One of the most durable power banks I've traveled with is also one of the slimmest

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If there’s a “secret” that power bank manufacturers don’t want customers to know, it’s that most power banks are built for a gentle life. When I talk about durability, several companies have told me that power banks are primarily used at in warm, dry air-conditioned homes and offices, on sofas and beds and carpeted floors, not in cold, damp woodlands or icy mountains. 

Well, I want power banks that can survive damp woodlands, icy mountains, and more. Wet and damp and drops are a fact of life when outdoors, and the truth is that most consumer power banks just aren’t built for that kind of abuse. 

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Fortunately there are companies that will fill that need. One of those is Nitecore, and when I hiked part of the Camino Frances in northern Span earlier this month, I took a couple with me to test. One of those was the Nitecore Carbo 10000 Gen 2, and this thing is built for a hard life. 

Like many other Nitecore power banks I’ve tested, this is a minimalist high-energy-density power bank. What I mean by that is that it’s a battery clad in a minimal shell so as not to add unnecessary weight or bulk. This means that the shell needs to be durable, and as such, Nitecore has turned to smooth, sleek, durable space-age carbon fibre, creating a minimalist candy bar-shaped power bank that packs 10,000mAh into as small a space as possible. 

The unit weighs 6 ounces, measures a compact 4.98 x 1.89 x 0.62 inches, and slips unobtrusively into a pocket. 

Well, I said minimalist, but this is more minimalist-ish, as it features some cool hexagon cutouts in the carbon fibre, underneath which are shiny blue or orange polymer accents, depending on which one you buy. While these may appear purely decorative, they serve a practical purpose — it’s a handy way to distinguish between two units. 

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You can have one color, your buddy can have another (and if they lose it, they can’t secretly take yours), or you can carry two and know which is which – for example, one color as a primary and the other as backup. 

The carbon fibre shell features rounded corners, which adds to the strength (more on that shortly) and prevents the unit from bursting through the fabric of a coat pocket or backpack. 

The Carbo 10000 Gen 2 features two USB-C ports (with a combined output of 30W, 15W each when both are used, and one of which supports 30W charging). It also includes an LED charge indicator and a button to activate trickle charging mode. 

Given its compact size, this power bank does get quite warm in use, but that’s normal for these types of units, which need to maximize heat transfer away from the battery and to the shell. It’s nothing to worry about. 

The unit to built to IPX8 standards (it’s completely dustproof and water-resistant to 6 feet) and built to survive a 5-foot drop. I’ve tested a number of robust power banks, but most are clad in a layer of armor, adding to the bulk and weight. The Carbo 10000 Gen 2 is nothing like that and is built for those who want something small and ultralight. 

I tested that quite well when I accidentally fell on it. 

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I had the power bank in a mesh pouch on the shoulder strap of my backpack. As it slipped, the power bank took the brunt of the impact and suffered a few scratches on one corner. 

I’m a big guy, and I was wearing a 30-pound pack, so it took a fair impact and came off better than my wrist did (although that was just cosmetic too, and the swelling subsided after a couple of days). 

This power bank withstood some awful weather and quite cold temperatures, and it never seemed to bother it. This unit is built to withstand whatever Mother Nature can throw at it. 

But how does this one differ from the Nitecore NB Plus that I also took with me? The biggest difference is that this one is slightly larger and heavier, featuring two USB-C ports compared to the USB-C/A combo on the NB Plus. This one is also slightly bigger, and the 30W output is enough to charge a tablet, or at a push a small laptop. 

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If you’re going super ultralight and have a smartphone and say a headlamp you’re keeping topped up, the NB Plus is the perfect choice, but for heavier charging duties, where weight doesn’t matter as much, or you prefer two USB-C ports, this edges into the lead — but you are paying a premium for this.

One thing to be aware of is that only one of the USB-C ports will charge the unit. Despite knowing this, I still messed up one evening and left it attempting to charge from the wrong port!

ZDNET’s buying advice

As with most ultralight, ruggedized hiking and trail gear, the Nitecore Carbo 10000 Gen 2 isn’t cheap, coming in at $120 — that’s almost $60 more than the NB Plus. Additionally, you could purchase six of these Ugreen 10,000mAh units for that price, but you wouldn’t expect them to survive days of being rain-soaked and me accidentally falling onto them! Those power banks are for commuting, while this Nitecore unit is designed for the trail.