The 12 Best Portable Chargers for EDC in 2021
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Technology makes up a large part of our EDC, which means keeping everything charged is a priority. After all, the last thing you need is for the gear you rely on to die on you when you need them the most. Whether it’s for your cell phone, your flashlight, or your truly-wireless headphones, EDCing an external battery pack is a great idea. Though sometimes you may need a big external battery, especially if you need enough juice and power delivery to keep charge-hungry devices like a modern laptop going, there’s plenty of medium and even slim compact portable battery chargers out there that might suit your needs and your limited pocket space the best. To help you find the best chargers for your needs, we’ve put together this guide with a list of some of our favorite portable battery packs for you to carry.
Anker PowerCore Fusion 5000 Portable Charger
PurchaseKey Features
2.83 x 2.76 x 1.22 inches
Integrated charging plug
PowerIQ and VoltageBoost tech to regulate multiple device charging
Specifications
Capacity
5000mAh
Ports
2 x USB-A, 1 x micro-USB input
Weight
0.42 pounds
The beauty of the Anker PowerCore Fusion 5000 is that its integrated two-prong plug makes it easy to recharge when its own batteries run dry, eliminating the need for you to carry a separate wall charger for the battery itself. And with 5000mAh of capacity, it’s able to keep most smartphones going for one or two charges when you’re on the go and traveling light.
Attom Tech 3000mAh Mini Portable Charger
PurchaseKey Features
3.3 x 2.1 x 0.35 inches
Intelligent control circuit protects against over charging and short circuit
Battery capacity indicator on exterior
Specifications
Capacity
3000mAh
Ports
1 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A, 1 x micro-USB
Weight
2.2 oz
With a size that’s only slightly thicker than a standard credit card and with a similar footprint, the Attom Tech is a great option when your pocket space is limited. It features a USB-C port and a standard USB-A output port as well as micro-USB input for flexibility, and even if you prefer to have a bigger device with more capacity this is a good choice to pick up anyways as a backup charger if you forget to pack the others in a rush.
XTAR PB2S Portable Charger
PurchaseKey Features
Works with standard 18650, unprotected 20700, and 21700 cells
QC 3.0 + PD 3.0 fast charging
Secure magnetic cover
Specifications
Capacity
Depends on batteries used
Ports
1 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A
Weight
N/A
The XTAR PB2S is designed to let you put in your own 18650 and unprotected 20700 or 21700 lithium-ion batteries to use in the power pack. These cells are often used in high power LED flashlights, and this features allows the charger for those batteries to also operate as a quick charge and power delivery charger when they’re placed inside the PB2S.
AUKEY Mini 5000mAh Portable Charger
PurchaseKey Features
4.02 x 1.18 x 1.18 inches
Special low-current charging mode
Aluminum case
Specifications
Capacity
5000mAh
Ports
1 x USB-A, 1 x micro-USB
Weight
95.3 grams
The small cylindrical shape of the AUKEY Mini helps keep its bulk down inside your pockets, allowing the rest of your gear to fit in the limited space. Despite its small size (being only slightly longer than a standard credit card), the AUKEY Mini fits a full 5000mAh of charge capacity, which is enough to charge most phones 1-2 times before you need to plug it in. Another special feature of the AUKEY Mini is its low-current performance, allowing it to charge low-power devices like fitness trackers and wireless headphones without causing damage over time, and built-in safeguards against overheating exist to help eliminate the risk of a battery fire or explosion when you least need it.
Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 PD Portable Charger
PurchaseKey Features
5.89 x 2.7 x 0.57 inches
18W powder delivery over USB-C
Trickle-charging mode for low-power devices
Specifications
Capacity
10000mAh
Ports
1 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A
Weight
9.6 oz
With its medium-sized footprint, this Anker PowerCore external battery is able to deliver up to 18W PD via USB-C to recharge your compatible cell phone quicker than a standard charger. A lot of phones use this to surge up and get about half power in less than an hour. And the included USB-C power delivery charger also means you can charge the battery itself far more quickly at 4.5 hours overnight, letting you get back into action without too much hassle.
mophie powerstation plus 6000mAh Portable Charger
PurchaseKey Features
5.65 x 2.76 x 0.54 inches
Built-in backup USB-C cable
18W power delivery
Specifications
Capacity
6000mAh
Ports
1 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A
Weight
5.9 oz
The only thing worse than being caught without an external battery when your devices are running dry is finding out you forgot their respective charging cable at home. That’s why a device like the mophie powerstation plus that integrates built-in cables to the design is a compelling choice when you’re looking for your next EDC power bank. Its built-in USB-C cable lets you avail of 18W PD and its 6000mAh of total capacity. You can also plug in your own cables on the opposite side, and unlike a lot of other batteries that recommend you don’t charge your devices while the battery itself is charging the mophie supports safe pass-through charging that won’t wreck the device and its cells in the process.
