If you are in the middle of an adventure, the last thing you want to do is worry about whether your phone, which is probably serving as your navigation device and camera, will run out of juice. The Lander Cascade Universal Power Bank is a ready and able adventure companion.
Side note: One of the things I really appreciate about Lander accessories is that they come with simple packaging (all you throw away is an outer paper wrapper), and they come with a special lagniappe …
… a reusable water-resistant carry case!
Back to the battery.
The Cascade measures approximately 3.8″ long by 2.3″ wide by 1″ thick. It’s small enough to pocket or keep in smaller day bags, and it only weighs 6.6 ounces with the included reflective wrist strap — all the better to find it at night with a flashlight on the floor of your tent or on the ground if you’ve dropped it.
On the top, there are two USB ports that share a 5V/3.1amp output, a microUSB port for recharging the battery pack (cable included), and a power button that starts charging and activates the four LEDs to indicate charge. 7800mAh is enough to charge most phones at least three times, and even the phones with higher capacity batteries at least twice.
The Cascade arrives fully charged, and when you drain it, you can expect about 4 hours for a full recharge.
The dark gray battery is covered in a soft-touch finish and the ridges in the battery’s body definitely help keep it in hand; the metal at the top is gunmetal gray with an unobtrusive Lander logo.
It’s true that you’ll have to supply your own USB cables for this charger, but in my opinion, that makes it more flexible for your varied device charging needs.
The Lander Cascade 7800mAh Power Bank retails for $79.99, and it is available directly from the manufacturer.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample
What I Like: Compact size; Comes fully charged, reflective wrist lanyard makes it easy to find with a flashlight; 7800mAh is enough to recharge even the largest capacity phones at least twice; Ridges in the body make it easy to grip
What Needs Improvement: Nothing