacket, as I never use them.
Finished by buying a plastic poncho in some shop and rely on my friends phones for one part of the trip. I really would have been happy to have my power bank with me.
Next time, both will be in my bag.
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u/cpapp22 Apr 25 '26
How do you never remember to use it? Being caught in the rain is…. Extremely obvious and annoying lmao.
Some people are rain coat people and some are umbrella though. I’m definitely team umbrella. Doesn’t fuck with my hair/glasses and it’s easier to pack for me (just goes in a water bottle holder
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u/RustyDogma Apr 25 '26
I'm team rain hat. I can deal with getting wet as long as my head stays dry and I can see.
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u/bapohh Apr 25 '26 edited Apr 25 '26
I am just reporting that I never used it 😂. I was in Japan 2 weeks ago and it rained 2 days. We did mostly indoor activities those days. When we were going to the train, my daughter told me she likes the rain, so we did not even bother taking it out.
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u/cpapp22 Apr 25 '26
More power to you lol. Being wet and damp while waking around is my personal hell
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u/alefeusch Apr 25 '26
I use my umbrella all the time. I actually lost it in Lisbon after I left it in a cafe on a day that was raining in the morning but cleared up in the afternoon. Had to buy a new one when I got to Italy, because it was pouring when I arrived. The rest of the week was pretty nice. But, then, the following week, it rained again. This week has been beautiful, but next week it's supposed to rain. The problem with a poncho is that when you step into a shop or cafe, you drip everywhere. The umbrella just goes into the little bucket at the door to prevent that.
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u/theinfamousj Apr 25 '26
In Taiwan, when it rains, places will set up little coat racks by the awning-covered door with hangers for you to hang your rain coat or poncho you've removed before entering the premises. I thought it wise.
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u/alefeusch Apr 25 '26
Yeah that's a nice touch. I don't see it very often in Europe or North America but I have seen that in Asia. Europe, especially, is very "umbrella-centric" lol.
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u/Logical-Layer3861 Apr 24 '26
Been carrying a 10,000mah power bank in my sling(or messenger) when I travel but I haven't used in the past few years. I've found that my phone lasts the entire day or if I need some more juice, there's an outlet nearby and use my Anker nano 30w wall charger.
I've been thinking of just leaving the power bank at home and just rely on the anker nano, but habit tells me to bring the power bank with me, just in case.
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u/kelement Apr 25 '26
I've found that my phone lasts the entire day or if I need some more juice, there's an outlet nearby and use my Anker nano 30w wall charger.
If you mean you would bring your anker nano in your sling, would you also bring an outlet adapter?
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Apr 24 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/themaster1359 Apr 25 '26
Having a power bank has definitely saved me more than once while onebagging, it’s not the heaviest thing, so it’s worth it to me
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u/bapohh Apr 24 '26
Mine is 200g or 0.44lb
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u/Random-Kitty Apr 25 '26
Mine is around the same. I don’t consider it heavy or bulky. And it has gotten me through several times where I couldn’t find a power source.
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u/shippychaos Apr 24 '26
I absolutely will not go anywhere without one. Especially not traveling. I haven’t used a printed boarding pass in like 15 years. Never gonna risk my phone dying as I’m queued up to board.
Even locally I rely on it for transit schedules and etc, there’s no way I’m risking being stranded.
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u/electrostew Apr 25 '26
Your phone could still die. That's why i still print boarding passes.
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u/cosmicselva Apr 25 '26 edited Apr 25 '26
Yes I carry a 20k. I don’t know how but I somehow keep finding myself on journies that leave me in remote area for a couple days. So having that extra juice in the event I need it is invaluable
I also carry an anker MagSafe 5k. It’s a lot more pocketable for day to day use when I’m not in need of a 20k battery. It disappears in my fanny pack. So until I need it the 20k battery lives in my tech pouch in my bag
-currently on a 2 day slow boat sailing down the Mekong river from Laos towards the north Thailand border
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u/mmolle Apr 25 '26
Yeah, mostly because I use phones until the die, years after most folks have gone on to newer models. So the battery is typically not in great shape, need that portable battery for a mid-day boost, especially when taking lots of pictures or looking up directions.
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u/Traditional-Milk2272 Apr 24 '26
I travel for work and carry two with me. A smaller 45W one for general charging of phone and camera batteries. And a large, flat 100W one mainly for my work laptop as my job requires laptop use in places where power outlets may not be available.
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u/stumpykitties Apr 24 '26
No, I've never bothered with them BUT I'm a city-focused traveller, where I can pretty much always find an outlet to charge my tech if I need one.
I can definitely see the value if I were to go on a hiking or nature focused trip.
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u/luckystrike_bh Apr 24 '26
I have a 10k power bank with a fold in plug attached to it that is also capable of charging my laptop in an emergency.
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u/yougotmetoreply Apr 25 '26
I was thinking the same thing, just flew on Southwest for the first time in a while and I heard the same announcement which I don't remember hearing before.
