A tiny software that makes a giant distinction

My Garmin watch not often leaves my wrist, as is evidenced by the intense white patch of pores and skin the place the watch lives. Naturally, I put on my Garmin once I’m touring. Whereas the battery life of my go-to system (the epix Pro Gen 2 Sapphire) is kind 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’m going into a visit and not using a full cost (which is typical), I will 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 house. I do know I am not alone, both, as that is a quite common thread within the operating teams I am in. Plus, once I do bear in mind to pack it, it is one more twine amongst my cellphone charger, computer charger, and others. So once 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, that means I’ve one much less factor to deliver alongside.

Editor’s selection

Abanen Charging Adapter for Garmin

The Abanen Charging Adapter lets you 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 in opposition to the again of the watch

Cons

• Solely supposed for use with a USB-A to USB-C twine
• 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 in regards to 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 tip of a USB-C cable, turning it right into a Garmin charger. Since I just about all the time have a USB-C twine with me, it means I’ll not often 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 useful for topping up my watch battery within the automobile when driving someplace for a hike if I forgot to take action at house (which is way too widespread). Earlier than, I needed to bear in mind to deliver my Garmin charger after which take it again out of the automobile once I bought house.

The Abenen adapter makes use of an L-shaped design, permitting the USB-C twine to put parallel to the again of the watch somewhat than assembly in a perpendicular method just like the Garmin charger. It type of turns right into a stand whereas charging, which is somewhat good once 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 knowledge switch as nicely. If you’ll want to join the watch to your laptop to switch maps or different recordsdata, 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 twine. The versatile nature offers 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 hooked up the opposite to the backpack I usually fly with. Since I normally do not deliver my keys with me if I am flying someplace, having this adapter on my backpack makes rather more sense so I do not neglect it when touring.

For the reason that adapter is so tiny, it does 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 in regards to the Abanen charging adapter

Near perfection

There’s actually nothing to dislike in regards to 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 twine as a substitute of a USB-C to USB-C. It does not say why on the Amazon itemizing, and I did use a USB-C to USB-C twine once I wasn’t paying consideration. It charged simply fantastic, and my system hasn’t behaved any otherwise since then, however I suppose it may 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 house, so I am unable to converse to its sturdiness or longevity at this level. If I expertise some type of failure as I proceed to check, I’ll make sure you replace this assessment. But it surely appears to be well-made and has labored completely to date.

The one actual concern with this adapter is said to your Garmin warranty. Garmin’s guarantee doesn’t apply to “harm to a product that has been linked to energy and/or knowledge cables that aren’t provided 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 usually are not labeled as Restricted Energy Supply (LPS).” Since you may be plugging in non-Garmin cables, which means 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, if in case you have 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 value and performance, it is a no-brainer to choose up the Abanen charging adapter, supplied you may have a appropriate Garmin watch. The tiny dimension 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 when 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 selection

Abanen Charging Adapter for Garmin