Travel Gear

Durable Lightning Cables That Will Remain In Your Luggage For Years

Don’t take the quality and durability of your charging cords for granted.

Charging phone with lightning cable by computer on desk.

Your smart devices aren’t so smart when their batteries are dead because your cheap cable is bad. | Shutterstock

By Islands Staff July 30, 2020

One of the worst situations you can encounter while traveling is not being able to use your phone. Yes, as distracting as phones can be, they're also probably the most powerful tool we have, with its navigation, communication and entertainment uses. Let us help you find the best lightning cables suitable for you and your traveling needs.

iPhone Charger, Anker 6ft Premium Nylon Lightning Cable [2-Pack], Apple MFi Certified for iPhone Chargers, iPhone SE/Xs/XS Max/XR/X / 8 Plus / 7/6 Plus, iPad Pro Air 2, and More(Black) — The reason we pay a little more for certain brands is because their cables are manufactured to work with specific devices. Cheap alternatives sometimes aren't. | Amazon

Lightning cables provide lightning-fast charging speeds. Gone are the days of worrying whether you'll have enough battery to watch your movies on the flight or play games in the car.

AmazonBasics Double Braided Nylon Lightning to USB Cable, Durability Rated 6,000 Bends, MFi Certified iPhone Charger, Silver, 10 Feet — One of the key numbers you should know is how many bends a cable can handle. | Amazon

Depending on your situation, you may need a longer lightning cable. Perhaps the only available outlet is not conveniently located near where you're working. Long cables, while sometimes cumbersome, alleviate this problem.

USB Type C Cable 5Pack (3/3/6/6/10FT) Nylon Braided USB C Cable Fast Charger Charging Cord Compatible Samsung Galaxy S9 S8 Note 9 Note 8 Plus,LG V30 G6 G5 V20,Google Pixel, Moto Z2 and More — Some cable bundles are too good to be true, so make sure to do your research and determine the bend number in addition to the safe charging aspects. | Amazon

A key feature for anything that is considered "long-lasting" is its durability. Over time, most charging cables will start to fray and visibly lose their quality, affecting their charging speed, too. Find a charging cable that can guarantee many years of travel to come.