Energizer Energi To Go XP18000 Pack Offers Extra Power

It isn’t surprising that Energizer is expanding its reach beyond the standard offerings in the battery aisle. After all, so many devices today need battery power but don’t operate on the old-school AA, 9V, C-cell, etc. scale. The $150 (as of January 13, 2010) Energizer Energi To Go XP18000, developed in partnership with XPal, is an extremely handy battery pack.

Some battery packs I’ve tried are too heavy or bulky; others (like one of my faves, the Kensington Portable Power Pack) are slim but limited in application (good for a single USB charge of my iPhone).

The Energi To Go XP18000 stands out in two ways. First, it’s compact and light enough to complement the rest of my gear: Measuring 7.1 by 2.9 by 0.9 inches, this 1.1-pound battery didn’t load me down. Second, it can charge up to three devices–including a laptop–simultaneously via three output options (including USB). You can charge the battery up to 500 times; the company has rated it to provide up to 6 hours of capacity for a laptop, and up to 112 hours for a cell phone.

Various charging tips and cables–six cell phone tips, three DVD player tips, and six laptop tips–come with the battery. Additional tips are available for free (two free tips come with the unit per year) via energizerpowerpacks.com.

The battery itself is fairly self-explanatory and easy to use; a power button on the face turns on the power, and an LED indicator shows how much juice remains. One major frustration, however, was the absence of a tip guide inside the box. The included manual, with the XPal brand, provides no information on the bundled tips. The omission of a tip guide is disappointing, and in contrast to the help you get from competing products with tips, such as the Kensington netbook charger or any of the iGo chargers).

That issue aside, I’ve found this pack a very useful complement to my travel bag. Its versatile charging capabilities make it a good value–if a tip is available for your device.