In today's product review, I'm going to give you a closer look at the Belkin mini surge protector with USB charger. This device is a portable 3-outlet surge protector, with a built in 2-port USB charger.

The Belkin mini surge protector with USB charger weighs just under 7 ounces and is about 5 inches long. The prongs on the back are protected by a plastic cover, which means you won't stab yourself or bend them if you stash them in your laptop bag right before leaving on a trip.

The plug on the rear rotates a full 360 degrees, which means you'll be able to rotate it to the best angle for the outlet you connect it to. The plastic protection cap can even be stored in a little slot on the bottom, so you won't lose it.

As the name implies, the Belkin surge protector with USB charger has 3 regular (grounded) outlets and dual USB charging ports on the top. This means you'll be able to connect 3 AC powered devices to it (like a laptop and a printer), as well as charge 2 devices using the USB ports (like a mobile phone and an iPod). Naturally, you will need to carry the item specific USB cables with you.

The surge protection is rated at 918 Joules with spike currents of up to 36,000 Amps. What this means to you and me, is that it'll protect you from most of the harmful stuff that could come out of an outlet.

In the event that the device fails during a surge and you do end up killing some expensive equipment, Belkin provides a $75,000 equipment warranty. The device itself is even covered by a lifetime warranty. The maximum load is 1850 Watts, which means if you accidentally plug in too many devices, you won't instantly fry the outlet.

Included in the package is the surge protector itself, a Mini-USB charging cable, the manual and the protective cap for the prongs. If you don't already carry a surge protector, then you really should consider it. When you look at the price of your devices then it's a small investment to keep them safe.

The Belkin mini surge protector with USB charger will only work with 110 volt outlets, so it's only going to be useful for trips within North America.

All in all, a great product. It has lightened my gadget bag by combining my old 3 outlet tap and a USB charger into just one compact device, plus I've got the added security of a surge protector to protect my gadgetry. The lack of support for voltages outside North America is a bit of a disappointment.

You can find the Belkin surge protector at Amazon.com ($19.99) or the Belkin online web store ($24.99).

Gallery: Belkin mini surge protector with USB charger

Filed under: Gadling Gear Review