# The travel adapter that won't ruin your trip > WIRED tested universal adapters, plug sets and chargers across dozens of trips, and the winners cost less than you'd think. - Title: The travel adapter that won't ruin your trip · WIRED - Summary: WIRED tested universal adapters, plug sets and chargers across dozens of trips, and the winners cost less than you'd think. Check the plug type for your… - Keywords: travel, gadgets, chargers, packing, buying guide, adapter, won't, ruin, trip, WIRED - Source: WIRED — https://wired.com/gallery/best-travel-adapters - Author: Simon Hill - Published: 2021-07-27T13:00:00+00:00 - Read time: 4 min - Topics: travel, gadgets, chargers, packing, buying guide ## Charging shouldn't be the hard part A country-hopping trip or a two-day work visit both fall apart the same way: you land, you plug in, nothing happens. The right adapter is a small thing that quietly saves the trip. ## The overall winner The Ceptics GaN 100W universal adapter covers more than 200 countries for about $51. EU, UK and US plugs slide out, and the pins rotate for Australia and China. > There's a ton to like about this 100-watt universal travel adapter from reliable travel brand Ceptics. ## The retractable cable seals it A 25-inch USB-C cable pulls out of the body and sticks back on magnetically, so that's one less cord in your bag. It handles up to 100 watts in total. ## Ports on every side You get a universal input socket, an extra side socket for US or Japan plugs, two USB-C ports at 15 watts each and two USB-A ports at 12 watts. ## No grounding, one big caveat The top pick has no ground connection, so never plug in anything with a third metal pin. There is a 10-amp fuse for overload protection, plus a spare in the box. > Grounding is meant to reduce the risk of an electric shock if there's a fault. ## Smallest one worth owning The Epicka Air is 3.46 by 1.97 inches and 1.19 inches thick with the prongs folded. Four USB ports plus the AC outlet means five devices at once, for $40. ## Folding prongs are fiddly The prongs on the Epicka can fold back if you knock them mid-plug. But the EU pins sit in the middle, which keeps it seated better than a chunky sliding cube. ## Nineteen dollars is enough The Ceptics 6-in-1 covers 150-plus countries with locking sliders, five USB ports and a universal outlet that can run a laptop charger. Slower, but fine overnight. > You don't need to spend that much money to snag one of the best travel adapters. ## Individual plugs beat universal A 12-piece Ceptics set costs $23, covers most of the globe and every piece is properly grounded. No USB ports, so bring your own chargers. > Universal adapters don't always work properly everywhere, and most don't have grounding. ## Skip the five-piece set The cheaper Ceptics five-pack is flimsy, ungrounded, and its European plug fights the recessed sockets you hit in some countries. The 12-pack is the one. ## When one outlet isn't enough The OneBeat has no moving parts and stays put. The Type G version turns one UK socket into three US outlets plus three USB ports, and it is grounded. ## The everything kit Ceptics World Travel Adapter Kit 2 runs $50 and charges seven devices, with two grounded US outlets and surge protection. It is bulky and it is not a voltage converter. ## For iPhone people Anker's MagGo 3-in-1 folds flat and charges phone, earbuds and Apple Watch at once. Pair it with a 40-watt adapter and leave the bundled wall plug at home. ## Know your plug letters Fifteen plug types exist. A and B cover the US, Canada, Mexico and Japan; C, E and F cover Europe; G is the UK and Ireland; I is Australia, New Zealand and China. ## Three countries will catch you out India uses Type D, Israel uses Type H, and South Africa uses M or N. Universal adapters usually skip all three, so buy the specific plug before you go. > To avoid any surprises when you land, double-check what type you need before you travel. ## Don't buy a voltage converter They are big, heavy, expensive and unreliable. Check your charger for a line reading 100-240V 50/60Hz and it will handle any socket on earth without help. > Don't worry! Your gear won't get fried. ## Leave the hair dryer Hair dryers, irons and kettles rarely handle dual voltage, and most hotels supply them anyway. If you truly need one, buy a local version at your destination. ## Wattage math is simple A laptop wants around 100 watts, a phone about 30. More wattage than needed is harmless because the device decides how much it draws. Less just means slower. ## Pack it in the carry-on Adapters can go in checked luggage, but keep one in your hand luggage. Power banks with lithium cells are required to fly in the cabin, capped at 27,000 mAh. ## Test it before you fly Plug the adapter, cable and device into your own wall outlet at home. Airport kiosks charge a fortune, hotel front desks often have nothing, and discovering it at midnight abroad is its own kind of misery. > Nothing is worse than thinking you're being very clever by packing light only to get to your hotel and discover that your gadgets refuse to charge. ## Key takeaway Check the plug type for your destination, make sure your gear says 100-240V, and test the whole kit at home before you fly.