This is a gear review about the best power banks for hiking and backpacking 2025.
These lightweight and portable battery packs, ideal for backpacking and camping, allow you to keep all your electronics charged for several days.
For many people, it is a choice between taking the Best Portable Solar Charger or taking the portable power bank. Some people take both as backup power for their electronic devices. Either way, keep reading about these lightweight power storage batteries.
Lightweight backpacking power bank technology is changing rapidly, every year new models quickly become lighter, stronger, and provide quicker charging. I have conducted the latest research on which portable battery packs are the best right now.
How We Tested
All the backpacking battery packs in this review have been extensively evaluated and researched by the expert author who has many years of experience in Thru-Hiking, Backpacking, Hiking, Bike Touring, and Bikepacking. Some of the power banks were purchased by the author for these tests. They have been rigorously tested by the author on bike touring trips and thru-hiking trips. The research, testing, and experience of the author have combined to come up with the best battery pack for backpacking and hiking 2025. Read the Review Policy for further details.
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Best Battery Packs For Backpacking 2025
The Best Battery Packs For Backpacking in 2025 are:
- Best Battery Bank – Overall: Nitecore NB 20000 Gen 3
- Best Hybrid Battery & Wall Charger: Anker 733 Hybrid Power Bank
- Best Ultralight Battery Pack: Nitecore NP 10000 Gen 3
- Best High Capacity Backpacking Power Bank: Anker 737 PowerCore III Elite 25600
- Best Budget Battery Pack: Anker 313 PowerCore 10000
- Best Wireless Battery Bank: INIU 10000 mAh Magsafe Wireless Portable Charger
Best Backpacking Power Bank – Overall
Nitecore NB 20000 Gen3
Weight: 10.26 oz / 291 grams
Pros:
> Ultralight
> Large 20000 mAh capacity
> Compact Size
Cons:
> Not much
The Nitecore NB 20000 Gen 3 is popular for backpackers and hikers who want a large power bank capacity at the lightest possible weight. Anyone who is thru-hiking should take a good look at power banks like this one.
It comes with a decent 20000 mAh capacity. This is enough power to charge the Apple iPhone 15 Pro 3.8 times. The 2 USB-C ports support pass-through charging which allows you to charge the power bank while charging your devices at the same time.
The casing is made with ultralight and strong carbon fiber to protect the battery in case it is dropped. It is rated as water-resistant with an IPX5 rating. Like all the batteries in this review, it is airline travel-safe.
Overall, if you are looking for an ultralight battery bank to charge your devices when backpacking or hiking, the Nitecore NB 20000 Gen 3 is the best option for you.
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Best Power Bank & Wall Charger
Anker 733 Hybrid Power Bank
Weight: 11.3 oz / 320 grams
Pros:
> Lightweight
> Incredibly fast charging
> Can even charge a laptop such as an Apple Mac!
> Works as a wall charger and battery – eliminating the need to carry a wall charger
Cons:
> Availability – they are super popular and selling out quickly.
> A little expensive for 10000 mAh
The Anker 733 Power Bank (GaNPrime PowerCore 65W) represents the latest cutting-edge battery technology. It is a 2 in 1 wall charger and battery bank. The combination of both a wall charger and a battery saves you from needing to carry a wall charger around with you when you are on the move. An option like this would be perfect for ultralight thru-hikers who need to carry both a wall charger and battery bank at the same time.
The Anker 733 Power Bank has 2 USB-C ports and 1 USB-A port and you can charge up to three devices at the same time. And when I talk about multiple devices, it can even charge a laptop as well as standard smartphones and tablets.
With 10000 mAh of battery storage, it can charge an Apple iPhone 15 Pro a total of 1.9 times. When you are hiking or backpacking that should be enough for most people. If you are also carrying a backpacking camera, Handheld Hiking GPS, or GPS Hiking Watch then it will be handy to charge all of them at the same time.
The unit weighs 11.3 oz / 320 grams which is acceptable considering you will no longer need to carry a wall charger with you. And comes with a 2-year warranty.
Overall, the Anker 733 Power Bank uses technology that is far more advanced than other power banks in this review. As a result, this new product is the best power bank for backpacking and hiking. It is already proving very popular and rightfully so.
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Best Ultralight Battery Pack 2025
Nitecore NB 10000 Gen 3
Weight: 5.29 oz / 150 grams
Pros:
> Weighs only 5.29oz which makes it ultralight
> Lightweight and strong carbon fiber
> This power bank can charge an iPhone 15 Pro 1.9 times to 100%
Cons:
> Enough for shorter trips only
The Nitecore NP 10000 Gen 3 is an ultralight battery bank for backpacking and thru-hiking. With only 10000 mAh of battery capacity, it is enough to charge an iPhone 15 Pro 1.9 times. This will be enough for most people on shorter backpacking trips.
