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Hands-on with the Nomad ChargeKey Lightning cable

This keychain-friendly cable goes where you go for convenient charging and syncing of your iDevice. A Micro-USB version is in the works as well.

Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
Rick Broida
2 min read
The Nomad ChargeKey comes in Lightning (shown) and Micro-USB versions.
The Nomad ChargeKey comes in Lightning (shown) and Micro-USB versions. Nomad

The Nomad ChargeKey aims to solve a common problem: There's never a sync cable around when you need one.

You know the routine: You're killing time at the airport and suddenly realize that your iPhone battery is down to 6 percent. There are USB charging ports everywhere, but you don't have a cord. As long as you have your keys, however, you're in business.

True to its name, the ChargeKey is a key-shaped cable with a USB plug at one end and a Lightning (or Micro-USB) connector at the other. With it, you can sync or charge any late-model iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. I tried it with a fifth-gen Touch and an iPhone 5c, and it worked as advertised (which is to say the Lightning plug would appear to be certified; a lot of cheapie cables are not, and flat-out don't work).

The ChargeKey is currently available for pre-order, with shipping expected to start in February. Same goes for the Micro-USB version, which is identical save for that connector. Both "keys" are made of a very durable-feeling bendable rubber.

Needless to say, this is a really convenient item to keep on your keychain. It would have made for a great stocking-stuffer if it had been available in time for the holidays, when finding an ideal gift outweighed a somewhat inflated price.

Now, however, $25 (the preorder price for both versions, shipping included) seems pretty steep. I'm all for convenience, but to me this is a $10 to $15 item. (Cheapskate tip: If you sit idle on the Nomad site for a few minutes, you should see a pop-up window offering you a 15-percent discount code in exchange for tweeting, following, or liking Nomad. That's a savings of $3.75, for a total price of $21.25 -- still on the high side, but a bit more palatable.)

That said, if you frequently find yourself in need of a charge cable and don't want the hassle of packing an actual cord everywhere you go, the ChargeKey makes an excellent travel companion.