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 one among our favorites. We had been pleasantly shocked to see it often beat out smaller-capacity energy banks in areas corresponding to weight, effectivity, portability, and sturdiness. On backpacking journeys, we frequently discovered ourselves reaching for this financial institution over lots 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 most effective battery packs we examined. The Charmast 26800 packs numerous energy in each ounce. Along with its base options, we discover it straightforward 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 robotically 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 best capability in our lineup, it ought to provide loads of charging energy for each ounce of weight. Nevertheless, energy banks are infamous for having much less energy accessible than is listed on the packaging, so we wished to ensure. 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 fallacious; it weighs greater than any of the small-capacity energy banks we examined. Nevertheless, when positioned on our scale, it was the lightest battery pack with over 20,000 mAh of energy. That is a formidable feat, notably contemplating it beat out two energy banks that had been 6,800 mAh smaller. We additionally admire that it was lighter on our scale than the listed specification. Amazon lists the load as 14.9 ounces, and different sources record it as 15.2, however our measurements confirmed it was round 12 ounces.

Huge batteries are likely to take up a number of house, however the skinny profile of the Charmast makes it straightforward to hold. We had been curious how the totally different shapes of the large-capacity energy banks we examined would impression portability. On one aspect, we’ve got the Charmast, which could 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 complete 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 all the way down to desire and the place a consumer needs to put the financial institution. The Charmast performs higher in skinny however huge areas corresponding to tent aspect pockets, whereas others match higher into pants pockets. Given its measurement, the Charmast did nicely on this class.

Sturdiness

Apart from some minor beauty injury, the Charmast stood up superbly to every thing we threw at it, together with being dropped and jumbled within the backcountry. Like lots 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 filled with different energy banks and from our drop take a look at. Customers must be conscious that sliding off of a rock or different common use will trigger some put on over time. Happily, 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 most important weak spot of the Charmast is the period of time it takes to recharge. Throughout our checks, it took longer than every 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 offers many choices must you lose a charging cable or have to cost a number of gadgets concurrently. Like most energy banks, the Charmast permits for pass-through charging, which signifies that a tool could 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 shouldn’t be one among 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 had been dissatisfied to see that the Charmast misplaced 6.7% of its complete output in chilly temperatures in comparison with its efficiency at room temperature. It isn’t its most shining second, however it isn’t 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 won’t be your best option for everybody. Nevertheless, in case you are planning longer backpacking journeys or thru-hiker resupplies within the vary of every week or extra, then a higher-capacity energy financial institution such because the Charmast is an effective match. We’ve got additionally discovered that people utilizing numerous battery whereas mountaineering profit from an influence financial institution of over 20,000 mAh like this one. Actions that use numerous 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 doubtless doesn’t require a big capability energy financial institution just like the Charmast.

What Different Energy Banks Ought to You Contemplate?

UGREEN 145W: Within the over 20,000 mAh class, this financial institution is a wonderful alternative. 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 fees barely faster than the Charmast. With a specialised wall charger, that point may very well be enormously decreased, fixing one of many primary issues with the Charmast. 

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

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