If you’ve been keeping up with the blog, then you’ll know that I love power. Being able to charge my gadgets anywhere in the world, far away from an outlet has become an obsession, and it’s been years since I found myself stranded anywhere without the juice to power my stuff.

So, today I’ll show you another gadget that can help you do the same; it’s the Kensington Portable Power Pack for Mobile Devices (I’ll just refer to it as the Power Pack).

The Power Pack is a small (85g/3oz) Lithium-Polymer battery pack with a USB output port. It has a capacity of 1800mAh, which on average should be enough for the following:

• iPod/Zune/Creative MP3 player : + 55 hours (of audio playback)
• iPod Video (5G/Classic) : + 14 hours (of video playback)
• Mobile Phone : + 5 hours of talk time / up to 4 days of standby time
• Smartphone (Blackberry/Palm/HTC) : + 5 hours of talk time / up to 2 days of standby time
• PDA (Palm/HP/Dell) : + 5 hours of use (when turned on)
• Portable gaming device (PSP, Game Boy/DS) : + 5 hours of play time

The Power Pack comes with a USB charger (with folding US plug and 100-240V compatibility), a USB cable and the Power Pack itself.

Charging the device is simple; plug a USB power source into the "in" port.

Charging can be done with the included USB charger, your computer or any other reliable USB power source.

In a previous review I showed you the Kensington Travel Plug Adapter with USB Charger which is a perfect fit for the Power Pack if you plan to roam the world.

A full charge of the device takes between 3 and 4 hours and it is rated for around 300 full charge/discharge cycles, which is common for most Lithium cell technologies.

The charge status of the device is shown by 5 LED’s on the front, which turn on when you press the only button on it.

All in all, a very sleek and light charger. It’s the perfect size for your jacket pocket, or in the front of your laptop bag.

In my opinion, gadgets like this are a must-have for anyone on the road. They eliminate the need for an outlet, and give that extra bit of security to keep things working (or to keep you entertained). If you travel with kids, you’ll definitely want to keep one close, just in case their Game Boy dies halfway over the ocean.

The Kensington Power Pack for Mobile Devices costs $59.99 and is available directly from Kensington.