We’ve all been there. We’re on a train or bus, at work, or out for the day and we see that dreaded red battery indicator on our phone. Immediately, the panic sets in, and we start thinking about how we’ll survive when it dies (or we start hunting for a charger to top off our battery). Fortunately, in the last few years, portable battery packs have become the common solution, and can save us in a variety of situations.
Now, Scosche – makers of many great on-the-go accessories – have a new battery pack to add to the mix, which offers enough juice to charge an iPhone 6S three times, and take a beating wherever you go.
The Scosche goBAT 6000 Rugged ($69.99 from Scosche) is, in the simplest terms, a durable portable battery pack. Featuring a 6000 mAh battery, it’s capable of pumping out enough power to charge most smartphones multiple times on a full charge.
Internally, the goBAT 6000 includes zero self discharge circuitry to prevent it from losing it’s juice when not in use (that’s poetry, kids). This means that you can throw this in a backpack and when that dreaded moment arises, it’s ready to charge your device – even months or years later. The goBAT also features a rugged, outdoor tested casing (rated at IP68), capable of surviving a dunk in 3 meters of water or being dropped, kicked, or knocked around in the toughest of environments.
A single USB port and microUSB charging port are nested on one end of the goBAT, under a sealed door, keeping moisture and dust out of the circuitry when not in use. The USB port features smart power technology that chooses the fastest & safest power level for the connected device, which help cut down on charge times, without risking damage to your iPhone, iPad, or other connected device.
On the other end, a metal loop for connecting a carabiner (either the one included or another, should you have one on your bag already), which makes transporting the goBAT extra convenient. For me, I attached it to the key loop inside my backpack, and this leaves it quickly accessible, and keeps the small black box from getting lost in the bottom of my bag.
Charging the goBAT is a quick, painless process, too. After connecting it to my iPad to fully run it dry, it was able to recharge fully in under 90 minutes. With the goBAT, there’s no guessing at it’s recharge state. The built-in, multicolor LED slowly transitions from red, to orange, yellow, green, and finally flashes green and blue when it’s reached full charge.
On the topic of charging devices with it, in my tests, I found that recharging my iPad Air 2 while in use, it was only able to add about 40% battery back to the tablet. Fortunately, with the iPad, that 40% could easily equate to watching an entire movie on an airplane or another couple hours of Alto’s Adventure, if you’re into that sort of thing. Charging my iPhone 6S Plus was a non-issue, and it was able to fully recharge my phone from about 10% and still have battery left to spare.
I’m not typically the type of person that is away from accessible power for long periods of time, but knowing I have enough spare juice to charge a device in a pinch is reassuring. The durability and ruggedness of the goBAT, combined with it’s relatively small footprint (about the size of a protein bar or a pack of cigarettes) also mean that I can keep it in my coat or snow pants while snowboarding this winter and not feel weighted down by a bulky battery case or other backup battery box.
All things considered, this is a great battery box for commuters, hikers, off-road bikers, or anyone that needs a quick recharge in any situation. The price is a little higher than many other battery backups, but the durability is worth it, if you ask me. The Scosche goBAT 6000 is available for $69.99 at scosche.com.
Looking for more power while you’re on the go? Check out the goBAT 12000, with twice the power and 2 USB ports, for $99.99.