Reviews and recommendations for keeping your devices charged on the trail, including solar options, multi-device chargers, and weight-conscious solutions for lo
There's a special kind of panic that sets in when you watch your phone battery tick down to 8% whilst you're still 12 kilometers from your albergue, with no idea if you've taken the right fork in the path three kilometers back. I learned this lesson the hard way on my second Camino Frances, somewhere between Burgos and León, standing in the meseta with no GPS, no way to call ahead for a bed, and a growing sense that perhaps I should have invested in better power solutions.
Six Frances crossings, two Via Podiensis journeys, the Camino Norte, both Portuguese routes, the Variante Espiritual, and five walks to Finisterre later, I've become something of an obsessive when it comes to keeping devices charged on trail. Not because I want to scroll Instagram in albergues (though let's be honest, we all do), but because phones have become genuinely useful navigation tools, translation devices, and emergency lifelines.
So let me walk you through what actually works out there—what I've tested, what other pilgrims swear by, and what you should probably avoid.
But most of us exist somewhere in the middle. We want navigation backup for foggy mornings in the Pyrenees. We want to call ahead when beds are scarce in summer. We want to snap photos of that ridiculous sunset over the Cruz de Ferro without rationing battery. And some of us (myself included) are managing work obligations or staying connected with family whilst we walk.
The question isn't really whether to bring a power bank—it's which one balances capacity against weight, because every gram matters when you're walking 800 kilometers.
My rough rule: allow about 0.5-1% of your total pack weight for charging solutions. If your base weight is 7 kilograms, you're looking at 35-70 grams for cables and chargers. That's tight, but achievable.
I carried this on my last three Frances crossings and both Portuguese routes. It's been dropped on Spanish cobblestones, crammed into overstuffed hip belt pockets, and exposed to more sweat than I care to admit. Still works perfectly.
The 10000mAh capacity hits a sweet spot—substantial enough to feel secure, light enough that you forget it's there. Charging time via USB-C is reasonable at about 4 hours, which means you can top it up during dinner and siesta.
Best for: Most pilgrims, especially those walking standard routes with regular access to outlets.
It's also slimmer, fitting easily into the hip belt pocket of most packs. The trade-off? It's more expensive, and Nitecore isn't as universally available if something goes wrong. But for gram-counters, this is the one.
Best for: Ultralight backpackers, long-distance walkers, anyone whose knees already hate them.
I gave one of these to my partner on her first Camino, and it was plenty. She'd top up her phone during the afternoon walking hours, charge both devices overnight at albergues, and never ran into trouble.
The cylindrical shape is also convenient—it fits naturally in hand whilst walking, if you're the type to listen to podcasts or music on the trail.
Best for: Light users, those staying primarily in albergues, short Caminos like the last 100km section.
The BigBlue 28W Solar Panel is genuinely impressive when conditions are right. On sunny days crossing the Aubrac plateau, I could generate meaningful charge whilst walking, with the panel strapped to the outside of my pack. We're talking maybe 30-40% phone charge over a full day of walking in good sun.
But here's the reality check: it weighs about 590 grams, it's bulky when folded, and on cloudy days (common in northern Spain), it's essentially dead weight. I've walked through entire weeks on the Norte where this thing would have been useless.
My suggestion is this: unless you're planning multi-day stretches without any access to outlets—maybe wild camping or taking obscure variants—you probably don't need solar. A good power bank is lighter, more reliable, and doesn't care about weather.
Best for: Wild campers, those walking in summer with guaranteed sun, gear enthusiasts who want to experiment.
At around 640 grams, it's heavy. No getting around that. But it can charge a laptop (up to 60W output), run multiple devices simultaneously, and has a small display showing exact remaining capacity. If you're carrying a tablet or need to charge camera batteries, this kind of capacity makes sense.
I used one on a Frances crossing where I was editing photos and writing each evening. It meant I could work for 4-5 days without needing to sit next to an outlet in a crowded albergue. That freedom was worth the weight penalty.
Best for: Remote workers, photographers with serious gear, pilgrims traveling in pairs who want to share one large bank.
I bought one of these as a backup and ended up giving it to a German pilgrim whose charger had died in Pamplona. He carried it all the way to Santiago without issues. The build quality isn't quite as premium—I wouldn't trust it through a rainstorm—but for basic phone charging needs, it works.
Best for: Budget-conscious pilgrims, those who tend to lose things, anyone who wants a backup unit.
At about 170 grams including the built-in prongs, you're essentially getting two devices in one. On routes with reliable overnight outlet access, this streamlines your kit nicely.
