ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Statik MagStack Professional is out there now for $23 on Amazon.
- It is a 100W-capable, magnetically self-wrapping USB-C cable that may face up to years of use.
- Sadly, it tops out at 480MB/s.
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I am within the late phases of planning a 10-day, 100-mile hike throughout northern Spain in late November/early December — a pilgrimage alongside the ultimate legs of the Camino Frances — and I’ve began assembling a pile of drugs I will be taking alongside. As a result of I am carrying the whole lot that I am going to want (and it is prone to rain an terrible lot), the whole lot must be small and neat.
Clearly I will be bringing some tech, so which means I am going to want cost cables. And I would like them to be tidy. I did consider using one with a retractable cable, however that provides weight, they usually are inclined to get misplaced in a bag. As an alternative, I’ve gone for a cable that makes use of the facility of magnets to wrap itself up: the Statik MagStack Pro.
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I can hear you now. “Oh no, Adrian’s speaking about cables once more. What’s thrilling about cables?” Properly, I share your skepticism. We’re gone the times of speaking a couple of cable simply because it manages to last more than the one Apple included with the iPhone. They should carry one thing new to the desk. Properly, this one does.
On the face of it, this appears to be like like several peculiar, well-made cable. It will probably carry as much as 100W of energy, the connectors are strong and have excellent pressure reduction, and it is nylon braided so it resists snagging.
It additionally is available in quite a lot of colours, from the standard black, fashionable blue, and, my favourite, brilliant blaze orange. Simply the colour I would like to verify it would not get misplaced within the backside of my backpack. It is constructed robust too, with the twine and connectors designed to resist 10,000 bends and plug-ins.
Straightforward, tangle-free self-wrapping.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
However what makes this cable completely different are the magnets constructed into its size at common intervals. These magnets search out one another and, as if by magic, curl the cable up mechanically. You’ll be able to simply make small coils. You may make large curls, or small curls.
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And it really works very effectively. One concern I had was whether or not holding the cable curled up would trigger it to warmth up when pushing the 100W most energy by means of it. Nope. I had mine operating my MacBook Professional all day the opposite day, largely curled up, and it stayed utterly cool.
For individuals who have to switch information, simply remember that the cable tops out at 480MB/s, so do not use it to hook as much as a Thunderbolt drive.
The Statik MagStack Professional is a tricky, high-quality, well-made cable.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
This cable is nearly as good as they get, with the additional advantage that it would not find yourself in a large tangle in your bag!
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
I’ve tried a couple of completely different magnetic cables through the years, and that is my favourite (up to now). Lots of the different self-wrapping cables are a lot thicker than common cables, and that makes them considerably unwieldy. At any fee, I will be taking this on my impending travels, and it will be coming together with me after that.
The Statik MagStack Pro is available in 3-foot and 6-foot lengths, within the three colours, there are 3-packs for both lengths. A 3-foot cables are $23, 6-foot cables go for $25, whereas the 3-packs are $59 and $64, respectively.