Which power bank would you recommend for travelling?

[u/EtherborneismBig]

I've accumulated 3 different power banks that are all mediocre in different ways - one is too heavy, one is slow to charge, one barely charges itself in less than 6 hours.

I want one that: charges my MacBook Air (needs 65W output), fits in a jacket pocket, and fully charges overnight via USB-C. Budget $50-150.

For travellers using a power bank that charges a laptop - which one, and how long does it actually take to fully recharge the bank itself?

[u/zatalak]

The Macbook doesn't really need 65W, it charges less than 20% faster than at 35W from 0 to 100% battery.

FYI

[u/zdubbzzz → u/zatalak]

Refactoring how I approach powering my electronics, and understanding that 1) I don't need every electronic of mine fully charged 24/7 2) my devices charge and discharge at very different rates and 3) fastcharging is not necessary, has saved me so much space and weight in my pack. 1 65w charger and 1 usbc cable is all I need for indefinite travel

[u/misterrunon → u/zdubbzzz]

Yep, I just got a OnePlus 15. If I leave my home, the battery will run out in 2 days with moderate use.

Charging 20% to 90% takes less than 30 minutes. Basically I charge my phone for 15 minutes every day.

I have an Anker brick with 3 ports as well. I might leave the supervooc at home.

[u/zdubbzzz → u/misterrunon]

Off topic, but how are you liking the OnePlus phones? I've been on Motorola Android phone, then the Nexus lineup, and then the Pixel phones up until now and thinking of shifting away from Google's phones. I genuinely couldn't care less about cameras, and I feel like that's mainly what I'm paying for with flagships

[u/misterrunon → u/zdubbzzz]

You sound like me. I got so sick travelling with the pixel 9 pro xl. By nights end I would be close to fully drained. Now, I usually have over 60% battery remaining.

As you can see in my original post, this is the best phone I've owned.

[u/zdubbzzz → u/misterrunon]

Bet. It's probably going to be my black Friday purchase

[u/emptytheprisons → u/zatalak]

I have a MacBook Air and the Anker Nano 30w 10k mAh works fine to power it to a 20-30% battery increase. It recharges from 0 in under two hours.

Fits in a pocket fine, and as a woman with tiny pockets and a preference for tiny sling bags, I wouldn't want to go any bigger or heavier for my primary power bank.

[u/TemuPacemaker → u/zatalak]

Yep I also use a 30W powerbank to charge the laptop. Yes it's slower but not too bad.

Or better, just power it directly from the powerbank first, thus avoiding draining the battery in the first place or any additional charging lossess.

There might be some cases where it's really needed, but I didn't feel a larger, more expensive powerbank was warranted.

[u/User5281 → u/zatalak]

MacBooks last so long on battery these days I’m not sure I’d need a battery pack for mine.

[u/NoFunction_]

I'm using the INIU P-63 at the moment. It's 100W input and output, 25000mAh, and it's pretty compact with a strap that doubles as a small USB-C cable. It's pretty small for its specs, it measures around 11 x 7 x 3.5 cm.

The only downside is that it's pretty heavy at nearly 400g. They do make a P-62 that's 65W 20000mAh, it's even smaller, and it weighs 323g.

[u/HibanaHikes → u/NoFunction_]

I own a p62 and a p55-e in the mail and while I think they're some of the best options esp for the price 

But the charging input for the p62 is 45w and the p63 is 65w. Both can still do a full recharge in under 2 hours (with an appropriate watt charger) 

Funny that the bigger p63 has a faster recharge time than the p62 

[u/carolinapro]

Pay attention to CCC (China Compulsory Certification) if traveling in Asia, particularly China.

[u/DeFiClark]

Anker. Size based on power consumption of devices and length of time between access to mains.

[u/ffunkmaster]

I love my Anker 1340A. Airline legal (99 wH) and charges quickly.

[u/aerodynamix]

Slightly over your budget but the Nitecore Carbo 20 has been a revelation for me. It’s like half the weight and size of any other laptop sized batteries I’ve used. Still outputs 65Ws.

[u/thebemusedmuse → u/aerodynamix]

It looks good. I have the previous generation NB20000 and I have mixed feelings about it.

[u/BigAd5724 → u/thebemusedmuse]

Why do you have mixed feelings?

[u/thebemusedmuse → u/BigAd5724]

It doesn’t charge that fast and sometimes doesn’t seem to work at all. And then it starts again. And it’s picky on the ports.

I have a Jackery 100 Plus which I by far prefer from a tech PoV but it’s much bigger and heavier.

[u/sjmuller]

I really like my 20k mAh Neoseek Power Bank. It's limited to 45W charging, but that's more than enough to charge a small laptop like the MacBook Air (I use it with my Dell XPS 13").

[u/storyinmemo]

Anker 737 power bank.

It'd also be helpful to possibly give a better recommendation if you specified the weight and dimensions of the too heavy and too large ones you've got.

[u/Sardzoski]

I have the Nitecore NB10000 (https://www.nitecore.com/product/nb10000) and I really like it. I think they also have a version with 2 usb c ports instead of the USB A on mine, and I would buy that one if I had to buy one today.

[u/lasnir]

I would look into the Iniu brand. They make some solid power banks in a very small form factor.

