The amount of electronic devices we carry around these days would likely surprise even the most creative science fiction writers of the past. As more and more cyclists are taking GPS, POV cameras, and smartphones on rides, tech companies are chomping at the bit to make using, carrying and powering these devices easier for us.
At a young age, auto racer Blake Fuller and a small crew started developing a lighter weight battery for his car. They wound up replacing his 45lbs. battery with an 11lbs. unit, and founded a company called Braille Battery. Several years ago, Fuller was travelling with his new iphone when he decided Braille Battery’s technology could be adapted into compact, portable power banks for mobile devices. The Go Puck was then designed to provide multiple phone charges in a small enough package to be very portable, or even wearable…
The Go Puck comes in two different types, the 3x and the 5x. The name game is simple, the 3x provides enough power to charge a smartphone roughly three times, and the 5x can provide about five full charges (as tested on the iPhone 4s). Both come in white and black only, share the same palm-sized physical dimensions at 3x3x0.8”, and offer the same outputs. The only physical difference between the two is that the higher capacity 5x weighs marginally more. The Go Puck 3x has a 4400mAh capacity and weighs 4.8oz/0.3lbs. whereas the 5X can store up to 6600mAh and comes in at 6.4oz/0.4lbs. It takes between 7-9 hours to charge the 5x, and the unit has a lifespan of up to 1,000 charges.
The Go Pucks feature one 5V input to charge the device itself, and two USB outputs to charge your phone, camera, GPS, etc. One clever touch is that the first USB output is a standard 1A connection, but the second is a rapid charge port that puts out 2.1A for quicker top-ups. You can also use both charge ports at the same time. The unit’s body is shock and vibration resistant, and has four LED lights to indicate the charge status.
The Go Pucks come with a 40” USB cable and Active Mount so they’re fully wearable right out of the box. The mount tightly clips around two opposite corners of the Go Puck, and the clips are notched so you can neatly wrap cables around the device.
The Active Mount can accommodate a strap for wearing the device, or can be screwed securely to something through the hole pre-drilled in the center. It can also be used as a base for your GoPro by sticking an adhesive GoPro mount on the back. The Active Mounts weigh one ounce and come in black, green or pink. The company also offers two different skins to customize the look of your Go Puck, in either camo or carbon fiber designs.
The Go Pucks come with a one-year limited warranty. The 3x sells for $59.99 USD and the 5x for $79.99, and both are available online.
