CUKTECH 10 Mini Power Bank Review: Compact reliability for long days in the saddle

Writing about portable power banks is not, in all honesty, the most glamorous assignment cycling journalism can offer. There are only so many ways to describe a black and silver cuboid object that stores electricity before you start to realise that a Pulitzer Prize may be out of reach for another year.

But as I no longer ride around with a folded up ‘emergency’ fiver in my saddlebag, or an OS map in my back pocket, it is safe to say I am entirely dependent on my phone being charged up on all but the shortest of rides from home. A decent, compact power bank has become as essential to long rides as a spare inner tube and a pump.

The latest power bank to find a place among my kit is the CUKTECH 10 Mini. Packing a 10,000mAh capacity (approximately two full charges of an iPhone 16), it’s claimed to be capable of delivering a 55W fast charge for compatible phones from Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi.

It has two USB-C input/output ports and a single USB-A output port. All three ports can be used simultaneously, delivering a max output of 20W. Weighing 220g, its dimensions are 90 x 50 x 33mm.

First impressions are slightly undermined by the manufacturer’s name. CUKTECH is, on the face of it, faintly ridiculous for obvious reasons. That said, I had a similar reaction years ago when I first encountered ANKER products, and yet, it didn’t stop them becoming one of my trusted brands. So, after my initial childish snort, I decided to judge the device on its merits.

In hand, the device feels like a quality product. The casing has a clean, minimal finish, with gently curved edges. The front and sides feature a smooth silver finish, while the rear uses a grippy textured black coating.

Included in the box is a comically short (15cm) double ended USB-C cable, a carry strap, and a small velvet drawstring bag for protection. I didn’t bother using the bag when I tested the device on a week long bikepacking trip in the Lake District. Marginal gains and all that. But as the power bank sat in my top tube bag, it might have prevented it from getting coated in the usual mix of road grit, trail dust and squished Gummy Bears. If you were carrying the power bank in a bag with more delicate items – sunglasses, or anything you’d prefer not to have rattling against its solid edges – the bag would probably prove useful.

The trip proved to be an ideal testing ground. Long days in the saddle with the familiar anxiety of watching my phone battery level fall faster than expected. I’ve become utterly reliant on my phone on long trips, using it for navigation (preferring to follow detailed Komoot maps so that my Wahoo is relegated to the task of simple ride logging); photography and as a mobile wallet. The compact size of the CUKTECH 10 Mini proved genuinely useful here. It fitted snugly into my top tube bag amongst the sweeties that fuel my ride. Positioned here, it could be used to keep my phone topped up throughout the day.

Functionally, it did exactly what I wanted it to – it kept both my phone and Wahoo charged across the week, without once itself dropping below 25% charge. There were no dramatic failures, no bouts of overheating, and no unexpected dropouts.

My phone, a Motorola Moto g56, does not support 55W fast charging, so I can’t vouch for this performance claim. In my case the unit delivered around 10-12W when charging. While less impressive, this is not a deal breaker over long days in the saddle.

The trip didn’t involve any night-riding, so there was no need for me to also rely on the power bank for recharging lights on-the-move, so I can’t comment on its performance in that scenario. I was also fortunate to choose a rare rain-free week in the Lake District, so I didn’t get to test how it coped with moisture. Like most lithium-ion chargers it doesn’t have an official Ingress Protection (IP) rating, so riders should assume it needs protection from prolonged exposure to the rain.         

Alongside its compact size, the digital display on the CUKTECH 10 makes it stand out from other power banks at this price point. It clearly shows remaining charge in a reassuringly precise way. However, this precision can sometimes introduce its own minor anxieties. After plugging it in overnight during the trip, I woke up one morning to find it sitting at 93% rather than the expected 100%. On every other morning, after a full night’s charge, it reported 100%. I can’t help but think that CUKTECH might have scored an own goal here. If the device didn’t offer such an exact readout, I would have remained blissfully unaware of that minor shortfall.

Reviewing tech can be a cynical business. Today’s standout gadget is tomorrow’s e-waste. Thanks to Moore’s Law, it’s easy to picture a future version of this power bank that’s smaller, more capable, and cheaper.

For now, though, the CUKTECH 10 Mini is compact enough for bikepacking use, robust enough for repeated travel, and powerful enough to keep one or two low wattage items charged for a daylong ride. For the price, it represents solid value, and despite its name, the CUKTECH 10 Mini proved to be a reliable and faithful companion.

CUKTECH 10 Mini Power Bank, £26.99 from amazon.co.uk