Sometimes a product is so well made that a catchy or creative name just won’t do, it needs to be called by its mere description, as with these…
“We designed 3 ultra rugged charging cables from the ground up and built them from military-grade materials like Kevlar and ballistic nylon… So they can keep up with your lifestyle. “ -Nomad
I’ve done many gear reviews but never thought I would be doing one for something as common as a USB (and Lightning) cable. Although to be fair, I did cover the then unique Chargekey USB, also made by Nomad.
With an official product name like “Ultra Rugged Cables”, you better live up to that name-description.
Before the now ubiquitous and constant need for USB cables, you wouldn’t have thought you needed them to be rugged, especially not ultra rugged. It’s just a wire that connects electronic devices, right?
But because of our increasingly demanding use for them, yes, they do need to be tough. We need to rely on them, not just to work all the time but to last a long time.
It’s come to the point where we rely on our cables as much as the devices they’re made for. This is why the Nomad Ultra Rugged Cables are such a welcoming addition to my vagabonding packing list.
These things are bad ass, truly. The cable is armored with 1000D braided ballistic nylon which is tear and abrasion resistant but feels good and grippy in the hands.
Under the braiding is a thick protective PVC jacket which covers the reinforced RF shielding, that enhances faster data syncing.
Then finally, protecting the fast charging 20AWG wire core is braided Kevlar. Yes, that kind of Kevlar.
These Mil Spec cables may be built like a tank but they aren’t cumbersome. They’re quite flexible and somewhat malleable for hassle free active use while being tangle resistant.
Add to that is an integrated vulcanized silicone rubber cable tie for cable management. And this aint no gimmick afterthought. This thing is a joy to use and works well with the generous 5 foot (1.5 meters) cable.
There are 3 different models in the Ultra Rugged Cable Series: the 3-in-1 Universal Cable, Lightning Battery Cable and the basic Lightning Cable (not reviewed).
The Lightning Battery Cable has a charge capacity of 2350 mAh, and it charges my iPhone fast, really fast. The battery is reliable and always charged since it’s integrated into the cable itself. The dynamic status light with an on demand button is a nice touch.
The 3-in-1 Universal Cable is Micro USB, USB Type C and Lightning. The integrated adaptor “tips” are cleverly designed to work seamlessly without getting in the way.
Get one of these Ultra Rugged Cables and you won’t be needing another one for a very long time, you can pass it down to your next device… and the next.
Nomad even offers an impressive 5 year guarantee on these – that’s quite something for just USB cables.
Other Options
![JSAUX USB C Cable [2-Pack 6.6ft], USB A to USB Cord 3.1A Fast Charging Compatible with iPhone 16/16 Plus/16 Pro/16 Pro Max/iPhone 15 Series, Samsung Galaxy S20 S10 S9, Note 20 10, Car Play, LG - Red](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41rXXfPp8ML._SL160_.jpg)
- 3.1A Fast Charging and Sync: 3.1A Fast Charge, Transfer speed can reach 40~60MB/S (480Mbps), JSAUX USB C Cable accelerates the charging speed by delivering 5V/3.1A safe charging power, [25% faster] compared with other cables which provide 5V/2.4A output.
- Certified Safety & High Quality Assurance: This USB-C cable has electronic safety certifications that comply with appropriate standards, you have no need to worry about this cable quality at all. Upgraded 3D aluminum connector and exclusive laser welding technology, which can ensure the metal part won't break.
- Enhanced Durability: Strong fiber, the most flexible, powerful and durable material, makes tensile force increased by 200%. Can bear 10000+ bending test. Premium Aluminum housing makes the cable more durable,nylon braided type c cable adds additional durability and tangle free.
- Tips for Fast Charging: 1. Galaxy S20 /S20 Plus /S20 Ultra /Note 20/10 Plus Support fast charging, but requires a QC / AFC protocol charger with a 18W USB A port (The original charger is a PD fast charging with a 25 W USB C Port) 2. Pixel uses a "private charging protocol" which does not support fast charging.
- Compatibility List: We provide 2-Pack 6.6FT Nylon Braided USB Type-C Cable. This USB C Cable can fast charge and sync well compatible with iPhone 16/16 Plus/16 Pro/16 Pro Max, iPhone 15/15 Plus/15 Pro/15 Pro Max, PS5 wireless controller, Samsung Galaxy S20/S20+ Ultra S10 S9 S8 Note 20 10, A51/A50/A12/A11,Moto Z/Z2, LG G5/G6/V20/V30 and other USB-C devices. [Note]: Supports only 7.5W charging speed for iPhone 15/16 series.
- 【10Gbps USB 3.1 Data Transfer】 SUNGUY USB 3.1 Gen 2 to USB C Cable supports high speed data transmission up to 10Gbps, transfer HD movies, songs, file or photos in seconds. Backwards compatible to USB 3.0 and 2.0. Note: Not support video output.
- 【Work with Android Auto】This Android Auto USB Cable can work with you car, compatible Android Auto and support 3A fast charging. 56KΩ pull-up resistor provides a safer charging current, protect your devices from damage.
- 【Work with iPhone 16 Carplay】This iPhone 16/15 charger cable compatible with iPhone 16/15 All series Carplay, that can charge your devices on the way. Perfect for use in the car.
- 【Durable & Nylon Braided】The USB C Data Cable is made of premium aluminum alloy shell and gold-plated connector add additional durability and stability to this cable, which makes it more durable than normal cables. Nylon braided provide strong protection and flexibility, can withstand 20000+ bending test.
