GEAR | OUTXE Rugged Powerbank 20000mAh – Review

Need a dependable powerbank to keep your essential devices charged when camping? Find out what we made of the OUTXE 2000mAh powerbank when we put it to the test on a recent camping trip.

What is it?

OUTXE Rugged Power Bank 20000mAh RRP: £36.99
Buy it here

Features

  • Rugged (Water-resistant, dustproof, shockproof and skidproof)
  • Dual USB Input
  • 6 hours to recharge fully during via mains
  • Quick charge supported
  • 20000mAh high capacity
  • Built-in bright flashlight and two carabiner
  • Charge an iPhone 8 7 times or a Galaxy S8 4 times

OUTEX Rugged Power Bank

The verdict

When we go camping having the ability to charge our electrical devices is always a primary consideration. Whilst we like to camp largely tech free, we do use our mobile phones for playing music and for following GPS walking routes so we need to be able to charge them.

We have a HUBi solar panel set which we always take on longer camping trips, but due to it’s size, for shorter trips and overnight stays, something smaller is much more practical. So, on a recent 3 night camping trip to the Forest of Dean, instead of taking my usual solar panel, I just popped the OUTXE powerbank in by bag instead.

OUTEX Rugged Power Bank

I must admit to feeling a little nervous – although I’d used the powerbank several times before, I wasn’t sure whether relying on that alone to power my phone for an entire camping trip was a good idea or not. Turns out, I needn’t have worried.

At the end of each day my phone (Sony Xperia XZ) was typically down to about 35% battery, I plugged it into the fully charged powerbank and an hour or so later, I was back up to 100% and 1 of 6 lights on the front of the powerbank had gone out, indicating how much power I’d used.

OUTEX Rugged Power Bank

Seasoned camper that I am, it turns out I forgot to pack a lantern and only had a tiny hand torch with me, so I even found a use for the flashlight. Using one of the carabiners, I was able to attach the powerbank to a lantern hanging point inside my tent and was thankfully able to read for half an hour or so each night without having to hold a torch over the pages.

Final thoughts

The OUTXE powerbank was perfect for my camping trip and after charging my phone on 3 consecutive nights and using the torch for a total of about an hour and a bit, there were still 2 lights showing on the powerbank, indicating there was still plenty of power left in it.

OUTEX Rugged Powerbank reviewUsing the powerbank back in my tent to charge my phone at the end of the day

It’s rugged, making it perfect for camping; I felt confident that I didn’t need to handle it too carefully to avoid damaging it. It isn’t massive but it is fairly weighty, so it’s probably not ideal for lightweight backpacking when every extra pound counts, but for camping it’s ideal. The carabiner attachments proved very useful and I even found a use for the flashlight, which at first I’d regarded as a bit gimmicky and unnecessary – how wrong I was!

On shorter camping trips I’ll definitely be relying on it from now on, no need to pack my big solar panel and battery, because the OUTXE is just so convenient. Having bought many different powerbanks in the past, it’s certainly not the cheapest available, but it’s solid, dependable and well worth considering.

OUTEX Rugged Power Bank

Thank you to OUTXE for supplying the featured product. We have not been paid to do this review.

Shell Robshaw-Bryan
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