The Nitecore NP 10000 Gen 3 features carbon fiber to keep this compact power bank as light as possible while keeping the strength high. Not only is it strong and light but it is efficient at charging your phone when out hiking. The 2 USB-C ports support pass-through charging which allows you to charge the power bank while charging your devices at the same time. this makes for faster charging of all your devices.
It is rated as water-resistant with an IPX5 rating. Like all the batteries in this review, it is airline travel-safe.
Overall, the Nitecore NP 10000 Gen 3 is the lightest power bank for backpacking. If you want to save every gram possible but still be able to recharge your phone.
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Best Large Capacity Power Bank
Anker 737 PowerCore III Elite 25600
Weight: 1 lb. 4.8oz / 590 grams
Pros:
> This portable charger comes with 3 outlets that you can use to charge your phone or anything you need to use while backpacking.
> The Anker 737 PowerCore III Elite, charges your devices extremely quickly, so you don’t have to wait for ages for your devices to have battery life.
> It is lightweight considering how much storage it has.
Cons:
> At 20oz it is quite heavy if you need a lot of charging power then the weight is worth it.
The Anker PowerCore III Elite Portable Charger has a 25,600 mAh cell power capacity, which means it holds more power than a lot of portable chargers on the market. This product has two USB-C ports, with an 60W output, which is quite high for a portable charger, high enough to charge most laptop computers.
It comes as a package with the high-speed 515 wall charger. This allows the battery to be completely recharged in only 2.5 hours. I remember only a short couple of years ago a battery bank with this capacity would take more than 12 hours to charge!
Hence, you charge your phone at top speed, so you won’t have to wait around for your phone to charge. There is also one extra USB-A port, so you could potentially charge three devices at once at the same time at a high speed.
With the Anker PowerCore III Elite Portable Charger, you have everything you need to charge whatever you need on your backpacking adventure. This portable charger will charge your phone and or even your computer no matter where you are.
This portable battery pack for backpacking will charge in about 3 hours which makes it perfect for thru-hikers.
It comes with a travel pouch to keep it safe, while it is kept in your rucksack, and also has an 18-month warranty.
This is the best portable battery charger for thru-hiking, backpacking, or traveling. If you going backpacking with a camera, phone, drone, and other electronics, then this is for you.
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Best Budget Power Bank For Hiking 2025
Anker 313 PowerCore 10000
Weight: 6.9 oz / 196 grams
Pros:
> The technology used in this device, will charge your phone at ultra-high speeds.
> This is a small power bank that can easily fit into your hand and pocket.
> The 8 lights show how much power you have left in your power bank, which makes it more reliable and precise in how much battery is left.
Cons:
> There is only one output port, which for most people shouldn’t be a massive issue.
The Anker 313 PowerCore II 10000 has one outlet port which means the 10,000 mAh power can focus on just one device, making it ideal for someone who is backpacking. The single port produces 18W of power, which means your device can charge at its top speed.
This power bank not only quickly charges your devices but can charge itself quickly too. With a quick charge USB wall charger, this power bank can reach full battery in just 4 hours.
This is a very minimalist power bank, that is light enough to carry around. The Anker PowerCore II can fit easily in your hands or any small pocket to keep it safe, while you are moving.
This is a reliable power bank that will charge your electronic devices quickly and effortlessly. It may look simple, but it works well and does everything that you need it to.
Overall, this is the best budget power bank for hiking backpacking.
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Best Wireless Power Bank For Backpacking 2025
INIU 10000 mAh Magsafe Wireless Portable Charger
Weight: 7.1 oz / 201 grams
Pros:
> This power bank has wireless charging and USB-C charging
> Lightweight
> Very compact size
Cons:
> Not cheap
If you have a modern smartphone that uses wireless charging technology then the INIU 10000 mAh Magsafe Wireless Portable Charger is the smallest battery available.
This modern battery charger lets you charge via wireless contact, which is also magnetic so the battery will stay fixed to your phone while charging. During magnetic charging the small size of the battery allows you to still use the phone and even take photos while it is attached. And if you want to speed up the charging it also comes with a USB-C port.
The NIU 10000 mAh Magsafe Wireless Portable Charger is the smallest battery bank and the compact size only weighs 7.1 oz / 201 grams. And it is airline travel-safe.
Overall, the NIU 10000 mAh Magsafe Wireless Portable Charger represents the future of backpacking battery technology, and the small battery size and lightweight make this a great option.