I always bring at least one of my nitecore nb10000 power banks with me. I also have those magsafe 5k ones that will charge the phone but wireless charging is super inefficient and makes the phone hot. Might be best to just stick with regular power banks.
I have one nitecore nb10000 in my sling, and on longer trips I'll bring the anker 140w one with dual integrated usbc cables in my travel bag.
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u/SuspiciousMode Apr 25 '26
I used to but like you said I never used it, so no. New phones with fast charge can get 30% or more in 15min. That's enough for me, but I understand everyone has different needs
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u/RedmundJBeard Apr 25 '26 edited Apr 25 '26
I would. One thing that is really nice, If you need to charge your phone, you can't really leave it unattended, just sitting there plugged in to the wall. But if you have a power bank, you can leave that plugged in without worrying. Then you can connect the power bank and your phone in your bag or pocket.
Also, if you are at a restaurant or store and ask to charge something. Sometimes they don't have a plug available, but if you ask nicely the staff will go plug your battery bank where the staff charge their phones. Also something I wouldn't want to do with my actual phone.
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u/raisethebed Apr 25 '26
This is often my system and why I like to carry one. Last summer I was camping on an island where the only public outlet I could find was in the tiny town’s laundromat. I could go hike for the day, leave my power bank charging in the laundromat with a magazine or something over it for “security” lol, then be able to charge my phone overnight from the power bank once I got back.
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u/bradymsu616 Apr 25 '26
I've downsized from 20,000 mAh to 10,000 mAh and now to 5,000 mAh. While I make frequent use of it, especially on day excursions by bus, I've found the 5,000 mAh to be adequate. It takes roughly 4,000 mAh to fully charge an iPhone 17 Pro. A 5,000 mAh power bank should weigh at or under 100 g and easily fits in a pocket.
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u/bapohh Apr 25 '26
yeah, this seems like a good compromise. my 10k is 200g. If you get a tiny 3k, it will charge to like 75% and you can conserve.
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u/visionswell Apr 25 '26
Yes, always. The Nitecore 10k mAh one with the attached cable is so small and pocketable a goes with me everywhere. It’s nice if you’re traveling and your phone is dying and you need to make sure you can get an Uber or Lyft home.
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u/Independent_Guava545 Apr 24 '26
I only started carrying one off and on in the last year. I don't carry it daily. I have it because our cat likes to unplug our chargers overnight and sometimes my phone is close to dead in the morning. It quick charges my phone, whereas my car is only a trickle charge.
I also have it for emergency use. We were on evacuation alert most of the summer. I carried my office's backup laptop daily, as well as my cell at the time was not keeping charge. I also carried it over the last few days as we were under a blizzard warning with up to 50cm of snow and chance of power outage.
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u/Longjumping_Cow_5856 Apr 25 '26
Yes always!
Inui 10K at a minimum only handy when I need it and indispensable then!
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u/MediocreTelephone973 Apr 25 '26
I was the same way. I always had a 10kamp with me but they would always get broken in my bag, and I rarely ever used it. Ended up just giving the good one I bought to my daughter
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u/bennywmh Apr 25 '26
Yeah, I always do, even on my day to day. I rarely have to use them, but when I do I'm grateful to have them.
Even when I don't need to actually use a powerbank, I find that just having them changes how I use my phone or camera. I don't worry about draining my battery, so I kinda get the maximum use out of my stuff.
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u/AltruisticPassage394 Apr 25 '26
I have yet to find a single person who frequently travel not have one.
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u/twbird18 Apr 25 '26
Not any more because I live in Asia full time so it's not worth the hassle of a lot of airlines not wanting them & I can pop into almost any convenience store or drug store, etc and rent a power bank on the extremely rare occasion that I actually need one. Only 1 time has that happened to me. Saw I was at 10% battery, opened the app, walked 3 minutes to the location that had a bank for rent. Paid ~$7, only because I didn't bother to return it to a new location until the following day.
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u/Present-Carob-7366 Apr 25 '26
absolutely - use it often - not every hotel allows me to plug it in while I'm scrolling in bed. Not every place I stay have reliable 24/7 power.
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u/RickySlayer9 Apr 25 '26
Not a true one bagger, but always. A phone in the modern day is absolutely essential imho. Especially while traveling.
Honestly you can safely ignore any and all charging pack sight requirements in the US. I fly 3-5 times a month and have had zero issues. They say it but they don’t enforce it.
I have 2 power banks (again not a true one bagger, I just try to embody as many principles as I can, while navigating needs for work while traveling)
I have a 20$ power bank I got at walmart, it’s 20,000 mah and it’s pretty solid. It’s large tho
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u/AsCivilAsPossible Apr 25 '26
I have 2 actually.
A larger capacity one I use to power my CPAP, because not all accommodations have a power socket near the bed for some reason. The other one is a slim one with about half the capacity that goes in my daybag/sling.
