Best Travel Adapters of 2024

Last Updated on March 24, 2024 by Darron Dennis

A lot of us love traveling, both inter-country and inter-state, one thing I noticed with travelers is, as much as possible they want to reduce the weight of their traveling bags. So instead of carrying a stabilizer, or transformer, they’d prefer to carry a portable travel adapter or converter.

A travel adapter or converter is easy to carry, most are pocket-sized, modern ones even have a power bank, in case of a power failure. So if you are a person that loves traveling, then this article is for you, as you’d be able to choose the best adapter for you. Let’s begin.

WHAT IS A TRAVEL ADAPTER?

They simply allow a dual-voltage appliance, a transformer, or a converter from one country to be plugged into the wall outlet of another country. The plug of a Continental European appliance will not fit into an outlet in a foreign country without an adapter.

Converters and transformers both step up or down the voltage, but there is a difference in use between them. Converters should be used only with “electric” products. Electric products are simple heating devices or have mechanical motors. Examples are hair dryers, steam irons, shavers, toothbrushes, or small fans.

Converters are not designed for “continuous duty” and should only be used for short periods of time (1 to 2 hours). Additionally, most converters can only be used for ungrounded appliances (2 pins on the plug). Converters must be unplugged from the wall when not in use.

A travel adapter (sometimes called a travel plug converter) enables you to plug your electronics into walls with different sockets than the one used by your country. Not all countries use the same type of plug so I recommend you buy an international adapter.

The US uses a plug with two flat vertical prongs whereas the UK uses a plug with one top vertical prong and two bottom horizontal prongs. You need a travel adapter so your plug fits into the socket of a different country.

You can buy individual travel adapters for each country you plan to visit, or you can just buy one international travel adapter that will work for most parts of the world.

A travel power adapter or European converter adapter fits the plug into the wall socket, while travel converters change the electrical current from 120V to 220V or vice versa. The only time you’ll need an international converter is if you’re traveling with a device that is not dual voltage.

What is dual voltage?

Some electronics are designed so they can be used in different countries. This means they’ll be labeled as ‘dual-voltage. Dual voltage electronics have two options: 110-120V and 220-240V. They are ideal for travel because they are safe to use at home and abroad, too.

Some electronics, such as newer Macbooks and iPhones have a dual voltage that automatically adjusts in their destination. However, you may need to adjust the voltage manually by moving an external switch in certain items such as hair tools.

If your device isn’t dual voltage, you’re better off leaving it at home. However, most modern devices such as phones and laptops already have a dual voltage capability built-in.

BUYER’S GUIDE

These days, everyone travels with their electronic devices because they make travel so much more convenient and fun. We all have our smartphones, laptops, tablets, iPods, and e-book readers. Our own list of electronic and battery-powered devices is quite extensive: Sonicare electric toothbrush, oral irrigator, men’s shaver, flashlight, cameras, Bluetooth speaker, and more.

Each of these devices must be kept charged, and because some of them are battery-operated, we also travel with a battery charger and batteries. Although electricity at the outlet comes in only two flavors, 110 volts or 220/240 volts, plug types and sizes vary widely from country to country. Below are things to consider when going for a travel adapter:

• It suits most of the countries
• It is a lot cheaper if you buy them online rather than at the airport
• It is better to buy one universal adapter if you are traveling to multiple countries instead of buying different adapters
• Can charge multiple devices at once (good if your hotel has only 1 socket!)
• Can have a USB port for your gadgets
• Built-in safety shutters in case of a power surge

What to look for when buying a worldwide travel adapter

Quick Charge (3.0A)

Statistically, Quick Charge charges your devices 60% faster than your conventional adapters. This will definitely save you time if you are in a rush for a plane or you don’t have enough time before you need to go out for your trip. When buying adapters look as if they have a USB-C port with 3.0 A. This is not compulsory but is good to have.

Surge protection

With surge protection, if there has been an increase in voltage then your devices won’t be damaged. Most of the adapters that go to market have surge protection but worth double checking it is mentioned.

Weight

You don’t want to carry a travel adapter that is too heavy and takes up too much space in your bag. So it is better to check the weight since the adapter shouldn’t weigh more than 200 grams.

Output Power

If you are traveling with high-power appliances such as a hair straightener or iron then make sure the adapter has enough power to support it. Most of the adapters are designed for travel gadgets: laptops, cameras, tablets, headphones, phones.

