The notorious power adapter. Without it, gadgets are simply a mix of hazardous elements put together as an expensive paperweight. But with too many, the cable clutter can quickly spiral out of control, especially on the go. Travelers have a few different options for decluttering their carry-on bag, and as always, the options range from pricey solutions to cheaper quick fixes. Read on as we break down some of our travel tips for keeping powered up on the road.

USB charging

One of our favorite methods for conserving charger count, though it can increase the number of cables required, is simply using USB to charge everything. While some phones and other devices won't charge when connected to computers whose drivers aren't installed — like the BlackBerry Pearl with a Mac — most devices who have USB cables will charge with specific USB chargers. In particular, we like the Belkin Dual USB charger (pictured), since it allows two devices to be charged with one power adapter. Also, looking at an advanced (read: expensive) USB Hub will allow multiple devices to be charged from the hub, though there's no guarantee that the devices will actually accept power from the hub till after you've purchased the unit.

The biggest downside to the USB approach is that while plugging in many different chargers to the wall is eliminated, users still need to carry a vast assortment of compatible USB cables to charge devices. Additionally, some devices won't have a compatible USB cable thereby making the solution good for most devices, but not all.

Users looking to travel with more flexibility than simply the two USB charging spots might look to another Belkin device, the Mini Travel Surge Protector. In addition to providing protection from surges, the miniature surge protector has three power outlets and two USB charging terminals. We've been traveling with this little guy for a year or so, and it's definitely been a godsend in the scarce power outlet land of airports and hotels.

Interchangeable charging tips

One of the more pricey but more clutter free solutions is to opt for power adapters that have interchangeable charging tips. These devices couple a capable power adapter which plugs into the wall with an array of different individual tips which achieve compatibility with an assortment of devices by matching the output voltage, type of power, and physical characteristics of the power device they use.

One of the known name brand versions is from laptop accessory manufacturer Targus. The company makes a variety of different power adapters that can connect to laptops, and will also double to charge things like iPods, cell phones, PDAs (if you still have any) and any other sort of on-the-go device you can imagine. Of course, with the brand name comes a brand name style price. Targus lists the price of their multi-tipped adapters at the prohibitive price of over $100; however, do some price comparisons online and you can find it for as cheap as $35 for a refurbished version, which comes with all the same tips and will charge most standard laptops (except Macs). Each tip thereafter is about $10.

In the less name brand arena, a device called the Ionhub aims to cut down on cable clutter by offering a multi-tipped approach. The Ionhub can charge up to six devices at the same time by plugging each device into a port on the hub. Of course, it seems to be a pretty mom-and-pop shop operation which could lead to questions of the quality of the device, though the user reviews on Amazon's page seem pretty favorable. The device, plus the custom "Y-Knot" cable which can charge laptops, will run you about $90 for the MacBook compatible version, or about $65 for the standard PC laptop compatible version. Each device connection will cost about $7 thereafter. There's also a less expensive $50 version which won't charge laptops, but will charge standalone portable electronics.

The advantage of being a small operation is that the company claims they will craft custom charging cables for more rare devices, with one of the Amazon reviews supporting this claim. If you end up going with the Ionhub, you should definitely let us know your experience with the company, as we'd love to more heartily recommend this product, but can only cautiously do so without more experience. Our biggest two concerns are the fact that the device actually uses custom cables which could increase clutter, and the lack of brand-name experience with the product. That being said, the fact that the company will custom make cables and offers compatibility with electric razors makes it an interesting enough proposition to try.

Got any other tips for high tech travelers looking to cut down on cable clutter? Sound off in the comments with your best travel tips.

[Image: FatBusinessman]