Going camping doesn’t mean you have to go off-grid.
From projectors for outdoor movie nights to rechargeable camping lanterns, there are plenty of nifty gadgets to make a trip in the great outdoors as comfortable as possible. Sleeping under canvas needn’t equal a Bear Grylls-style expedition.
Camping tech is especially vital if you’re planning to go for more than a night, but all those gadgets need powering up. While some campsites may offer mains power to charge up the most essential products, you’ll likely be vying for socket space with all the other campers there. For short-term self-sufficiency, the answer is clear. A battery pack with a high mAh is non-negotiable for modern campers.
What does mAh mean for battery packs?
It’s a unit of measurement that tells you how much capacity your pack holds. Some simple maths will give you a rough idea of how many recharges your pack can do depending on your tech’s battery. For example if your phone’s battery is 4000mAh, a 10,000mAh battery pack will be able to fully charge it at least twice.
What is the advantage of a large battery pack?
More power means you can spend days outdoors without access to mains power. A bigger battery pack is ideal not only for longer camping breaks, but for hiking, festivals and travelling too. Keeping one in the car for emergencies or long road trips is also a great idea.
Most come with lightning charging and have multiple USB ports so you can power up more than one device at a time.
They are usually heavier and take at least a day to fully charge up, something to bear in mind before you pack one into your backpack.
Are camping battery packs expensive?
More power does mean a bigger initial outlay, but you’ll be using these robust portable chargers for a lot longer than cheaper models with inferior mAhs. If you’re away camping often or have a lot of devices you need to use on the road, getting one is a sound investment you’ll be glad you made. Expect to pay anywhere between £30 - £300.
Best camping chargers at a glance
- Best for overall: Anker 337 Power Bank (PowerCore 26K) - £56.90, Amazon
- Best for short weekend breaks: Belkin 20000mAh Portable Power Bank - Black - £29.99, Argos
- Best for park and pitch: Energizer PowerStation 307.2Wh(96000mAh) Portable Power Bank - £319.99,Argos
- Best for keeping in the car and emergencies: Outsunny Portable Power Station - £83.99, Ryman
- Best for one night in the wild: BELKIN 10,000 mAh Magnetic Wireless Charger & Portable Power Bank - £45.99, Argos
- Best for lightweight charging for three devices: BELKIN 20000 mAh Portable Power Bank - Blue - £29.99, Currys
- Best for high-performance wireless charging: CYGNETT ChargeUp Edge+ Portable Power Bank - Black - £129.99, Currys
- Best for lightweight (362g): Juice Powerstation XL Power Bank Portable Charger - £33.14, Amazon
- Best for glamping: VEGER Power Bank - £22.94, Amazon
We’ve rounded up the long-lasting portable chargers you need for your next trip.
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Anker 337 Power Bank (PowerCore 26K)
Best for: overall
Anker is one of the best-known names for bringing power to the people, and when you reach for this charger, you’ll soon see why.
The 337 offers mammoth levels of capacity with 26,800mAh power to keep your devices in excellent working order. There are three USB ports including one with PowerIQ for high-speed charging.
Available in black and white (which might be easier to spot in a camping scenario), it offers a week’s worth of mobile phone charging.
Not only is it powerful but it’s light too at just shy of 500g, so easy to slip into a bag ready to use when you need it most.
Buy now £56.90, Amazon
Belkin 20000mAh Portable Power Bank - Black
Best for: short weekend breaks
One of the leading names in personal electronics, this charger is capable of bringing up to three devices back up to speed at once thanks to three ports - two USB-A and one USB-C. If you’ve got an iPhone 13, the 20000mAh device will give your phone up to 78 hours of extra time, making it perfect for a weekend in the wild. The purchase also comes with a USB-A to USB-C cable so you can start using your Belkin lifesaver right from the box.
Buy now £29.99, Argos
Energizer PowerStation 307.2Wh(96000mAh) Portable Power Bank
Best for: park and pitch
If you’re driving to your campsite for a few days of easy living, let your car boot do the hard graft and carry this mighty powerstation for you. It packs in a whopping 96,000mAh worth of juice within the orange and black construction and is armed to the teeth with ports: 1 x 300W PURE SINE WAVE AC outlet, 2 x DC outputs, 1 x USB-C PD and 2 x USB-A outputs – with one port supporting Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, a fast charging unit that can get Android phones back to 80 per cent charged in just 35 minutes. There are also solar panels to help juice up the battery if you’re spending a longer length of time off-grid.
