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Outdoor Tech Kodiak Mini Review
June 15, 2016The Good
- Lightweight
- Good battery life
- Good impact resistance
- Excellent water resistance
The Bad
- Limited durability
- Slow discharge rates
Outdoor Tech’s Kodiak Mini battery life is the smallest and lightest of all small-size portable chargers we tested, and offers good battery life, decent impact resistance, and excellent water resistance. The Kodiak Mini is a very good buy, but readers needing higher durability or water resistance would be advised to look at the myCharge AllTerrain 3000.
Battery Life
Though only rated 2600 mAh, the Kodiak Mini actually outperformed several 3000+ devices we tested, and easily outperformed all other 2600 mAh devices tested, delivering a full 132 minutes of power in our intensive, ‘real world’ tests. However, discharge rate is lower than competing devices, delivering power at only 2/3 the speed of industry averages.
Power/Size
In terms of power and battery life per cubic inch and ounce, the Kodiak Mini scores very well, and is a very close second among all small-size portable chargers.
Durability
The rubber housing on the Kodiak Mini gives it good overall durability. Higher stress impact and compression tests, however, caused the internal USB cable ports to separate from the interior shell/housing. While the device did still continue to function, it raised some concerns about the item’s build quality.
The Kodiak Mini’s water resistance is quite good, with an IP54 rating. In the right conditions, however, the protective cap could open or be torn off completely inside a pack. The rubberized shell may also be easily prone to cuts or slashes, which could greatly compromise the Mini’s excellent water resistance.
Features
Aside from the durability/waterproofing features offered by the rubberized coating, the Kodiak Mini is a bare-bones charger. The Kodiak Mini is actually one of the only chargers tested that does not even include integrated power level indicator.
Value
In terms of battery life and power per dollar spent, Outdoor Tech’s Kodiak Mini exceeds rivals like the myCharge AllTerrain 3000, GoalZero Switch 10, and Brunton Torpedo 2600 but also lacks many of the features.
Gear Institute Battery/Power Test Results
Discharge rate:.33% per minute
Overall battery life:132 minutes
Per cubic inch:48.1 minutes
Per ounce:42.53 minutes
Per cubic inch/ounce:15.48 minutes
Per dollar:5.29 minutes