I have never been a fan of bulky power banks because they don’t fit well in the back pocket and often roll around and gather dust when kept in a bag. It doesn’t help that I rarely take my phone charger to work. As much as I try, I always forget. So, anytime I had a low or flat battery, I would have to get home before charging.

My phone battery once died while on a long call with a client. I didn’t know until I could no longer hear the client. I quickly dashed out for a colleague’s portable charger to rescue the situation. Thankfully, it was an understanding client. This event was a wake-up call, as I began searching for portable chargers online. So I bought one but was soon disappointed at its output. Over the past month, I’ve tested a dozen of the top rated portable chargers, and from that initial pool, I’ve narrowed it down to the best 5.

My picks have been used while in the outdoors as well as for everyday use and holiday travel. They’ve juiced up headlamps, GoPros, my iPhone, and even other power banks. After all that field testing, here are my findings and recommendations.