Five of the Best Portable Power Strips
Whether you’re working on the road or relaxing in a café library with your laptop, you could probably use a few spare ports. Luckily, there are plenty of great portable extension cords out there, and the very best of them even have USB ports to charge your phone or tablet. This week we’ll be taking a look at the top five.
Earlier this week, we asked you to let us know which portable power strips and surge protectors you carry on the road, or which you carry around every day for all occasions. You gave us a ton of nominees, but as always, we only have room for the top 5. Here they are, in no particular order:
Monoprice 3 sockets with surge protection wall faucet with 2 built-in USB chargers
Monoprice is one of our favorite sites for cheap cables, power and other equipment, and this portable 3-outlet surge protector is no exception. It’s thin, easy to pack and fits in a laptop or carry bag, has ports on the sides to keep them out of the way, and a pair of USB ports on the spine, both of which can charge 2.1A so you can plug in your phone or tablet and really expect a decent charge from it. It’s only about ten dollars from Monoprice , and it’s perfect for all bills, especially if you want to put one in an organizer or extra pocket in your bag or suitcase and share ports with a friend while you work or wait for the plane. in the airport.
Those of you who nominated it commented that its slim and simple design just works, it’s cheap enough, so if you forget it in a coffee shop or at the airport, it doesn’t really matter, and its combination of surge protection and high power With its USB ports, it’s great for both working on the go from outlets you’re not too sure of, or charging tablets or multiple phones at the same time. Read more in the nomination thread here .
Tripp Lite Portable Surge Protector with 3 Outlets and 2 USB Charging Ports
Another ultra-simple portable power strip, this Tripp Lite model is similar to the others in the review in that it has three extra outlets that are easy to reach and use without worrying about running out of space to plug everything in and a couple of USB ports. which also charge up to 2.1A, so you don’t have to be afraid to plug in your iPad, or even the battery you’re trying to charge before flying without their own power outlets. In this case, however, instead of having the outlet pins sticking out from one side, this model has a wraparound cable that can be tucked neatly into place and plugged into you for portability, then unfold and plugged into the wall when you need to use it. This means there are no prongs to bypass or risk ripping your belongings, and you even get a few extra inches of cable to route from the outlet if you need to. This model will set you back $ 15 on Amazon .
Those of you who have nominated it praised its overvoltage protection features in such a small package, note that it is very neatly wound so it is perfectly portable, and really praised this extra little piece of short cable that you can unwind when you need it – and it’s true, the smaller models that you can plug straight into outlets are good, but sometimes you need that little piece of cable to really get the strip where you need it, or plug in something that has its own short cable. Read more in the nominations thread here .
Belkin SurgePlus Travel Miniature Swivel Charger and Surge Protector with 3 Outlets
Belkin’s SurgePlus travel surge protector shouldn’t come as a surprise to those who frequent Lifehacker – we’ve recommended its predecessor on the site several times over the past few years , but this year’s model has addressed its flaws while still being portable, good. looking body. First, the pair of USB ports on the top of the Belkin are now 2.1A amps, so you no longer have to struggle to charge your smartphone or tablet when connected to them. The chassis now has smoother curves, making it easier to pack and fit in a suitcase or laptop bag, and you still get those three outlets well spaced out on top. The weight is now better distributed too, so even if you have end caps it doesn’t want to just tip over on the non-plug end like the old model. Best of all, it is still as strong as a brick, so it can be punished. This puppy will set you back $ 17 on Amazon .
Those of you who have nominated all of this have shared your experiences with this model (and its predecessor), noting that it has earned a permanent place in your travel bag. It’s compact, practical, and useful, and while many of you said you would appreciate it if it was a little smaller (like some of the others here) or if the prongs were removable or retractable), it fits the bill well. You praise the Belkin’s durability and longevity, and the ability to rotate ports where you need them — all of the banner features. Read more in the nomination thread here .
Monster MP OTG400 BK Extension Sockets
Another portable power strip that we pushed earlier on the site , this Monster Outlets-to-Go portable power strip can be hard to find because it is technically out of production, but a little google search showed more than a few options available. this one, for example, only costs about $ 20 . With three AC outlets and one USB port, the design is similar to the previously mentioned Tripp Lite, only slightly more compact and with a slightly shorter cable. Like Tripp Lite, it folds and slides into itself for easy portability. It is important to note, however, that this model is not a surge protector and its USB port is not 2.1A, so while it can charge your smartphone and keep it running, if it’s low, don’t expect to charge your tablet or other device. a device of greater capacity with it. However, it is a little more portable and even pocketable than some of the others here, which is its advantage. It’s very portable and gets the job done, especially if you’re looking at a single power outlet and two or three people needing to plug in a laptop.
Those of you who have nominated this product have praised its performance (despite the fact that the manufacturer not only left a bad taste in the mouth of many people, but also discontinued this product – however, you can find many other similar portable power strips near your home) ). Same people) and the fact that in your case, you got it for free at the trade show. Many of you supported the nomination because you had your own, or you are just willing to compromise this feature in favor of an extension cord that can seriously easily fit in your pocket. Read more in the nomination thread here .
GE Heavy Duty 3-Outlet Tap
In keeping with the idea that the best portable power strip is the one you carry with you at all times, this simple three-outlet power strip plugs directly into the wall and splits into three outlets. That’s it – it’s nothing fancy, no USB ports, not even a truly portable device other than the fact that it’s small. It’s not a surge protector, and it doesn’t have a coil or cable to give you a few extra inches – it just turns one outlet into three. However, it will work anywhere, it is durable and nearly indestructible, and it ships to Amazon for just six dollars . That’s all there is to it – it’s very simple, reliable, and gets the job done without additional features. Oh, and look at this orange.
Those of you who have nominated it have commented on the fact that you can use these things anywhere, they are stupidly cheap and very simple. You also noted that since the three ports are facing completely different directions, you can plug in bulky adapters without worrying about them getting in the way or losing the plug because you need to plug in something big. Check out the nominations thread here .
Now that you’ve seen the top five, it’s time to put them up for a general vote:
No honorable mentions this week as the nominees dropped out pretty quickly after those five. That doesn’t mean they were the only options in the chain of nominations, so be sure to go back and check if none of them suit you.
Do you have anything to say about one of the applicants? Want to substantiate your personal favorite even if it wasn’t on the list? Remember, the Top 5 is based on your most popular nominations from the Call for Applicants thread earlier this week . Don’t just complain about the top 5, let us know which option you prefer and justify it in the discussions below.