If you travel often, you already know that a good power bank is an essential piece of kit for any traveller these days. There are countless models out there, though, so in the lines that follow I’ll reveal which of the best power banks for travel are really worth packing.
How to choose a power bank for travel
When choosing a power bank for travel, there are a few factors worth weighing up. The first one — and probably the most important — is the capacity of the power bank. This determines how many times you’ll be able to recharge your devices, and how quickly.
You’ll also want to consider the size and weight, because I’m guessing that on the road you’ll appreciate a light, compact power bank that slips easily into your backpack.
Last but not least, it’s worth thinking about how many ports — and which types (USB-A or USB-C) — you’ll actually need.
And of course we can’t forget about the design, material, durability, brand, price and any extra features of the power bank that might come in handy.
💡You might also like: A practical guide to travel gear
Power bank capacity
A power bank’s capacity is measured in milliampere-hours (mAh) and tells you how much energy the device can store. For everyday use a power bank of around 10,000 mAh is plenty, but for longer trips and charging several devices a higher capacity of 20,000 mAh or more is the way to go.
💡A higher capacity is offered, for example, by the outdoor Viking VIDAR III power bank.
Output current and voltage
Standard power banks usually deliver 5V and a current of between 1A and 2.4A. A higher current means faster charging, which is especially handy for modern smartphones and tablets.
Some models (e.g. the AlzaPower Metal Fast Charge) also support higher voltages, such as 9V or 12V, which is ideal for lightning-fast charging or for devices with bigger power demands, like laptops.
Number and types of ports
Today’s power banks can come with various types of ports, which determine how many devices you can charge at once and which cable you’ll need. Most commonly you’ll come across USB-A and USB-C ports, with USB-C becoming ever more popular.
Some power banks even offer a combination of port types. Others are wireless from the get-go, like the RidgeMonkey Vault C-Smart Wireless.
Size and weight
If you’re travelling and carrying your power bank around in a backpack, bum bag or handbag, you’ll definitely care about its size and weight.
- Compact power banks (up to 10,000 mAh): a great choice for short trips or as a backup power source for a full day out. Thanks to their small size they slip easily into a pocket, and they usually weigh under 200 g.
- Mid-sized power banks (10,000 – 20,000 mAh): offer a balanced ratio between capacity and size. They’re ideal for multi-day trips where you need to recharge your phone or tablet several times. These models weigh between 200 and 500 g.
- High-capacity power banks (over 20,000 mAh): suited to longer journeys, camping, or situations where you need to charge several devices at once. They have a large capacity, but their bigger dimensions and weight — often over 500 g — can make them less practical for everyday carrying.
💡From the compact models I’d recommend the Xiaomi 33W Power Bank 10000mAh Pocket Edition Pro. A bigger power bank with a higher capacity is the Ugreen Power Bank Abyss Blue.
Material and durability
The material a power bank is made from affects how durable it is. Plenty of modern power banks are plastic, but higher-quality models often have aluminium or rubberised casings that boost resistance to drops and water.
For outdoor enthusiasts there are also special waterproof and dustproof models on the market, such as the Viking VIDAR II.
Extra features
Besides charging, power banks can have other useful features, for example:
- an LED display showing the battery level,
- an LED torch,
- wireless charging,
- solar charging,
- MagSafe.
Price and brand
A power bank’s price depends on its capacity, brand and extra features. You can pick up basic models with a smaller capacity for under €15 (e.g. the Spello pocket power bank), while high-performance, rugged models can run to €100 or more (e.g. the Anker PowerCore III Elite).
Among the most popular power bank brands are:
- Anker,
- Xiaomi,
- FIXED,
- Choetech,
- Swissten,
- RavPower.
💡TIP: A quick word on power banks on planes — most airlines flying out of the UK (British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair) require you to keep power banks in your hand luggage, never in checked baggage. Power banks up to 100 Wh (roughly 27,000 mAh) are generally fine without special approval. What you can take on a plane
10 of the best power banks for travel
To make things easier, I’ve picked out 10 of the best power banks for travel.
| Power bank ⚡ | Ranking 🪜 | Typical price 💰 |
| Anker Prime Power Bank | 🥇 1st place | €220 |
| Swissten Power Bank Power Delivery for laptops | 🥈 2nd place | €68 |
| FIXED Zen 20 Pro | 🥉 3rd place | €80 |
| Swissten Power Bank with built-in USB-C and Lightning cables | 4th place | €48 |
| AlzaPower Garnet Power Delivery | 5th place | €40 |
| Vention Portable Power Bank White | 6th place | €26 |
| ChoeTech B657 Solar Power Bank | 7th place | €56 |
| Swissten Aluminum Power Bank Power Delivery | 8th place | €40 |
| FIXED MagZen 2 | 9th place | €40 |
| ChoeTech Power Bank B650 Wireless QI Charger | 10th place | €32 |
1) Anker Prime Power Bank
The Anker Prime Power Bank has a generous 20,000 mAh capacity, offers total output of up to 200 W, and comes with a clear display showing the remaining capacity, input and output power. It has two USB-C ports and one USB-A. Its dimensions are 127 × 54.6 × 49.6 mm, which is ideal for travel. Thanks to 100W fast charging via the USB-C port, the power bank tops up quickly and is always ready for its next use.
Lukáš and Lucka (that’s us here at Loudavým krokem) use this power bank ourselves — and we can’t recommend it highly enough! ✌️
2) Swissten Power Bank Power Delivery for laptops
The Swissten Power Bank Delivery has a 20,000 mAh capacity and is ideal for charging tablets, smartphones and even laptops. It supports fast charging on the USB-C input as well as on all three outputs (2× USB-A and 1× USB-C). Thanks to its quality battery, it lets you recharge your devices time and again.
