[Travel Adapters 2026] GaN Chargers for the Winter Olympics — Voltage Guide, Epicka vs Anker Review

Power Without Borders
The Only Travel Adapter Guide You Need in 2026

🚀 Key Takeaways

• GaN Tech: Gallium Nitride chargers are smaller, cooler, and faster. A single adapter can now charge a MacBook and iPhone simultaneously.
• Voltage Warning: Adapters change the plug shape, not the voltage. Hairdryers will explode in Europe if you don't check the label.
• Top Pick: The Epicka TA-105 ($45) is the best budget all-in-one. The Anker Prime ($55) is the premium powerhouse for heavy users.
• Olympics Ready: Heading to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina? Italy uses Type L/C plugs at 230V. Plan accordingly.

📑 Table of Contents

1. Adapter vs Converter — The Rule That Saves Your Devices
2. What Is GaN and Why Does It Matter?
3. Epicka vs Anker — Full Product Comparison
4. The Power Strip Hack (Hotel Room Survival)
5. 2026 Winter Olympics — Italy Outlet Guide
6. Hippo's Verdict — What I Actually Pack
7. FAQ

This is 'Thirsty Hippo'. Picture this: you just landed in Milan for the 2026 Winter Olympics. After 14 hours of travel, your phone is at 3%. You rush to the hotel, pull out your charger, and stare at the wall outlet. Two round holes. No ground pin. Your American plug won't fit. Now what?

This exact scenario happened to me on my first trip to Europe years ago. I ended up buying a $30 adapter from the hotel gift shop that barely worked. Since then, I've tested over a dozen travel adapters across four continents. Today, I'm sharing everything I've learned so you never get stranded with a dead phone in a foreign country.

In my [previous Italy travel guide], I mentioned that one of the most overlooked travel essentials is power management. This post is the deep dive I promised. Let's get into it.

📌 1. Adapter vs Converter — The Rule That Saves Your Devices

Before you buy anything, you need to understand one fundamental difference. Getting this wrong can fry your $1,500 laptop.

✅ Adapter (Plug Shape)

Changes the physical shape of your plug pins so they fit into a foreign wall outlet. It does NOT change the electricity flowing through. This is all you need for phones, laptops, cameras, and tablets—because these devices are already "dual voltage" (100V-240V).

⚠️ Converter (Voltage Change)

Actually transforms the electrical voltage from 220V down to 110V (or vice versa). You only need this for "single voltage" appliances with heating elements—like older hair dryers, curling irons, or electric kettles. These will overheat and die without a converter.

🧮 Hippo's Insight: The 3-Second Label Check

Flip over your charger or appliance. Find the tiny text that says "Input:"

• If it says "Input: 100-240V, 50/60Hz" → You're safe worldwide. Just bring an adapter.
• If it says "Input: 120V only" → It will ONLY work in the US/Canada/Japan. Do NOT plug this into a 220V outlet.

💡 Pro Tip: In 2026, smart travelers skip the converter entirely and buy dual-voltage appliances instead. A dual-voltage hair dryer costs $25 on Amazon.

Here's the good news: almost every modern gadget you own is already dual voltage. Your iPhone charger, MacBook adapter, Nintendo Switch, Kindle, DSLR camera battery charger—all of them say "100-240V" on the label. The only devices that commonly trip people up are hair tools and older American appliances.

⚡ 2. What Is GaN and Why Does It Matter?

If you haven't upgraded your charger in the last two years, you're carrying unnecessary weight. GaN (Gallium Nitride) is a semiconductor material that has revolutionized charger design since 2023, and by 2026, it's the standard for premium travel chargers.

Traditional chargers use silicon transistors. GaN transistors are more efficient, produce less heat, and can handle higher power in a much smaller form factor. Here's what that means in real terms:

Feature	Silicon (Old)	GaN (New)
Size (for 65W)	Deck of cards	Half a deck of cards
Heat Output	Gets hot	Warm at most
Energy Efficiency	~85%	~93%+
Price Range	$15-25	$35-60

The bottom line: a GaN charger lets you carry one brick instead of three. One Anker Prime can charge your MacBook Pro, iPhone, and Apple Watch simultaneously. That's three chargers eliminated from your bag. When you're living out of a carry-on for two weeks at the Olympics, every cubic inch matters.

