A tiny instrument that makes an enormous distinction

My Garmin watch hardly ever leaves my wrist, as is evidenced by the brilliant white patch of pores and skin the place the watch lives. Naturally, I put on my Garmin after I’m touring. Whereas the battery life of my go-to system (the epix Pro Gen 2 Sapphire) is sort of good, it does require charging roughly each week or much less, relying on how I am utilizing it. On longer journeys, then, or if I am going into a visit with no full cost (which is typical), I am going to want to have the ability to cost my watch.

Sadly, I am unable to let you know what number of occasions I’ve forgotten my Gamin charging cable at residence. I do know I am not alone, both, as that is a quite common thread within the operating teams I am in. Plus, after I do bear in mind to pack it, it is yet one more wire amongst my cellphone charger, computer charger, and others. So after I noticed the tiny ​​Abanen charging adapter, I used to be instantly onboard. This miniature system converts a USB-C cable right into a Garmin charger, which means I’ve one much less factor to carry alongside.

Editor’s alternative

Abanen Charging Adapter for Garmin

The Abanen Charging Adapter means that you can join any USB-C system, turning it right into a Garmin 4-pin charger. It is tiny and light-weight and comes with a small strap to connect to your key ring or backpack so that you just all the time have one with you. 

Execs

• Very small and light-weight
• Is available in a pack of two
• Features a tiny strap with a clip
• L-shape design places it comparatively flat towards the again of the watch

Cons

• Solely supposed for use with a USB-A to USB-C wire
• May void your Garmin guarantee for power-related points

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Value, availability, and specs

The ​​Abanen charging adapter is out there as a two-pack from Amazon for $9.59. It is just obtainable in black and comes with two tiny cables with clips.

What I favored concerning the Abanen charging adapter

Set it and neglect it

The Abanen charging adapter may be very easy however very helpful. The tiny little system attaches to the top of a USB-C cable, turning it right into a Garmin charger. Since I just about all the time have a USB-C wire with me, it means I’ll hardly ever be unable to cost my watch. Even when you do not have one, USB-C cables are capable of be bought nearly wherever, together with fuel stations, whereas Garmin chargers are most undoubtedly not.

I discovered this little adapter actually helpful for topping up my watch battery within the automobile when driving someplace for a hike if I forgot to take action at residence (which is much too widespread). Earlier than, I needed to bear in mind to carry my Garmin charger after which take it again out of the automobile after I acquired residence.

The Abenen adapter makes use of an L-shaped design, permitting the USB-C wire to put parallel to the again of the watch slightly than assembly in a perpendicular method just like the Garmin charger. It sort of turns right into a stand whereas charging, which is slightly good after I nonetheless need to see my watch whereas it is linked to the charger.

Though I solely used the adapter for charging, it does work for information switch as nicely. If you have to join the watch to your pc to switch maps or different information, it is possible for you to to make use of this.

On the finish of the adapter is a versatile loop to which you’ll connect a clip or wire. The versatile nature provides me extra confidence that the half will not break over time. It comes with two little cables with clips, which I girth-hitched on. I clipped one onto my keyring and connected the opposite to the backpack I usually fly with. Since I normally do not carry my keys with me if I am flying someplace, having this adapter on my backpack makes way more sense so I do not neglect it when touring.

Because the adapter is so tiny, it would not take up a lot room and provides subsequent to nothing when it comes to weight. It is not noticeable on my key ring and is even much less noticeable on my backpack. It really is simply an attach-and-forget kind of accent.

Associated

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What I did not like concerning the Abanen charging adapter

Near perfection

There’s actually nothing to dislike concerning the Abanen charging adapter. However, if I needed to be nitpicky, one draw back is that the corporate says to solely use a USB-A to USB-C wire as a substitute of a USB-C to USB-C. It would not say why on the Amazon itemizing, and I did use a USB-C to USB-C wire after I wasn’t paying consideration. It charged simply positive, and my system hasn’t behaved any in another way since then, however I suppose it might have long run implications if that is what I all the time used.

I’ve solely been utilizing this charging adapter for roughly every week, and that is solely been in my residence, so I am unable to communicate to its sturdiness or longevity at this level. If I expertise some form of failure as I proceed to check, I’ll you’ll want to replace this evaluation. Nevertheless it appears to be well-made and has labored completely to this point.

The one actual concern with this adapter is expounded to your Garmin warranty. Garmin’s guarantee doesn’t apply to “harm to a product that has been linked to energy and/or information cables that aren’t equipped by Garmin or harm to a product that has been linked to AC adapters and cables that aren’t licensed by UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and are usually not labeled as Restricted Energy Supply (LPS).” Since you will be plugging in non-Garmin cables, meaning your warrant will likely be void.

Garmin’s guarantee solely lasts for one yr, so in case your system is older than that, the above will not matter. However, when you’ve got a brand-new system, it could be value contemplating earlier than hooking as much as any third-party charger or adapter.

Do you have to purchase the Abanen charging adapter?

For the worth and performance, it is a no-brainer to select up the Abanen charging adapter, supplied you may have a suitable Garmin watch. The tiny measurement is ideal for journey, and the two-pack means you’ll be able to toss one in your keys for native journeys and one in your journey bag for longer journeys. Even in the event you do not take journeys lengthy sufficient to justify bringing alongside a Garmin charger, the flexibility to put principally flat on the again of your Garmin makes it, in some methods, higher than the inventory Garmin charger for sure conditions, anyway.

Editor’s alternative

Abanen Charging Adapter for Garmin