Best Battery for Vanquish Products VS4-10 Phoenix Portal RTR

At last weekend’s hill-climb meet, a Vanquish Products VS4-10 Phoenix Portal RTR walked a rock face that had already turned several trucks around. Same driver, same line—only the battery was different. As the front tires touched in, the nose set down with confidence and the Phoenix inched up to the top while the crowd murmured.

The difference a battery makes on a Phoenix Portal

With F10 portal axles and a VFD Spec transmission, the truck is already composed. Swapping to a CNHL pack changed the “conversation” at the trigger: throttle came on exactly where it was asked, the front settled sooner on steep faces, and landings lost the little wobble that makes hands tense on the radio.

Fitment: short and simple

The tray on the Vanquish Products VS4-10 Phoenix Portal RTR provides roughly 154.9 mm × 47.7 mm of footprint with ample height. Shorty LiPo packs around 100 mm × 35 mm drop straight in—no cutting, no moved straps. Weight stays low and near center, which helps when sidehilling or easing onto a ledge. The stock VE-1 ESC uses an XT60 connector, so the packs below plug in without adapters.

CNHL shorty picks (and what they feel like on the trail)

The precision driver — scalpel-level throttle

CNHL Black Series 3200mAh 7.4V 30C 2S Shorty

For threading narrow gates and placing a tire on a coin-size edge. Power rolls in smoothly, so traction stays put instead of getting nudged loose.

The flow chaser — light feet, quick rhythm

CNHL Black Series Shorty 2200mAh 11.1V 40C 3S

Drops weight in the tray. On forest singletrack the truck darts from rock to root with a tap of the trigger, then pops up short climbs without feeling nose-heavy.

The “have-it-all” driver — 3S punch with time to roam

CNHL Black Series 3200mAh 11.1V 30C 3S Shorty

Keeps run time healthy while giving 3S torque. Balance stays sensible, so the front doesn’t dive at the base of a ledge.

2S or 3S?

2S suits measured driving—tight gates, careful placement, long crawl sessions with temps staying reasonable. 3S is for bigger ledges, loose approaches, and faster links between features; on hot days after a long pull, a quick touch on motor and ESC before the next climb is a good habit.

Fit notes and where to look next

Shorty packs sit cleanly under the stock straps and connect to the factory XT60. The VE-1 ESC accepts 2S and 3S, so carrying one of each and swapping with the terrain is straightforward.

For more sizes, plug details, and compatible options, see our Vanquish Products VS4-10 Phoenix Portal LiPo Battery Collection.