Best portable charger for camping 2023 - Our top picks

If you’re looking for the best portable charger for camping, then we’ve got you covered right here with our top picks.

If you're heading on a camping trip, you might have already checked out our best cool boxes for camping to keep your food and drinks fresh or best binoculars to see the sights more clearly.

However, it can be easy to overlook taking a portable charger for your phone as, once upon a time, going camping meant going technology-free for a certain period of time.

That doesn’t have to be the case anymore, though, because power banks can ensure your phone has enough battery to last you the entire trip.

This means you can still use your device to play games on or to text people with (if there’s a signal) when you want a break from immersing yourself in the outdoors. And, even if you don’t want to use your phone, it’s always important to make sure it's fully charged just in case there’s an emergency.

The most important feature to consider when choosing a charger is the mAh measurement, as this will indicate how many times the portable charger can charge your phone before its own battery runs out. Generally anything with 20,000 mAh or above will be suitable for camping.

It's worth noting that the mAh usually also has an impact on the price of the charger, so the higher the capacity, the higher the price.

Another aspect to consider is whether you want something rugged or something more lightweight and compact. This is completely down to personal preference and whether you think it might get dropped or get water on it.

You might also want to choose from one of the best rugged phone cases to protect your phone, as well.

With all of this in mind, we’ve picked out these chargers based on specs, general reviews and features that we think make them worth buying.

So, without further ado, let's take a look at our top picks of portable chargers for camping.

Best Portable Charger For Camping

• Crave PowerPack Portable Charger
• ToughTested BigFoot Solar Portable Charger
• Anker 337 PowerCore Portable Charger
• QTshine Large Capacity Portable Charger
• Anker 325 Portable Charger

Best High-Capacity Portable Charger For Camping - Crave PowerPack

This Crave PowerPack has an amazing battery life of 50,000 mAh, making it great for taking with you on a camping trip to ensure your phone is fully charged for the entire duration.

It also has four charging ports in total (two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports) so you can charge four devices on the go at the same time if you have the correct connectors. The USB-A ports are quick-charging as well, so will be able to get your device to full power in no time.

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This means that if both you and your camping buddies’ phones all need charging at the same time, or if you’re also taking your laptop and other devices with you, you could potentially charge them all at once.

The charger is very light and only weighs 4.15 pounds, meaning you’ll be able to fit it in your backpack and carry it around without it weighing you down.

Best Rugged Portable Charger For Camping - ToughTested BigFoot Solar Portable Charger

If you’re looking for something a little more rugged because you’re worried you’ll accidentally knock it about or spill stuff on it whilst camping - which is perfectly understandable considering you’re out in the wild - then this Solar portable charger is the best choice for you.

Impressively, it’s waterproof, shockproof and dustproof with heavily reinforced corners and a rubber outer coating, so it’s extremely hard to damage.

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Another great feature is that it’s actually a solar powered charger. These types of chargers come with many benefits because they’re charged using solar energy, meaning you don’t need to connect them to an electrical outlet in order to provide them with some more juice.

It’s ideal for if you’re going on a long camping trip and won’t have the chance to charge up your power bank at any point.

This charger also has a fast-charging USB-C port (alongside two other USB ports) which will charge both iPhones and Androids extremely quickly.

Best Lightweight Portable Charger For Camping - Anker 337 PowerCore

Extremely lightweight, the Anker 337 PowerCore portable charger is ideal if you’re looking for something that is very easily transportable. It only weighs 490 grams, so you’ll barely even notice it’s in your backpack whilst you’re off on your camping travels

It also has a long-lasting battery life, as it has a 26,800 mAh cell capacity, meaning it can charge phones 6 times or more.

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Added to this, it has 3 USB ports that have Anker’s PowerIQ and VoltageBoost technologies, making it very fast at charging whichever devices you need to.

Another bonus is that it has a safety feature that uses Anker’s MultiProtect technology to offer surge protection and short circuit prevention. This means you don’t have to worry that it might suddenly stop working during the middle of your camping trip or that it could become a fire hazard.

Best Budget Portable Charger For Camping - QTshine Large Capacity Portable Charger

QTshine offers its large capacity portable charger for a very affordable price, whilst still ensuring it packs a punch in terms of charging speed and battery life.

It has the ability to charge your iPhone 11, 12 or X almost 9.6 times and your Samsung Galaxy S8 6.5 times, as well as being able to charge any other devices you may need to take away with you with its two charging ports.

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With premium battery cells, it ensures it’s highly efficient and reliable, meaning you don’t have to worry about it flaking on you halfway through your camping trip.

It also comes equipped with AUTO IC technology that can automatically detect the device it’s charging and subsequently charge it in the fastest and safest way possible for that particular device.

Best iPhone Portable Charger For Camping - Anker 325 Portable Charger

We just had to include another Anker model on our list because the company are so well-known for their high-quality portable chargers, and here we have the Anker 325 charger, which is particularly great for charging iPhones.

This is because it actually charges iPhones 20% faster than other phone brands. It will also provide more than 4 charges for the iPhone 11, as well as almost 5 full charges for the Samsung Galaxy S10.

Read more: Best mid-range phone

It contains two USB-A Micro USB output ports, which is one of the most common connectors. A micro USB cable is also included in the box.

Just as with the other Anker product on the list, it also comes with the brand’s PowerIQ and VoltageBoost technologies, which ensure fast-charging so you don’t have to wait around for hours upon hours for your phone to reach full power.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are portable chargers worth it?

Yes, portable chargers are worth it because if you go on a camping trip with no power outlet or anywhere else that is remote and without electricity, you won't have any way at all of charging your phone.

Making sure there's battery on your phone is extremely important as, even if you don't plan to use it much on your trip, you might end up needing it for an emergency situation.

Is 20,000 mAh good for a portable charger?

20,000 mAh is good for a portable charger, as mAh measures the energy charge that a battery has. Any charger that is 20,000mAh or over will have enough battery power to charge your phone multiple times.

These sorts of high capacity power banks are extremely useful if you won't have any access to a power outlet for a prolonged period of time, which is why they're great for camping.