TL;DR: The Nomad USB-C can deliver up to 100w, is braided for strength, and is the perfect length for most uses — the only thing I’d change is the size of the end of the cable.
Cables are boring, right?
There isn’t a lot to say about cables — for most people, they either work or they don’t. The issue with that, is, that really only adheres to HDMI cables. Even then, with the different HDMI port specs on TVs (1.4, 2.0, 2.1) sometimes do require different cables that look exactly the same but do slightly different things. The same thing goes for data and charging cables, but it gets a little trickier depending on the device.
Most modern devices that aren’t iPhones use USB-C, but depending on the device, you might need a higher wattage to charge it faster, or charge it at all. A phone is going to use significantly less power than a laptop, for instance. Nomad’s got the full spectrum covered.
Design – Nomad USB-C Cable (100w)
Nomad is no spring chicken when it comes to cables — I even called a universal cable they made a few years ago one of the best because it had every single solution for your charging issues (micro USB, lightning, and USB-C) rolled into a hearty product. The Nomad USB-C Cable doesn’t have the Swiss Army-like interchangeable tips, but it’s just as well-built, and as devices move towards the USB-C standard, you probably won’t need those other tips for much longer anyway.
The Nomad USB-C Cable is built to last, with Ballistic Nylon and a fire-resistant PVC jacket. It has Power Delivery which supports 5V @ 2A, 12V, 20V @ 5A with a 100W Total output. What does this mean? It means handling 4k with ease, 20AWG for fast charging, and USB 3.1 GEN 2 which can transfer data up to 10gbps. It’s pretty much future-proofed, and charges everything from phones, to tablets, to laptops — for example, the 15in MacBook Pro uses a 87W charger, so this cable has wattage room to spare.
Did I mention it’s rugged? When you first take it out of the box, you immediately notice how thick it is. It has heft, but not too much. It’s not like you can’t roll it up easily or anything. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a downside to all that protection.
The Only Downside
The plastic that holds the USB-C connector to the cable on the Nomad USB-C Cable is a bit wider than I’d like, even though the plastic is high-quality and I know exactly why they did it. Nomad did this to further protect the cable as a whole — there’s nothing worse than a cord that splits and splinters at the tip.
But, the fact of the matter is, you might have issue plugging in a phone or tablet that has a protective case with a really precise cutout for the charging port. For instance, the cord didn’t sit exactly flush with the case that was provided with my OnePlus 6T. It still charged, though.
In every other instance I had zero issue with the extra bulk.
In Use
It’s a cable.
It plugs in, grips nicely, and does every job I threw at it — from charging to data transfers. The cable was fast in every instance, and the 1 meter length was never an issue. It matched the proper speeds touted by the devices.
The ruggedness is perfect for parents afraid that their kids are going to destroy everything, or even for pet owners with jerk animals that are only jerks because they need more chew toys — so secretly it isn’t the animal that’s the jerk, it’s the owner.
Just kidding, nobody’s a jerk. If your pet chews cables, that’s a bummer but hey, it happens. Maybe just get better cables like the Nomad USB-C cable?
In Conclusion
The Nomad USB-C cable is rugged and does everything it promises. It quick charges and speedily transfers files. From 4K streaming to powering entire laptops (and phones and tablets), the 100w has room to spare for even the most power-hungry devices.
Just make sure it fits your device’s protective case!