Buy now £319.99, Argos
Outsunny Portable Power Station
Best for: keeping in the car and emergencies
Want more than just charging capabilities from your... erm, charger? Well why not, when you’re trying to pack carefully, a device that can do more than one thing is gold. No need to worry about fumbling around a pitch black campsite after dusk when you’ve got Outsunny’s hardworking power station in your kit.
As well as three USB-A outlets to keep your phone, cameras, tablet and smartwatch running, it also offers a USB-C port, 12V car charger, and even an emergency starting EC5 output for vehicles.
Despite a huge 48.000mAh capacity, it only takes up to six hours to fully charge the power station. The device also boasts an LED flashlight complete with SOS mode to save you in emergencies.
Buy now £83.99, Ryman
BELKIN 10,000 mAh Magnetic Wireless Charger & Portable Power Bank - Black
Best for: one night in the wild
For just a night or two of overnight adventures, Belkin’s 10,000mAh battery should be in your kit bag. Though it offers less battery capacity than some of the other options in our list, it’s much lighter to carry so better if you’re walking or taking public transport to your pitch.
What’s more, there’s no need to worry about bringing the right wires as this gadget supports wireless charging with compatible products. It can provide up to two full charges which should be more than enough to see you through - especially if you leave home with your phone on 100 per cent power.
Buy now £45.99, Argos
BELKIN 20000 mAh Portable Power Bank - Blue
Best for: lightweight charging for three devices
You needn’t fret over battery power with Belkin’s power bank in your back pocket - this out and about essential offers up to 140 hours of extra battery life for a smartphone and up to 38 hours more for tablets. The device comes with a USB to USB-C cable included in the box and it’s pre-charged too so no need to worry if it’s a last-minute buy for a trip. Comes with a two year warranty. Plus, the blue makes a nice change from all the black and grey models around.
Buy now £29.99, Currys
CYGNETT ChargeUp Edge+ Portable Power Bank - Black
Best for: high-performance wireless charging
Navigating your way to your campsite can eat into precious power, even if you’ve left home with a fully charged phone. No need to switch to saver or flight mode though, Cygnett’s charger delivers up to 60W of power, working to get your handset back up to a respectable battery level. In fact it can charge up to four devices at once and there is an integrated USB Type-C cable which comes in handy after dark and when you’re not sure which pocket the right cable is in. It comes with a two year manufacturer’s guarantee. Supports wireless charging.
Buy now £129.99, Currys
Juice Powerstation XL Power Bank Portable Charger
Best for: lightweight (362g)
For a backup battery that’s packing serious power, look no further than the Juice Power Station XL. Its massive capacity - 16,800mAh – is enough for four full charges, so you can afford to upload, download and share with freeloading mates to your heart’s content.
It also has pass through charge, which means you can charge your phone through the Station and they’ll both charge at the same time. With two USB ports, there’s no need for a power struggle with a friend or a second device. Be warned; it does take a while to fully charge (around 9.5 hours), so it’s one to keep plugged in overnight before your adventures. It comes with a micro USB cable and a pouch to keep everything safe and is available in a choice of colours.
Buy now £33.14, Amazon
VEGER Power Bank
Best for: glamping
VEGER’s sturdy powerbank may reign in the aesthetic department, but it’s also easy to find amongst dark green and black camping kit.
It is equipped with two input ports and can fully charge an iPhone 8-14 series 5-8 times or a Samsung Galaxy series 4-6 times. There's also an impressive battery life of up to 8 days to ensure you’re set, whether headed to Glastonbury or road-tripping across the UK.
Buy now £22.94, Amazon
Verdict
Light, portable and capable of holding enough power to see you through a week, Anker 337 Power Bank (PowerCore 26K) is our top pick for staying charged through camping adventures.
There's even a 30-day money-back guarantee if you're not completely happy with your purchase, such is the confidence Anker has in its tech. We're sold.
