It seems wherever we go and whatever we do, we’re fussing with cables and chargers. Whether it’s while we’re traveling, sleeping or moving throughout the day, we’re constantly trying to keep our devices charged. Our phones, watches, iPads, cameras, eReaders, and computers, need attention. Cables have their own special annoyances: they slip behind the desk or nightable, they get tangled, and occasionally they fail. Some look the same, but are very different internally and don’t behave the way we expect them to. And when traveling it’s important to take every conceivable type we might use.
We were once promised relief with the elimination of unique power bricks and connectors. So we got a half dozen different connector types and assorted cables.
The cable and charging mess have inspired various inventions and solutions to help. Here are few of them that I’m familiar with or have used that just might make your cable life a little easier:
CordBrick
CordBrick, a solution for dropped cords, was created by serial entrepreneur Nick Barrett. Made of silicone and weighted with steel, it keeps your cords from falling off a table. You can also use it to wrap a few cords for traveling.
It gathers several cord ends together with a weighted brick of silicone. It can also be used to wrap four cords for travel. $15 from their website.
Universal Cable
Nomad has designed a cable to charge almost any device. Its Universal Cable with Kevlar can convert to various connections: a Micro USB, USB-C, and Lightning. It’s a particularly durable cord made from double-braided Kevlar and metal connector housings. While there are many similar cables available on Amazon, this one has proved to be reliable and is very well made. $36 for a 1.5 meter length at Nomad.
Peak Design Travel Tech Case
When I’m on a trip of more than a couple of days, this is the bag I take organized with cables, chargers, adapters, and other small items. It’s designed so you can see all of the items at once and keep the cables in separate pockets so they don’t get tangled. The bag is well constructed and has about 30 pockets of all sizes.
Anker 735 Charger (GaNPrime 65W)
This charger will charge up to three of your devices at once and is capable of charging most notebook computers. That means you can leave your other separate chargers at home. It automatically distributes power to the different ports depending how many cables are used, providing a maximum of 65 watts with a single cable. The charger has folding prongs and is very small and highly efficient. About $39 at Anker.com.
HiRise 3 Deluxe
The 12 South Hi-Rise is a 3-in-1 wireless charger for your night table. It will simultanoeusly charge an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods or a second phone all at once. It uses a single cord so it reduces your clutter from your night table or desk. There are many devices in this category, but I’ve found some don’t comply with Apple’s requirements, making the charging slower and intermittent. This product also allows you to use your phone in landscape mode where the latest OS 17 turns the display into a bedside clock. Costs $99.
