The Travel Adapter That Does Everything (Except Fit in My Pocket)
“I bought a universal travel adapter for international trips I rarely take. What I actually needed was a compact GaN charger for daily use that also travels well. The Anker 65W is smaller, more powerful, and I use it every single day.”
EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter with 6 USB Ports
42,876 reviews
Pros
- +Works in 150+ countries — every plug type imaginable
- +6 USB ports (4 USB-A + 2 USB-C)
- +Can charge everything simultaneously
- +Built-in fuse for safety
Cons
- -It's the size of a baseball
- -Weighs more than some of the devices it charges
- -The plug adapters are fidgety and stick sometimes
- -I've traveled internationally exactly once since buying it
Anker 65W USB-C GaN Charger with Foldable Plug
31,543 reviews
Pros
- +65W charges laptops, phones, tablets — everything
- +GaN technology — tiny and cool-running
- +Foldable prongs — actually fits in your pocket
- +Multiple ports (USB-C + USB-A)
- +Works for daily use AND travel
Cons
- -US/Japan plug only — need a separate plug adapter for international
- -65W shared across ports when multi-charging
- -Not a universal adapter — just a great charger
The Story
I was going to travel internationally. A lot. Conferences in London. Meetings in Singapore. Investor summits in Geneva. That was the plan. The reality: I've been to one international destination since buying this universal travel adapter, and it was Cancun, which uses the same plugs as the US.
The EPICKA adapter is legitimately impressive. It has sliding panels that reveal plug configurations for every country. UK, EU, Australia, Japan, everything. Six USB ports. It's like a Swiss Army knife of charging. It's also the size of a baseball and weighs about the same.
Meanwhile, for the 99% of my life spent charging things in Miami Beach, I needed a good daily charger. The Anker 65W GaN charger is tiny, foldable, charges my laptop AND my phone simultaneously, and fits in my pocket. I use it every single day. At my desk. At coffee shops. At the airport (domestic). Everywhere.
For the rare international trip, a simple $8 plug adapter from the airport gift shop works fine. I don't need a six-USB-port Death Star of adapters. I need a small, powerful charger that works where I actually am, which is Miami Beach, which uses normal American outlets.
The EPICKA lives in my travel bag, waiting for the international trips that may or may not happen. The Anker lives in my daily carry bag and gets used every single day.
The Lesson
Buy for your actual travel pattern, not your aspirational one. A great daily charger plus a cheap plug adapter beats a universal adapter you use once a year.
Affiliate Disclosure: Links on this page go to Amazon and include an affiliate tag. If you buy something, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is an honest comparison of products I've actually used. Product details, prices, ratings, and review counts are approximate and may be outdated. This page was created with AI assistance. Not professional product advice — just one guy's experience.
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Glen's Musings — AI, investing, and building things. Occasional. Free.
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