Fox Halo Wireless Power 27K

How well is it built?

The IP65 rating is the headline feature. It means the casing is dust-tight and protected against jets of water, so rain and spray on the bivvy table shouldn't be a problem, although it isn't made to be dropped in the margins.

At 173 x 88 x 34mm, it's small enough to slip into a big jacket pocket or the side pocket of a rucksack, and the ribbed, armoured corners give it more protection against knocks than a typical slimline phone power bank.

The Li-Polymer battery keeps it light for the capacity, which suits anglers who carry everything in one trip.

For me, the waterproofing is what lifts the build to 8.5. A pack that copes with a wet night without a second thought is exactly what an overnighter needs, and it's a step up from a basic power bank sealed in a sandwich bag.

Capacity & Output

Is 26,800mAh enough? For phones, head torches and small USB bivvy lights over one or two nights, I think it is, and up to six phone charges from flat is plenty for an overnighter. If you only need to keep a phone and head torch going until morning, it's more than enough.

The USB-C output is rated at 20W PD, which fast-charges most modern phones, while the two USB outputs take care of head torches and older leads.

Wireless charging is 10W maximum and works with compatible recent phones, so it's slower than a cable but saves fiddling about in the dark.

There's no 12V socket, though, so it won't run a fan, a heated blanket or 12V lighting, and that's why it scores 8.0 rather than higher. Next to the Fox Halo Wireless Power Pack 48k, it's a much smaller reserve, but it's a fraction of the size and far easier to carry.

Bankside Features

An LCD display shows the charging and power level, so you'll know exactly where you stand before a second night. That's more useful than guessing from a row of dots, especially if you're sharing it between a phone and a head torch.

Recharging the pack itself is flexible, as it accepts Micro USB, USB-C and Lightning leads, so whichever charging cable you've got in the car should do the job. The supplied charger fills it from empty in 6.5 hours, which is an easy job overnight at home before a session.

The wireless pad is the other handy touch, as you can lay a phone on top and leave it charging without digging a cable out of the bag. Could it be much simpler to live with? Not really, and 8.5 is a fair score for a pack that gets the basics right.

Is it good value for money?

It's one of the cheaper wireless packs from the big carp brands, and the 8.5 reflects how much it does for the money. You're getting IP65 waterproofing, wireless charging, a 20W PD USB-C output and three ways to recharge it, along with a charger in the box.

The trade-off is capacity and 12V power, which only matter if you fish long sessions or want to run a fan or blanket. Next to a big 12V pack, it's a fraction of the outlay, and for a lot of anglers that's the smarter way to spend.

I'd recommend the Halo 27K to carp anglers who mostly fish overnighters or short sessions, and to mobile anglers who want phone and head torch charging without much weight.

If you want to run a heated blanket or a fan, step up to a pack with a 12V socket, such as the Nash Powerbanx Hub Battery in its 80K size.