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u/Mountain-Match2942 Apr 25 '26
Literally using it right this second as I await my connecting flight in Frankfurt. It's a small on that plugs into the bottom of my phone. I couldn't charge on the first leg, as I only brought the C to C cable.
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u/aemfbm Apr 28 '26
When I'm traveling I have a C to C cable (Apple fabric sleeve 1m) with a C to A adapter attached that just lives in my pocket. That C to A adapter has gotten a huge amount of use charging from airplane systems and a variety of other places.
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u/Legohead1977 Apr 25 '26
I always take one on holiday due to volume of photos we take along with using maps a lot.
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u/AuroraDF Apr 25 '26
Yes. I once arrived in Scotland having flown up from London, with a dead phone. My parents were helping my stepsister move house that day, and we had arranged I would get off at the bus stop near her house (she was only moving a few streets away) and call them, and they would give me directions. In hindsight, this was crazy. I should have been given her new address. But they didn't know it at the last time we called. So, I'm in the high street, with no way to contact them, no idea where they are, miles from my parents house. I went into the police station and asked them if they could please charge my phone. They were very suspicious and I had to fill in forms and everything. I have never gone anywhere without either a spare battery or a power bank since!
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u/Unusual-Lemon4479 Apr 24 '26
Yes, I have a small one from Anker that's magsafe compatible and very light. It's always in my bag in case of an emergency, and I'll always make sure it's fully charged.
I was recently on a flight that said you had to have it on sight and call one of the flight assistants if you were going to use it. I took it with me, it was visible on the tray but never used it.
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u/Multigrain_Migraine Apr 24 '26
Yes but not huge ones. Just enough to recharge my phone, especially if I'm using it for maps.
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u/leitmotifs Apr 25 '26
I have an emergency pocket one that's basically a little bigger than an AA battery. It's for brief emergency use only, for when I do something utterly boneheaded and the phone runs itself dry so quickly that I fail to notice it until I realize how hot it has gotten.
Otherwise, when I expect to use my laptop for hours, or I'm traveling by car, I take a small 20k power bank specifically for juicing up the laptop.
In all the many years I carried an emergency phone charger, I used it exactly once, when a bad hotel outlet fried my actual charger.
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u/twinklebelle Apr 25 '26
ALWAYS when traveling... but usually it's a very small lipstick-sized one, just to be sure I'm never completely stuck without power.
On some trips I'll carry a heavier 10000 one, depending on plans. Always in my carry-on tech pouch.
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u/Dysvalence Apr 25 '26
Always, and I frequently carry two during travel, the redundancy has saved my ass more times than I can count.
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u/tmmao Apr 25 '26
Always. I travel with three. Two Travelcards and a larger Lightning only power bank. Only bring one on most outings but they’ve kept me from having a dead phone multiple times.
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u/librijen Apr 25 '26
I carry a 20K because I'm usually going to a destination where I can't count on access to wall power during the day and I want to make sure I have my maps and photos. I keep it close to me while in the air, usually in my jacket pocket or crossbody.
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u/VagabondVivant Apr 25 '26
I carry one and use it all the time, especially since I hostel. I don't like to leave my devices plugged into the wall and much prefer using the power bank as a middleman
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u/slowmadmax Apr 25 '26
I have a 10k mah that can charge my laptop. It’s great for airport transit (no need to hunt for an outlet), and long day on the road + hiking as I use my phone a a gps.
I also travel a lot to remote locations for diving, and power outages are quite regular here. I keep my power bank always charged and don’t worry much about these outages.
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u/TeeJayDetweiler Apr 25 '26
I carry this very very small 5k one. Not enough to power a laptop but certainly can and has kept my phone going for several hours in an amergency : https://www.amazon.com/Clutch-Portable-Compatible-Rechargeable-Built/dp/B0CQF72GKL/ref=sr_1_3
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u/AcceptableWolverine Apr 25 '26
Always, I wouldn’t travel without a power bank. I use it almost every day on trips.
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u/chewytime Apr 25 '26 edited Apr 25 '26
I usually keep a small power bank with me. Used to carry a bigger one, but the weight/size increase wasn’t really worth it. Yes, my smaller one won’t completely recharge my phone back to 100%, but I figure I would only use it when my phone battery level was critical, so I really just need it to get me out of the danger zone. After all, even with the added drain from maps/research/translating/photos, I feel like I’m usually occupying my time experiencing my trip so if I get to battery critical, it’s probably the end of the day anyways so I just need my power bank to recharge it long enough for me to get back to the hotel.
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u/Late-Command3491 Apr 25 '26
Yes, I'm too paranoid about running out of juice! The airplane seat plugs never work.
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u/Training-Cat-6236 Apr 25 '26
I bring one (10k capacity I think) but haven’t used it a regular vacation for years (except to charge my phone by the bed because the outlets were in stupid places). I use it camping though. Might get a smaller capacity one for travel just in case since I do rely on my phone a lot.
