Review: Don't leave home without the Lightning Nomad Cable from Kero Products
Company: Kero Products Product: Lightning Nomad Cable Price: $24.99 Compatibility: All Lightning-enabled iOS devices Website: www.keroproducts.com Date: August 15, 2014
The ProductI can’t tell you how many Lightning cables I own to charge and sync all of my iPhones and iPads. But it always seems that when I need a cable the most, there are none around. The Lightning Nomad Cable is designed to help with that problem.
Just three inches long and available in white or blue, the Nomad features an interlocking cap that makes sure the cable will stay firmly attached to the key ring. After attaching the cable to your keys, simply pull it off of the cap, and you’re ready to go.
The cable itself is high-quality and has stood up quite nicely on my huge key chain for a little more than a month. I’m using the blue version, and there are no obvious scratches or other marks on it so far.
Simply detach the cable from the cap, and you’re ready to charge or sync an iOS device.
It is also light and unobtrusive, so much so I can’t really even tell any difference from just my regular keys. Being Apple certified under the Made for iPhone program, users won’t need to worry about issues while charging or syncing.
There are a few downsides with the Nomad. First is the price. Retailing for $5 more than Apple’s official Lightning cable doesn’t really make a lot of sense. Even though there are a number of situations that I can see the cable coming in handy, the price just doesn’t justify it.
Also, I was disappointed that while the USB connector is protected with the plug, the Lightning end of the cable just hangs free. I do wonder if a quick jolt or fall could possibly hurt that connector and render the cable useless.
While the short length can be useful, don’t expect the Nomad to be an everyday charging cable. It’s so short, it really only works in one situation – in the USB port of a laptop like a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air. Trying to use it with a desktop, or other USB peripheral like an Apple wall charger, is an exercise in frustration.
What’s Hot- Light and fits perfectly on a key chain.
- Apple-certified and will charge/sync your iOS device without any issues.
- Well designed and made to withstand being in your pocket.
- Lightning connector isn’t protected at all.
- Expensive compared to Apple’s official Lightning cable and other third-party products.
- Short length really makes the cable only useful with laptop USB ports.
Overall, I do like the Nomad. It makes sense to always have a charger cable handy, no matter the situation. That being said, if you’re willing to spend a little more money, I think Bluelounge’s Kii is a better option offering protection for both the USB and Lightning plug. And if you can afford to wait, the NomadClip charger, which is shaped like a carabineer, is also available to preorder.
ScoresAesthetic Appeal: ★★★★☆ Wow Factor: ★★★☆☆ Build Quality: ★★★★☆ Value: ★★☆☆☆
Buy Now: $24.99 from Kero Products or $21.99 from Amazon