When you’re out shopping for a power bank to keep your electronics charged while you’re away from home, there are numerous things to consider.

　　First off, what are you going to be charging? Power banks come in various capacities, from boosting your smartphone to charging your laptop a few times. Then, there’s the overall size of the power bank. You don’t want to be lugging a big brick around if its going in your pocket.

　　After that comes relevance — does the power bank you are considering have the most recent input and output types? After all, if you’re going to spend your money on something like this, you want to be able to use it for a while, right? And how about power delivery? How fast do you want to charge your widget?

　　We cover what we think are the best power banks out there today in our Best Power Banks guide. To compile that, we scoured the planet for solutions that fit various situations and lifestyles.

　　One of those power banks is the Skullcandy Fat Stash 2. I named that power bank the “Best Size-to-Capacity Ratio Power Bank.” However, having been using the Fat Stash 2 for half a year, it’s become much more than I assumed. In fact, given the chance, I would call it the “Best Power Bank for Your Busy, Everyday Life.”

　　In short: The Skullcandy Fat Stash 2 is an affordable power bank with premium features. Yes, the size-to-capacity ratio is terrific. But so is the amount of juice this little bank puts out. Featuring a capacity of 10,000 mAh and an overall battery life of 40 hours, the Fat Stash 2 also puts out 20W of power, which means you can bring your smartphone from completely drained to 50% complete in about half an hour. For something roughly the size of a deck of cards and that only costs $40, its a well-balanced solution for your busy everyday life.

　　You can compare the Skullcandy Fat Stash 2 to the rest of our picks by visiting our buyer’s guide to the best power banks.

　　Skullcandy Fat Stash 2 $40 at REIcheck price at amazon

　　Specifications Capacity: 10,000 mAh Weight: 7.1 oz. Size: 4.2” x 2.5” x 0.87” Outputs: USB-A (2x), USB-C (1x) Inputs: USB-C PD (1x) Included cables: 6” USB-A to Micro-USB/USB-C Pros Light and portable Included combo cable to increase adaptability The smallest power bank on the list with USB-C PD charging power Cons Frequently sold out online Nick LeFort Skullcandy Fat Stash 2 Review Design Features

　　There’s a lot of power in this little rugged power bank; (photo/Nick LeFort) The Skullcandy Fat Stash 2 is a pocket-friendly powerhouse. With a capacity of 10,000 mAh, it can recharge your smartphone and other devices up to four times. It has an increased power delivery (PD) feature, which allows it to pump out 20W of charging power. This means more efficient charging times. Also, because of its compact size, you can stack it with your smartphone to still use it on the go while you’re recharging it.

　　The Fat Stash 2 has two USB-A outputs and one USB-C one. The USB-C outlet also acts as an input, a feature becoming more common with newer power banks. It comes with a 6-inch combo charging cable with a USB-A male and a micro-USB/USB-C male end. This shorter cable is handy when moving because there’s no long tail to worry about.

　　First Impressions

　　Due to its compact size, you can carry the Fat Stash 2 all day, every day; (photo/Nick LeFort) I received the Fat Stash 2 back in August 2024 along with a handful of other chargers. Right off the bat, I appreciated the size and build quality. I wasn’t planning on carrying it in my pocket — I figured it would be in my sling bag or pack. However, due to its size, pocket carrying it wouldn’t be a problem.

　　I still used my iPhone 14 Pro with the Lighting charging port in August. So, the included cable, which had a USB-C and Micro-USB tip, went unused until November, when I upgraded to the iPhone 16 Pro with a USB-C charging port. Now, I use the cable whenever I get a chance. It allows me to stack my phone on top of it — and even then, they still both fit in my pocket.

　　In the Field

　　Due to its excellent size-to-capacity ratio, the Fat Stash 2 became a staple in my life; (photo/Nick LeFort) The Fat Stash 2 has been used quite a bit between my two kids and me since August. Its one-button operation makes it easy to use, and the battery life display is easy to read. We all enjoy the soft-touch casing, which keeps the power bank from slipping out of our hands, whether wet or dry.

　　Even though Skullcandy doesn’t rate this power bank in terms of outdoor protection, 6 months spent primarily outdoors is a long time to determine if a power bank is rated for outdoor use.

　　I haven’t left the Fat Stash 2 out in a rainstorm, but I have used it while hiking in the rain and snow, and I haven’t had any issues. Since there aren’t any official ratings about the elements on the bank, I do my best to ensure rain or moisture doesn’t get into the ports.

　　I still find it completely wild how long it takes to burn through the Fat Stash 2s battery life. Numerous times, 12-15% of power was left, and it charged my phone back to full capacity. That said, your standard tablet can easily take 50% of its capacity to charge it fully. So, I would relegate the Fat Stash 2 to your phone or other small devices like earbuds or a digital camera (do they still make those?).

　　Room for Improvement

　　One thing to note: Skullcandy doesn’t specify whether the Fat Stash 2 is built for the elements; (photo/Nick LeFort) Skullcandy doesn’t discuss or publish whether the Fat Stash 2 has any protection from the elements built into it. The power bank market struggles with this. Nestout touts that its power banks are IP67-rated, allowing them to be submerged. BioLite claims it doesn’t need its power banks to have any environmental protection.

　　For a power bank like the Fat Stash 2, which is compact and durable enough to be taken anywhere and everywhere (even on an airplane), I would have expected Skullcandy to address this.

　　In Conclusion

　　Flannel wearers rejoice: the Fat Stash 2 will fit in your chest pocket; (photo/Nick LeFort) Where $40 might not seem like an investment, it’s nice to know that the Fat Stash 2 is only $40 when youre buying something you plan to rely on. When other brands are selling their similarly sized 10,000mAh power banks for double, it doubles the appeal of this mighty little power bank.

　　Side note: If you don’t mind bright colors, you can pick up the “90s Vacation” color variant on Amazon for about $30 when its in stock. I actually prefer it over the black and gray one I have!

　　Overall, this is a very impressive power bank for everyday life. I’ll go on the record and say I had zero issues using it in all kinds of weather, making it great for the outdoors, indoors, and anywhere else you need to charge your small electronics on the go. Whether you spend time walking around the big city or climbing over rocks on the trail, I highly recommend taking the Skullcandy Fat Stash 2 for a test drive.

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