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Avid hiker and traveller Jess critiques the Nitecore NB10000 GEN2 Powerbank, testing if its ultralight design lives as much as the promise of dependable energy on the transfer
Nitecore is well-known for creating dependable, transportable, and rugged energy options for adventurers, travellers, and professionals alike. Their NB10000 GEN2 is not any exception: it’s a featherlight, carbon fibre 10,000mAh energy financial institution that claims to be essentially the most compact in its class. However does it stay as much as the promise of energy with out the load?
I’ve taken it mountaineering, tenting, and travelling to evaluate its efficiency to see if it’s value splashing the money on.
You obtain the powerbank and rope within the field – the pouch is mine. I’ll clarify why that’s essential additional down the evaluation
Why am I the correct particular person to do that evaluation?
As a frequent hiker and abroad traveller, I depend on powerbanks to spice up up my digital camera, headlamps, and cellphone for navigation and emergency communication. Telephones are fairly ineffective with out cost and powerbanks have saved me many occasions when worldwide adaptors have failed, I’ve been out longer than anticipated, or I’ve merely been forgetful and forgotten a wall plug altogether.
I’ve had a spread of various fashions over time, every with their very own limitations and advantages. My main bugbear has all the time come right down to weight. Transportable energy is heavy! And I’ve by no means been able to shell out a couple of hundred for one which was thought of light-weight.
Since my final buy, Nitecore has launched its NB10000 vary of powerbanks which promise to pair efficiency, affordability, and minimal grams in a single modern helpful brick.
Will it change into the powerbank I’ve been looking for?
Fast Specs
Battery cell: Lithium-ion
Capability: 10,000mAh
Dimensions: 1.22cm x 5.92cm x 1.06cm
Weight: 150g
Waterproof: Sure, IPX5 (okay if splashed/rained on however gained’t survive a swim)
Charging ports: USB-A & USB-C
RRP: $110 for the NB10000 GEN2, $78.90 for the NB10000 GEN3 (the most recent mannequin!)
That is what comes out of the field
Efficiency
Boasting a 20W output and twin charging ports, the slimline NB10000 GEN2 gives power-packed efficiency in a tool so gentle I initially doubted it.
Testing it with a cellphone and head torch, the NB10000 delivered constant juice, topping up my gadgets faster than anticipated. Whereas it gained’t energy bigger gadgets like laptops, it’s good for smartphones, e-readers, and smaller electronics, and the ten,000mAh capability permits me to cost my cellphone two-and-a-bit occasions, with slightly leftover for my head torch.
USB-A and USB-C ports are very versatile
Sturdiness
After I tote round a powerbank I are likely to deal with them like glass. I retailer them in a well-padded bag or thick mountaineering sock to buffer them towards knocks, and to cease them from getting too chilly. When you’re confused about why I’m mentioning temperature it’s as a result of when lithium batteries get too chilly – suppose, beneath 0°C – it slows down the chemical reactions within the battery.
When you let your powerbank get too icy, it’ll maintain much less cost, and will even cease working. I’ve had this Nitecore powerbank in chilly circumstances in a single day and it held up superb. However, I saved it in a padded bag, and slept with it inside my sleeping bag for a bonus failsafe.
Extremely suggest a padded bag or insulated mountaineering sock to wrap your lithium batteries and powerbanks in
The outside of the NB10000 is constructed from carbon fiber, which supplies high-quality impression resistance with out being cumbersome. This has suffered a couple of unintended knocks and also you wouldn’t understand it – nonetheless appears model new! The USB-C and USB-A ports additionally really feel comfortable, exhibiting no signal of looseness or put on over time.
The one factor I don’t love is that there’s no cap to guard the USB ports. This is able to be an ideal addition as with no concerted effort to guard them, I can see the ports getting dirty and clogged with prolonged or repeated multi-day use within the open air.
Battery Life
Battery life is the place the NB10000 GEN2 actually shines. Rated at 10,000mAh, this little beast reliably gave me two full costs for my cellphone, with some energy left over. That is fairly good for a 1-3 day hike, however not for something longer like a week-long multi-day hike.
However at solely 150g every, it’s not a trouble to take two of them for peace of thoughts that I’ll be capable to take all of the snappy snaps I need alongside the best way. (And 300g remains to be lighter than the majority of equal options on the market!).
Now that’s an influence couple!
Its rated vitality output of 6,400mAh at 5V is according to what’s anticipated of a high-quality energy financial institution, and the cost holds nicely even after prolonged storage (I’m speaking weeks of sitting in a drawer untouched).
Charging Velocity
You cost the facility financial institution itself utilizing the supplied USB-C to USB-A twine at a max fee of 18W. You possibly can cost your gadgets utilizing both the USB-C or USB-A ports. Simply notice that the USB-C port (the smaller one) will cost barely sooner at 20W output, in comparison with the 18W output of the USB-A. These speeds aren’t something revolutionary, however to have them in such a small bundle is fairly neat, and there’s gotta be a compromise someplace!
