There are two types of travel charging kits: ones that save your trip, and ones that take up space while your devices die anyway. It’s the features, often negligible in the moment, that differentiate the good gear from the bad. Most people don’t realize what works and what doesn’t until they’re stuck in a European airport with dead batteries, incompatible outlets, and international fears of missing their connecting flights.
The problem is that the countless number of travel chargers out there look the same in product photos but perform at vastly different levels. Some can’t handle the discharge of energy for modern-day devices; others work great in the convenience of one’s home outlet but as soon as they’re plugged in abroad, all hell breaks loose. And most just fall apart after a few trips because they’re cheaply made with little dedication to quality.
Power Output Capability for Devices
It’s not just about how quickly a charging kit can charge either. When you’re at 15% battery with two hours to go until your next flight and need a boost to get you through FIDs, then when you get that useless 5% boost after 20 minutes, it’s not cool to know you’ve got something on your hands that doesn’t do its job.
Most phones and tablets support fast-charging through their adapters and outlets – but unless a travel charging kit provides enough power to satisfy, there will be no charge. Expect at least 20 watts for phone charging kits and upwards of 30-45 for tablets or laptops. Anything lower means you’re using yesterday’s technology.
Furthermore, while watts measure the individual power needed for devices, they also determine how power is parceled out among multiple devices charging at once. A cheaper adapter likely won’t keep pace with speed for multiple ports. Plugging in both your phone and tablet might lead to both devices charging slowly because the adapter does not have sufficient wattage to accommodate both.
Universal Compatibility Without Size
There are different plug types in every country across the world, which is surely made just to annoy travelers. A travel charging kit should accommodate multiple areas so a person doesn’t have to find a secondary adapter once they land and settle in.
The best options possess sliding prongs or interchangeable plugs; no one should need to carry two adapters when they’re going to one destination. At the very least, coverage for Type A (USA), Type C (Europe), Type G (UK), Type I (Australia/China) is necessary. Some adapters provide coverage for seven or eight types; this is probably excessive if one isn’t venturing into various international territories.
However, where people go wrong are with cheap universal adapters that do not mesh with voltage needs; just because it fits an outlet perfectly does not mean it can convert it adequately. The USA operates on 110V while many countries use 220V – make sure conversions are safe across the board.
Multiple Ports – But Good Ones!
It’s rare that someone only travels with one device anymore. Phone, tablet, possible wireless earphones, e-reader, maybe a smartwatch – instead of being forced to seek out available outlets for all devices or just give one device a charge, there should be travel charging kits on hand for those who require more than one charge at a time.
Travel charging kits with multiple USB ports make sense; however, implementation varies tremendously from type to type. Cheap multiple port charging kits don’t share power between ports as well as they should. You might have three ports but you’re getting three times less charge if each port is utilized as they’re powered at a fraction of a speed just to keep everything charged.
Good kits use smart technology to charge according to need – your phone gets fast-charged but your wireless earbuds get the requisite low power they need so it can be effectively charged without wasting energy. This isn’t just marketing but results speak volumes in effectiveness; for example, a good Travel Charger offers various port connections for international regions and several USB ports that actually work when more than one device is plugged in – all at once – making it easier than carrying separate kits.
Furthermore, the type of ports matter too – most new devices are using USB-C but it’s still beneficial to have USB-A available for older models and vice versa so one isn’t left needing a dongle to charge anything.
Durability Despite Travel
Gear that’s made for travel gets a beating. It’s packed into bags, dropped on tile floors, exposed to unstable electricity in questionable hotels – with almost everything treated much worse than its original intentions for home use – it’s important to find something that will withstand daily life on-the-go.
Materials tell the whole story; flimsy plastic compositions break easy. Find options that reinforce housing – especially around prongs or connection points – as those tend to give up first on cheaper outlets. Ports should also feel stable when cables are plugged in – not wobbly.
Heat detection is something that most people take for granted until their charger gets burning hot – good charging kits possess protection circuits that limit overheating and are designed with ventilation systems to decrease heat output; if it’s too hot to touch, there’s something wrong – and chances are safety and longevity are at stake.
Cable integrity matters as well – thin, cheap cables fail easily; reinforced cables with strain relief at connection points last much longer. Some travel charging kits come with cables and some don’t – but better cables mean less pain down the road when coupled with good adapters.
Size and Weight Factor
There’s no need for an enormous portable charger; however, there’s logic behind cutting down weight. No one wants to take something massive but when photos make these little guys look amazing yet they can’t pack the wattage necessary – and ounce reduction doesn’t help when everything’s only partially charged.
A slightly larger option that actually works beats out something that hardly weighs a thing but disappoints. That said, something massive isn’t practical either – most travel charging kits on the market today boast modern technology that can compact respectable wattage for portable use.
Furthermore, it’s important to see how the kit features into packing – does it come with a pouch? Do the cables wrap nicely? Do they get tangled? These problems may not seem like much but when you’re digging through your bag as your group is being called and you forgot to account for tiny adapters – it ruins more than just first impressions.
Safety Features Matter Most
Charging accessories can literally ignite if they’re made cheaply or without proper safety features. While it may sound dramatic – and theoretically it is – but the number of cheap charging options that catch fire or ruin devices is mind-boggling.
Look for charging kits made with surge protection and overcurrent protection as they’re necessary for both the charger and devices plugged in under bad circumstances – hotels and airports can have faulty electricity and if something’s plugged in that can’t sustain voltage jolts over time kills everything connected.
Certification matters – the UL/CE/FCC/RoHS certification statuses mean something; if they’ve passed testing from outside sources and reputable ones – they’re safe – if not, then they’re burned and bombed.
What’s Right For Your Types of Travel
Weekend warriors who stick primarily to one country can probably get away with compromising – but if you’re mostly in one area, you know what two plug types you’ll need and the few amount of USB ports – that’s enough.
Frequent travelers who bounce across continents need everything – if you’re traveling through several countries then investing in universal comprehensive options might be worth it; who wants to buy new adapters in every airport? The pricing up front makes sense not only to save all options but also because odds are you’ll be buying new cheap ones at every stop anyway.
Business needs should prioritize charging speed/professional compatibility – for quick meetings between layovers there isn’t time for cumbersome acceptance; PD support/larger wattage kits make sense here as well.
Final Thoughts About Travel Charging Options
The best travel charging kit makes travelers forget they even have it. You visit somewhere new and somehow by magic all devices work without having to hunt down how things fit where you are or need traveling across borders.
But when people truly consider their needs versus what’s cheaply available online, there’s an equity between where you go and how many devices you’re burdened with – or what’s relied upon between flights – that could make an investment worthwhile.
Traveling isn’t easy – we’ve all established this – but anything that makes it easier makes sense; therefore, good charging kits might be slightly more expensive than their counterparts – but once you’ve had one fail cheap option too many times – and forced your good ones onto clients who’ve borrowed them – you’ll understand what’s really needed all along.
A good travel charging kit should become indispensable without any excess attachments surrounding it – and everything else becomes excess baggage you tote unnecessarily.
