Anyone use phone backup battery charger?

[Harpy Eagle]

We have been looking at all the different choices out there, from the larger ones that will charge a phone fully to smaller almost credit card size that will just give you a bit more life if you are running low.

We have a two week trip to Scotland coming up at the end of April and will be on the road a lot and not have access to charge during the day. We will be using our phones to take lots of pictures and the like.

I am leaning towards a smaller one that we can use just incase the day runs long and we need a few percent added back.

Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with this?

 

[braumeister]

Maybe a bit more than you want, but I've been traveling with this one for a while and really like it. With 10,000 mAh it packs plenty of juice for all your electronic things.

AINOPE Small Portable Charger

 

[Harpy Eagle]

Maybe a bit more than you want, but I've been traveling with this one for a while and really like it. With 10,000 mAh it packs plenty of juice for all your electronic things.

AINOPE Small Portable Charger

View attachment 54429

Actually that looks perfect. Thanks!

 

[pb4uski]

We have a set that we got at Costco that work well but we rarely use them.

As an aside, last year we shifted to magnetic charging cords and they are terrific. An tiny, hardly noticeable piece plugs into your device. Then when the magnetic end of the power cord gets within 1/2" or so of the plug it automatically connects.

Terasako Magnetic Charging Cable 6-Pack [1ft/3ft/3ft/6ft/6ft/10ft], 3 in 1 Nylon Braided Magnetic Phone Charger, Compatible with Micro USB, Type C, iProduct and Most Devices Amazon.com

 

[audreyh1]

Haven’t needed one.

 

[Jerry1]

I would look at one like this:

This pocket-sized power bank keeps my iPhone charged all day

The Torras MiniMag Power Bank has the thinnest profile of any battery pack I've tested, and it charges surprisingly fast.

www.zdnet.com

Slim and MagSafe would be my criteria.

 

[aja8888]

i keep one in my glove compartment of my car, but never have needed it,

 

[Harpy Eagle]

We have a set that we got at Costco that work well but we rarely use them.

As an aside, last year we shifted to magnetic charging cords and they are terrific. An tiny, hardly noticeable piece plugs into your device. Then when the magnetic end of the power cord gets within 1/2" or so of the plug it automatically connects.

Terasako Magnetic Charging Cable 6-Pack [1ft/3ft/3ft/6ft/6ft/10ft], 3 in 1 Nylon Braided Magnetic Phone Charger, Compatible with Micro USB, Type C, iProduct and Most Devices Amazon.com

I had never heard of those, they look interesting. Thanks

 

[RunningBum]

I find Anker products to be of good quality for things like this. I have an older one but if I were buying today I'd be looking closely at https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Travel-Ready-Technology-High-Speed-Output（Black），1pack/dp/B0D5CLSMFB/ and Amazon.com

 

[Retired Expat]

As serious travelers both the wife and I carry a spare back up battery when traveling. We use the phone as GPS and for all tickets and bookings so can’t risk getting on a train in France and not being able to access the tickets or museum passes and such.

 

[Alan]

We have been looking at all the different choices out there, from the larger ones that will charge a phone fully to smaller almost credit card size that will just give you a bit more life if you are running low.

We have a two week trip to Scotland coming up at the end of April and will be on the road a lot and not have access to charge during the day. We will be using our phones to take lots of pictures and the like.

I am leaning towards a smaller one that we can use just incase the day runs long and we need a few percent added back.

Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with this?

If you are on the road a lot I assume that means hire car, bus or train, all of which have USB connections these days for use by phone chargers. We were on a double decker regular bus service a couple days ago and my wife commented on the proliferation of USB sockets.

 

[grasshopper]

Another power bank user, carry it when traveling. It is safer than using a usb charge port at the airport.

 

[Sunset]

I often bring them on trips, back about 5 years ago it was handy when our friend's phone died. It was just a 5K size but it was enough to power her on for a few more hours until we were done touring.

If I was buying one now I'd go 10K or 20K.

 

[FIYes]

I have a power bank and use it when traveling. It has come in handy several times. I also make sure that the power bank is fully charged when inclement weather is predicted. It is very useful during power outages. I charge phones and iPads before inclement weather, but it is very handy to have the back up. We have had instances of days long power outages and I want to keep our phones charged.

 

[MichaelB]

I’ve traveled with spare battery, now power bank, since the early laptop days.

 

[1242Vintage]

I have the MagSafe for my iPhone15. Very useful for long flights. It’s only good for one recharge though.

 

[Souschef]

What about a charger that plugs into the cigarette lighter outlet? We have on and it works great

 

[USGrant1962]

I find Anker products to be of good quality for things like this. I have an older one but if I were buying today I'd be looking closely at https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Travel-Ready-Technology-High-Speed-Output（Black），1pack/dp/B0D5CLSMFB/ and Amazon.com

Over the years I've been through any number of power banks, cables, chargers, etc. I've settled on Anker products.

Their products are solid and have a long-term brand name behind them. I have two Anker power banks. One is a flat-profile like the one recommended by RunningBum and is in my bigger laptop backpack that has a plug in - you recharge your phone or tablet from a plug on the shoulder. The other is a 10,000 mAh unit that doubles as a charger. My everyday wall charger is also an Anker with 4 USB ports and a folding plug.

IMO, the Anker stuff is half the price of Apple and similar quality. Though it is twice the price of random Chinese brands of undetermined quality.

 

[Koolau]

My back-up is only 1500 mA. It can add about 50% battery life to my phone. That's way more than I need as that will last me days. I don't use my phone for much more than the occasional call or text.

 

[OldConch]

I have the MagSafe for my iPhone15. Very useful for long flights. It’s only good for one recharge though.

We have a nice 10,000 mA Anker MagSafe battery/charger with a foldable kickstand that's pretty small. It has passthrough charging so you can charge the battery while the battery charges your phone. While traveling we plug the battery in at night and attach the phone which goes into "nightstand" mode. Very convenient.

 

[PaunchyPirate]

I also have an Anker battery charger. And I only use it when I travel. I keep it in my backpack when I'm out sightseeing for the day when I might be away from civilization for the day. I've only used it a couple times. But I think it's nice to have just in case.

 

[CaptTom]

This thread reminded me of something I wanted to look into about those USB power packs...

Are they allowed on airplanes? I know they're cracking down on Lithium batteries, so I checked.

Turns out the TSA restricts them to 27 Ah. Or, as the marketing people would say, 27,000 mAh. Mine was something like 49. Oops. I ordered a 27 Ah version for an upcoming trip.

Also, they have to be in your carry on or personal item. They can't be in a checked bag.

 

[swakyaby]

I’m going on a long flight to Asia this month, so the subject of backup batteries is timely. I’ve read TSA allows passengers to carryon lithium ion batteries under 100 watt hours, or approximately 27 amp hours (27,000 mAh) as CaptTom said. I’m carrying a CPAP battery of 95 watt hours and a power bank of 37 watt hours for my phone.

 

[pacergal]

I have a small pure.gear and also an extended battery phone cover that I use when traveling (iPhones).

 

[Music Lover]

I’m going on a long flight to Asia this month, so the subject of backup batteries is timely.

This thread reminded me of something I wanted to look into about those USB power packs...

Are they allowed on airplanes? I know they're cracking down on Lithium batteries, so I checked.

Turns out the TSA restricts them to 27 Ah. Or, as the marketing people would say, 27,000 mAh. Mine was something like 49. Oops. I ordered a 27 Ah version for an upcoming trip.

Also, they have to be in your carry on or personal item. They can't be in a checked bag.

On every recent flight I've been on there are USB charging ports at every seat.