View Full Version : Ultralight Portable Charger Options
left52side
03-29-2017, 16:23
Not sure if this has been discussed as I couldnt find anything related in the search .
I was curious what everyones options for ultralight portable battery back ups.
I currently use A 20,000 mah for my longer hikes that weight at 7.8 ounces.(OUCH)
I also have a 6000 mah charger that weighs at 4.4 ounces.
So I was looking to see if if I could find A 10000 or so mah for around the same weight as the 6000 .
I would like to keep it under five ounces if possible.
DownEaster
03-29-2017, 17:26
20 Ah for 7.8 ounces is a pretty good power/weight ratio. The Anker PowerCore 10000 is considered light weight at 6.35 oz.
Not really an ultralight accessory. You have to decide how much power (# charges) you need and start comparing from there. I carried an 8oz charger which I consider pretty heavy. However, I used my smart phone quite a bit and this was important to me.
One Half
03-29-2017, 17:45
Use less battery juice and you can downsize your backup. But 20 at under 8oz is pretty awesome. I have 4000(?) at 4oz so even your 6000 looks pretty sweet. What is the brand and make on that 6000?
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left52side
03-29-2017, 17:51
Not sure on 6000 as it was A gift from bealls outlet and has no name on it except power bank lol,on packaging when I got it it claimed to be water resistance and shatter resistant. I have not checked them claims yet.
The 20000 is called A friesta or something like that, it is A cheapy from ebay or amazon. search ultrathin 20000 mah charger and it should pop up.
Am pretty happy with it thus far was just seeing if there were lighter options out there.
Batteries be heavy. Ultralight = not much battery.
left52side
03-29-2017, 18:22
Batteries be heavy. Ultralight = not much battery.
True.
I do however use my phone for my camera and video as well as obviously A phone so eliminating the camera saves weight.
If I could find say A 10000 mah for 4 ounces then I would go for it.
soumodeler
03-29-2017, 19:02
I would stick with a name brand like Anker or Ravpower even if it is slightly heavier. You get more charges (technically less loss) from quality batteries. Some of the cheap no names can lose 50% of their capacity to charging loss, so that 10,000 mAh is now a 5,000 mAh and you really didn't gain anything by saving that ounce. The Anker 10,000 mAh at 6-7 oz is a good choice. Quality product, generally only has about 20% loss.
A good way to estimate what you need is google your devices to see what mAh battery they have. Add them up and multiply how many charges you want out of a battery pack and go with that number as your battery size. Most people don't charge their devices from 0%, so you can sorta ignore the normal loss here. And batteries never perform optimally in cold weather, so don't forget that.
left52side
03-29-2017, 19:30
I would stick with a name brand like Anker or Ravpower even if it is slightly heavier. You get more charges (technically less loss) from quality batteries. Some of the cheap no names can lose 50% of their capacity to charging loss, so that 10,000 mAh is now a 5,000 mAh and you really didn't gain anything by saving that ounce. The Anker 10,000 mAh at 6-7 oz is a good choice. Quality product, generally only has about 20% loss.
This is good to know.
I am going to do some test runs on my cheapy onethat I have used and see how many charges I get out if it. on my scale it weighs 7.16 oz. If I switch to the anker 10000 it will save me A little more than 1/2 ounce and if it gives me the charges I need then I will likely switch to it.
I have never heard anything bad about anker.
Slo-go'en
03-30-2017, 01:51
You do have to be careful of capacity claims, they are often overstated, especially the off brand, discount type.
So true!
I have a high quality Varta that says to have 6000mAh and can charge my smartphone roughly 2 1/2 times, and for my most recent trip also carried a noname (Chinese) battery pack that claims to have 5000mAh but can only charge my phone one time, then it fails to charge more even if the indicating LEDs show some 25% power left. This noname battery also features some solar panel on one side, but though I've exposed it to full sun for a whole day it didn't charge the battery to any noticeable level. In addition, it has a bright LED lamp built in to work as a backup light source, that switched on in the backpack several times thus draining the battery. Poor crap.
Best advice is, to stay with the premium brands.
Starchild
03-30-2017, 07:32
Depending on your phone model and what you are hiking you may be better carrying extra phone batteries instead of a power brick. I've even done this with a iP4 with it's non-removable battery, by leaving off the screws in the iP4, allowing the back plate to slide off and also the screw w/ the battery connector also removed. Not that I would recommend that, but to go ultralight there are sacrifices that must be made, damn it.
The other thing to think about if you really want to save weight is to use a usb charging headlamp as well. That way you can charge from it as well and save carrying extra batteries for it. Just something else to spend $$ on and to consider.
left52side
03-30-2017, 13:05
The other thing to think about if you really want to save weight is to use a usb charging headlamp as well. That way you can charge from it as well and save carrying extra batteries for it. Just something else to spend $$ on and to consider.
I use the petzel elite new version that is 50 luens and with 2 two watch batteries it weighs less than an once.
Also the batteries work for my watch so I only carry one extra set and it was still working after two months on the FT.
I use the petzel elite new version that is 50 luens and with 2 two watch batteries it weighs less than an once.
Also the batteries work for my watch so I only carry one extra set and it was still working after two months on the FT.Sweet! I looked at that one but it just seemed to little light for night hiking.
I belive when you do nighthiking on a regular basis, you would like a really good an bright headlamp, and it would not make too much sense having a USB rechargeable lamp plus an external battery pack to charge from. You'd rather be better off with running the lamp by AA primary cells, weight-wise.
I belive when you do nighthiking on a regular basis, you would like a really good an bright headlamp, and it would not make too much sense having a USB rechargeable lamp plus an external battery pack to charge from. You'd rather be better off with running the lamp by AA primary cells, weight-wise.I already have the external brick for charging my wife and my phones. carrying batteries for the headlamp actually increases my particular loadout. The headlamp is 400 lumens on high and 3 oz. As with everything else, do what works for you.
DownEaster
04-02-2017, 06:54
The 20000 is called A friesta or something like that, it is A cheapy from ebay or amazon.
This one (Fritesla) at Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F3JPKLG/ref=psdc_7073960011_t2_B019R8V4RI?th=1)?
38914
It's listed at 0.9 lbs. (14.4 oz.), which is more than the figure you gave.
Poking around the various Amazon suggestions I found this ToHLo model (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LWLK3DW/ref=psdc_7073960011_t2_B01F3JPKOI) offering 20 Ah in 7.68 ounces; that's close to what you specified.
left52side
04-02-2017, 10:38
It's listed at 0.9 lbs. (14.4 oz.), which is more than the figure you gave.
No it is not that model.
It is A slim line model,unfortunately I havent seen any on amazon in A while of that model,but have seen some that looks the same on ebay spected at 8 ounces.
left52side
04-02-2017, 10:40
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ultrathin-20000mAh-Portable-External-Battery-Charger-Power-Bank-for-Cell-Phone-/351755095213?var=&hash=item51e63cccad:m:mMDI36ojyLRBe2g_8eO9CWg
Very similar to these.