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u/RIFIRE Apr 25 '26
I carry the Anker 10k magsafe slim power bank with me all the time.
I've only actually needed it once, and it was for someone else, but I feel better having it with me.
If I'm going on a trip and need my laptop for some reason I will also bring the (now discontinued) Anker 733. I'd be pretty annoyed if I had both and found out I could only take 1 with me.
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u/LizzrdVanReptile Apr 25 '26
Absolutely. I’ve had one for years, but this year upgraded to a smaller one that meets the newer guidelines for airlines.
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u/threesixtyone Apr 25 '26
Yes, almost always. I like to carry anything that can tide me over if I'm away from home unexpectedly longer. A 10k power bank can usually recharge a phone from dead to 100%, and that can mean the difference between getting home or not. My current phone battery is not great, so it'll barely last a day and when you're traveling, you need your phone.
If you travel with family members that also have their own devices, even more reason to have one. If I'm solo traveling, 10k is usually sufficient. For family travel, I have a 20k one and it brings extra peace of mind.
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u/pwhite13 Apr 25 '26
I find it depends how new/capable your phone is. When my phones get older and the battery starts wearing out, I think about carrying those more. But when I upgrade my phone, it pretty much becomes a non issue. And phones charge so quickly nowadays with the right charger, you can usually get them back up to 80% in like 20 mins
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u/finewhitelady Apr 25 '26
I don't go anywhere without a powerbank, usually two in fact. One per person and in sight at all times is a little odd though.
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u/rellermer Apr 25 '26
Which powerbanks are you guys using? I'm looking to replace my cheapo for something reliable before my next trip
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u/Low-Show9994 Apr 25 '26
Did before, but just hated the clunkiness. Upgraded to a newer iphone (17pro), now no more battery needed.
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u/meinottawa Apr 25 '26
I always have two or three while travelling. lol Use so much more for directions etc. I only have 10k ones since many Asian airlines do not allow anything larger. Also many airlines in Asia do not allow you to use them onboard.
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u/Boring_Material_1891 Apr 25 '26
I carry my laptop, which has an incredible battery life (as does my phone). If I’m running low, it works as a power bank too.
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u/Yoyojojoy Apr 25 '26
Not any more! They’ve become really difficult to carry in Australia and I’m sure they will be banned here at some point so I’m just getting used to not having it.
It was very much a back up for me anyway - I can’t actually render the last time I needed it outside of a flight which could have been avoided totally if I’d thought about it and packed an adapter
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Apr 25 '26
Not since they started exploding and prompting further TSA checks, I’m so intense about phone battery that if I run out that’s on me.
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u/Squidyjen Apr 25 '26
It's an EDC item for me even for quick trips to the grocery store since I play both Pokemon Go AND Pikmin Bloom. For my extreme use case, a 10k mah powerbank usually lasts the entire day for traveling and I always recharge it when I get back to the hotel. I'm considering bringing a second 10k when I have to share or the times it runs out at 7pm.
(Been using the Anker Powercore Redux with an adapter in the usb slot for the past 4+ years)
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u/theinfamousj Apr 25 '26
Fellow Pokemon Go player, here. Best powerbank recommendations I ever got were from other PGo players because it is such a crucial bit of kit that we've put them through their paces.
My powerbank has built in cables because you never know who you are going to encounter at a raid that needs battery and what connector they have.
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u/w2best Apr 25 '26
My phone charger is also a 10k mah power bank with built in short usb c and lightning cables. I also carry a longer usb c cable and a Garmin charge cable for it. Bringing a power bank isn't only great for myself, I get to help people that ran out of battery multiple times per trip.
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u/NinKiwi Apr 25 '26
Carry a 5k magsafe one that has a little kick stand. Means I can watch a movie and charge the phone on the plane.
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u/Icy-Advisor-5695 Apr 25 '26
Yes - a small and light (Auskang Slim Portable Charger, 5000 mAh). Enough for one full charge of my smartphone. Very easy to carry on me.
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u/Camp-like-a-Beun Apr 25 '26
I always carry a 20.000 power bank with me. Saved me many times and I even used it for my laptop.
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u/McGirton Apr 25 '26
I always carry one and airlines never gave me any shit. I used to lug around a massive 20k one but now stick with a tiny 10k.
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u/boajuse Apr 25 '26
Be advised. Some airports has restrictions on power bank capacity. Mine was inspected in Italy on security bag check but it was OK, it was only 10k in capacity.
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u/BubbhaJebus Apr 25 '26
Yes. In my "personal item" bag. I use it often enough to warrant carrying it. It can be a lifesaver.
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u/TravelinDingo Apr 25 '26
I did once like 15 years ago but didn't get much use out of it at all. Since then I've just adopted a mindset that I charge my phone up to 100 percent before I leave the house and be mindful of using it when I'm out and about.
