Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This item works. It charges well from the USB and the hand crank does charge the battery. but it does have one tragic flaw. The hand crank is only a 2 to 1 gear ratio so you have to crank it a long time to get any charge. It's easy to turn but I would have doubled the gear ratio to speed charging. It. Charged my iPhone 5 from 40% to about 90% then did it again. Now the internal battery is dead and I am cranking it to change it back up. 1-2 min of cranking boosts my phone 1%. For emergency power its great. If you plan on hand cranking it, make your call and find an outlet. I will update once I have used it more, I have had it for 36 hours so far. But my power went out today so its a good test. 2.16.13 update: I have used this from time to time over the last few months and it works reliably. I have tossed it into my lunch cooler and used several times at work to recharge my phone. The usb plug charges the device quickly. it works even faster if you use a non computer high wattage port! It holds its charge while not being used quite well, I had 70-80% after 3 weeks on non use. 3.3.15 update: Last year my first unit stopped working, I would plug it in and crank it with zero response. I contacted the MFG customer service and they replaced the unit and paid for shipping! I think that this unit does not handle getting left in the car on hot or cold days well. the replacement unit has worked great for 8+ months now. The unit is rugged, I toss it in my electronics accessory bag and it bounces around with the spare cords, power bricks and is always ready for a quick charge anytime I need it.