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Power Bank Comparison Table
| Brand | Weight | Capacity mAh | Outlets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitecore NB 20000 Gen 3 | 10.26 oz | 20,000 | 2 USB-C |
| Anker 733 Hybrid Power Bank | 11.3 oz | 10,000 | 2 USB-C, 1 USB-A |
| Nitecore NB 10000 Gen 3 | 5.29 oz | 10,000 | 2 USB-C |
| Anker 737 PowerCore III Elite 25600 | 1 lb. 4.8oz | 25,600 | 2 USB, 1 USB-A |
| Anker 313 PowerCore 10000 | 6.9 oz | 10,000 | 1 USB |
| INIU 10000 mAh Magsafe Wireless Portable Charger | 7.1 oz | 10,000 | Wireless, 1 USB-C |
Power Banks Buyers Guide
Weight
Most power banks are quite slim now and therefore quite light. You want something easy to carry around. You want to be able to throw it into your bag or a pocket and for it to be quite noticeable. Every year new models are released and each one is lighter than the one before. The lightest 10000 mAh battery pack now weighs only 5.29 oz / 100 grams.
Capacity
You need to consider how often you will be using the power bank on your backpacking trip. You’ll also need to consider what devices you will be taking with you and often you expect to be charging them.
It is important to buy a power bank with a large enough battery so that when you do need to charge your hiking camera, phone, and any other electrical devices that you are carrying.
You don’t want to get into the third day of your backpacking trip and find that you can’t charge your devices again because the battery of the power bank isn’t big enough to make it through the rest of your trip.
In most cases, a 10000 mAh battery is sufficient to charge most phones one or two times. This is enough for short backpacking trips. Hikers that need a lot of capacity should look at 20000 mAh or higher.
Batteries must have a capacity of 27000 mAh or 100 watt-hours or less. All the batteries in this review meet current TSA rules and regulations for airline flights.
Solar Charger
For some hikers and backpackers, it can be a choice between a solar charger or a battery bank, some even use both.
For anyone hiking through the desert regions of the world, a portable solar panel is a great option to charge your devices. If solar is something for you I wrote a detailed review of the Best Solar Panels for Backpacking that you should check out.
Charging Ports and Outlet Ports
It does depend on how many devices you intend to take with you and will need to be charged. For a lot of people, one port is enough as they only use it for their phone. While if you bring multiple devices then two or more ports may be needed.
The number of ports a power bank has can be a good and bad thing. You could take turns charging devices if your power bank only has one port, but sometimes it is easiest to charge multiple things at once.
It is up to you, but sometimes 2 ports are better than 1, especially if you need two devices charged quickly.
Input And Output Charging Speeds
The faster you want your devices or the power bank to charge, the results in faster battery pack input and output rates. It would be ideal to have a quick charging power bank, so then there is less waiting around for devices to charge.
Makes of phones all take different amounts of time to charge, as do different makes of power banks. What you want is something that can charge at a reasonable length.
The power bank is known for taking a while to charge, but ideally, you would want to be able to charge it overnight, so then it is ready to take with you during the day.
It is important to look into the input and output charging times because not everyone wants to wait hours for their phone to charge and not everyone can wait 10+ hours for their power bank to charge. You need to find charging speeds that are reasonable for you.
Conclusion
The Best Battery Packs For Backpacking in 2025 are:
- Best Battery Bank – Overall: Nitecore NB 20000 Gen 3
- Best Hybrid Battery & Wall Charger: Anker 733 Hybrid Power Bank
- Best Ultralight Battery Pack: Nitecore NP 10000 Gen 3
- Best High Capacity Backpacking Power Bank: Anker 737 PowerCore III Elite 25600
- Best Budget Battery Pack: Anker 313 PowerCore 10000
- Best Wireless Battery Bank: INIU 10000 mAh Magsafe Wireless Portable Charger
Best Portable Solar Chargers for Backpacking & Hiking
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much mAh Do I Need For Backpacking?
The longer the trip the more mAh you will need. For one day of backpacking, you will need a power bank with 10,000 mAh. However, if your trip is for multiple days then you need a power bank with 20,000 mAh.
Are Power Banks Worth It?
They are a great way to recharge devices when you are far away from a wall outlet. They can charge any USB-charged device and help keep you connected for emergencies.
Do Solar Power Banks Work?
Yes, solar power banks allow you to constantly recharge your power bank, which means it can last for much longer during longer trips. However solar power banks are on the higher end of the market, so not ideal for someone on a budget.
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BikeHikeSafari Gear Review Process
The author, Brad McCartney from BikeHikeSafari is a small independent adventurer and outdoor gear tester who owns and runs BikeHikeSafari.com.
BikeHikeSafari is not part of a large blog network and is proudly independent. All reviews on this site are independent and honest gear reviews of outdoor products by the author.
The author, Brad McCartney is a very experienced triple crown thru-hiker, adventurer, and bike tourer having spent 1000s of nights sleeping in a tent and sleeping bag (Read more). He was a manager of an outdoor retail store and is very experienced in what is important when using and testing gear for reviews like this.
BikeHikeSafari will never receive any money for reviews and they do not accept sponsored reviews on this website. All the comments about the gear reviews are from the author based on his years of experience. Hope this independent review was helpful for you.