BEST TRAVEL ADAPTERS:

NAME	FEATURES	WHERE TO BUY
EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter	It also has four fast-charging USB ports and a USB Type-C port so it can power several devices at once. For safety, it includes a surge protector and spare fuse to prevent overloading and frying your appliances. It is an attractive and easy to use all-in-one option	GET IT NOW
BESTEK Universal Travel Adapter and 220V to 110V Voltage Converter	24-month warranty Travel design Worldwide use Charges seven devices simultaneously	GET IT NOW
FLIGHT 001 5-In-1 Adapter	Weight: 63 LBS Width: 55 (in) Height: 25 (in) Depth: 90 (in)	GET IT NOW
Saunorch International Travel Adapter	Plug Coverage-US/EU/UK/AU USB ports– 3 Fast Charging– 1 USB-C 3.0 A Voltage Input-100 V – 240 V Product weight– 4.5 ounces / 127 grams Colors– black, green, blue	GET IT NOW
Pors-ela high power international travel adapter	Plug Coverage -US/EU/UK/AU USB ports– 2 Fast Charging– None Voltage Input-100 V – 240 V Product weight– 5.6 ounces / 159 grams Colors– black and blue High Appliances– Compatible	GET IT NOW
Castries Travel Adapter	Color: Black Used in over 150 countries 4 USB ports New product in the market 13% discount Voltage: 100 to 250 volts Covers over 200 countries AC power socket Charge 5 devices at the same time	GET IT NOW
Syncwire 34W 4-Port USB Wall Charger, Multi-Port [Foldable US Plug]	The blue indicator light lets you know when it’s on and working. Robust, it’s not likely to fall apart after a short usage time. It can charge multiple things like battery packs, wireless headphones, etc all at once.	GET IT NOW
OREI MATE M8+ Travel Companion Plug Adapter	In-built fuse and safety release button Weighs 11.2 ounces Measures 3 by 2 by 1.6 inches Pocket-sized power adapter	GET IT NOW

EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter

When it comes to travel adapters, your options are about as varied as the many destinations where you might go on vacation. There are adapters with USB ports, ones with more power and size, or designs with only one charging port and a small footprint.

The EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter has a little bit of everything, from USB ports to an additional iPhone charger. Plus, it’s very small compared to other travel adapters that come with all kinds of add-ons.

The biggest selling points of the EPICKA are its versatility and size—features that saved us from overpacking for our trip to the Arctic. With the ability to create plugs that work in over 150 countries, the EPICKA’s all-in-one design meant this small cube was all we needed. Unlike the power strip design of other models, this travel adapter can fit in just about any bag.

PROS	CONS
Compact Six charging ports Phone charger included	Unwieldy button function Noisy when in use Slides occasionally stick

BESTEK Universal Travel Adapter and 220V to 110V Voltage Converter

With more than 1,300 five-star reviews, the Bestek adapter/converter is often on Amazon’s best-seller list in the Power Converter category. Patented technology converts the voltage to 110V to charge up to seven devices simultaneously (with a max of 250 Watts) in more than 150 countries. It comes with a five-foot power cable that’s detachable for easier packing. And note, this one is not compatible with hair dryers, coffee machines, or other high-power appliances.

 

PROS	CONS
3 international adapters  4 USB ports   Guaranteed safety	Noisy fan

FLIGHT 001 5-In-1 Adapter

Flight 001’s 5-in-1 Universal Travel Adapter is an ultra-portable set of every adapter you could ever need, handily color-coded (with map included) so you know exactly which piece to bring.

Have you met your best travel companion? The 5-in-1 Universal Travel Adapter has the same great features as the 4-in-1, but with the addition of two 2.1A USB ports! The white, detachable charger is powerful enough to charge all of your essential travel devices your tablet, and your DSLR camera. Our color-coded world adapter system makes finding the right plug for your trip as simple as matching the colors.

PROS	CONS
It works well in diverse places like London, Paris, Hong Kong, and mainland China. Overall, it’s compact, colorful, convenient, and very easy to use.	This product won’t work in South Africa. Some metal prongs breaking off were reported.

Saunorch International Travel Adapter

Is very similar to the Hyleton travel adapter that we mentioned in one of our reviews. Saunorch product is a great value for money and is probably the best adapter out there for charging multiple gadgets. It meets all of our criteria: it is light, has all the necessary ports, and includes fast charging USB-C. And if you don’t like the boring black color it also comes in green and blue colors.