📊 3. Epicka vs Anker — Full Product Comparison

I've narrowed it down to the three travel adapters worth buying in 2026. I've personally used two of these on international trips, and I've thoroughly researched the third.

Feature	Epicka TA-105	Anker Prime 100W	Ceptics (Budget)
Price	~$45	~$55	~$12
Max Output	75W GaN	100W GaN	10W (Slow)
USB-C Ports	3	2	0
USB-A Ports	2	1	1
Countries Covered	150+	150+	1 region only
Built-in Plug Adapter	✅ Yes (Sliding pins)	❌ No (Charger only)	✅ Yes
AC Outlet Pass-Through	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes
Weight	~200g	~180g	~90g
🦛 Hippo Rating	⭐ 9.2/10	⭐ 8.8/10	⭐ 5.5/10

🏆 Winner: Epicka TA-105 (Best Overall Value)

The Epicka TA-105 wins for most travelers because it combines a universal plug adapter AND a GaN multi-port charger into one device. You don't need to carry a separate adapter. The sliding plug pins cover US, UK, EU, and Australia outlet types. With 75W of total output, it can fast-charge a MacBook Air (30W) while simultaneously charging your phone (20W) and watch (5W).

The Anker Prime is technically more powerful at 100W, which makes it better for 16-inch MacBook Pro users. However, it doesn't have a built-in plug adapter—you still need a separate adapter piece. That's two things to carry instead of one.

The Ceptics? Only buy this if you're going to one specific country and you only need to charge a phone. It's fine as a $12 backup, but it charges painfully slowly and has no USB-C port.

💡 Important Note on "Watt Splitting"

When an adapter says "75W," that's the total shared output. If you plug in three devices, the power splits between them. A 75W adapter charging three devices might give each one only 25W. For a MacBook Pro that needs 67-96W, you'd want to charge it alone or use a 100W adapter. For a MacBook Air or phone, 75W shared is more than enough.

🔌 4. The Power Strip Hack (Hotel Room Survival)

Every traveler knows this pain: your hotel room has two outlets. One is behind the bed. The other is in the bathroom. And you have six devices to charge before tomorrow morning.

Here's the trick that experienced travelers use. Instead of buying five adapters, bring one adapter and a small, flat power strip.

🔧 How It Works:

1. Plug your universal adapter into the foreign wall outlet.
2. Plug your American power strip into the adapter.
3. Now you have 3-6 US outlets available from a single adapter.
4. Plug in all your chargers as if you were at home.

🚨 Critical Warning

Use a basic power strip WITHOUT surge protection. Surge protectors can detect the voltage difference between US (120V) and European (220V) power and trip the breaker—or worse, trip the hotel's main circuit. A simple $8 power strip from the dollar store works perfectly. Just make sure everything you plug into it is dual-voltage (100-240V).

I personally travel with a flat 3-outlet power strip that weighs almost nothing. Combined with the Epicka, I can charge my MacBook, two phones, wireless earbuds, and a portable battery all from a single wall outlet. Game changer for Airbnbs with limited plugs.

🏔️ 5. 2026 Winter Olympics — Italy Outlet Guide

With the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina rapidly approaching, millions of travelers are planning their trips to Italy right now. If you're heading there to watch ice hockey, skiing, or figure skating, here's exactly what you need to know about Italian power.

🇮🇹 Italy Power Quick Reference

Voltage

230V

Frequency

50Hz

Plug Types

Type C / L

US Compatible?

❌ No

Type C (Europlug) is the standard two-round-pin outlet found across most of Europe. Type L is Italy's unique variant with three round pins in a row. Most universal adapters handle both, but cheap single-region adapters sometimes only fit Type C and won't sit firmly in a Type L socket.

Both the Epicka TA-105 and Anker Prime (with a separate adapter) work perfectly in Italy. I've tested the Epicka in Italian hotels, Airbnbs, and even airport lounges. No issues.

