A charged phone is your lifeline in an emergency — for news, maps and calling for help. A power bank keeps it alive when the mains is down for hours or days.
Our picks cover everyday carry, maximum capacity for a long outage, and a compact grab-and-go option with a built-in cable.
A portable battery pack keeps your phone, GPS, and headlamp charged when mains power is unavailable. Essential for maintaining communication, navigation, and emergency calling capability in the field.
For survival use, a minimum of 10,000mAh provides 2-3 full smartphone charges. A 20,000mAh unit covers a multi-day expedition comfortably. Balance capacity against weight — every 10,000mAh adds approximately 200 grams. For day hikes, 5,000mAh may suffice; for extended trips, go larger.
Look for at least two USB output ports so you can charge multiple devices simultaneously. USB-C Power Delivery (PD) or Quick Charge support significantly reduces charging time. Ensure the output is sufficient for your devices — phones typically need 5V/2A minimum for efficient charging.
Standard consumer power banks are fragile and water-sensitive. For outdoor and survival use, choose a ruggedised model with an IP65 or higher water-resistance rating, rubber bumper protection, and a dust-proof charging port cover. Some models include a built-in torch — a useful bonus.
Lithium-ion batteries lose capacity significantly in cold temperatures — up to 40% at freezing point. For UK winter use, keep your power bank inside your jacket close to your body. Some premium models use lithium polymer cells that perform better in cold conditions.
Always fully charge your power bank before any trip. A 20,000mAh power bank at 50% charge is effectively a 10,000mAh unit. Make charging your power bank part of your pre-trip preparation checklist, and keep your home emergency power bank on a maintenance charge cycle.
A power bank is useless without the correct charging cables for your devices. Carry a short USB-C and Lightning cable (or whichever your devices require). Keep dedicated cables stored with the power bank so they are never forgotten. Consider a multi-tip cable to cover all eventualities.
In a survival situation, ration your power bank capacity for genuine needs: emergency calls, navigation, and essential lighting. Avoid using it to scroll social media, take photographs, or play music. Put your phone in aeroplane mode when not actively using mobile data to dramatically extend both phone and power bank life.
A slim, well-regarded 10,000mAh power bank that keeps a phone alive through a multi-day power cut. A sensible balance of capacity, size and reliability for a household emergency kit.
A high-capacity 20,000mAh pack that keeps several devices going across a long outage. The choice when you need days of backup power, not hours.
A compact 10,000mAh charger with a built-in cable so there's nothing extra to pack. The grab-and-go option for a pocket or small kit.
A 20,000mAh bank with a USB-C cable built into the body, so there is one less loose lead to lose in a grab bag. The capacity is enough for several phone recharges, and the higher-wattage output will also top up a tablet or small laptop. A practical middle-ground bank for a power cut or a weekend off-grid.
A compact 20,000mAh power bank with 22.5W USB-C fast charging in and out, enough to refill a phone several times over during a power cut or a few days off-grid. INIU is a reliable budget brand and this is a sensible size to keep charged in a grab bag.
A slim, pocket-sized 10000mAh bank that holds enough charge for roughly two phone top-ups, making it a practical everyday-carry and grab-bag charger. USB-C in and 22.5W output mean it refills reasonably quickly and can fast-charge a modern phone. It's a personal-device backup, not a substitute for a power station during a long outage.
A high-output 20,000mAh bank with a built-in retractable USB-C cable and enough power (165W across its ports) to fast-charge a laptop as well as phones and tablets. Handy in a power cut when you need to keep several devices alive, or on the move when you don't want to carry loose cables. It's heavier than a pocket bank, so think of it as the household or grab-bag backup rather than everyday carry.
A 20,000mAh USB-C power bank from UGREEN with fast charging, enough to refill a phone several times or top up a tablet during an outage. A sensible middle ground between a pocket charger and a full power station for keeping comms alive in a power cut. Check the output wattage suits your device before relying on it for a laptop.
A 10,000mAh bank that clings magnetically to the back of a MagSafe iPhone and charges wirelessly at up to 15W, with a USB-C cable in the box for everything else. The small display showing remaining charge is genuinely useful when you are rationing power in an outage. A tidy grab-and-go option for iPhone users.
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