Charmast 26,800mAH Extremely-Slim Energy Financial institution

Backside Line

At 26,800 mAh, the Charmast is the most important capability energy financial institution we examined and certainly one of our favorites. We have been pleasantly shocked to see it ceaselessly beat out smaller-capacity energy banks in areas corresponding to weight, effectivity, portability, and sturdiness. On backpacking journeys, we regularly discovered ourselves reaching for this financial institution over most of the different high-capacity energy banks and are impressed by its skinny, smooth design. 

Some notable wins for this energy financial institution embody its low weight and that it is among the best battery packs we examined. The Charmast 26800 packs lots of energy in each ounce. Along with its base options, we discover it simple to make use of. It sports activities three enter and 4 output ports, permitting most flexibility. One of many output ports helps fast charging, and this energy financial institution routinely initiates trickle charging for small electronics. For backpackers in search of essentially the most energy in one of many best-designed banks, look no additional!

Effectivity

Not solely is it the lightest large-capacity energy financial institution, however the Charmast can be essentially the most environment friendly. This shouldn’t come as an enormous shock: being each the lightest and the very best capability in our lineup, it ought to supply loads of charging energy for each ounce of weight. Nonetheless, energy banks are infamous for having much less energy accessible than is listed on the packaging, so we needed to verify. To check this, we used a multimeter and dummy resistor load to empty the battery whereas concurrently recording the ability output. After a couple of calculations, we confirmed that the Charmast is essentially the most environment friendly large-capacity energy financial institution we examined.

Weight & Packability

Given the appreciable energy capability of the Charmast, it’s surprisingly light-weight. Don’t get us improper; it weighs greater than any of the small-capacity energy banks we examined. Nonetheless, when positioned on our scale, it was the lightest battery pack with over 20,000 mAh of energy. That is a formidable feat, significantly contemplating it beat out two energy banks that have been 6,800 mAh smaller. We additionally recognize that it was lighter on our scale than the listed specification. Amazon lists the burden as 14.9 ounces, and different sources listing it as 15.2, however our measurements confirmed it was round 12 ounces.

Massive batteries are likely to take up a number of area, however the skinny profile of the Charmast makes it simple to hold. We have been curious how the totally different shapes of the large-capacity energy banks we examined would affect portability. On one aspect, we now have the Charmast, which may be very skinny however compensates as a pancake would- by spreading out extra. Others are thicker however not so broad or are formed like bricks. To reply this query, we measured the size, width, and peak of each energy financial institution we examined to seek out the whole quantity.

We found that the Charmast has one of many smallest whole volumes of our large-capacity battery packs. It feels extra streamlined, and the slimmer design provides an additional sense of being lighter than it’s. All of it comes right down to choice and the place a consumer needs to put the financial institution. The Charmast performs higher in skinny however extensive areas corresponding to tent aspect pockets, whereas others match higher into pants pockets. Given its measurement, the Charmast did effectively on this class.

Sturdiness

Other than some minor beauty harm, the Charmast stood up superbly to every little thing we threw at it, together with being dropped and jumbled within the backcountry. Like most of the energy banks we examined, the Charmast has an outer coating that simply scratches. The abrasions on our mannequin occurred primarily from being carried free in a bag stuffed with different energy banks and from our drop take a look at. Customers needs to be conscious that sliding off of a rock or different common use will trigger some put on over time. Fortuitously, this didn’t have an effect on the integrity of the Charmast, and it nonetheless charged gadgets after passing our eight-foot drop take a look at.

Charging Pace

The largest weak point of the Charmast is the period of time it takes to recharge. Throughout our exams, it took longer than some other energy financial institution to recharge, simply shy of seven hours. Even different large-capacity energy banks carried out a lot better on this class – some ending half-hour earlier. That point can add up when resupplying in cities or making an attempt to get out the door on a last-minute journey.

Options

One of many nice issues a few bigger energy financial institution is room for extra options, which the Charmast has loads of. A function that units it aside is having three enter and 4 output ports. This supplies many choices must you lose a charging cable or must cost a number of gadgets concurrently. Like most energy banks, the Charmast permits for pass-through charging, which implies that a tool will be charged off the ability financial institution whereas the financial institution itself is being charged. This energy financial institution additionally has a fast cost port to cost telephones sooner and may acknowledge when a low present is required for smaller electronics. All in all, there are many usable options!

Chilly Charging

The Charmast has many strengths, however efficiency in chilly temperatures just isn’t certainly one of them. As backpackers who hit the paths year-round, we all know how vital cold-weather efficiency is within the shoulder seasons and winter. When the times are brief and the nights are lengthy, it’s exhausting to keep away from chilly temperatures when needing to recharge electronics. To check for this, we drained every take a look at financial institution once more utilizing our multimeter and dummy resistor load, however this time, we positioned the entire setup inside a fridge. We have been dissatisfied to see that the Charmast misplaced 6.7% of its whole output in chilly temperatures in comparison with its efficiency at room temperature. It’s not its most shining second, however it’s not the entire finish of the world so long as some precautions are taken on the path.

Ought to You Purchase the Charmast 26800 mAh?

Whereas we love the Charmast 26800, we acknowledge that this energy financial institution may not be the only option for everybody. Nonetheless, in case you are planning longer backpacking journeys or thru-hiker resupplies within the vary of per week or extra, then a higher-capacity energy financial institution such because the Charmast is an efficient match. We’ve got additionally discovered that people utilizing lots of battery whereas mountaineering profit from an influence financial institution of over 20,000 mAh like this one. Actions that use lots of battery embody taking footage and movies, listening to podcasts, or recording a observe on a GPS app. Conversely, the typical backpacker who will solely be out for a couple of days and restrict their cellphone utilization throughout that point probably doesn’t require a big capability energy financial institution just like the Charmast.

What Different Energy Banks Ought to You Think about?

UGREEN 145W: Within the over 20,000 mAh class, this financial institution is a superb selection. Just like the Charmast, it additionally has a quick charging port, and the digital show makes it simpler to estimate how a lot battery is left. Utilizing the identical wall charger, it expenses barely faster than the Charmast. With a specialised wall charger, that point could possibly be vastly lowered, fixing one of many foremost issues with the Charmast. 

INIU 20000 PD Evaluate: The INIU had many similarities to the Charmast general, with a smaller general capability of 20,000 mAh.

BioLite Cost 80 PD: One other stable selection is BioLite, which presents elevated beauty sturdiness and higher cold-temperature efficiency.