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
- USB A TO C CHARGING CABLE: Coiling cable stretches up to 3.3ft (1m) and contracts to 1.2ft (38cm) preventing it from being tangled; Strong but soft flexible TPE jacket, makes it easy to coil and put away in vehicle console or glove compartment
- RUGGED DESIGN: USB A to USB Type-C cable reinforced with aramid fiber for increased tensile strength; Tested to withstand 10000+ insertions & 5000+ bend cycles at 180° angle; Durable TPE jacket and strain relief; TPE is non-toxic, halogen free
- FAST CHARGE AND SYNC : Supporting up to 3A for fast charging from a USB-A port or Quick Charge power adapter, this high quality cord is designed to charge and sync your USB C devices
- USB-C COMPATIBILITY: Heavy duty data transfer cable allows you to charge and sync your USB Type C devices including your iPad Pro, iPad Mini, Samsung Galaxy S8, S9, S10, S20, S20+, One Plus & Google Pixel 3a, 3, 4, 5, 6 series
- SPECS: Length: 3ft (1m) | Color: Black | Cable Type: Coiled | Connectors: USB-C to USB-A | Performance: USB 2.0 | Material: Aramid Fiber | Power: Up to 3A | Jacket Type: TPE | Shielding: EMI Protection with Aluminum/Mylar
- USB C CHARGING CABLE: Coiling cable stretches up to 3.3ft (1m) and contracts to 1.2ft (38cm) preventing it from being tangled; Strong but soft flexible TPE jacket, makes it easy to coil and put away in vehicle console or glove compartment
- RUGGED DESIGN: USB Type-C cable reinforced with aramid fiber for increased tensile strength; Tested to withstand 10000+ insertions & 5000+ bend cycles at 180° angle; Durable TPE jacket and strain relief; TPE is non-toxic, halogen free
- FAST CHARGE AND SYNC : Supporting up to 3A for fast charging from a USB-C port or Quick Charge power adapter, this high quality cord is designed to charge and sync your USB C devices
- USB-C COMPATIBILITY: Heavy duty data transfer cable allows you to charge and sync your USB Type C devices including your iPad Pro, iPad Mini, Samsung Galaxy S8, S9, S10, S20, S20+, One Plus & Google Pixel 3a, 3, 4, 5, 6 series
- SPECS: Length: 3ft (1m) | Color: Black | Connectors: USB-C to USB-C | Performance: USB 2.0 | Material: Aramid Fiber | Power: 3A | Jacket Type: TPE | Shielding: EMI Protection
- ⚡ WIDE COMPATIBILITY: AINOPE USB A to USB A cable connects a USB peripheral with USB 3.0 type A port to a computer for speedy file transfer. It compatible with Laptop, Laptop Cooling Pad,Smart TV,USB in car, DVD player, USB 3.0 hub, Monitor, Camera, Wacom, Blue-ray Drive, Set Top Box, 2.5-Inch External Hard Drive Enclosure with Type A port, and most USB 3.0 external hard drives with Type A port.
- ⚡NEVER RUPTURE&NYLON BRAIDED: Unique SR reinforced anti-breaking design, 20,000+ times bending test, premium durability, the solid and durable two-shade braided nylon shield gives the cable stronger protection and flexible performance than others and no need to worry about tangling, no more cable breakage worries.
- ⚡ 5Gbps DATA TRANSFER SPEED: The transmission speed of AINOPE USB A to A cable up to 5Gbps, 10 times faster than USB2.0 cables, which can transfer your large files just in seconds. It also Backwards compatible with computer USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 ports. The premium pure copper core has multiple shielding for the optimal signal clarity, and gold-plated connectors effectively anti-corrosion, so to prolong the cable service life.
- ⚡HUGE OUTPUT FOR YOUR COOLING PAD: The maximum output of this male to male USB3.0 cable is up to 3A, which provides enough power for your laptop cooler, so to keep your cooling pad performs the best, no more worry about your laptop getting hot, ensures the stable operation of your devices.
- 💓WHAT YOU GET:USB A TO USB A Cable 6FT with sticky buckles,which can help you Keep the cable organized
- ✅【From INIU--the SAFE Fast Charge Pro】 Experience the safest charging with over 38 million global users. At INIU, we use only the highest-grade materials, so we do have the confidence to provide an industry-leading 3 years warranty.
- ✅【3.1A Fast Charge】 The built-in SuperConductivity copper wires enable a secure and real 3.1A output to charge your device at a blazing-fast speed. Incredibly charge you phone from 0 to 90% in 1 hour.
- ✅【Perfectly Fit with iPhone 15】Our premium USB-A to USB-C cable ensures reliable charging for your iPhone 15. Stay powered up and connected without compromise. Note: This cable does not support super fast charging for newest iPhone.
- ✅【A Strongest Construction】 Exclusive FLYWEAVE braided coat & flexible taper joints, combine 250d bulletproof fiber core to build a cable so durable that will outlast your phone.
- ✅【Sleep-Friendly LED Indicator】Boast LED indicator at the USB C end to help you easily find it in the dark.
- High performance Micro USB 3.0 cable connects a portable external USB 3.0 hard drive to a computer for speedy file transfer or syncs and charges Samsung smartphones or tablets equipped with the USB 3.0 Micro-B port
- Convenient and cost-effective Micro USB 3.0 cords provide spare or replacement Micro-USB 3.0 cables to keep at the desktop, in your accessory bag, or in the car
- Premium Micro USB 3.0 wire engineered with molded strain relief connectors for durability and grip treads for easy plugging and unplugging. Enjoy SuperSpeed USB 3.0 data transfer rate at up to 5 Gbps, 10x faster than USB 2.0
- The combination of gold-plated connectors, bare copper conductors, and foil & braid cover provide superior cable performance, error-free data transmission, and fast charging speed
- Compatible with Samsung Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Note Pro 12.2, and portable USB 3.0 external hard drives including Toshiba Canvio, Seagate FreeAgent, and Western Digital (WD) My Passport and Elements hard drives
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?