[leadin]The Torpedo battery pack by Brunton is a portable, on-the-go power source. It plugs into a vehicle’s dash to bank electricity for future charge-ups outside.[/leadin]
The Brunton Torpedo combines the convenience of a car charger with the portability of a power bank, and for someone who perpetually forgets to recharge my phone and other gear, it has become a life saver this summer.
Dual Charger
The 5-inch device plugs into a car’s “cigarette lighter” port (also called a 12v power outlet) to recharge. You can also plug it into a standard wall outlet via a USB adapter.
After it’s full, unplug it from the car. The Torpedo is equipped with two USB and a single mico-USB port. You can now charge multiple devices at once via this cylindrical battery pack.
During our testing, we consistently got two phone charges (Samsung Galaxy S5 phone model). It also charged a Black Diamond headlamp several times.
Form Factor
The Torpedo is about 5 x 1 inches in size and weighs 4.75 oz. It’s made with a tough aluminum jacket surrounding the lithium-ion battery, and it has survived abuse over a few months without showing any sign of wear.
Indicator lights pop on during charging and reveal how much juice is left in the Torpedo.
Portable Power
Although not the highest-capacity charger we’ve tested from Brunton, the Torpedo is portable and super convenient. I keep it in my car at all times, knowing that if I need a little extra power I just plug it in and am set for a hike or ride.
Recharging the battery via the car port took about 2 1/2 hours on average. It was nice being able to plug this in as I headed out of town. It was fully charged by the time I got to the trailhead.
While plugged in, you can also charge a device through its USB port, although this did cause the bank to charge a little slower.
The one thing I would like to see? A cap on the 12v charger would be a good addition. After getting thrown into the bottom of dirty bags and dropped into mud a few times, I worried that I was going to eventually damage the plug.
Buy It?
If you’re looking for something that can deliver power on the go, the Brunton Torpedo is your solution. At $40 it’s about the same price as most competing mid-size power banks on the market, but the convenience of being able to charge it in a car puts it on top.
Specs
- LITHIUM ION BATTERY – 2600mAh
- POWER OUTPUT – 1 Amp
- SIZE – 5.1 x 1.1 inches; 4.75 oz
- INPUT – Micro USB, DC car adapter
- OUTPUT – DUAL output: USB 2.0 and Micro USB
