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With something like a phone case, durability might matter more since you’re often prone to dropping it, or it can take a hit or accidental tumble. And while that stuff still counts with power banks, durability can go a lot deeper, like preventing a power overload, overheating, and risking damage to all your devices.
A durable power bank (also known a battery pack) is an essential accessory to not only keep your devices charged — but to keep them charged no matter the environment or conditions. Whether you’re camping, traveling or on a particularly treacherous commute (bike riders we’re looking at you), a good durable power bank keeps you plugged in and charged up without worry.
What Are the Most Durable Power Banks?
Here’s what to know when looking for the most durable power banks to buy online. A durable power should be able to not only charge up multiple devices, but should also be designed for the long run and frequent refueling.
Durability: Waterproof power banks are often the most durable, just by virtue of having to withstand splashes and rain. And while many waterproof power banks are available, they are often more expensive. Think about how much water your battery is likely to be exposed to – if you’ll be kayaking and boating, or even sitting poolside, it’s worth considering anything that meets IP65 requirements on the Ingress Protection scale.
A bank that can hold strong against being crushed (sometimes against a literal ton of weight) or dropped from high up is a more common occurrence, and all of our durable power bank picks are shockproof and drop-proof. Layers of silicone or rubber act as a shock absorber too, allowing your battery pack to survive hard falls on concrete and pavement.
Ports and Recharging: Depending on the number of devices you’re carrying, or other people relying on you and your power bank, the amount of ports is pretty crucial. Two USB outputs is a common standard, but there are plenty of durable power banks available with more, and a little planning now can be beneficial when you need it most.
Power banks also often have a wireless charging feature on top too, just like a charging pad, and though it isn’t as fast as wired, it’ll still charge up a phone when all the other ports are in use. As for recharging the bank itself, this varies, with the smaller ones taking a couple hours, and the heavier duty units taking anywhere from four to 12 hours.
Milliamp Hours (mAh): This is what the energy storage capacity of power banks is measured in, and is calculated from the amount of time a battery lasts when having power drawn from it. The number measures the amount of current, not charge, but a higher mAh will generally be able to charge up your gear more often, though it can also be more weighty and bulky.
Extras: If you’ll be taking this along on some rough activities, consider ones that have helpful extras. A built-in solar charger can be a huge boost when you’ll be away from a power source, as well as a compass, and a bright LED flashlight with an SOS mode. A carabiner clip also securely latches on to anything, making it easy to grab when needed.