The limitation is that 5000mAh isn't much buffer for tough days. But combined with nightly charging, it's often enough.
Best for: Organized pilgrims who charge every night, those who hate carrying multiple devices.
Instead, look for short cables (15-30cm) with braided construction. The Anker Powerline III series is my go-to. Bring cables for whatever devices you actually carry—USB-C to USB-C for modern phones and power banks, maybe a Lightning cable if you're in the Apple ecosystem.
And bring one backup. Cables fail, get forgotten at albergues, or get borrowed and never returned. A spare 15cm cable weighs nothing and prevents disaster.
Airplane mode is your friend. If you're not actively using GPS, switch to airplane mode. Your battery will last three times longer. Toggle it off when you need to check messages or navigation, then back on.
Dim your screen. This sounds obvious, but screen brightness is the biggest battery drain. Auto-brightness often keeps things too bright anyway. Manual control at 30-40% is usually sufficient, even outdoors.
Download offline maps. Using Google Maps or Maps.me offline uses a fraction of the battery compared to streaming map data. Do this over WiFi before you start walking. I've got a guide on planning your Camino that covers this in more detail.
Share outlets strategically. Albergue outlet politics can get surprisingly tense. Using a power bank means you can charge during less competitive times—early afternoon arrival, dinner time—and let others have the overnight slots.
- Anker PowerCore 10000 as primary power bank
- Anker 511 Nano Pro as wall charger with backup capacity
- Two short USB-C cables (primary and backup)
- One Lightning cable for my old camera (annoying but necessary)
Total weight: around 380 grams. Total charging capacity: about 15,000mAh plus nightly wall access, which gets me through even multi-day stretches in less-developed areas.
If I were walking the Via Podiensis through the Aubrac again, I'd consider adding the Nitecore as additional backup. But for most Camino routes—the Frances, Portugués, even the Norte—the setup above handles everything.
A power bank liberates you from this stress. Charge it anywhere, anytime—that outlet by the front desk, the one in the dining area, the socket outside that nobody wants because they're afraid of rain. Your phone charges from the bank whilst you sleep, unbothered by outlet drama.
Some pilgrims bring small power strips to share with others, which is genuinely kind and earns you good pilgrim karma. Just know that outlets in older Spanish buildings can be dodgy, and overloading circuits is a real concern.
But good gear removes friction. It lets you focus on walking, on thinking, on talking to the interesting person beside you—rather than stressing about whether you'll be able to find your albergue or call ahead for a bed.
So pick something from this list, test it before you go, and then forget about it. The Camino has better things for you to think about than battery percentages.
If you have questions about specific gear or want help planning your route, I'm always happy to chat. That's what all those kilometers were for—besides the blisters and the questionable albergue wine.
Buen Camino.
---
Try asking My Camino Guide:
- What's the best weight for a Camino backpack?
- How do I download offline maps for the Camino?
- What other electronics should I bring on the Camino?
Six Frances crossings, two Via Podiensis journeys, the Camino Norte, both Portuguese routes, the Variante Espiritual, and five walks to Finisterre later, I've become something of an obsessive when it comes to keeping devices charged on trail. Not because I want to scroll Instagram in albergues (though let's be honest, we all do), but because phones have become genuinely useful navigation tools, translation devices, and emergency lifelines.
So let me walk you through what actually works out there—what I've tested, what other pilgrims swear by, and what you should probably avoid.
First: Do You Actually Need All That Power?
Before we dive into specific chargers, let's have an honest conversation. The Camino existed for a thousand years before smartphones, and some purists will tell you to ditch the technology entirely. They're not wrong, exactly. You can absolutely walk with paper maps, a phrasebook, and faith that you'll find a bed.But most of us exist somewhere in the middle. We want navigation backup for foggy mornings in the Pyrenees. We want to call ahead when beds are scarce in summer. We want to snap photos of that ridiculous sunset over the Cruz de Ferro without rationing battery. And some of us (myself included) are managing work obligations or staying connected with family whilst we walk.
The question isn't really whether to bring a power bank—it's which one balances capacity against weight, because every gram matters when you're walking 800 kilometers.
The Weight-Versus-Capacity Dilemma
Here's the fundamental tension: a power bank that can charge your phone five times is brilliant, but if it weighs half a kilogram, your knees and shoulders will stage a protest by week two. I've seen pilgrims carrying absolute units of power banks—20,000mAh monsters—only to ship them home from Burgos.My rough rule: allow about 0.5-1% of your total pack weight for charging solutions. If your base weight is 7 kilograms, you're looking at 35-70 grams for cables and chargers. That's tight, but achievable.
