Nitecore NB10000 Power Bank - A lightweight but powerful battery pack for charging outdoor sports technology
Headed for a wild camp after a long day’s backpacking on the Mamores Munros in the West Highlands of Scotland, with two more days still to go. The ability to keep essential equipment such as head torches and mobile phones charged, plus other equipment such as GoPros and cameras, helps not only to keep you safe but enables you to continue to document your adventures.
Nitecore are an electronics and manufacturing company operating in a portable power bank marketplace which I understand has long been commanded by players such as Anker and Belkin. All three manufacturers produce a variety of technology products aimed at the ‘on-the-go’ person with power-hungry devices who want to remain online or be switched on when away from the home or office.
For portable power on short outdoor trips of 1-2 nights, I’ve long used and would happily recommend an Anker 321 powerbank. Weighing 127 grams and rated at 5,000mAh, it’s a lightweight and pocket-friendly device that fully recharges my Apple iPhone 11 one time. I’ve found this to be fine for a wild camping weekend in Scotland’s hills, but if I’m using my phone to communicate, navigate and read, one additional charge isn’t always enough. I have other devices such as a Petzl Bindi head torch and Garmin inReach Mini that I may need to charge too.
A power bank with 20,000mAh capacity is ideal for my use outdoors. A Belkin model I purchased though was so heavy (437gm) I never chose to pack it when I went backpacking or bikepacking so I sold it and looked for something lighter. This is when I came across UK company Nitecore who offers a variety of lightweight power banks aimed at outdoor sports enthusiasts such as backpackers or trail and mountain runners. After some research I settled on Nitecore’s NB10000 Powerbank, which weighs just 150gm without cables.
What I like about the Nitecore NB10000 Power Bank
I always take the Nitecore NB10000 with me, regardless of whether I’m trail running, hiking or cycling - My understandingis it’s the lightest 10,000mAh portable battery charger on the market. It’s not cheap but the old adage is you can choose two out of three (in this case, good quality, lightweight, cheap - it’s definitely ticks the first two boxes). At 150 grams, the NB10000 power bank is only 20 grams heavier than my Anker 5,000mAh model for double the capacity.
With 10,000mAh, it’s got what I’d term as a ‘Goldilocks’ amount of power. 20,000mAh I may feel is ideal, giving me some redundancy, but any such charger is heavier to carry and more likely to be left behind. (Nitecore’s 20k model is lighter than the Belkin product I have but it is still weighs c.300gm). This means the Nitecore 10k Powerbank always comes with me. I do have to be somewhat judicious in use but I’ve found it’s more than adequate even for a one-week long bike-packing trip
I can charge a variety of equipment - For example a combination of the following;
- Petzl Bindi head torch x9 times (680mAh)
- Raveman PR1600 bike light x1 time (6000maH)
- Petzl Nao head torch x2 times (3100mAh)
- Garmin Fenix 5 GPS watch x9 times (690mAh)
- Sony RX100 x2 times (2480mAh)
- GoPro x2 times (2440mAh)
- Apple iPhone 11 x2 times (3100mAh)
- Garmin inReach satellite messenger x2 times (3100mAh)
It’s weather resistant - Nitecore advertises it as shower-proof with a rating of IPX5 (out of a maximum of IPX8). According to the international standard, this means it is ‘protected from low water pressure at any angle’ over a specific time period, volume and pressure. I strive to put it in a waterproof bag if the weather is inclement but there’s been occasions where I’ve not and it’s gotten wet, with no adverse effects.
It has a low current mode, which you can switch on and off, enabling you to charge low current devices such as ‘wireless headphones, wearables and more’. I’ve not had cause to use this yet (my Garmin Fenix 5 watch charges off the normal current).
What I’d like to see changed
10,000mAh to be 10,000mAh - If you add up the figures above, you’ll notice they don’t reach 10000mAh. I learnt though that this is because a 10,000mAh powerbank only has c.2/3 of the stated capacity, with the remainder being consumed during voltage conversion or by heat. It’s hard to argue with physics.
Charging time - Recharging using what appears to be a standard 5V/1A power plug takes an awful long time (in excess of five hours). I contacted Nitecore to ask them about this and they recommended using a power plug with 5V/2A and that should bring the charging time down considerably.
Alternatives
Nitecore Summit - If you’re planning an expedition to the colder regions of the earth, check out the Summit 10,000 / 20,000 models, which Nitecore advertises as ‘low temperature resistant carbon fibre version(s)’ of the NB10000 power bank which offers ‘continuous use in temperatures as low as -40ºC’.
Goal Zero Venture 35 - A 9,600mAh powerbank from US manufacturer Goal Zero which I understand to be more water-resistant. It can be paired with a solar panel if you’re in a location where you can take advantage of the power of the sun.