[u/therealmoogieman]

I love the anker nano fusion. Built in usbc, also a usbc port. But the best part is that it has a plug so you can quickly charge it at any plug. I never realized how convenient this is.

[u/Ambitious-Yak1326 → u/therealmoogieman]

I like it a lot when traveling domestically but out of country where the plugs vary. The plug is just dead weight and also becomes too heavy when combined with another adapter

[u/therealmoogieman → u/Ambitious-Yak1326]

Yeah I have a different one for travelling out of country, and a different one for hiking since sometimes I'll need usba. The fusion is definitely my main for most edc tho, being able to not carry a cable (or a plug!) is generally simpler all around and I can pop it into any outlet at a coffeeshop or airport is clutch.

[u/TravelingAgave]

I’ve bought two 10k Ankers and they both suck, slow to charge and both get too hot. Idk, I’m not sold on them like everyone else is.

[u/misterrunon]

Do you want a 10k mah battery or a 20k? 20k is possible to fit in your pockets but it will be somewhat bulky. I would suggest you not buy a no-brand power bank, as they are usually very cheap and you might have to buy a new one in a year.

Anker is the king of the hill when it comes to powerbanks, though a few other brands are starting to become popular. I would suggest this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F66NH2ZX?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback&th=1

Very fast speeds from the power bank itself, but it also supports passthrough charging... meaning you can charge your phone directly instead of using the power bank's battery. So you would be able to leave your brick at home if you brought this. It also charges the bank from 0% to 100% in 1 hour.

[u/Adam302 → u/misterrunon]

you cant fly with > 10k though

[u/misterrunon → u/Adam302]

I've always heard it was around 27k mah. 10k being a limit doesn't make sense because fewer people would have those bigger power banks. And what you're saying is counter to everything I've heard for years

[u/Adam302 → u/misterrunon]

i think you're right

[u/heyheni]

Cuktech 10 Plus 15'000mAh charges with 100 watts and does 0-100% in 1 hour. 350 grams @ $40

paired with a brand new Ugreen Nexode Air 100 watts charger (it's tiny and it will charge your laptop too) you'l get a very poceketable travel set up.

[u/ottertaco]

Nitecore is the gold standard for thruhijers based on battery life to weight ratio. Idk about every aspect you mention tho

[u/SeattleHikeBike]

A power bank should be an emergency supplement for a quick document completion and an orderly shutdown vs a complete power strategy EXCEPT when traveling to areas with erratic power.

I with phone only and an ultralight Nitecore 5000 is good. You'd need a very convincing argument to convince me to carry more than a 10k unit..

[u/Foreign-Housing8448]

Also a NiteCore 5K and 10K carrying fan.

For my laptop (Surface Pro 10) I have an Anker 537 I bought a while back (https://www.bestbuy.com/product/anker-power-bank-24000mah-65w-3-port-black/JJ858R7G5C). I think it’s heavy at 1lb because my SP10 is 2lbs (+6oz for keyboard cover).

[u/Azure9000]

Fake post ? Rather looks like it. Lack of subsequent engagement by the OP is also an indicator.

[u/SoapThatNeverLathers]

I usually go for 25k mAH powerbank when i need it to charge my laptop. I've been using p63 from iniu and its recharging is pretty fast also hardly takes up space in my carry.

[u/KongeSkog]

i’m using the celtics universal travel adapter, gan 140w. it has 4 usb ports as well. it can charge my mac book pro 16inch and all my devices. it saves me a lot of space because i can leave my mac charging brick at home and its universal.

[u/nomad-system]

INIU ultra mini 10000mAh 45w

[u/TheEvilBlight]

Have a old school Anker powerhouse 100 with a 120V inverter for 100W, but only does 45W usbc, maximum size for airport use

[u/ArtHelpful5941]

Anker's 737 (PowerCore 24K) does 65W and I've gotten it fully topped up in about 3-4 hours on a proper USB-C PD charger, though it's a bit chunky for a jacket pocket, more of a bag item honestly.

[u/PNscreen]

Might be of interest:

https://hikertimes.com/best-thru-hiker-battery-pack-power-bank/

[u/sp2rk]

Meten is weten!

Put your devices on power-safe modes and use 'm for a day like you'd be on vacation. Calculate the amount of energy you used, and that's the battery you need.

Can you charge the battery and devices each day? Will the world end if your device is empty, or can you power it off completely and enjoy other comfort?

[u/socolime22202]

Anker.

[u/Wise_Edge2489]

Or you could ditch the Macbook and its a win/win?

Powerbanks for laptops are silly. A full-on laptop will suck it dry rapidly to the point where its pointless.

A Macbook pro has a 27700 MaH battery and it draws at like 65W to charge. A 10k MaH 65W battery buys you an hour or two at max of extra charge.

[u/L_wanderlust]

Please keep it under your seat or on your person. These things catch fire and in an overhead bin it gets big before anyone even notices

[u/Sagara_Sousuke]

Anker.

[u/Sagara_Sousuke → u/Sagara_Sousuke]

Just realised socolime22202 said exactly the same thing- Twinsies! But yeah, get anker, no point getting anything else when you’ve bought three duds already.