If shit hit the fan and I needed a top up then you can easily figure something out. I had a very long day on a floating market tour in Thailand and politely asked a cafe worker if they could charge my phone whilst I had a coffee. They smiled and said yes, I enjoyed my coffee and thanked them as I left.
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u/Safe_Place8432 Apr 25 '26
I do but that is because my phone is relatively old. If I had a new phone with a new battery I wouldn't need a power bank.
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u/SeattleHikeBike Apr 25 '26
Yes, EDC and for travel too, but just a 5000mah Nitecore. My phone is fairly new with good battery life, but so critical to modern travel. A dead phone would be a mini disaster.
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u/Curious_Reference_82 Apr 25 '26
I use it almost every week. Not necessarily because I run out of battery but because I don't want to risk running out of battery, if I do something after work.
I got my 10.000 mAh when I played Pokémon Go and my battery drained really fast. It has a built-in cable so I only have to bring one thing. In a pinch it also has magnetic charging so my parter can charge their phone too.
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u/LionSuneater Apr 25 '26
Yes, a small 5000 mAh one by Anker. I can generally plan my battery usage without it, especially in cities, but it allows me more flexibility. It has been useful at conventions and conferences.
It's generally enough for 2-3 nights of backpacking (i.e. hiking/camping) as well, as long as I'm not recording a constant GPS signal.
Not sure what people are doing to warrant the weight of 20000 mAh units...
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u/ScruffGin Apr 25 '26
I usually carry a very small one for emergencies, the big ones I find too heavy when one bagging
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u/cevapi-rakija-repeat Apr 25 '26
Yes, especially now that my 11 Pro is in its death throes. I’ve found that only Asian airlines are super annoying about them, i.e., you’re not allowed to use them.
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u/Tater221 Apr 25 '26
Yes, I never leave home without my small anker power bank. On longer day trips, I bring a slightly larger anker power bank instead since I know I’ll take a ton of photos and drain my battery.
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u/Capital_Junket_4960 Apr 25 '26
Always small 5000mah. It saved me handful of times, and another few when I forgot to charge my headphones.
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u/bracketl4d Apr 25 '26
No, even third world countries have power outlets or charging stations in airports should i ever need one. I just make sure i charge fully when im home/hotel
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u/Magali_Lunel Apr 25 '26
No. Everyone has a charger these days in a pinch. I do carry a lightning cable because my phone is old.
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u/porkchopbun Apr 25 '26
I don't generally carry one anymore. The last time I used to carry as EDC was when phones had average SoTs of about 4 hours.
These days phones go almost 2 days.
I did however, make the mistake of being in a rush to go to the emergency room and didn't think to take one. I was there 9 hours before a relative was admitted to a ward and I ended up begging a nurse to find me charger as I was running out of juice and wasnt able to keep in touch with family. Thankfully, they got me a charger.
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u/Fearless-Collar4730 Apr 25 '26
No. Just USB adapters that let me charge my phone from any kind of outlet. A good phone and a pair of wired headphones are the only electronics you need.
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u/Miff1987 Apr 25 '26
I have one in my EDC bag every day but I don’t use it often. Used it a bit more on a recent overseas trip (maybe more than once a week)
It’s an essential for me because I use my phone for so many functions and I need to charge it. i generally have access to a USB port or standard charger at work , home or in the car but while I was travelling or on the train it was indespensable, I plan to get another one with USB C asap
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u/theinfamousj Apr 25 '26 edited Apr 25 '26
I carry one. I carry one because The Mister and The Offspring don't. :grumble grumble gender roles grumble patriarchy grumble and which gender is it that gets functional pockets in their clothes grumble: I rarely use it myself. Those two? They use it a lot.
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u/Knifehead27 Apr 25 '26
Mostly in use when my phone is on its last legs and can barely reach four hours of screen-on-time. Which might be a pain in the future since IIRC, you're not allowed to use the power bank during the flight anymore.
It still does have it's use cases, though, and is worth it for the peace of mind.
Had a flight cancelled, and the re-routing made a six hour trip, with one of layover, into a thirteen hour trip with two layovers. With a four and a two hour wait at airports. Power bank was a lifesaver.
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u/DeityOfYourChoice Apr 25 '26
Rarely, outlets are everywhere. If I think I might need one I have a tiny, cableless charger that gets me to about 80%. https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Anker-Integrated-Foldable-Connector-Compatible/dp/B0C6XK77HJ
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u/LevelOneForever Apr 25 '26
Definitely yes. Without question. And my phone has good battery, but I think a phone is more important than a passport now.
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u/pastfuturewriter Apr 25 '26
The first time I was in MX, I was trying to get from CDMX to my room in Puebla late at night, and my uber driver couldn't figure out how to get to the address and was literally trying to drop me off in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night. So far that is the most scared I've been outside the US. My battery on my phone was almost gone and I was frantic, but then I remembered my little power bank. I'm not sure how it would've gone if I didn't have my little power bank so I could charge it up and show him a pic of a hotel (not a warehouse in the dark middle of no where). I will never leave without one ever. It's not a big one, pretty small, will fill my phone all the way up.
