Photo: Mark Hachman / Foundry
The lesson I’ve learned while on the road is that you never know where your next charge is coming from. That’s why I always bring a travel power strip, whether I’m on vacation or traveling for work.
For $20, it’s cheap peace of mind: a compact four-outlet power strip with USB-A and USB-C connectors, plus a four-foot cord that wraps neatly around the unit when not in use.
More often than not, I’ve been in a hotel room where the outlet is hidden behind the bed, where the desk outlet doesn’t work, or where there’s only a single outlet for everyone trying to recharge their phones.
About two decades ago, Monster (remember them?) held a press conference at CES to announce new gold-plated HDMI cables or some other high-end audio nonsense. But one of the things they showed off, almost accidentally, was its own travel power strip. This has to be the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen, I thought to myself. But their communications person encouraged me to try it out and I used it over and over on that trip and others until it eventually gave out.
I finally chose this Orico power strip because I liked the shape and weight. It’s about 1.6 inches thick, so it’s reasonably chunky, but otherwise takes up about the space of a smartphone. The four-foot cord wraps neatly around the power strip, and you can secure it with the included elastic band. The angled 45-degree plug fits right into itself for storage.
From a power standpoint, it’s rated for 1,250W. Most laptops draw about 100W. There are two three-pronged outlets, two two-pronged outlets, two USB-A ports, and a USB-C port with 15W of charging power. (If you want more power from the USB-C port for fast-charging modern phones, Orico sells an upgraded model for $31, though with fewer electrical outlets.)
There’s one more thing to note: Orico’s power strip does not have surge protection. That’s both good and bad. Cruise ships ban surge protectors because of their built-in electrical systems. However, a surge protector can be worthwhile if you’re traveling in areas where thunderstorms are a risk. If that’s the case, consider the $13 One Beat surge protector, with a similar design and even more outlets. It’s a bit chunkier and the cord doesn’t wrap up as neatly.
Finally, there’s the color! I bought mine in blue for one good reason: everything in tech is either black or white. Sure, it looks nice, but a bit of color means it’s easier to find in a crowded backpack, briefcase, or suitcase. There’s white, black, blue, and even lilac to choose from, and no power LED to keep you awake at night either.
I think it’s a must-have tool for working on the road. And, as a nice bonus, Amazon’s offering 10% off right now!
