RAVPower 10400mAh RP-PB07 Power Bank

Product: RAVPower 10400mAh RP-PB07 Power Bank
Price: ~$35.99 Online at Time of Publication

Introduction:

As more hiking, camping and all round gadgets in general switch to USB charging, there is more of a demand for portable power sources to recharge your devices while on the go. While I have dabbled with solar options that work well in bright light, as we all know, the sun isn't always shining when you get to your outdoor destination. Until recently, bringing along a charger for your USB devices was near impossible if you planned on doing anything other than day trips from a car camping site. Enter the DYNAMO-ON-THE-GO series from RAVPower.

On the bench today I have the RP-PB07 10400 mAh portable battery pack. The RP-PB07 is the second largest capacity battery pack in the "DYNAMO-ON-THE-GO" lineup, eclipsed only by the RP-PB13 at 14000 mAh.  As a company, RAVPower was founded in 2010 as a replacement laptop battery and AC adapter company and by 2012 had moved into the mobile phone and portable power space. The company’s name, RAV, is an acronym for Reliable Affordable Value. Let's see how they stand up.

Specifications:

• 1x 5v 1A input (micro USB)
• 1x 5v 1A output
• 1x 5v 2A output

First Impressions:

The first thing I want to note is the solid build quality of the unit. It feels solid in your hands and when you put pressure on the outside of the case there is no separation, or for that fact movement on the seams. The battery pack is thicker but smaller than an average smart phone, measuring 11.2cm long by 7cm wide by 2.1cm thick and is easily pocketable. Weighing in at 230 grams (the nexus 4 weighs 138 grams for reference), it is a bit heavy to be carrying around every day, but if you are planning a multi-day trip where you know that you will be away from power or if you are going to be on a long flight and know your device won’t make it through, then it is well worth its weight in your pack or bag.

Paired up with a Sanyo Eneloop USB AA/AAA battery charger and some 1500 mAh rechargeable batteries, the RP-PB07 is a must have on 2-3 day outdoor adventure where you don't want to have to deal with packing in, organizing, then packing out multiple sets of batteries. The battery pack makes charging your all of your devices just as easy as plugging into your computer at home. 

On the last page we'll have some test results and find out if this device can stack up to its claims.