A pocket-sized 10W charger that runs from USB-C, so it works from a laptop, power bank or phone charger. It handles 2S and 3S packs and is designed for Gens Ace G-Tech batteries while working with others.

Best for: small car and plane packs, and charging away from the mains. Watch out for: its speed. 10W is slow for big 5000mAh packs.

A straightforward 50W mains charger that does LiPo, LiFe, NiMH and NiCd. It charges 2S to 4S LiPo and 4 to 8 cell NiMH at 0.5A to 4A, with an LED display and status light showing exactly what it is doing.

Best for: anyone who wants a no-fuss charger for one car. Watch out for: fast charging big packs, which 4A limits.

A handheld 98mm square balance charger for 2S to 4S LiPo, rated at 50W and 4A. Etronix pitches it at every kind of RC, and it is small enough to live in a field box.

Best for: a tidy charger for cars, boats and planes. Watch out for: NiMH. It is a LiPo charger.

Our pick for most people. The PowerPal Mini has its power supply built in, charges at up to 6A, and has balance, discharge and storage modes for every common battery type. Storage mode alone makes it worth having.

Best for: one or two cars on 2S or 3S. Watch out for: very large 4S packs, which take a while at 60W.

The 3.0 runs from the mains or a 12V supply, charges at up to 10A, and adds a USB socket, a DJI battery program and a servo tester. It is the one to take to a race meeting.

Best for: drivers who charge at the track or run bigger packs. Watch out for: the power at 10A on DC: you need a supply that can deliver it.

Corally’s Ultra-X 80 handles lithium packs from 1S to 6S, including LiHV, plus NiMH up to 15 cells and lead acid. If you have a 6S car or a mix of HV racing packs, this covers them all in one compact unit.

Best for: racers and anyone running HV or 6S packs. Watch out for: charging two 3S packs for a 6S car, which means two runs on a single-output charger.

Four independent 100W outputs, each programmed separately, so four different packs can charge at once. It ends the queue for the charger in a household with several cars.

Best for: families and drivers with several cars. Watch out for: the XT60 leads. You may need adapters for other plugs.

A two-channel 300W charger from one of the best-known battery brands. With Gens Ace G-Tech smart batteries it reads the pack and sets itself up; with any other battery it works as a conventional charger. This is the one for large 4S and 6S packs.

Best for: serious bashers and racers with big batteries. Watch out for: the price, which only makes sense if you run large packs often.