The 150-Country Travel Adapter
We've already covered various types of multi-charging stations, helping you to reduce the number of outlets occupied by your cell phone, iPod, PDA or other multimedia gadgets, at the same time decreasing the number of cables cluttering your desk. This travel adapter is different in the sense that it has additional benefits for travel, while retaining some of the advantages of the other solutions as well.
Why It's Clever and Easy
When you're traveling and taking several of your multimedia devices with you, you'll probably have different requirements that you want addressed: You don't want to take a number of chargers with you in your luggage. You certainly do not want to take yet more for each different country. And you'd probably want your devices to charge simultaneously in your hotel room at night, even though you might have a limited number of outlets available. This travel adapter is a good attempt to fulfill your needs. It charges and powers your devices in up to 150 different countries.
The charger offers two USB outlets that are suitable for charging most of today's portable devices – thanks to standardization. Which begs the question: If they've managed to make everything charge and communicate via USB, even the most sophisticated devices, why have they still not succeeded in standardizing all power outlets around the world? But then, if they had, I wouldn't be writing this article, would I?
A third outlet is a standard AC power outlet, which you can still use to connect or charge any AC powered device. The built-in surge protector protects your devices in countries where the power grid encounters some hiccups from time to time.
Since it's compact and offers three outlets, it's not only useful for travel, but might also prove to be just as handy in your home.
Summary
- Two USB and one AC outlet from one single power outlet
- Plug adapts to power outlets of 150 different countries
- Surge protector
- 3" x 2" x 2 ½", 3 1/3 oz.
- Ideal for travel but also useful at home.
Tips
You can of course find less compact chargers that charge more than three devices, or others that get rid of the cable clutter as well.
If there's no need to use it abroad and you just need USB, the Kensington 4-Port USB Charger also seems a good choice. You can also read our short comparison of different multi-charger solutions.
A really mobile solution is the Freeloader Pro solar charger, you can charge your gear while walking through a city.
If you need to charge batteries as well, this 150 country travel adapter does not do that. BUT, have a look at the USBCell from Moixa, it's a rechargeable AA battery with integrated USB connector so you can charge it by simply plugging it into an USB port of the travel adapter.
Other charger solutions on Clever & Easy |
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Where to buy
You can buy this adapter online from Hammacher Schlemmer.
Approx. price: $35
Categories: travel,multimedia,space-saving,