 

 

PROS	CONS
the USB ports were awesome because they eliminated the need to bring my iPhone cube and allowed for multiple devices to be charged at a time (two phones, a Fitbit, and an iPad). The compact design (the prongs don’t stick out) was nice too. Also liked the blue indicator light so you know power is going through it (in case something shows as not working) and the extra fuse in case it burns out.	when plugged into most outlets, the USB ports were on the bottom so it was awkward to plug them in, and then the cord was kind of bent weirdly depending on where the outlet was

Pors-ela high power international travel adapter

The Pors Ela travel adapter allows you to power your electronic devices all over the world. It’s a very safe device, which includes a fuse system integrated with a durable polycarbonate shell and protection layers. It’s FCC, CE and RoHS certified, providing complete protection. It has an intelligent design to optimize internal space and functionality.

As with most adapters on the list, it’s not suitable for use with high-power appliances like hairdryers, curling irons, water heaters, etc. The maximum rating is 650 watts at 110 V and 1300 watts at 220V.

PROS	CONS
Good design Sturdy	None in particular

Castries Travel Adapter

Rarely will you get a discount on such a great product that is worldwide accepted? Thanks to the Castries for they have made it possible for all their beloved customers to have a big 13% discount on each travel adapter that they buy. It is in more than 150 countries and therefore best in the whole market.

Additionally, it is a new product and therefore has the latest functionalities and uses the, latest technologies in giving the best services. It has 4 USB ports and therefore you can connect different devices to charge at the same time.

PROS	CONS
Not for high power devices No deforming at high temperatures Lightweight Durable High quality Fireproof material High voltage Fast charging Confidence buying Avoid electrical shocks Protect touching live parts	The USB ports sometimes start but then inexplicably stop charging phones. The UK plugs don’t seem to anchor properly and sometimes fall out. Some people report it damages curling irons, which it is advertised to support.

Syncwire 34W 4-Port USB Wall Charger, Multi-Port [Foldable US Plug]

The Syncwire 34W 4-Port USB Wall Charger comes with four ports for charging. The  2.4A charging ports give fast charging for devices like iPads, etc. It is compact and has 100V-240V input. The US plug is foldable and it comes with UK and EU interchangeable adapters. Lightweight, it weighs in at 6. 7 oz.

It is compatible with many products including iPhone XS Max, XR, x, 8, 8 Plus, etc. Product support is offered within 24-hours of reporting any issues, one of the top reasons why we put it on the list of best international travel adapters. Overheating protection keeps the unit cool.

PROS	CONS
This product doesn’t heat up during or after charging, an important safety feature. The warranty service is excellent. It seems to work well in very hot countries and doesn’t make any weird electrical noises.	The folding plug can cause some shorting if it’s not sitting securely. Fast charging is not all that fast. This charger sometimes slips and falls out of the wall socket.

OREI MATE M8+ Travel Companion Plug Adapter

OREI MATE M8+ Travel Companion Plug Adapter is a pocket-sized power adapter for taking along with you anywhere you travel. This all-in-one unit provides plug adapters for use in more than 150 countries, so you never need to be at a loss for power again for your essential traveling products. The M8+ is easy to use with slide-out power plugs that ensure you won’t lose any vital pieces, in a compact, self-contained unit that eliminates any hassles. This all-in-one plug adapts power outlets for laptops, chargers, and similar devices, and features a safety release button and built-in fuse to ensure safe operation. The OREI M8 does not reduce or convert electrical voltage, is suitable for most consumer electronics ranging from 110-volts to Mac 275-watts, to 220-volts to Mac 550-watts. We offer a one-year warranty, this unit weighs 0.5, and measures 2.5 x 2.5 x 2.25 inches (W x D x H). Please note that this adapter is not designed for use with high-watt devices such as hairdryers and irons, so users should check electronic device specifications before using it. For iPods, notebook computers, and more! Safely plug-in, use or charge your iPod, notebook, and other entertainment devices worldwide. Just 3 easy steps: Step 1. Press the button to slide out the appropriate plug for instant power or to charge your device Step 2. Simply plug in your iPod, notebook, cell phone, or other electronic device Step 3. Plug travel adapter into power outlet The safety release button and built-in fuse ensure safe operation.

PROS	CONS
Easy to use, extremely affordable, works throughout Europe In-built fuse and safety release button to ensure secure operation	Some travelers may find the functionality of this particular adapter too limited No voltage conversion

 

Conclusion

If you are a traveler, especially travels involving one country to another, you’d need an adapter, to power your devices. from our review, it should help you in your selection process, so you pick the most suitable adapter for you.