The 7 Best Power Solutions I've Actually Used
1. Anker PowerCore 10000 (The Gold Standard)
If I had to recommend just one power bank for the Camino, it's the Anker PowerCore 10000. At around 180 grams and roughly the size of a credit card (but thicker), it delivers about 2.5 full phone charges. That's enough to get you through 3-4 days even with moderate GPS use.I carried this on my last three Frances crossings and both Portuguese routes. It's been dropped on Spanish cobblestones, crammed into overstuffed hip belt pockets, and exposed to more sweat than I care to admit. Still works perfectly.
The 10000mAh capacity hits a sweet spot—substantial enough to feel secure, light enough that you forget it's there. Charging time via USB-C is reasonable at about 4 hours, which means you can top it up during dinner and siesta.
Best for: Most pilgrims, especially those walking standard routes with regular access to outlets.
2. Nitecore NB10000 (For the Weight Obsessed)
When I walked the Camino Norte—which is hillier and harder than people expect—I became fanatical about weight. Enter the Nitecore NB10000, which packs 10000mAh into just 150 grams. That's 30 grams lighter than the Anker, which sounds trivial until you've carried it for 35 days.It's also slimmer, fitting easily into the hip belt pocket of most packs. The trade-off? It's more expensive, and Nitecore isn't as universally available if something goes wrong. But for gram-counters, this is the one.
Best for: Ultralight backpackers, long-distance walkers, anyone whose knees already hate them.
3. Anker PowerCore 5000 (The Minimalist Option)
Some pilgrims genuinely don't need much power. If you're walking the French Way and staying in well-equipped albergues every night, you'll almost always have access to outlets. The Anker PowerCore 5000 weighs just 134 grams—roughly the weight of an orange—and provides about 1.5 phone charges.I gave one of these to my partner on her first Camino, and it was plenty. She'd top up her phone during the afternoon walking hours, charge both devices overnight at albergues, and never ran into trouble.
The cylindrical shape is also convenient—it fits naturally in hand whilst walking, if you're the type to listen to podcasts or music on the trail.
Best for: Light users, those staying primarily in albergues, short Caminos like the last 100km section.
4. BigBlue 28W Solar Charger (When You're Going Off-Grid)
Now we're getting into more specialized territory. I brought a solar panel on my Via Podiensis journey—not because I needed it, but because I was curious whether it would actually work for multi-day stretches.The BigBlue 28W Solar Panel is genuinely impressive when conditions are right. On sunny days crossing the Aubrac plateau, I could generate meaningful charge whilst walking, with the panel strapped to the outside of my pack. We're talking maybe 30-40% phone charge over a full day of walking in good sun.
But here's the reality check: it weighs about 590 grams, it's bulky when folded, and on cloudy days (common in northern Spain), it's essentially dead weight. I've walked through entire weeks on the Norte where this thing would have been useless.
My suggestion is this: unless you're planning multi-day stretches without any access to outlets—maybe wild camping or taking obscure variants—you probably don't need solar. A good power bank is lighter, more reliable, and doesn't care about weather.
Best for: Wild campers, those walking in summer with guaranteed sun, gear enthusiasts who want to experiment.
5. Anker 737 Power Bank (The "I'm Working Remotely" Solution)
Some of us are managing legitimate work obligations on the Camino. Digital nomads, freelancers, people taking calls during their afternoon break in cafés. For this crowd, the Anker 737 PowerCore with 24000mAh is worth considering despite its weight.At around 640 grams, it's heavy. No getting around that. But it can charge a laptop (up to 60W output), run multiple devices simultaneously, and has a small display showing exact remaining capacity. If you're carrying a tablet or need to charge camera batteries, this kind of capacity makes sense.
I used one on a Frances crossing where I was editing photos and writing each evening. It meant I could work for 4-5 days without needing to sit next to an outlet in a crowded albergue. That freedom was worth the weight penalty.
Best for: Remote workers, photographers with serious gear, pilgrims traveling in pairs who want to share one large bank.
6. INIU Portable Charger 10000mAh (Budget-Friendly)
Not everyone wants to spend €40-50 on a power bank. The INIU 10000mAh offers solid performance for about half the price of premium options. At around 200 grams, it's slightly heavier than the Anker equivalent, but the value is excellent.I bought one of these as a backup and ended up giving it to a German pilgrim whose charger had died in Pamplona. He carried it all the way to Santiago without issues. The build quality isn't quite as premium—I wouldn't trust it through a rainstorm—but for basic phone charging needs, it works.