- 【Widely Compatibility】This USB-A to USB-C Cable compatible with iPhone 16/16 Pro/16 Plus/16 Pro Max/15/15 Plus/ 15 Pro/ 15 Pro Max, Galaxy S23 S22 /S22 Ultra/S21/S21+/S20/Note10/Note 10 Plus/Note 20 S10/S10e/S10+, Google Pixel, iPad Pro, MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, LG G5 G6 G7 V40 V35 ThinQ V30S V30 V20, Chromebook, Dell XPS 13 and other USB-C devices.
- 【Dual Adapter for Wide Compatibility】: This micro b to USB C/A cable can connect all computers with USB Type C port and USB A port. More convenient in your life, no more replacing another cable
- 【20Gbps/10Gbps Super Fast Date Transfer】: No more time spent waiting, this USB 3.1 C to Micro B Cable supports up to 20Gbps data transfer, 10X faster than USB 3.0 version, 20x faster than the USB 2.0 version.HD movies can be transferred in just seconds, will offer faster data transfers and backups for you.The USB 3.0 cable supports up to 10Gbps data transfer
- 【Universal Compatibility】: This USB C/A to Micro B external hard drive cable easily connects a devices with a USB Type C/A port to an external hard drive.Micro B port can be compatible with USB 3.0 external hard drives including Seagate Toshiba and WD My Passport. It alao supports data synchronization and charging of smartphones and cameras, such as Samsung S5/Note 3, Canon EOS 5DS cameras.USB-C Port compatible with iPhone 15/ 15 plus/ 15 pro/ 15 pro max/ Macbook Pro / Air, iPad Pro 2020
- 【Awesome Quality】: With Tangle-free Nylon Braided Design and 40000+ bend lifespan testing, the SR anti-break design enhances the durability of the USB micro b external hard drive cord, made of an aluminium case, which offers superior thermal conductivity and enhanced safety compared to plastic.Unique gold-plated connectors also make data transmission more stable. Avoid transmission failure due to instability during fast transmission
- 【What you get】: It has Micro B to USB A/C External Hard Drive Cable 1.6FT in the pack
- 10FT PERFECT LENGTH: With the perfect 10ft length, you can play the game freely ,or lie on the sofa to use your devices for video while you are charging.What's more,you can also extend your surveillance camera (please make sure the camera interface is USB A port). Perfect Length for your easy life-use.
- REINFORCED SR CABLE JOINT:AINOPE USB 3.0 extension cable with test of 20,000+ bend, the special SR design makes the cable joints more sturdy. The flexible and wear-resistant armor nylon braided material offers stronger protection. The Included sticky buckles helps to shorten the length and keeps the USB 3.0 extension cable in an organized manner, no tangling worries and effectively prolong the service life.
- UPGRADED CONNECTOR:This USB extension cable with all-metal shell and aluminum alloy connector, provides you fancy texture with good hand-feeling, and ensure the extreme durability. Also constructed with multiple layers of shielding to minimize interference, corrosion-resistant and gold-plated connectors for optimal signal clarity, effectively prolong the cable service life.
- USB3.0 FAST CHARGING & DATA SYNCING:Charging and data transmission two in one, the charging speed is up to 2A, and the data transmission speed is 10X faster than USB2.0 cable, also, this USB 3.0 extension cable backwards compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 standard devices.
- WORRY-FREE SERVICE: If you have any questions about our product, please feel free to contact with our reliable customer service, we will reply you within 24 hours. Package: USB 3.0 Extension Cable*1
- USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 to USB-A 3.0 –– SuperSpeed Cable with 8-inch short length cord and transfer speeds up to 5Gbps. Backed by Cbus Wireless 24-month Warranty
- SUPPORTS FAST CHARGE –– Besides using this for data backups on your hard drives and backup systems, this cable can be used to delivery high speed quick charge, rapid charger, turbocharge, and fast charging of up to 3 amps (3A) power on your Android smartphones, tablets, car chargers, wall chargers, laptops, portable battery power banks, and more. Perfect for the latest devices and is also retro-compatible with USB-C 3.1 and USB 2.0.
- TANGLE-FREE HIGH-DURABILITY CORD –– Extra strength nylon double-braided jacket protects your cable and keeps it tangle-free. No more untangling your cables! Top quality molded joint plugs and metal alloy connectors are extremely durable and look great.
- SAFETY IN DESIGN –– These cables are produced to spec according to USB-C standards and are equipped with 56kΩ pull-up resistors to ensure a safe charging experience for your device. 23AWG all copper wire core is protected under four layers of material to ensure safe and reliable use.
- MOST COMPATIBLE: Perfect for Samsung T5 Portable SSD, Samsung X5, Seagate Fast SSD, Western Digital (WD) My Passport SSD, MyPassport Go, My Passport Ultra Type-C, LaCie Mobile Drive, LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C, LaCie Portable, LaCie d2 Desktop, RAVPower FileHub Plus, Transcend StoreJet 25MC, 25C3S, Transcend Portable SSD ESD250C, ESD240C, ESD230C, ESD220C, Store Jet 600/500/200, G-Technology GDRIVE mobile, SanDisk Extreme Portable External, Glyph Technologies Atom, Atom RAID, BlackBox Plus
5 Comments
Just ordered the Universal cables…. thanks for the review!
So rugged, you can probably use the cables as survival rope.
Thanks for the review, gonna get the iPhone battery one. Been wanting something like that but never knew it till now. Great price to.
Im not sure if you covered this but does the univseral one also have mini usb?
Ive had some problems with aftermarket cords not fitting in the port on the hitcase shield for the iPhone 6s. Does this one fit without removing the case?