INTRODUCTION

   How many of you recall a time when we had no need for electricity while away from home or the office? The introduction of smartphones and portable devices like Mini Disk and MP3 players well over 20 years ago changed all that and although it has taken many people a very long time to "discover" the benefits of portable batteries (power banks) that seems to have changed in the recent years. Of course in a market filled with power banks it's not always easy to find the right one to cover your needs but as many friends point out quite often the majority of consumers are not very demanding not only in terms of capacity but also features. As for demanding consumers well there are some manufacturers out there looking out for them like Xtorm and since they recently released their latest rugged power bank called the Limitless 10.000 we just had to check it out.

   Xtorm was founded in 2008 and is part of the Dutch company Telco Accessories B.V., which has its head office in Houten (NL). Xtorm designs, manufactures and markets innovative universal mobile charging solutions. Xtorm Business products complement the range. Xtorm products are contemporary, user friendly and high quality. Xtorm products are currently available in 57 countries worldwide.

   The Limitless is one of those power banks one can use even in the harshest conditions thanks to its rugged enclosure which is not only IP68 certified (water, dust and shock proof) but always according to Xtorm it has also passed the extremely demanding military standard 810G (MIL-STD-810G) introduced and used by the US armed forces (air force, army and navy). The LIMITLESS also features a high quality 10.000mAh lithium-ion battery pack, built-in LED flash light (torch with SOS function), APM chip (automatically detects the appropriate charging setting for your devices), 2 USB charging ports (5V/1A - 5V/2.4A) and several electrical/charging protections (overcharge, overheat and overload). So is this the power bank to get if you're into extreme sports or your work involves harsh conditions? Let's check it out.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

The Limitless 10.000mAh arrived inside a black and yellow package that has a full product picture at the front right over its main features.

Some of the product features are printed on the left side of the box right over a 2D barcode which redirects you to a fast product clip.

A few words about the product are placed at the rear of the box in 7 languages right over yet another product picture and the product specifications.

The power bank is placed inside a piece of cardboard so it's quite secure.

Along with the Limitless power bank you are also getting a carabiner with an extension (used to attach the power bank to your belt - not for climbing), USB to micro USB charging cable and the user manual.

THE LIMITLESS 10.000MAH

The LIMITLESS power bank weighs just 340g, is primarily made out of hard plastic and rubber and measures 153mm in length, 85mm in width and 20mm in height/thickness.

To have a better idea about the size of the LIMITLESS we placed it right next to the MP-S23000 by XTPower, the AL420 9.000mAh model again by Xtorm, the Ultra Compact Powerbank 10.000mAh by CHJGD and the PL2 6.000mAh and PL3 10.400mAh models by Luxa2.

Four white LEDs placed at the top of the device are used to showcase its current charge.

The charging status button is placed on the right side of the power bank while on the left side we find the LED torch button.

To achieve the IP68 certification the front features a clip cover underneath which we find the 2 USB output ports (5V1A/2.4A), micro USB input port and the LED torch.

The electrical specifications of the Limitless are printed on a small sticker placed at the rear of the housing.

CONCLUSION

   Although the advertised capacity of 10.000mAh may not seem as much to some people (we say advertised cause our 3 weeks testing period showed that it can deliver between 6800mAh and 7200mAh - of course that number will vary from device to device) the Limitless can still be used to recharge most smartphones at least 3 times (1 full charge for most tablets) which easily translates to at least 3-4 extra days of power (even for the most power hungry smartphones). The rugged housing is also very impressive and can withstand pretty much anything you throw at it (our tests included submerging it into water - roughly 50cm deep - and dropping it from 2 meters height). The two USB charging ports along with the LED torch may not be something we haven't seen in the past (quite the opposite when it comes to rugged power banks) but they are always a great addition although to be honest we would also like the ability to charge the device via a built-in solar panel (quite useful especially for a rugged device).

   Just like with many past products by Xtorm the Limitless 10.000mAh is not currently available in the USA so you can only get it from within the EU for a price tag of 59Euros (Amazon.co.uk). Now although you can find far too many 10.000mAh power banks for less than half of what Xtorm asks for the Limitless the fact of the matter is that you will not find anything remotely close to this model (aside the advertised capacity that is). Granted we’d really like to see a higher capacity Limitless model (that should happen eventually) but for now the 10.000mAh model is certainly worth both our recommendation and our Golden Award.

PROS

- Build Quality (IP68 / MIL-STD-810G Certified)
- Quality (A Class Battery Cells)
- 2 Output Ports (5V 1A/2.4A)
- LED Torch (SOS Function Included)
- APM chip With Overcharge, Overheat and Overload Protections

CONS

- Price (For Some)
- Availability (USA)