Travel Kits

One adapter for the whole trip

Travelling abroad usually means a bag of foreign plugs and a fight for the one socket by the hotel bed. A universal travel adapter replaces all of it: one block that takes the plug of the country you are in, with USB ports built in so a phone, a tablet, earbuds and a laptop can charge from the same socket. The travel kits here today are three such adapters.

The adapters here

• A 75W GaN adapter with interchangeable pins for European, UK, American and Australian sockets, three USB-C ports and one USB-A, and a socket for your own plug. Its maker says two of the USB-C ports reach 70 watts for a laptop, and that it does not fit Type M sockets.
• An adapter with nine socket types for European, UK, American and Australian sockets, with USB and USB-C ports in 25, 45 or 65 watt versions, and a safety door over the socket for children.
• A 70W adapter with a retractable cable: two mains sockets, two USB-A and two USB-C ports, and a braided USB-C cable that pulls out of the body, so there is no cable to forget. Its maker says it does not fit Type K or Type M sockets.

What to check before you go

A travel adapter changes the shape of the plug, so check two things. First, the sockets where you are going: each adapter lists the countries and socket types it covers, and the ones it does not. Second, the voltage: anything you plug into the adapter's mains socket must take the local mains voltage, which its label gives as the input. The adapter itself must take the local voltage too: the nine-socket adapter gives its range as 100 to 240 volts, and each adapter's page says what its maker states. The guide to choosing a safe phone charger and the guide to fast charging explain the rest.

Questions people ask about travel kits

Can I take a power bank as well?

Yes, in your hand luggage only. The CAA allows two per person, never in the hold and never recharged on board. See power banks.

Will it charge my laptop?

If your laptop charges over USB-C, the higher-watt ports can. Check your laptop's own charger for the watts it needs.

Can it charge several things at once?

Yes. Each has several USB ports as well as a mains socket. Their makers give a total output, which is shared between whatever is plugged in, so each device may charge more slowly when they are all in use.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.

More to look at

• Wall chargers
• Power banks
• Travel wireless chargers
• For travellers
• Case, glass and cable sets
• Charm gift sets
• Guide: Choosing a safe phone charger in the UK