BioLite Charge 80 PD (20,000 mAh / 74 Wh)

Published · Researched 2026-09-21

2026 lineup note — READ FIRST: The Charge 80 PD is an older-generation BioLite power bank (launched ~2018): 20,000 mAh (74 Wh), 465 g, 1× USB-C PD 18 W + 2× USB-A, 4-hour recharge. MSRP $99.95 (REI, 196 reviews, 4.3★). Warning signs of phase-out: SportChek listed it at $21.88 final sale (out of stock). It's included here because of its deep community history and continued REI listing — but the Charge 100 Max is BioLite's current flagship bank.

Version lineage (2023–2026)

• 2018: Charge 80 PD launches — 20,000 mAh with USB-C PD (18 W), a big deal at the time.
• 2024: Charge 100 Max launches (25,000 mAh, 100 W PD, wireless) — the new flagship; the 80 PD becomes the legacy mid-tier.
• 2025–2026: Clearance pricing at some retailers ($21.88 final sale at SportChek) suggests phase-out; REI still lists it at $99.95 with active reviews.
• Discontinued predecessors: Original non-PD Charge 80.
• Smart-buy advice: At $99.95 it's overpriced vs modern 20,000 mAh banks. Only buy on clearance (<$50) or if you specifically want the BioLite ecosystem.

Overview

A 20,000 mAh camp power bank from the pre-PD era's tail end: enough for ~5 phone charges, a 13" laptop boost, or a week of headlamp/lantern top-ups. The 18 W USB-C PD is slow by 2026 standards (4 hours to refill the bank itself), but the three-port layout (1× C + 2× A) lets a small group charge simultaneously. Its enduring niche: BioLite ecosystem users (SolarPanel 5 pairing, headlamp pass-through charging) and campers who bought it years ago and never needed more.

Key Specs

Sources: rei.com product page, backpackingroutes.com review, savvyyes.co.uk, sportchek.ca, orp.com.kw listings (all observed 2026-09-20).

Long-term durability

• The Charge 80 PD has a 7+ year owner track record — the hardware is proven, with the usual Li-ion capacity fade after 3–5 years of heavy use.
• The most common owner complaint is weight (465 g for 74 Wh is heavy by 2026 standards) rather than failure.
• BioLite's warranty terms not re-verified in this pass (UNVERIFIED).

Pricing

• MSRP: $99.95 — SOURCE: rei.com (196 reviews, 4.3★, observed 2026-09-20).
• Clearance: $21.88 final sale — SOURCE: sportchek.ca (out of stock). Signals possible discontinuation.
• Older MSRP was $79.95 (per backpackingroutes.com review) — the $99.95 reflects later pricing.

In the Box

• Charge 80 PD power bank
• USB-A to USB-C charge cable
• Instructions

Warranty

BioLite's warranty terms not re-verified in this pass (UNVERIFIED).

Support & Parts

• BioLite (Brooklyn, NY). No user-serviceable parts; sealed unit.

Head-to-head vs closest rivals

• vs BioLite Charge 100 Max (biolite-charge-100-max): The 100 Max is better on every spec (25,000 mAh, 100 W PD, wireless, 90-min recharge) for $50 more at MSRP. The 80 PD only wins on clearance pricing.
• vs Anker 737 (anker-737-power-bank): Anker 737 is the modern 24,000 mAh / 120 W pick — faster, denser, smarter display. Charge 80 PD for BioLite loyalists only.
• vs Nitecore NB10000 (nitecore-nb10000): NB10000 is half the capacity at a third of the weight — the ultralight pick. 80 PD for group/basecamp charging.

Care & maintenance

• Recharge to ~50% before off-season storage; Li-ion self-discharge will kill a neglected bank in a year.
• The 4-hour refill needs an 18 W+ PD charger — a 5 W old phone brick will take all day.

Buying traps

• Possible discontinuation: final-sale clearance at SportChek. Don't pay $99.95 without checking clearance channels first.
• 18 W is slow in 2026: both in and out. Modern phones charge at 25–45 W; this bank tops out at 18 W.
• Heavy: 465 g for 74 Wh — 2026-era banks deliver the same capacity ~30% lighter.
• Don't confuse with the Charge 40 PD (10,000 mAh, $69.95) or Charge 20 PD (6,000 mAh, $49.95).

Community Verdict

A respected legacy bank: longtime owners (backpackingroutes.com's 5-day-trip review is representative) report it reliably powering phones, satellite communicators, and headlamps for multi-day trips, with the honest caveat that it's heavy. The community consensus in 2026: buy the Charge 100 Max (or an Anker) new; buy the 80 PD only on deep clearance as a beater bank. Nobody regrets owning one — they just wouldn't pay full price for one today.

Images

• images/biolite-charge-80-pd-1.jpg
• images/biolite-charge-80-pd-2.jpg
• images/biolite-charge-80-pd-3.jpg
• images/biolite-charge-80-pd-4.jpg — 3/4 view: orange port end, USB-C "IN | OUT 18W PD", 2× USB-A
• images/biolite-charge-80-pd-5.jpg — Top-down back view: textured grey body, orange end, BioLite logo

Research date: 2026-09-20. Specs/prices change; re-verify live before buying. Claims dated above; anything marked UNVERIFIED was not confirmed from a primary source.