BioLite Charge 80 PD
The Charge 80 is a dependable power bank that has days of power to charge cell phones and other battery-powered devices that backcountry hikers increasingly rely on.
Charge 80 PD Specs
MSRP: $79.95
Weight: 16.4 ounces (465 grams)
Battery: 20,000 mAh
Charge Time: Five to 10 hours
Charge Capacity: Five phone charges
Input: USB-C port
Output: One USB-C, two USB-A ports
About the BioLite Charge 80
The Charge 80 PD is powerful enough to keep my cell phone, satellite communicator, and headlamp charged on multiday trips into the backcountry. The power bank handles three electronic devices at a time, and lighted bars on the battery case let me know how much power is left.
Charge 80 Features
Battery Storage Capacity: 20,000 mAh (milliamp hours) is more than enough power to keep electronic devices charged for multiple days. I frequently backpack on four- to five-day trips, taking trip notes, snapping lots of photos, and tracking my route, so I appreciate that the Charge 80 will power everything I need to do that.
Weight: 16.4 ounces, 465 grams. Carrying a pound-and-change power bank breaks with my ultralight mantra, but not having to be miserly about my cell phone usage justifies the extra weight.
Charging Ports:
- Two USB-A ports. These are the common charging hookups for cell phone, satellite communicator, and headlamp cords. A standard cell phone charging cord has a small connector on the phone end and a rectangular USB-A plug for connecting to a charging block.
- One USB-C port. This is the newest technology for USB cords, and provides faster charging for electronic devices. The cord included with the Charge 80 has a USB-C plug on one end and a USB-A plug on the other end for charging the power bank. The USB-A plug can be inserted into a laptop, but cannot connect to cell phones unless an adapter is used. Or a cell phone charging cord with a USB-C plug can be connected to the Charge 80, and provides the fastest charge.
Charging Time: It took me about 10 hours to fully power the Charge 80 using the included USB-C/USB-A cord connected to a 5-watt charging block. I bought a USB-C to USB-C cord and a USB-C compatible 20-watt charging block for about $20 and dropped the time for a full charge to about 5 hours. The USB-C input is a maximum of 18 watts, so a charging block higher than 20 watts won’t lower the charging time.
Charging Inlet: The Charge 80 comes with a short USB-C/USB-A cord to charge the battery. You can use your phone’s charging brick with a USB-A port to plug the cord into an outlet. Most cell phones come with a USB-A compatible 5-watt charging block that takes almost 10 hours to fully power the Charge 80. (See Charging Time above for how to lower the charge time to 5 hours.)
Charge Indicator: Lighted bars near the charging ports indicate battery life. Four bars means fully charged, one means it’s time to recharge the power bank. It took me two days of charging my cell phone and other electronics to reach three bars, four days to reach two bars, and five to deplete the battery. The bars light up when a device is inserted for charging, or pressing a button above the bars indicates battery level when a device isn’t charging. The low-battery light flashes when the power bank needs recharging.
Durability: The Charge 80 feels solid and has a protective cover. It’s not waterproof.
Total Power Output: 18 watts
Other Biolite Power Bank Sizes:
Charge 40 PD: 10,000 mAh, 9.3 ounces, $59.95. Provides nearly three cell phone charges, so good for an overnight hike or a hike of four to five days with careful electronics use.
Charge 20: 6,000 mAh, 5.8 ounces, $39.95. Provides nearly two cell phone charges, so good for day hikes or an overnight hike.
Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.2 x 1.0 inches (170 x 82 x 25 mm), about the size of my iPhone 11.
Temperature Limit: The approved operating temperature of the Charge PD series is -4F to 104F (-20C to 40C).
In the Box: Power bank charging cord and instructions. The instructions are minimal, and there’s little more in the way of guidance online. But the Charge 80 is easy to use, so it’s not a big deal. Charge the battery with the included cord and your own charging brick until all four bars are lighted.
Charge 80 Pros
Quick Charging: It takes two hours to charge my nearly depleted phone battery using a USB-C charging cord, and I can use the phone while it’s charging.
Multiple Ports: I can charge three devices at the same time, such as my phone, headlamp, and satellite communicator.
Battery Indicator: Lighted bars indicate the device is hooked up and charging, and the bars range from four (full) to one (time to recharge the power bank).
Small: The Charge 80 is about the size of my iPhone 11.
Charge 80 Cons
Weight: At slightly more than a pound, the Charge 80 is at the high end of weight for power banks.
Long Charging Time: The Charge 80 takes a minimum of five hours to charge, so it might not be the best choice for long-distance hikers hoping for a quick charge during a short town stop.
Overall Value
The Charge 80 strikes a good balance for price, weight, and charging capacity. It’s not the least expensive or lightest 20,000 mAh charging block. But I like that it has enough power to keep all my electronic devices going for four to five days, and I can charge three devices at once. Less expensive power banks have two charging ports or do not allow charging using a fast USB-C port. For someone like me who uses multiple devices during extended backpacking trips the BioLite Charge 80 is a good choice.
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This product was donated for purpose of review.