One more thing: if you're attending events in Cortina d'Ampezzo (the mountain venues), some older Alpine hotels and chalets have recessed outlets. Make sure your adapter isn't too bulky to fit into a recessed wall plate. The Epicka is compact enough; some knock-off brands are not.

🦛 6. Hippo's Verdict — What I Actually Pack

After years of over-packing chargers and losing adapters in hotel rooms, here is my exact charging setup for any international trip in 2026:

🎒 Hippo's Travel Charging Kit

1. Epicka TA-105 (75W GaN) — Main charger + adapter combo. Charges everything.
2. Flat 3-outlet power strip — No surge protection. Extends one outlet to three.
3. Short USB-C cables (1ft) — Saves space. No tangles. I use Anker Nylon braided.
4. Anker 622 MagGo battery — MagSafe portable charger for iPhone. Charges on the go.

Total weight: under 400 grams. Fits in a single pouch.

That's it. Four items. No voltage converters, no bulky multi-outlet adapters, no tangled cables. This kit has worked in Japan, Italy, the UK, Australia, and Thailand without a single problem. The total cost is about $85, and it'll last you for years.

🦛 Final Hippo Rating: Epicka TA-105 — ⭐ 9.2/10
"The best single device to solve all your international charging problems under $50."

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Do I need a voltage converter for Italy in 2026?

A. Probably not. Most modern electronics (phones, laptops, cameras, electric shavers) are dual-voltage (100-240V) and only need a simple plug adapter. You only need a converter for single-voltage heating appliances like older American hair dryers. My advice: buy a $25 dual-voltage hair dryer instead of a $40 converter.

Q2. Can I use a travel adapter on a cruise ship?

A. Be very careful. Power strips and surge protectors are banned on most cruise lines (Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian) due to fire risk. Bring a simple multi-port USB charger (no AC outlets). The Anker Prime works great for cruises because it's just a USB charger, not a power strip.

Q3. What is GaN and why are GaN chargers better?

A. GaN (Gallium Nitride) is a semiconductor material that's more efficient than silicon. GaN chargers run cooler, waste less energy as heat, and can deliver more power in a smaller body. A 100W GaN charger can be half the size of a traditional 60W silicon charger. In 2026, GaN is no longer "premium"—it's becoming the standard.

Q4. Is the Epicka TA-105 powerful enough for a MacBook Pro?

A. It depends on which MacBook Pro. The Epicka's 75W USB-C output is sufficient for the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro (which requires 67W). For the 16-inch MacBook Pro (96-140W), the Epicka will charge it slowly or maintain battery while in use. For full-speed charging of the 16-inch, you'll want the Anker Prime 100W or use your original Apple 96W adapter with a simple plug adapter.

Q5. What plug type does Italy use for the 2026 Winter Olympics?

A. Italy uses Type L (three round pins in a line) and Type C (two round pins, the standard "Europlug"). Voltage is 230V at 50Hz. American flat-prong plugs will NOT fit. You need a universal adapter. Both the Epicka TA-105 and Anker Prime cover Italian outlets. The Olympic venues in Milan, Cortina, and Verona all use standard Italian outlets.

📝 Pack Smart, Travel Light

A good travel adapter is the unsung hero of every international trip. It's not glamorous, it won't make your Instagram, but it's the first thing you reach for when you land. In 2026, GaN technology means you can carry one small brick that replaces three chargers and works in 150 countries.

My recommendation is simple: spend the $45 on an Epicka TA-105, toss in a flat power strip, and never think about charging logistics again. Whether you're heading to the Winter Olympics in Italy, backpacking through Southeast Asia, or on a business trip to London—you're covered.

Stay charged, stay exploring. This is Thirsty Hippo, signing off until next time. 🦛

📚 Related Posts from Thirsty Hippo

• 🇮🇹 [Italy Travel Guide 2026] — Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics Planning
• ✈️ [Travel Packing List] — Carry-On Only International Checklist
• 📱 [Best Power Banks 2026] — Anker vs Baseus for Travel

COMING UP NEXT (Sunday Special)

🔜 [Home Theater 2026] Dolby Atmos Soundbars — Sonos Arc vs Samsung HW-Q990D

"You survived the Olympics. Now bring the cinema home. We compare the best soundbars of 2026."

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