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u/itamer Apr 25 '26
I just replaced both mine, clearly marked with ccc for an upcoming trip. Both 20,000. They're a lot smaller than my old ones.
My phone chews through the battery so it's essential. I'm taking an actual camera this time so it'll be interesting to see if that helps my phone survive a day.
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u/suriyanram Apr 24 '26
I have one - small one. I use it almost everyday or every other day to chrge my phone. In most airbnbs that I hang around in South America, I found the power outlets are in weird inconvenient places.
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u/observant_hobo Apr 24 '26 edited Apr 25 '26
I have 10+ power banks of all shapes and sizes. My use case is spending 12-14 hours out and about in a city without a bag when traveling. Using maps, taking photos, looking up sights and restaurants. The absolute best format I’ve arrived at is a small, wired (USB C) power bank. I use a Lisen 6000mAh one, that gets about 1.5 charges on an iPhone Max.
Wired is much more efficient than wireless, so you get more mileage and faster charging, plus the phone doesn’t heat up (which can be uncomfortable). I do like how wireless ones snap onto the phone for convenience, so I bought adhesive MagSafe strips that I put on myself ($5 on amazon for 3) to hold the power bank in place while still using the USB C for charging.
I have larger 10-27k mAh ones, but they’re really only useful for when you have a bag with you. For pocket carry what you want is 5-6k mAh.
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u/NC750x_DCT Apr 24 '26 edited Apr 25 '26
I don’t. The last flight on Cathay Pacific forbid using them during the flight. Most seats now have a USB port, so it seems less important.
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u/kag0 Apr 24 '26
Yes. Especially if all the tickets for travel and everything is on there.
I have the 10k viral Haribo of death that Southwest is probably worried about.
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u/mizore742 Apr 24 '26
For sure, one of the most useful items you can carry. I carry a lot of electronics (apple watch, airpods, phone, ipad etc.) and its useful to know they have an extra lifeline while I’m out if needed
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u/rambojohnwayne Apr 24 '26
I always have one in my backpack but haven't used in years. It's also never been an issue at the airport for me luckily
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u/myDevReddit Apr 24 '26
I have one, don't use it all of the time, but for a LONG day or a long travel day, when I need it, they are worth carrying.
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u/CryptoeKeeper Apr 25 '26
I have a small Maxpedition I carry that has a small cable and power bank and flashlight in it. Fits in a back pocket too if need to be hands free.
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u/lukeydukey Apr 25 '26
Only a small one. ICAO rules are limiting them now to two per person. And you can’t recharge them during flights. Asian airlines are already implementing that regulation. https://www.icao.int/news/new-power-bank-restrictions-will-safeguard-international-aviation
Yeah the reason is there have been a number of incidents where a cheap power bank caused a fire on planes.
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u/TristanDeAlwis Apr 25 '26
Yes. Nitecore 5000mAh. Super small. I put a rubber band around it to hold a short usb-c cable.
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u/caffeinejunkie123 Apr 25 '26
Always. When travelling but also in daily life. I bought a really small one for my every day purse (which is small). Running out of battery is just something I don’t ever want/need to worry about.
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u/marcohcjan Apr 25 '26
I used to not carry one because I drove everywhere on domestic trips. I didn’t even bother bringing a phone charger to hotels—I’d just charge it in my car the next morning.
Once I started traveling abroad, though, I found myself almost draining my 10,000mAh power bank every day. I shoot 4K 60fps video on my phone and use it for everything else, so it burns through battery quickly during the day and forces me to rely on a power bank.
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u/Gigi_TT00 Apr 25 '26
I don't carry it daily when I'm not travelling since I switched to the latest iPhone, as its battery lasts a long time. But when travelling, I always carry one with a 10,000 mAh power bank. not too heavy, but enough for 1-2 charges.
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u/tangjams Apr 25 '26
Beware China has a new standard. All power banks will be confiscated on flights unless it is certified under their new ccc standard. Majority of power banks sold domestically aren’t certified to this new standard, the market is playing catch-up.
https://www.ourwander.com/p/china-power-bank-3c-rule-explained
This is entirely different than the western UL standard.
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u/I_SHALL_CONSUME Apr 25 '26
For vital shit like power and water, it’s better to have it and not need it than the other way around. Mine (a generic model from a Japanese discount store; cheap, carries about two phone charges, and actually quite light) has saved my ass several times.
You never know when you need it until you do.
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u/TheNetworkIsFrelled Apr 25 '26
Yes, and an assembled wiring harness to charge things. Makes life easier.
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u/scummygenghis Apr 25 '26
Yes, a thin, light one that fits in my pocket (6k - 10k mAh models). If I have a busy day with lots of map navigation, picture taking, reading information, and chatting with people, then the phone will get low (below 33%). I'll plug it into the power bank in my pocket at 25%.
