The capacity on the box isn't the only thing that matters when you choose a power bank. The least obvious part: two of the four power banks in our catalog can't go on a plane. Below, we explain why, and which power bank suits what.
How many phone charges you get
Some energy is lost when charging a phone, so the real capacity is less than the figure on the case. For a smartphone with a 4500–5000 mAh battery, here's a rough guide:
- HOCO J101, 10,000 mAh — about one and a half full charges. Light; for a day in the city or a day hike.
- HOCO J101A, 20,000 mAh — about three charges. A weekend in the mountains with no outlets.
- HOCO J86B, 60,000 mAh — 8–10 charges. Several days of camping, or phones for the whole group.
- HOCO J142, 100,000 mAh — 12–15 charges. Base camp, a long road trip, or backup for power outages.
The exact number depends on the phone: the bigger its battery, the fewer full charges you get.
You can see the difference in size right away
What you can take on a plane
Airlines don't go by mAh but by watt-hours (Wh). To get the figure, multiply the capacity in mAh by the cell voltage and divide by 1,000. Most power banks have a cell voltage of 3.7 V. That gives:
- 10,000 mAh — about 37 Wh: allowed;
- 20,000 mAh — about 74 Wh: allowed;
- 60,000 mAh — about 222 Wh: not allowed;
- 100,000 mAh — about 370 Wh: not allowed.
The rule is simple. Up to 100 Wh, you can bring a power bank without approval. From 100 to 160 Wh, only with the airline's permission. Over 160 Wh, it's not allowed on passenger flights at all.
The exact rating is printed on the case. If there's no marking or it has worn off, security may confiscate the power bank, even a small one.
What changed in 2026
Since March 27, 2026, updated rules from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have been in effect:
- no more than two power banks per person;
- you can't charge the power bank itself on board, either from an outlet or from the USB port in your seat.
Airlines add their own restrictions. Many also ban charging your phone from a power bank during the flight: Lufthansa Group airlines have had this ban since January 15, 2026. Emirates allows only one power bank. Some carriers require you to keep it on you or under the seat, not in the overhead bin.
And one rule that applied before: power banks go in carry-on only, never in checked baggage.
Check your airline's rules on its website before you fly: they may be stricter than the general ones.
For hiking, road trips and camping
If you're heading to the mountains rather than flying, weight is the deciding factor.
- Day hike — 10,000 mAh. Navigation and offline maps drain the battery faster than you'd think, especially in the cold.
- Two- or three-day overnight trip — 20,000 mAh. Enough for a phone, a headlamp and a watch.
- Car camping — 60,000 or 100,000 mAh. They're heavy to carry, but at a campsite next to the car they stand in for a power outlet for several days.
A big power bank also takes a long time to charge itself, so plug it in the evening before you set off, not an hour before.
We've rounded up ideas for weekend trips in our guide to hiking around Tbilisi.
Cables
The cable that “was around here somewhere” usually ends up left at home. Charging cables are in the same section, “Power banks and chargers”. Check your phone's connector before you order.
In short
- You can take a power bank of up to 100 Wh on a plane, which is about 27,000 mAh. So 10 and 20 thousand are fine; 60 and 100 thousand are not.
- Power banks go in carry-on only, no more than two per person; you can't charge them on board, and many airlines also ban using them during the flight.
- For a day hike, 10,000 mAh is enough; for a weekend, 20,000.
- 60 and 100 thousand mAh are for car camping and long overland trips.