A tiny tool that makes a big difference

My Garmin watch rarely falls off my wrist, as evidenced by the bright white patch of skin where it sits. Naturally, I also wear my Garmin when I travel. My favorite device (an epix Pro Gen 2 Sapphire) has pretty good battery life, but I need to charge it about once a week or less, depending on usage. So, if I’m on a long trip, or if I leave without a full charge (which is common), I need to be able to charge my watch.

Unfortunately, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve forgotten my Garmin charging cable at home. It’s a common occurrence in the running group I’m in, so I know I’m not alone. Plus, carrying a charging cable so you don’t forget it just means another cord along with your phone charger, computer charger, etc. So when I saw Abanen’s little charging adapter, I immediately said yes. This little device converts your USB-C cable into a Garmin charger, so it’s one less thing to carry around.

Editor’s Choice

Abanen Garmin charging adapter

The Abanen charging adapter allows you to plug in any USB-C device and use it as a Garmin 4-pin charger. It’s small, lightweight, and comes with a little strap that can be attached to a keychain or backpack so you can take it with you wherever you go.

Strong Points

• Extremely small and lightweight
• Pack of 2
• Comes with a small strap with a clip
• The L-shaped design allows it to lie relatively flat against the back of the watch.

Cons

• Use only with USB-A to USB-C cords
• Power-related issues may void your Garmin warranty

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Pricing, Availability and Specifications

The Abanen charging adapter can be purchased as a two-pack on Amazon for $9.59. It only comes in black and comes with two small cables with clips.

What I like about the Abanen charging adapter

Set it and forget it

The Abanen charging adapter is very simple, but very useful. This little device attaches to the end of a USB-C cable and turns it into a Garmin charger. I always carry a USB-C cord, so it’s rare that I can’t charge my watch. If I don’t have a USB-C cable, I can buy one at a gas station or anywhere, but I never find a Garmin charger.

This little adapter is super handy for topping up the battery in your watch in the car when you go on a hike and forget to charge it at home (which happens all the time). Previously, I had to remember to bring my Garmin charger and then take it out of the car when I got home.

The Abenen adapter has an L-shaped design that allows the USB-C cord to lie parallel to the back of your watch, rather than vertically like the Garmin charger, and it acts as a stand while charging, which is handy if you want to view your watch while it’s plugged in.

Although I only used the adapter for charging, it can also be used for data transfer, so if you need to connect your watch to a computer to transfer maps or other files, you can use this.

The end of the adapter has a flexible loop where you can attach a clip or cord. The flexibility gives you peace of mind that the parts won’t break over time. It comes with two small cables with clips, which I attached with a girth hitch. I clipped one to my keychain and attached the other to my backpack, which I always carry when flying. I often don’t take my keys with me when flying, so having this adapter attached to my backpack is a great way to ensure you don’t forget it when traveling.

The adapter is so small that it takes up very little space and adds very little weight – it’s unnoticeable on your keychain and unnoticeable in your backpack – it’s truly a put-it-and-forget-it accessory.

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What I didn’t like about the Abanen charging adapter

Near perfect

There’s really nothing to complain about with the Abanen charging adapter, except that the company says to only use a USB-A to USB-C cord, not USB-C to USB-C. The Amazon listing doesn’t say why, and I accidentally used a USB-C to USB-C cord. It charges fine and the device hasn’t worked differently since then, but if you use it all the time, it might have an impact in the long run.

I’ve only been using this charger for about a week, and only at home, so I can’t speak to durability or longevity at this point, and I’ll be sure to update this review if I encounter any issues as I continue testing, but the product seems well-made and has worked perfectly so far.

The only real issue with this adapter is with the Garmin warranty. Garmin’s warranty does not cover “damage to the product caused by connecting a power or data cable not supplied by Garmin, or by connecting an AC adapter or cable that is not UL (Underwriters Laboratories) certified and does not bear the Limited Power Source (LPS) label.” Connecting a non-Garmin cable voids the warranty.

Garmin only has a one-year warranty, so if your device is older than that, none of this applies to you, but if you’ve got a brand new device, it might be worth considering before plugging in a third-party charger or adapter.

Should I buy the Abanen charging adapter?

Given its price and features, the Abanen charging adapter is an obvious choice if you have a compatible Garmin watch. Its small size makes it perfect for traveling, and it comes in a pack of two so you can keep one on your keys for local trips and one in your travel bag for longer trips. Even if you’re not traveling long enough to bring a Garmin charger with you, it can lay nearly flat on the back of your Garmin, making it in some ways better than the standard Garmin charger in certain situations.

Editor’s Choice

Abanen Garmin charging adapter