Long gone are the days when Glastonbury would be awash with rumours that the King had died. Now that everyone has a smartphone, many festivals benefit from enhanced 4G and 5G internet coverage. Power is the only remaining hurdle to staying connected throughout the weekend.
If you run out of battery at a festival these days, you are in trouble. Your ticket is on your phone. The food stalls are entirely cashless. You need it to find your mates in a crowd of 80,000 people, and you probably want to take a few photos too. Some festivals have traders offering phone charging, but it is usually expensive and paying £15 to waste two hours of your weekend waiting around a charging tent is the worst way to do a festival.
You need a decent portable charger. Here is what you actually need to look for, the mistakes to avoid, and the best portable chargers for your next festival.
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How much capacity do I need for a festival?
A power bank’s battery capacity is measured in mAh, just like your phone.
For a standard Thursday to Monday camping festival, 20,000mAh is the sweet spot. That will comfortably charge a modern smartphone four or five times over. It gives you enough power to get through the weekend without nursing your battery on low power mode the whole time, and most will have multiple USB sockets so you can keep a friend’s device topped up too.
A 10,000mAh power bank is great for a day festival. It is light enough to keep in your pocket. But for a weekend camping trip, it will run out by Saturday afternoon.
You will also see huge 30,000mAh bricks online, and we actually recommend one below. However, keep in mind that they are noticeably heavier. Rather than carrying one in your bum bag all day and pulling your trousers down, they are much better left safely tucked away in your tent for overnight recharging while you sleep.
Fast charging is essential
Do not buy a cheap supermarket power bank that only outputs 5W or 10W. They charge so slowly that your phone might actually lose battery if you are trying to use it at the same time.
Look for USB-C Power Delivery, usually marked as PD. You want an output of at least 20W. This means you can plug your phone in while you are getting ready at your tent in the morning, and it will hit 50% battery in about half an hour. Time spent waiting for your phone to charge is time you are missing out on the festival. But don’t overspend on an 80W or 120W power bank unless you want to keep it for charging a laptop and you’re certain you won’t lose or damage it.
The solar charger myth
Every summer, Amazon gets flooded with cheap power banks that have a solar panel stuck to the back of them. They are heavily marketed at festivalgoers. Do not buy them.
The solar panel on the back of a portable charger is so small that it would take literally weeks of direct, uninterrupted sunlight to charge a 20,000mAh battery from flat. At a British festival, it is completely useless. You are paying extra for a gimmick that adds weight and gives you a false sense of security. Just buy a standard, high-quality power bank and charge it at home before you leave.
Wireless charging and Magsafe
Magnetic power banks that snap to the back of your phone are incredibly convenient. You do not have to mess around with cables in the dark.
However, wireless charging is really inefficient. A lot of the battery capacity is lost as heat. If you charge wirelessly, you will get significantly fewer charges out of it compared to plugging in a cable. If you want your portable charger to definitely last the whole weekend, always use a cable.
Wireless charging does have one massive advantage that makes it a potential lifesaver at a festival. If your charging cables or your phone’s charging port breaks, or just will not work because it has got moisture in, you will still be able to keep your phone alive simply by placing it on top of the power bank.
Which cables to bring
Your power bank is useless if your cable breaks on Friday night. Always pack at least two charging cables. Stuff gets stood on, lost, or covered in mud in tents.
The best power banks: 6 portable chargers that will last an entire festival
Anker Zolo 20,000mAh with built-in USB-C cable
Anker is the big name in portable chargers, known for their exceptionally high-quality products and reliable warranties. Their updated Zolo power bank is our top pick for a festival right now.
It has a massive 20,000mAh capacity, which is exactly the sweet spot you need for a full festival. The best feature is the built-in, highly durable USB-C cable. It acts as a handy carry loop and means you never have to scramble around the bottom of your bag looking for a wire in the dark.
It supports 30W fast charging. This means it will top up a modern phone to over 50% in just 30 minutes when you are back at your tent. And with 20W input charging speed, the power bank itself also recharges fast when you plug it into the wall at home before the festival.
It even features a digital percentage display on the side so you know exactly how much battery you have left, which is a massive upgrade over guessing from four little LED dots.
- 20,000mAh Capacity: Enough power to recharge a modern smartphone up to 4 times over a weekend.
- Built-in USB-C Cable: No need to carry extra wires, doubles as a durable carry loop.
- 30W Fast Charging: Hits 50% battery in just 30 minutes at your tent.
- Digital Display: See exactly how much charge you have left instead of guessing from LED dots.
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UGREEN Nexode 20,000mAh with Built-In USB-C Cable
UGREEN is another highly reputable brand that produces excellent charging gear, and they are often available for a slightly lower price than Anker. This Nexode power bank is a fantastic alternative that also features a built-in USB-C cable that doubles as a lanyard loop.
It has the same 20,000mAh capacity and a very clear digital display on the front so you always know exactly where you stand with your remaining charge.
