Varta V-Man Power Pack

The V-Man Power Pack is a useful and discreet power pack for charging gadgets such as a mobile phone, camera or sat-nav device when there isn’t a mains power supply close by.

The package includes seven connectors for various devices, including both micro- and mini-USB plugs which will suit many cameras, GPS receivers and phones, as well as adapters for leading phones such as Apple, Blackberry, LG, Nokia, Motorola and Sony Ericsson. Notably absent are interchangeable mains plugs to allow the product to be easily used outside the UK (as it is you’ll need to plug in a converter to suit the power sockets where you’re going). It can’t charge handheld games consoles such as the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP.

A retractable lead to connect devices to the power pack – or connect the pack to the provided mains plug – completes the package.

The manufacturer claims that the V-Man can fully charge two mobile phones or 10 portable music players from its lithium-ion battery.

In our tests it didn’t do quite so well: a power-hungry Apple iPhone 3GS got only an 85 per cent charge from the V-Man before it needed to be hooked up to the wall socket itself. Similarly, with an old Nokia 6233 phone, the V-Man managed only one full charge.

The device performed better with an iPod Nano, though, fully charging it five times. Recharging the power pack from flat took about three hours from a mains socket, though the way in which the light display on the unit indicates this could have been made clearer in the manual. It can also be charged by connecting it to a computer’s USB socket: from our test computer it took about four hours for a full charge.

The Varta V-Man did a good job, though it didn’t meet the manufacturer’s performance claims. The lack of handheld console adapters and international power plugs also count against it – a shame when otherwise this device would be excellent for travellers.

For £10 less, the Proporta USB Turbocharger 1200 is better looking and provides adapters for handheld consoles, though the battery is rated as holding less charge so it won’t charge as fully.