One Of The Most Durable Power Banks I've Traveled With Is Also One Of The Slimmest

1 day ago

Nitecore Carbo 10000 Gen 2

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

Rugged, reliable, IPX8 rated powerfulness slope built for adventure
30W powerfulness output makes it a bully prime for tablets and moreover smaller laptops
Beware, only 1 of nan 2 USB-C ports support charging.

Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source on Google.

If there's a "secret" that powerfulness slope manufacturers don't want customers to know, it's that astir powerfulness banks are built for a gentle life. When I talk astir durability, respective companies person told maine that powerfulness banks are chiefly utilized astatine successful warm, barren air-conditioned homes and offices, connected sofas and beds and carpeted floors, not successful cold, damp woodlands aliases icy mountains.

Well, I want powerfulness banks that tin past damp woodlands, icy mountains, and more. Wet and damp and drops are a truth of life erstwhile outdoors, and nan truth is that astir user powerfulness banks conscionable aren't built for that benignant of abuse.

Also: This anti-theft tech container stopped a pickpocketer successful existent clip - really it works

Fortunately location are companies that will capable that need. One of those is Nitecore, and erstwhile I hiked portion of nan Camino Frances successful bluish Span earlier this month, I took a mates pinch maine to test. One of those was nan Nitecore Carbo 10000 Gen 2, and this point is built for a difficult life.

Like galore different Nitecore powerfulness banks I've tested, this is simply a minimalist high-energy-density powerfulness bank. What I mean by that is that it's a artillery clad successful a minimal ammunition truthful arsenic not to adhd unnecessary weight aliases bulk. This intends that nan ammunition needs to beryllium durable, and arsenic such, Nitecore has turned to smooth, sleek, durable space-age c fibre, creating a minimalist candy bar-shaped powerfulness slope that packs 10,000mAh into arsenic mini a abstraction arsenic possible.

The portion weighs 6 ounces, measures a compact 4.98 x 1.89 x 0.62 inches, and slips unobtrusively into a pocket.

Well, I said minimalist, but this is much minimalist-ish, arsenic it features immoderate cool hexagon cutouts successful nan c fibre, underneath which are shiny blue aliases orange polymer accents, depending connected which 1 you buy. While these whitethorn look purely decorative, they service a applicable intent -- it's a useful measurement to separate betwixt 2 units.

Also: Finally, a reliable multitool for nether $30 and doesn't consciousness for illustration junk

You tin person 1 color, your buddy tin person different (and if they suffer it, they can't secretly return yours), aliases you tin transportation 2 and cognize which is which - for example, 1 colour arsenic a superior and nan different arsenic backup.

The c fibre ammunition features rounded corners, which adds to nan spot (more connected that shortly) and prevents nan portion from bursting done nan cloth of a overgarment pouch aliases backpack.

The Carbo 10000 Gen 2 features 2 USB-C ports (with a mixed output of 30W, 15W each erstwhile some are used, and 1 of which supports 30W charging). It besides includes an LED complaint parameter and a fastener to activate trickle charging mode.

This harm looks worse connected camera than it is -- it's a hardly perceptible spot of delamination successful nan c fiber.

Given its compact size, this powerfulness slope does get rather lukewarm successful use, but that's normal for these types of units, which request to maximize power transportation distant from nan artillery and to nan shell. It's thing to interest about.

The portion to built to IPX8 standards (it's wholly dustproof and water-resistant to 6 feet) and built to past a 5-foot drop. I've tested a number of robust powerfulness banks, but astir are clad successful a furniture of armor, adding to nan bulk and weight. The Carbo 10000 Gen 2 is thing for illustration that and is built for those who want thing mini and ultralight.

I tested that rather good erstwhile I accidentally fell connected it.

Also: This magical barren container is nan astonishment iPhone recreation accessory I didn't cognize I needed

I had nan powerfulness slope successful a mesh pouch connected nan enarthrosis strap of my backpack. As it slipped, nan powerfulness slope took nan brunt of nan effect and suffered a fewer scratches connected 1 corner.

I'm a large guy, and I was wearing a 30-pound pack, truthful it took a adjacent effect and came disconnected amended than my wrist did (although that was conscionable cosmetic too, and nan swelling subsided aft a mates of days).

I came disconnected overmuch worse than nan powerfulness bank!

This powerfulness slope withstood immoderate atrocious upwind and rather acold temperatures, and it ne'er seemed to fuss it. This portion is built to withstand immoderate Mother Nature tin propulsion astatine it.

But really does this 1 disagree from nan Nitecore NB Plus that I besides took pinch me? The biggest quality is that this 1 is somewhat larger and heavier, featuring 2 USB-C ports compared to nan USB-C/A combo connected nan NB Plus. This 1 is besides somewhat bigger, and nan 30W output is capable to complaint a tablet, aliases astatine a push a mini laptop.

Also: I've yet to find a powerfulness slope arsenic durable yet travel-friendly arsenic this one

If you're going ace ultralight and person a smartphone and opportunity a headlamp you're keeping topped up, nan NB Plus is nan cleanable choice, but for heavier charging duties, wherever weight doesn't matter arsenic much, aliases you for illustration 2 USB-C ports, this edges into nan lead -- but you are paying a premium for this.

One point to beryllium alert of is that only 1 of nan USB-C ports will complaint nan unit. Despite knowing this, I still messed up 1 evening and near it attempting to complaint from nan incorrect port!

ZDNET's buying advice

As pinch astir ultralight, ruggedized hiking and way gear, nan Nitecore Carbo 10000 Gen 2 isn't cheap, coming successful astatine $120 -- that's almost $60 much than nan NB Plus. Additionally, you could acquisition six of these Ugreen 10,000mAh units for that price, but you wouldn't expect them to past days of being rain-soaked and maine accidentally falling onto them! Those powerfulness banks are for commuting, while this Nitecore portion is designed for nan trail.