Anker PowerCore III 10K Qi Wireless Portable Charger
PurchaseKey Features
5.89 x 2.7 x 0.77 inches
10W Qi wireless charger built in
Built-in phone stand
Specifications
Capacity
10000mAh
Ports
1 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A
Weight
8.5 oz
EDC Rating
Just released
Price
$
The updated Anker PowerCore III 10K adds an even more convenient 10W Qi wireless charging option that lets you power your cell phone or truly-wireless earbuds directly in your pockets or on top of a table while you travel. If you use all the outputs and the wireless charger you can power up to three devices simultaneously, and with 10000mAh of power the battery lasts for quite a while before you need to top it off.
Goal Zero Guide 10 Plus Portable Charger
PurchaseKey Features
4 x 2.5 x 0.75 inches
Operates within 0-40 degrees C
Built-in LED flashlight for emergency use
Specifications
Capacity
2300mAh with included 4 x rechargeable NiMH AA
Ports
1 x USB-A, 1 x mini-USB input, 1 x barrel input for solar panel
Weight
6.4 oz
EDC Rating
Just released
Price
$
The Goal Zero 10 Plus lets you leverage easily-found rechargeable AA batteries as an on-the-go power pack when you aren’t using the cells independently in other devices. If you don’t have any to start with, Goal Zero includes four of their own rechargeable AA batteries with the kit, giving you a total of 2300mAh to play with, and if you pair this charger with Goal Zero’s line of solar panels, you can keep your devices going even if you’re far afield away from a plug.
NOCO GB40 1000A Portable Charger
PurchaseKey Features
Built-in 100 lumen LED flashlight
Jump starter
2.1 amp USB charger
Specifications
Capacity
1000 amps
Ports
Banana clips, 1 x USB-A, 1 x micro-USB input
Weight
2.4 pounds
The NOCO Boost Plus is a big external battery for a reason: with a max of 1000 amps and banana clips it’s designed to be able to jump start and trickle charge a car battery, making this a great device to have in a pinch when your car dies. With its IP68 water resistance you can even rely upon it when the weather turns south and the rain starts pouring, too. And aside from that very specialized task, its large capacity is able to charge a standard cell phone up to four times.
RAVPower PD Pioneer 20000mAh 60W Portable Charger
PurchaseKey Features
5.98 x 2.64 x 0.98 inches
60W USB-C power delivery
Premium LG battery cells
Specifications
Capacity
20000mAh
Ports
1 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A
Weight
13.2 oz
The popularity of USB-C power delivery ports on most laptops these days lets you ditch the bulky traditional barrel-style charger and power brick to consolidate your devices around a single standard. But you’ll need a more powerful external battery that can keep up with the PD demands of a laptop, and regular 18W and 45W externals might not cut it. When lots of juice is needed, you’ll want something like RAVPower’s PD Pioneer, which can leverage a full 20000mAh of capacity and delivery of up to 60W of USB-C power delivery on demand. That huge capacity also lets you charge less power-hungry devices multiple times over, ensuring you have a reliable source of power even if you’re away from home for extended periods of time.
Omnicharge Omni 20c+ Portable Charger
PurchaseKey Features
100W power delivery over USB-C
Wireless charger built in
File sharing hub
Specifications
Capacity
20000mAh
Ports
2 x USB-C, 2 x USB-A
Weight
0.83 pounds
When having a large amount of battery power available is your most important factor in your EDC, you can opt for the futureproof output of the Omni 20c+, which can deliver up to 100W of power delivery over USB-C while also integrating convenient Qi wireless charging for your phone directly on top of the device itself. The Omni 20c+ is also meant to be the center of your data needs, as it operates as a file sharing hub for the devices you plug in. The external OLED display lets you keep track of how much power the battery has inside, as well as the temperature of the device itself as you tax it to its limits.
RAVPower 20000mAh Solar Portable Charger
PurchaseKey Features
Built-in solar panel
IPX4 waterproof rated
Built-in LED flashlight
Specifications
Capacity
20000mAh
Ports
2 x USB-A, 1 x micro-USB input
Weight
1.32 pounds
This battery lacks the power delivery options of the rest of the chargers in this category, but it makes up for it by integrating a solar panel into the body of the battery pack itself, and by having an IPX4 rated water-resistant shell that makes this a great choice if you need to keep your USB devices going in an emergency or through extended trips in the outdoors.
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