It takes about three hours to totally cost up the powerbank. After I’m travelling and solely have brief stopovers to search out a powerpoint within the terminal because of the ever-crappy-always-broken aeroplane seat USB ports, this could show difficult. Being conscious of the capability of this product is vital to getting essentially the most out it.
My full equipment of enter lead, powerbank, and cellphone charger lead
Design
Nitecore’s consideration to element is obvious within the modern, minimalist design of the NB10000 GEN2. The carbon fiber end not solely appears spectacular but additionally resists scratches and fingerprints, and the bolstered carbon polymer body is a design generally utilized in aerospace and automotive engineering to offer stability with out extra bulk. Fancy!
The design is straightforward and efficient, with a slim profile that takes up minimal area. Each ports are well-placed and accessible, although like I mentioned earlier, I’d love a mud cowl over them!
Some travellers want built-in charging cables, however I discover it simpler to have the ability to carry my very own relying on the journey. Brief cables for hikes, and longer ones for after I’m sitting in airports or cafes.
I actually just like the battery indicator gentle. It appears fairly bang on in comparison with my outdated energy financial institution which I swear displayed lights purely to mess with me. When it has two or three lights I do know I can get an honest cost on my cellphone. When it’s down to 1, it’s received sufficient juice for my head torch to totally cost, and if it’s flashing, nicely, that’s energy bank-speak for mayday. Any juice from then on is a present from above.
The blue lights could be more durable to see within the daylight however I’m completely happy to need to take an extended look than waste cost for brighter lights
Portability
When it comes to portability, at simply 150g in weight you don’t even know you’re carrying the NB10000 GEN2. Nitecore claims it’s 50% smaller than equal 10,000mAh energy banks and I’ve received no purpose to doubt them.
Its compact design (121.9mm × 59mm × 10.6mm) means it simply suits right into a pocket or pouch, and the IPX5 waterproofing means you don’t want to fret about it within the rain. Although I can’t assist myself and all the time have mine saved in a Ziplock Baggie…simply in case.
My favorite portability characteristic of this energy financial institution is that because of the ten,000mAh capability, it meets the ‘airline approved power standard UN38.3’. This implies you’re allowed to take it on the aircraft as carry-on baggage with out searching for further permission beforehand. Batteries and energy banks bigger than this in any other case need to go in checked luggage. This characteristic and a spotlight to element make it good for the digital nomads and ultralight travellers on the market.
It’s a hell of loads much less chunky than my earlier Cygnet powerbank (and loads lighter!)
Sustainability
I had a very good outdated hunt across the Nitecore web site hoping to seek out one thing a couple of battery recycling program or related sustainability initiatives however I got here up empty handed. What was clear from their web site is that their focus is on ‘leading the industry in new standards of portability, aesthetic, output and functionality’. As a shopper, that’s nice, however it looks like sustainability isn’t excessive on their record of priorities – disappointing.
Whereas sustainability isn’t a serious spotlight for the NB10000, Nitecore’s selection of carbon fiber — identified for its sturdiness — means this energy financial institution is constructed to final, decreasing the necessity for frequent replacements. The Li-ion cell is an ordinary selection for energy banks, and whereas there’s room for enchancment by way of utilizing recycled supplies, the general construct high quality promotes an extended product lifecycle.
I’ll hold tabs on it and return to this evaluation to let you realize if both of mine die early or have issues
Worth
As luck would have it, Nitcore launched the NB10000 GEN3, proper as I used to be reviewing the GEN2 mannequin. Yow will discover the Nitecore NB10000 GEN2 Powerbank round for RRP $110.95, however with Ultralight Hiker promoting the up to date GEN3 for simply $78.90, my recommendation can be to seize the newer mannequin.
Probably the most notable adjustments between GEN2 and GEN3 are that the newer mannequin has rubber corners for added safety (big win), and in-line by means of charging, and the USB-A port has been changed by 2 USB-C ports with a USB-C to USB-A adaptor included for comfort. Charging is barely sooner with 22.5W max output, however enter (for charging the facility financial institution itself) has remained the identical at 18W. The load is identical for each fashions.
For the efficiency and minimal weight, I used to be completely completely happy paying $110 for a second mannequin of the Gen 2 (along with the Gen 2 I obtained free for evaluation) so the up to date mannequin for thirty bucks much less seems like an absolute steal.
Remaining Ideas
The NITECORE NB10000 GEN2 Powerbank is a formidable fusion of light-weight design and highly effective efficiency, preferrred for anybody needing dependable transportable energy with out including bulk or extra weight.
For below $100, it’s onerous to beat available in the market of ultra-portable energy banks. When you’re on the lookout for an influence answer that’s sturdy, environment friendly, and gained’t weigh you down, the NB10000 GEN2 and the newer NB10000 GEN3 is certainly value contemplating.
