Best Portable Guitar Amplifiers - When You Want To Practice On The Go

Last Updated: November 19, 2019 With a few changes in the portable amp market, we decided to reflect them in a chart refresh. We removed a couple, such as the Blackstar Fly 3W, and added three new models to expand the chart. These additions included the awesome Boss Katana Mini, the cool VOX MINI3 G2, and the tiny NUXMighty Lite BT.

Whether you are a street performer or want a convenient amp for your travels, chances are you don’t want to lug your favorite $500 amp in and out of cars, planes and trains. Fear not – this is why portable battery-powered amps exist, coming in a variety of different shapes, sizes and flavors. Some of them are big and powerful enough for performance, while others are better for quieter practice on the road. Portable amps are usually affordable, with some coming in at the price of a few pizzas, while others are amps in the region of $300. Whatever the cost, the models we have highlighted in the following chart are undoubtedly some of the best amplifiers when it comes to travelling around. Let’s get started.

Top 10 Mini Guitar Amps:

What’s the Benefit of a Portable Guitar Amp?

The most obvious benefit of having a portable guitar amp is the fact that you can take it anywhere with you – car, train, plane, beach, street… or even just around the house. Having one allows you to leave your more expensive/heavier/more fragile amps at home, but still be able to hear yourself play. The fact that they are battery-powered means that you don’t need to find somewhere to plug in, allowing you to practice (and sometimes perform) anytime, anywhere.

What Style Should You Go For?

With so many styles on offer, it can be difficult to decide what portable amp you actually need. As always, it will depend on your budget and aspirations. Do you just want something to chuck in your guitar bag so you can practice when you’re on vacation or travelling around? If so, one of the smaller amps coming in at under $50 are excellent. You don’t get a great deal of power, tone or control, but they give your guitar a decent voice on the road and it’s better than playing unplugged! However, if you are planning to do some busking or performing with others, you’ll need something with a little more power and tonal control. Just be aware that the more power and control you ask for, the more you will have to spend.

The Final Word

As we’ve mentioned, finding the best portable guitar amp for your needs will essentially depend on what you want from the amp. Define your purposes, then check out some of the amps on our chart for inspiration. Good luck with your new travel amp!