Statik MagStack Pro ZDNET's key takeaways The Statik MagStack Pro is available now for $23 on Amazon.
It's a 100W-capable, magnetically self-wrapping USB-C cable that can withstand years of use.
Unfortunately, it tops out at 480MB/s. $22.99 at Amazon
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I'm in the late stages of planning a 10-day, 100-mile hike across northern Spain in late November/early December -- a pilgrimage along the final legs of the Camino Frances -- and I've started assembling a pile of gear I'll be taking along. Because I'm carrying everything that I'll need (and it's likely to rain an awful lot), everything has to be small and neat.
Obviously I'll be bringing some tech, so that means I'll need charge cables. And I want them to be tidy. I did think about using one with a retractable cable, but that adds weight, and they tend to get lost in a bag. Instead, I've gone for a cable that uses the power of magnets to wrap itself up: the Statik MagStack Pro.
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I can hear you now. "Oh no, Adrian's talking about cables again. What's exciting about cables?" Well, I share your skepticism. We're long past the days of talking about a cable just because it manages to last longer than the one Apple included with the iPhone. They have to bring something new to the table. Well, this one does.
On the face of it, this looks like any ordinary, well-made cable. It can carry up to 100W of power, the connectors are robust and have very good strain relief, and it's nylon braided so it resists snagging.
It also comes in a variety of colors, from the traditional black, stylish blue, and, my favorite, bright blaze orange. Just the color I need to make sure it doesn't get lost in the bottom of my backpack. It's built tough too, with the cord and connectors designed to withstand 10,000 bends and plug-ins.
Easy, tangle-free self-wrapping. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
But what makes this cable different are the magnets built into its length at regular intervals. These magnets seek out each other and, as if by magic, curl the cable up automatically. You can easily make small coils. You can make big curls, or small curls.
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And it works very well. One concern I had was whether keeping the cable curled up would cause it to heat up when pushing the 100W maximum power through it. Nope. I had mine running my MacBook Pro all day the other day, mostly curled up, and it stayed completely cool.
For those who need to transfer data, just be aware that the cable tops out at 480MB/s, so don't use it to hook up to a Thunderbolt drive.
The Statik MagStack Pro is a tough, high-quality, well-made cable. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
This cable is as good as they get, with the added benefit that it doesn't end up in a massive tangle in your bag!
ZDNET's buying advice
I've tried a few different magnetic cables over the years, and this is my favorite (so far). Many of the other self-wrapping cables are much thicker than regular cables, and that makes them somewhat unwieldy. At any rate, I'll be taking this on my impending travels, and it'll be coming along with me after that.
The Statik MagStack Pro comes in 3-foot and 6-foot lengths, in the three colors, there are 3-packs for both lengths. A 3-foot cables are $23, 6-foot cables go for $25, while the 3-packs are $59 and $64, respectively.