A tiny instrument that makes a giant distinction

My Garmin watch not often leaves my wrist, as is evidenced by the intense white patch of pores and skin the place the watch lives. Naturally, I put on my Garmin after I’m touring. Whereas the battery life of my go-to machine (the epix Pro Gen 2 Sapphire) is kind of good, it does require charging roughly each week or much less, relying on how I am utilizing it. On longer journeys, then, or if I’m going into a visit with no full cost (which is typical), I will want to have the ability to cost my watch.

Sadly, I am unable to let you know what number of occasions I’ve forgotten my Gamin charging cable at dwelling. I do know I am not alone, both, as that is a quite common thread within the operating teams I am in. Plus, after I do keep in mind to pack it, it is one more wire amongst my cellphone charger, computer charger, and others. So after I noticed the tiny ​​Abanen charging adapter, I used to be instantly onboard. This miniature machine converts a USB-C cable right into a Garmin charger, which means I’ve one much less factor to convey alongside.

Editor’s alternative

Abanen Charging Adapter for Garmin

The Abanen Charging Adapter permits you to join any USB-C machine, turning it right into a Garmin 4-pin charger. It is tiny and light-weight and comes with a small strap to connect to your key ring or backpack so that you just all the time have one with you. 

Execs

• Very small and light-weight
• Is available in a pack of two
• Features a tiny strap with a clip
• L-shape design places it comparatively flat in opposition to the again of the watch

Cons

• Solely supposed for use with a USB-A to USB-C wire
• Might void your Garmin guarantee for power-related points

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Value, availability, and specs

The ​​Abanen charging adapter is out there as a two-pack from Amazon for $9.59. It is just accessible in black and comes with two tiny cables with clips.

What I preferred in regards to the Abanen charging adapter

Set it and overlook it

The Abanen charging adapter may be very easy however very helpful. The tiny little machine attaches to the tip of a USB-C cable, turning it right into a Garmin charger. Since I just about all the time have a USB-C wire with me, it means I’ll not often be unable to cost my watch. Even when you do not have one, USB-C cables are capable of be bought nearly anyplace, together with fuel stations, whereas Garmin chargers are most positively not.

I discovered this little adapter actually helpful for topping up my watch battery within the automotive when driving someplace for a hike if I forgot to take action at dwelling (which is much too frequent). Earlier than, I needed to keep in mind to convey my Garmin charger after which take it again out of the automotive after I bought dwelling.

The Abenen adapter makes use of an L-shaped design, permitting the USB-C wire to put parallel to the again of the watch relatively than assembly in a perpendicular method just like the Garmin charger. It type of turns right into a stand whereas charging, which is relatively good after I nonetheless wish to see my watch whereas it is linked to the charger.

Though I solely used the adapter for charging, it does work for knowledge switch as nicely. If it is advisable to join the watch to your pc to switch maps or different information, it is possible for you to to make use of this.

On the finish of the adapter is a versatile loop to which you’ll connect a clip or wire. The versatile nature offers me extra confidence that the half will not break over time. It comes with two little cables with clips, which I girth-hitched on. I clipped one onto my keyring and connected the opposite to the backpack I sometimes fly with. Since I normally do not convey my keys with me if I am flying someplace, having this adapter on my backpack makes way more sense so I do not overlook it when touring.

Because the adapter is so tiny, it would not take up a lot room and provides subsequent to nothing when it comes to weight. It is not noticeable on my key ring and is even much less noticeable on my backpack. It really is simply an attach-and-forget kind of accent.

Associated

Did you damage your Garmin watch? It may be under warranty

You will have some safety ought to your new Garmin watch break.

What I did not like in regards to the Abanen charging adapter

Near perfection

There’s actually nothing to dislike in regards to the Abanen charging adapter. However, if I needed to be nitpicky, one draw back is that the corporate says to solely use a USB-A to USB-C wire as an alternative of a USB-C to USB-C. It would not say why on the Amazon itemizing, and I did use a USB-C to USB-C wire after I wasn’t paying consideration. It charged simply nice, and my machine hasn’t behaved any in another way since then, however I suppose it may have long run implications if that is what I all the time used.

I’ve solely been utilizing this charging adapter for roughly every week, and that is solely been in my dwelling, so I am unable to converse to its sturdiness or longevity at this level. If I expertise some form of failure as I proceed to check, I’ll you should definitely replace this evaluate. However it appears to be well-made and has labored completely to date.

The one actual problem with this adapter is said to your Garmin warranty. Garmin’s guarantee doesn’t apply to “injury to a product that has been linked to energy and/or knowledge cables that aren’t provided by Garmin or injury to a product that has been linked to AC adapters and cables that aren’t licensed by UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and aren’t labeled as Restricted Energy Supply (LPS).” Since you may be plugging in non-Garmin cables, which means your warrant will probably be void.

Garmin’s guarantee solely lasts for one 12 months, so in case your machine is older than that, the above will not matter. However, when you have a brand-new machine, it could be price contemplating earlier than hooking as much as any third-party charger or adapter.

Do you have to purchase the Abanen charging adapter?

For the worth and performance, it is a no-brainer to select up the Abanen charging adapter, offered you could have a appropriate Garmin watch. The tiny measurement is ideal for journey, and the two-pack means you possibly can toss one in your keys for native journeys and one in your journey bag for longer journeys. Even should you do not take journeys lengthy sufficient to justify bringing alongside a Garmin charger, the flexibility to put principally flat on the again of your Garmin makes it, in some methods, higher than the inventory Garmin charger for sure conditions, anyway.

Editor’s alternative

Abanen Charging Adapter for Garmin