The main difference is that this UGREEN model offers 45W fast charging, compared to the Anker’s 30W. In reality, most modern phones do not charge faster than 30W or 45W anyway, and the ones that do will only use that peak speed for a short burst before slowing down to protect the battery. So while 45W is technically faster on paper, it will not drastically reduce your total charging time at a festival compared to the Anker. It is still incredibly fast, and a brilliant choice if you catch it on a deal.
- 20,000mAh Capacity: Easily provides four full charges for most smartphones over a festival weekend.
- Built-in USB-C Cable: A durable integrated cable that doubles up as a carry lanyard.
- 45W Fast Charging: Extremely fast input and output charging speeds to top up your battery quickly.
- Digital Display: Clear percentage screen removes the guesswork from your remaining battery level.
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UGREEN MagSafe Wireless Power Bank Qi2 20,000mAh
A wireless power bank is a more expensive and less efficient option than the two above, but there is one very specific scenario where it could be a complete lifesaver at a festival. If your phone’s USB-C port gets clogged with mud or festival grime, or your cables break on Friday night, you can still keep your phone alive just by placing it on top of the power bank. It is worth keeping in the back of your mind.
A couple of years ago, quite a few of the generic 20,000mAh power banks included wireless charging as a relatively cheap extra feature. Those seem to have largely disappeared from the market now, replaced by the built-in cable designs we recommend above. If you want wireless charging today, you are mostly looking at more premium options like this one.
This UGREEN model supports Qi2 and MagSafe, so it snaps magnetically onto the back of any iPhone 12 or newer for a secure, cable-free connection. It also has a built-in USB-C cable, two wired ports, and a digital display, so it functions just as well as a standard wired power bank when you want to charge faster and more efficiently. The 15W wireless charging is fine for topping up overnight at your tent, but for a quick top-up before heading back out, always plug in the cable.
It is noticeably more expensive than the other two options on this page. If you are an iPhone user (or have a magnetic case on your Android) and the insurance of wireless charging is worth the premium to you, it is a solid and well-reviewed product. If you just want the most power for your money, stick with the Anker or UGREEN Nexode above.
Veger 30,000mAh Power Bank
If you are going to a longer festival, sharing with a group, or you just want to make absolutely sure you never run out of charge all weekend, this VEGER 30,000mAh power bank is the best value option at this capacity we have found.
The 30,000mAh market is full of products with fake advertised capacities, or genuinely high-capacity power banks that charge a premium for laptop-level charging speeds you do not need at a festival. This VEGER sits in a sweet spot: we own and have tested this one ourselves, and the capacity is genuinely higher than the 20,000mAh options above. It will charge a modern smartphone five to eight times over.
The trade-off compared to the two options above is charging speed. Maximum output is 20W rather than 30W or 45W, so it is slower at topping up your phone. That is a reasonable compromise given the extra capacity, especially if you are leaving it charging overnight at your tent rather than relying on quick top-ups. It has four outputs so you can charge multiple devices at once, a digital display for checking remaining battery, and 20W USB-C input for recharging the power bank itself when you get home.
The only thing to keep in mind is the size and weight. It is noticeably heavier than a 20,000mAh model. Leave it at the tent and let it work overnight rather than carrying it around all day.
- 30,000mAh Capacity: Genuinely higher capacity than 20,000mAh alternatives — tested and confirmed.
- Charge 4 Devices at Once: Three USB-A ports and one USB-C port keep your whole group topped up.
- 20W Fast Charging: Solid charging speeds without the premium price of high-wattage alternatives.
- Digital Display: Clear percentage screen shows exactly how much charge remains.
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Belkin 20000 mAh Portable Power Bank at Currys
This one’s available today on the high street for £29.99!
If you don’t fancy buying online, or you need something you can pick up right now, this power bank is available on the high street. Coming from the reputable brand name that is Belkin, stockists include Curry’s – who’ll even let you check stock online before rushing down to your local store. Perfect if you’ve left it until the last minute and realised while packing for a festival you need a new power bank
Its 20000mAh capacity means it’s a great portable charger for festivals. A few years ago, you’d have to buy online or pay way over the odds for this capacity on the high street, but thankfully that’s no longer the case. It recharges over USB-C (with the required cable included) and has two standard USB ports for recharging your devices
It’s currently £29.99, and if you need it today, you can enter your postcode to check stock in nearby stores and collect in minutes. Alternatively, Curry’s are currently offering free next day delivery if purchased before 1pm.
Belkin 20000 mAh Power Bank at Argos
Check stock in your local Argos and pick up today
If you prefer Argos to Currys and need to buy on the high street, this is another viable option.
It’ll cost you more than an online brand like Anker or Aukey, but the big advantage here is that it’s stocked by Argos. That means you can find local stores with stock online, then reserve one to pick up immediately. You could even reserve one to pick up on the way to your next festival, though you’ll need a while to charge it in the car.