Best for: Budget-conscious pilgrims, those who tend to lose things, anyone who wants a backup unit.
7. Anker 511 Nano Pro (Wall Charger + Mini Bank Combo)
This is more of a clever hybrid than a pure power bank. The Anker 511 Nano Pro is primarily a wall charger—you plug it directly into outlets. But it also contains a small 5000mAh battery, so it charges itself whilst charging your phone, and then you can unplug and use it as a portable bank.At about 170 grams including the built-in prongs, you're essentially getting two devices in one. On routes with reliable overnight outlet access, this streamlines your kit nicely.
The limitation is that 5000mAh isn't much buffer for tough days. But combined with nightly charging, it's often enough.
Best for: Organized pilgrims who charge every night, those who hate carrying multiple devices.
Cables: The Overlooked Essential
A power bank is useless without the right cables, and this is where I've seen pilgrims get stuck. Don't bring your longest cable from home—those 2-meter monsters are heavy and tangle everything.Instead, look for short cables (15-30cm) with braided construction. The Anker Powerline III series is my go-to. Bring cables for whatever devices you actually carry—USB-C to USB-C for modern phones and power banks, maybe a Lightning cable if you're in the Apple ecosystem.
And bring one backup. Cables fail, get forgotten at albergues, or get borrowed and never returned. A spare 15cm cable weighs nothing and prevents disaster.
Practical Tips from 3,000+ Kilometers
Charge strategically. Don't wait until your phone dies. When you hit 50%, that's charging time. Power banks are most efficient when topping off partial charges rather than resurrecting dead batteries.Airplane mode is your friend. If you're not actively using GPS, switch to airplane mode. Your battery will last three times longer. Toggle it off when you need to check messages or navigation, then back on.
Dim your screen. This sounds obvious, but screen brightness is the biggest battery drain. Auto-brightness often keeps things too bright anyway. Manual control at 30-40% is usually sufficient, even outdoors.
Download offline maps. Using Google Maps or Maps.me offline uses a fraction of the battery compared to streaming map data. Do this over WiFi before you start walking. I've got a guide on planning your Camino that covers this in more detail.
Share outlets strategically. Albergue outlet politics can get surprisingly tense. Using a power bank means you can charge during less competitive times—early afternoon arrival, dinner time—and let others have the overnight slots.
What I Actually Carry Now
After all this experimentation, my current setup is:- Anker PowerCore 10000 as primary power bank
- Anker 511 Nano Pro as wall charger with backup capacity
- Two short USB-C cables (primary and backup)
- One Lightning cable for my old camera (annoying but necessary)
Total weight: around 380 grams. Total charging capacity: about 15,000mAh plus nightly wall access, which gets me through even multi-day stretches in less-developed areas.
If I were walking the Via Podiensis through the Aubrac again, I'd consider adding the Nitecore as additional backup. But for most Camino routes—the Frances, Portugués, even the Norte—the setup above handles everything.
A Note on Albergue Charging
Go in knowing this: albergue outlets are competitive resources. The good ones near beds get claimed immediately. The ones behind refrigerators or in bathrooms become valuable real estate.A power bank liberates you from this stress. Charge it anywhere, anytime—that outlet by the front desk, the one in the dining area, the socket outside that nobody wants because they're afraid of rain. Your phone charges from the bank whilst you sleep, unbothered by outlet drama.
Some pilgrims bring small power strips to share with others, which is genuinely kind and earns you good pilgrim karma. Just know that outlets in older Spanish buildings can be dodgy, and overloading circuits is a real concern.
Final Thoughts
Look, I've walked several thousand kilometers of Camino routes, and not once has my choice of power bank been the thing that made or broke the experience. The path unfolds whether your phone is at 100% or dead. The kindness of strangers appears regardless of your GPS accuracy. The insight (or lack thereof) that the Camino offers has nothing to do with Amazon affiliate links or charging technology.But good gear removes friction. It lets you focus on walking, on thinking, on talking to the interesting person beside you—rather than stressing about whether you'll be able to find your albergue or call ahead for a bed.
So pick something from this list, test it before you go, and then forget about it. The Camino has better things for you to think about than battery percentages.
If you have questions about specific gear or want help planning your route, I'm always happy to chat. That's what all those kilometers were for—besides the blisters and the questionable albergue wine.
Buen Camino.
---
Try asking My Camino Guide:
- What's the best weight for a Camino backpack?
- How do I download offline maps for the Camino?
- What other electronics should I bring on the Camino?