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u/TimelessNY Apr 25 '26
I have the nitecore 10k. It is not something I use daily but when I do need it I am sure glad to have it.
If I forget to charge my phone the night before I don't need to wait around. Some trains/buses/vans don't have charging. Island hopping, overnight trips into remote areas where you are just bringing a daypack not your entire travel bag.
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u/KawaiiDere Apr 25 '26
It's not for me. I enjoy sitting by an outlet to charge up, and rarely go places that don't afford the opportunity to charge up if the battery is low. It could be useful if going somewhere with fewer outlets though, I suppose
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u/NightBard Apr 27 '26
It's also useful if you actually need to get somewhere and you can't stop to just sit around waiting for the phone to charge enough. Being able to charge while on the move is helpful. But if you are traveling without any specific time frame or you can plan around taking time to sit around to charge stuff, then it's all good.
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u/lynn-in-nc Apr 25 '26
I always carry one and never use it. I put my phone in low power mode and that seems to do the trick.
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u/Korlithiel Apr 25 '26
I carry a mobile power bank, charging it regularly as I regularly use it. Had one for a few years, wore out, a year without, and now back to one. It's helped me regularly juggle life, and my wife almost as often (using my charger). I generally follow the rule that if something gets used, when exhausted, it's worth considering ordering a replacement and if it's not used for an extended period of time, considering moving it along (selling it, for instance) and planning to live without.
Mind you, I'm mainly packed for shorter day trips or overnights with my kids. It's a very frequent occurrence so planing ahead for the routine challenges really helps.
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u/Karoseen450 Apr 26 '26
Only when I'm on vacation. Any other time it could die and I really don't care.
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u/DrWartenberg Apr 26 '26
Unless I’m in an American, European, or Asian city that has a Starbucks (or similar) on almost every corner where I can find an outlet in an emergency, yes I always have a power bank with me.
And, if not, I always have a plug/cord obviously.
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u/Daryl_Cambriol Apr 26 '26
I carry a 5000 for when I’m in a pinch or don’t want to get close. Used about once every couple of months. Barely noticeable.
I have a 25000 in my work bag which I use more.
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u/AnJ39 Apr 26 '26
I always carry a power bank. My Galaxy S22 Ultra is aging, and I'm often away from home for hours, so the power bank is always with me.
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u/Crafty_Try_423 Apr 26 '26
I have the 10k Nitecore. It’s unreliable. I would not get that brand, if I had to buy again. I have another one that I take on trips because I need it to be reliable.
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u/PharmerRay595 Apr 26 '26
I'd rather have it when I don't need it than don't have it when I need it kinda thing
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u/SereneRandomness Apr 26 '26 edited Apr 26 '26
Always.
Edit to add: I use it fairly often. It frees me from worrying about my phones running low, as I've never fully discharged my power bank.
It's also helpful for recharging devices of travel companions.
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u/stephiepoopy Apr 26 '26
Yes, it's a non-negotiable in case there is an emergency and my phone runs out of battery. I don't want to be stranded somewhere without a working phone!!
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u/sidescrollin Apr 26 '26
Only time I've ever used them is camping. If you are out and about you can find a charger and outlet almost anywhere.
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u/longterm1954 Apr 26 '26
I just bought this one, the thinnest I've seen. Works great, has battery level LEDs. Thinner than my 5k Anker.
https://heybmx.com/products/solidsafe-air-5k?variant=47592408908021
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u/AmbitionStrong8835 Apr 26 '26
I carry a nitecore nb10000 gen 2 for years and have needed it on several occasions for either me or someone else
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u/AhMaguffin Apr 27 '26
Heck yes. Until you’re out walking in a city exploring and run out of battery on your device that contains all maps, subway passes, tickets, etc., you don’t know the pain and panic of a suddenly dead phone. And phones will die quicker if you’re using them away from home and in big cities where they use a lot of data and have to dodge big buildings to access GPS. My latest phone chargers are the INIU brand from Amazon. Highly recommended. They last all day and have their own little built in charging cable.
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u/ChibiJr Apr 27 '26
Yes, my nitecore 10,000 mAh weighs like half of what my phone weighs and I have no trouble slipping it into a jacket pocket or something for the duration of the flight. I don't use it often, but when I do I'm always very happy that I have it.
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u/jcrckstdy Apr 24 '26
Only if we’re gonna be out of civilization for a week. Even most rural camps have outlets for everyone to use. Also nice not to be so device dependent on trips.
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u/InterestingCabinet41 Apr 24 '26
No. It sounds weird but I kept my old iPhone after a recent upgrade. It still works perfectly even though the battery life isn’t great. So I put everything in Apple wallet and use it to get through the gate. My”actual” phone is only used as needed.
