I have never in my life written a review of a cable. But there’s a first time for everything. I’ve reviewed hundreds of electronic products for various magazines, blogs, websites and more. But it never occurred to me – that spread out among the cameras, lenses, camera bags, tripods and more that I have reviewed, a 1.5 meter, USB cable would be something that got me excited. And then I found out about Nomad.
The Nomad Kevlar USB-C/Universal Cable offers lots of flexibility. It is designed to be fastest USB-C charging cable for your laptop/camera/smartphone, other USB-C, and Micro USB devices. If you have this cable, you can quickly transition between USB-A, USB-C, and Micro USB connectors to charge your devices.
USB-A
USB-C
On one end…
USB-C
Micro USB
On the other end…
The manufacturer says that the cable is reinforced with a double-braided Kevlar outer sheath and strong metal alloy connector housings. They offer a five-year-warranty on the cable.
I pulled on it, dropped it and even took the cable out and beat it against the sidewalk. Then I connected it to my computer and guess what; no problem. It works perfectly.
The reason this attracted my attention is simple. With all the technological advances mankind has devised, we still cannot make a universal connector that everyone agrees upon on a standard. Add to that those of us who might have a favorite older piece of tech that doesn’t support the newer connection ports and you see where this is going.
I suggest that every photographer, podcaster, filmmaker, smartphone owner, computer or tablet owner buy at least one of these cables and have them with you at all times.
From my own personal experience, I have been frustrated when losing cables or trying to connect old and new tech. The Nomad Kevlar Universal Cable does the trick.
I have one in every single camera bag and in my studio just in case. I especially like that it comes with a Micro USB connector since those are the cables I tend to misplace just when I need them.
The cable delivers 20AWG for fast charging. It is equipped with a thick RF shield to enable faster syncing. It has a moisture barrier and a Kevlar outer braid.
I am blown away by how simple this solution is and curious as to why I haven’t sought one out sooner. I like it so much I have added it to my personal photography gear guide.
CAVEAT
This is an expensive cable. At just under $35 it will cost more than many other potential solutions. For me, the money is justified because I am sure this cable will outlast any other I own and it allows me to carry just ONE cable with me on a trip instead of three.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Picture Methods has partnered with Hunt’s Photo & Video to bring you the best gear at a competitive price and backed by personal service. Call Alan Samiljan at 781-462-2383 or Noah Buchanan at 781.462.2356. If you cannot reach either one try Gary Farber at 781-462-2332. You will ALWAYS get the best prices if you call the store v. Using the web site. You can also email Noah at: nbuchanan@huntsphoto.com or Gary at: gfarber@huntsphoto.com. Hunt’s has been around a long time and you can trust them. Make sure to mention that Scott Bourne sent you. That will get you the best deal.
4 Responses
Very cool cable for charging, but when I started doing some digging into it, I found that it doesn’t support the high speed data. In fact on their product page, they mention in the FAQ that its only USB 2.0 data rates. The argument is to get the longer cable lengths they needed to trade off on data.
But if you want to use this to sync cameras, connect hard drives, or Thunderbolt, this isn’t the cable you want. The search for the perfect cable goes on, along with a USB-C hub that actually has USB-C ports for all those cool new USB-C devices.
I did check their site just in case they might have a shorter one with a higher rating. Unfortunately they don’t.
BTW, I’ve found really short cables often work better for a lot of things, they store better, most of my devices don’t need to be far from where I plug them in, and there’s less clutter when they’re plugged in.
Robert somehow I knew you’d be commenting on this one. 😀 For me, the convenience trumps all else. But if you find the perfect cable let me know😀
Scott I think the link leads to the wrong cable, you linked to USB-C only…the product you describe is different (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TRH2MZY/)
Thanks – that is wild. I had this link originally – https://amzn.to/2uwjGnY