You do get a pretty decent power bank for the premium price, with a screen, two normal USB outputs and a USB-C port too. You can use the USB-C for recharging both your phone and the power bank itself or recharge the power bank via a microUSB socket. It also supports both Quick Charge 3.0 and USB Power Delivery for super-quick recharging.
It’s currently £27.99 on the Argos website.
How to save your phone battery at a festival
Even with a massive 20,000mAh portable charger, you still want to make your phone battery last as long as possible so you are not constantly tethered to a cable.
At a festival, your phone connects to temporary 4G and 5G masts. The signal displayed on your screen might look strong, but network capacity is often heavily limited with 80,000 people trying to use it at once. Disabling your mobile data can help save your battery slightly, but bear in mind you will miss out on incoming WhatsApps and iMessages.
If you are just using your phone to take photos, you could stick it in airplane mode until you actually need to contact someone. Otherwise, turn your screen brightness down, especially at night when you do not need it glaring at 100%. Finally, close down any apps running in the background that track your location. Constant GPS tracking will kill a battery faster than anything else.
F.A.Q.
What is fast charging?
The iPhone 8 and above and most modern Android phones support fast charging with a feature called ‘USB Power Delivery’. This means if you also purchase a portable charger that supports these technologies, it’ll top up your phone battery at super-fast speed. Perfect if you want to recharge at your tent for half an hour before heading back into the festival with a fully charged phone. If you’re still using an older iPhone with a slow-charging, knackered old battery, it could be the perfect time to compare deals on a lovely new iPhone 13 with the fast charging and endurance you need for festival season.
iPhones need a power bank with ‘USB Power Delivery’ to fast charge, as do most modern Android phones. Other Android phones need ‘Quick Charge’, but some of our best picks support both anyway.
And of course, if your phone isn’t compatible, it will still charge as normal at standard USB speeds from a Quick Charge charger.
Does my phone have fast charging?
If it’s an iPhone, it needs to be the iPhone 8 or newer. These should recharge to 50% from empty in 30 minutes with a USB Power Delivery charger, according to Apple.
For all other phones, try Googling the model number of your phone followed by ‘USB power delivery’ or ‘quick charge’ and you should find out pretty quick.
I’ve seen chargers online with much higher capacities, how come?
Portable chargers, or power banks, sold on eBay unfortunately often have fake capacity listings. It’s difficult for a consumer to test the capacity of a power bank themselves, and most don’t understand the capacity ratings anyhow. eBay sellers take advantage of this and pretend their power banks have a much higher capacity than in reality.
It’s very hard to create higher-density batteries, so if you see a power bank offering 40,000mAh capacity in a similar size and weight to the 20,000mAh ones listed here, you know it’s a fake capacity.
Worse still, most of these fakes also aren’t safety tested. As power banks are made of volatile lithium batteries, we recommend sticking to the official Amazon stores of the trusted brands listed above, or even the high street. Never buy untested lithium battery products from unknown eBay sellers.
How do you recharge a portable charger?
It’s usually really simple to figure out how to recharge a portable charger or power bank. Just look for a small socket, usually labelled input. It’s usually a microUSB socket, but whatever it is, it’ll match the short cable included with your power bank. Most of these high-capacity power banks will take 10-12 hours to fully charge, and all have LED lights which will indicate when the power bank’s batteries are full.
The Aukey power bank also has a Lightning charging socket, allowing it to be recharged using the same cable as an iPhone or iPad. The Anker Powercore 26800 and EC Technology power banks support dual-microUSB recharging, using two charging cables to cut the charging time to under 6 hours.
What’s the difference between power banks and portable chargers?
Nothing. We’ve used the terms interchangeably here. Sorry. Some people also call them battery packs or power packs. They all mean the same thing. Simply a battery with some USB sockets that can be used to recharge other devices’ batteries.
How many times can a power bank be recharged?
A portable charger, or power bank, uses the same type of Lithium battery as your phone. They can be recharged thousands of times whilst remaining effective, though after several years, there may be some reduction in total capacity.
Can temperature affect a power bank?
Yes. Lithium batteries work best between 10°C and 50°C, and should never be recharged when below 0°C, as this can damage the battery. Using a power bank at a low temperature shouldn’t have any permanent effects, but may reduce the effective charge of the power bank.
During the British summer, I’d expect the temperature in your tent to stay within the ideal range. Just watch out for leaving your power bank lying around in direct, strong sunlight and you’ll be fine. And remember, your phone uses the same Lithium battery technology, so avoid charging it if it’s ever below freezing.
It’s normal for both power banks and smartphones to become warm or generate heat during use. However, if your device gets too hot, safety mechanisms should cause it to cut off. This can happen if you leave your smartphone or power bank in direct sunlight, or during a malfunction.
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1 comment
Wow great list of power banks
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