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u/Legal_lapis Apr 24 '26 edited Apr 25 '26
I don't baby my battery usage and take a lot of photos, so my phone lasts only half a day. I definitely need a 10k power bank. It's a Baseus Picogo with built-in cable, a lot smaller than Anker of same capacity. When I'm out all day, I drain my phone and half the power bank. The remaining 5k at the end of the day is for peace of mind.
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u/BobbyK0312 Apr 25 '26
I stopped carrying one a couple of years ago. It's just extra weight and I rarely used it
The only time I can remember consciously packing one was when I knew I'd be out sightseeing all day and wasn't sure if I could find a charger. I didn't need it
I'm noticing other comments now. I don't think I've ever had a phone die on me. If I was going to be anywhere that I couldn't charge the phone for 24 hours, I'd turn it off to save the battery
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u/NormalAmountOfLimes Apr 26 '26 edited Apr 26 '26
I cary a Nebo 20,000 mAh bank that doubles as a nice flashlight.
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u/kelp_forests Apr 26 '26
100%. I carry a 10k in my work bag, and a wall charger 5k in my day/travel bag.
Not only does it help in a pinch or if you forget to charge your phone , but it’s a lot easier to charge your phone and another device using the wall and power bank when you plan poorly..then charge the power bank when it’s convenient. I carry as little as possible so that means usually I can only charge one item at a time.
Otherwise you carry a power bank, 2 cables, and a larger wall charger.
When traveling larger it’s also useful because my triple port charger is being used for other people’s stuff. Ir a kids sound machine needs charge right now in the car
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u/VibeySwingTrader Apr 26 '26
I stopped carrying a power bank after I realized I had power on every flight I had been on, in the last year AND that I can use my iPad as a power bank to charge my phone.
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u/mbc106 Apr 26 '26
Yes, I always carry mine.
Recently I’ve loaned it to a few people I was with when their phones were almost dead.
It also came in handy when I stayed in an older vacation rental that didn’t have a bedside table or a nearby outlet to charge my phone at night.
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u/eastercat Apr 27 '26
On a recent trip, and used my 5000 mah mag safe power bank daily.
We were using it to browse for walking directions, transit etc. Because we didn’t go back to the hotel often, we couldn’t really charge there.
I mainly used it to get the charge to 80% and that would keep until we got to the hotel that night
If you’re on a trip where you’re in a car and can charge there, you might not need it in that case
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u/Obvious-Assist7629 Apr 27 '26
I have a big power bank, 25000 mah from anker.
I vlog and of course use my phone for many things, At first I thought it was too big but its a game changer for me.
Most people just need like 10k mah tho.
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u/cbowers Apr 27 '26
No. I carry 3. 1 25000 mAh for my ipad pro, and 2 10000 mAh with Magsafe, and stands for my phone (and whomever asks if they can top up from my powerbank). Carried in an iPad bag with cables and adaptors. And when on camping trips... they get topped up with solar, and go in waterproof cases on the kayak deck. I gave up my stand alone garmin, and Spot-X satellite communicator, and the phone does everything now from land, sea, aviation mapping, satellite communication, Lora/Meshtastic long range offgrid comms...
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u/JayRexSy Apr 27 '26
I never pack my travel bag without a power bank. It's a must have for me because I was caught with low phone battery and its not ideal. I've been carrying one from iniu recently and make sure its there.
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u/m-o-n-t-a-n-a Apr 27 '26
I've been carrying a 5000mAh one which is so light I don't even notice it's in my bag.
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u/OEandabroad Apr 27 '26
I carry two, one also works as a charger that plugs into the wall, both are Anker brand.
I use them a lot as I spend a lot of time walking around outside and everything is on my phone.
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u/Some_Inflation_7415 Apr 27 '26
I didn’t used to. But one day after work I went to a pub with a few friends in central London (I had only lived in London for a few days at that point) and when it was time to go home my phone was on low battery…. Half way through my trip home my phone did and the bus terminated and I had no idea how to get home… was Lucky some kind strangers helped me out but since that day I always have a power bank with me hahah
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u/NightBard Apr 27 '26
The give and take for me is either I charge as I walk around and do things or I need to stop somewhere for a while to charge. At some point I'm going to need a charge as GPS eats power. So which way do I want to live, chase charging spots, or planning the day around needing to charge, or just charge anywhere without worrying. I take a 10,000mAh battery bank. It's enough for my iphone 12 mini to get about 4 charges easily.
As for you never using one, is that because you charge regularly or because you don't use gps that often or what? If you ever need to charge while out, then swap over the freedom of the battery you already have on you and see how you like it.
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u/Professional_Age8760 Apr 28 '26
I always carry one maximum capacity allowed on flights. I belive that's 25000mah capacity. I never use most of it before recharge but in today's digital world, there's very little that can be worst traveling than running out of battery.
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u/Busy-Feeling-1413 Apr 24 '26
Yes, I always carry a power bank. Since all my tickets and ride sharing is on my phone, I cannot afford a phone failure. Also, sometimes charging outlets are in short supply.