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Canceled flights and lost luggage are up there with the most annoying travel problems. But the majority of my frustrations are sparked by something else, something within my own control: my computer charger. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve had to detangle it from my wire headphones and phone charger before unraveling it from itself. When my laptop isn’t fully juiced, I feel anxious, which is never how I like to start a trip.
So I kicked my standard Apple one to the curb (really, I just tossed it in my desk drawer with all my other backup tech) and decided to give Counterpart’s new universal charger a test, hoping it would bring peace back to my travel tote.
Counterpart Universal Charger
The initial draw? There’s no pesky cord just dangling there all the time. When I first saw the round port, which is made of silicone and post-consumer plastic, I thought it was a tape measure: The cable can extend to 4 feet, and when it’s time to pack up, you just push the discreet button on the side to retract it. The rippled silhouette is also easy on the eyes, which makes a lot of sense given the company was founded by artist and designer Chloe Fields.
The charger is USB-C, which is great news for anyone out there with an iPhone 15 or later model. Sadly, until my next upgrade rolls around, I still have to pack a separate phone charger when I’m on the go, but one less cord running loose in my purse is a life-saver. It’s currently available for preorder with product shipping in early December, is $44, and comes in five different hues, from oxblood red to peachy pink. While it makes for a pretty perfect stocking stuffer for anyone in your life with compatible devices, it’s already brought some calm to my pre-holiday travels.
