Best power banks for hiking and camping 2024 | Tested and reviewed

The Venture 75 has a large battery capacity that is suitable for longer treks where you may need to recharge multiple devices, and perhaps more than once – four or five smartphone recharges, or about a dozen headtorch recharges. The inclusion of USB-C means the Venture 75 can charge and be charged quickly.

An IP67 rating means the Venture 75 is dust-tight and can be submerged in water at a depth of one metre for up to 30 minutes. It seems unlikely that will happen but it gives you very good peace of mind to know it will survive some rain or being dropped in a puddle.

It’s the largest power bank recommended here but it’s still reasonably compact, about the same size as a smartphone albeit a bit heavier. However, it does have a smaller sibling, the Venture 35, which is about half the weight and capacity of the Venture 75.

Goal Zero offers a smaller sibling to its Venture 75 but the RUGD. Power Brick is the better option because it’s smaller, lighter, and has a marginally larger capacity, while being just as tough.

We appreciate that RUGD. is confident enough in its tough power bank to provide a carabiner with it and say you can clip it onto your pack, you don’t need to hide it in a pocket.

In terms of performance, there’s everything you need. There are USB-C and USB-A ports, with the former supporting Power Delivery for fast charging compatible devices. In addition, there is a very bright two-mode light that can be used as a night light or for SOS.

SuperMini is indeed an apt name for this power bank. With its 10,000mAh capacity and footprint of a credit card, this power bank is hard to beat in that regard. Like the rugged power banks above, the SuperMini provides fast charging via the USB-C port for compatible devices.

While it will fit almost anywhere, one of the obvious weak points with the SuperMini is its lack of ingress protection. It can still be used for your outdoor adventures, but you have to be careful with it. Still, this won't be too hard since the Supermini can be stashed inside most internal jacket pockets.

One aspect that intrigues us is the low-power charging function. You'd use this to recharge a smartwatch or set of Bluetooth earphones, or to simply ration how much power you're putting out of your campsite is juggling several small devices. A nifty feature that will protect the more delicate batteries in your digital arsenal.

On the one hand, this thing is massive and probably quite silly to take on a hike. However, for what it provides, the Anker 521 Powerhouse is impressively lightweight and portable. It can sit unobtrusively in the corner of a tent, or you can pop it on a camp table and gather around it like cavemen discovering fire.

This is a high-power, high-capacity unit that we find exceptionally reliable for multi-day camping trips. Our favourite feature is the PowerHouse's smart LED display – this shows you exactly how much energy is left in the bank, as well as tracking power input and output to calculate how many hours of charge remain. This figure will change depending on which devices you have plugged in, which lets you manage your usage throughout your trip and ensure that you're never left unexpectedly powerless.

The huge range of outputs on this thing – including a UK mains port – means you can eschew the splitters and adapters that have become staples of most large group or family camping trips. The ability to keep laptops and camera batteries juiced up all weekend make this an ideal choice for any photographers or video makers looking to capture, review, and edit on the go.

Thanks to its 10,000mAh capacity, this power bank can charge the average smartphone battery 2.5 times and a headtorch 8 times, all while being pocket-sized and weighing in at 265g.

There are also other sizes available in the Biolite Charge range. So if you want something a bit lighter that you can slip into your first aid kit as a back-up then look at the Charge 20 PD (165g, 6,000mAh), and if you want a real workhorse that packs a bit more juice then check out the Charge 80 PD (465g, 20,000mAh). 

The portable power bank charger market can be a tough one to navigate, because prices fluctuate wildly from bargain bucket to eye-wateringly expensive for what can often look like the same product. But we’ve been using this particular power bank for around 18 months now and it’s never let us down. It doesn’t claim to be indestructible or completely weatherproof, but the Biolite Charge 40 PD has proved plenty durable for us on day hikes and overnight expeditions. And even this mid-sized 10,000mAh version can fit easily into your trouser pocket to charge a phone on the go. 

Verdict: Well priced, reliable and durable enough to rely on for most types of outdoor adventure. Biolite is a brand we love in general too, with a great range covering everything from headtorches and solar panels to stoves and firepits.