The sleek design is matched by USB-C output of up to 100 W, while the USB-A ports deliver 22.5 W (USB-A1) and 18 W (USB-A2). You can charge up to three devices simultaneously, and the USB-C input runs at up to 60 W. The LCD display clearly shows the power bank’s charge level.
Swissten Power Bank Power Delivery
- Ideal for charging laptops thanks to 100W output
- Three outputs and fast charging
- 20,000 mAh capacity
3) FIXED Zen 20 Pro
The FIXED Zen 20 Pro power bank supports Power Delivery 3.0 and offers three outputs — one USB-A and two USB-C. The USB-C1 port maintains 100 W even when other ports are in use, with total output reaching 130 W.
The LCD display clearly shows the charge level and current charging power. The power bank can recharge up to three devices at once. It comes with protection against overload, short circuit and overheating, and has a capacity of 20,000 mAh.
FIXED Zen 20 Pro
- High output
- 100W port even when using multiple outputs at once
- 20,000 mAh capacity
4) Swissten Power Bank with built-in USB-C and Lightning cables
The Swissten Power Bank has a 20,000 mAh capacity and comes with two built-in cables, USB-C and Lightning. It offers total charging output of 20 W and supports wireless Qi charging at up to 15 W. It’s compatible with MagSafe technology and has USB-C (20 W), USB-A (22.5 W) and Lightning (20 W) outputs.
The built-in display shows the power bank’s current capacity. Thanks to its compact size and low weight, it’s ideal for easy carrying and travel.
5) AlzaPower Garnet Power Delivery
The AlzaPower Garnet Delivery power bank, with a 20,000 mAh capacity, lets you charge up to three devices at once. Thanks to Smart IC technology it automatically detects connected devices and distributes power optimally.
Sixfold protection keeps it safe against overvoltage, overload, short circuit, overheating, overcharging and over-discharging. The LCD display gives you an overview of the charge level. The power bank’s body is made from a flame-retardant material and weighs 415 g.
6) Vention Portable Power Bank White
The Vention power bank, with a 20,000 mAh capacity, comes with two USB-A ports and one USB-C port. It has a smart digital display and lets you charge up to three devices at once. It supports fast charging via PD 3.0, QC 3.0, FCP, AFC, SPC and Apple 2.4A.
The maximum output of the USB-A ports is 22.5 W and 20 W for the USB-C port. The power bank is built with protection against overvoltage, overload, overheating and short circuit. It has a compact design and automatically regulates charging power.
Vention Portable Power Bank White
- Compact design and smart display
- 20,000 mAh capacity
- Fast charging support
7) ChoeTech B657 Solar Power Bank
The ChoeTech power bank, with a 20,000 mAh capacity, has a built-in solar panel and is resistant to drops, dust and water. It offers three USB-A connectors, one USB-C (for input and output) and a MicroUSB connector for charging the power bank itself.
It supports Qi wireless charging and lets you charge several devices at once. The charge level is shown by an LED indicator.
ChoeTech B657 solar
- Recharging via a solar panel
- Water and dust resistant
- 20,000 mAh capacity and the option to charge several devices at once
8) Swissten Aluminum Power Bank Power Delivery
The Swissten Aluminium power bank supports 20W Power Delivery and Quick Charge, and has a body made from aluminium alloy, which gives it durability and a stylish look. It has a small display showing the charge level and a 20,000 mAh capacity thanks to its Li-polymer battery.
It offers three outputs: USB-A, USB-C PD and USB-A QC, so you can charge several devices at once. Thanks to its compact dimensions (145 × 65 × 28 mm) it’s ideal for travel.
Swissten Aluminum Power Bank Power Delivery
- Stylish design and durable aluminium body
- 20,000 mAh capacity
- Power Delivery support
9) FIXED MagZen 2
The FIXED MagZen 2 is a compact power bank with a 10,000 mAh capacity designed for iPhones with MagSafe support. It offers wireless charging at up to 15 W and a USB-C port with Power Delivery 3.0 at 20 W, allowing two devices to charge at once.
The power bank also has LED battery-level indicators and protection against overload, short circuit and overheating.
10) ChoeTech Power Bank B650 Wireless QI Charger
The ChoeTech MFi power bank, with a 10,000 mAh capacity, comes with two ports — USB-A and USB-C — and supports wireless charging. Compatibility with Power Delivery and Quick Charge fast-charging technologies ensures quick, efficient charging of your devices. LED indicators show the current charge level, and the power bank is also fitted with several protection systems for safe operation.
Frequently asked questions
What power bank capacity is ideal for multi-day trips?
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For multi-day trips, we recommend a power bank with a capacity of at least 20,000 mAh or more, which will allow you to charge your phone or other devices multiple times.
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Is it safe to use a power bank while charging?
Yes, most modern power banks allow so-called “pass-through charging”, meaning charging the power bank and device simultaneously.
Can a power bank damage my phone?
High-quality power banks have protective mechanisms against overvoltage and overheating, making them safe for all your devices.
What powerbank to get for travel?
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For travel, we recommend a power bank with a minimum capacity of 10,000 mAh, but you’ll be happier with a capacity of 20,000 mAh or more.
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Can I bring a power bank on a plane?
Yes, you can, but it must be placed in your carry-on luggage. You will likely need to take it out during security check.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
