Five inches long, two inches deep and an inch and a half wide, Belkin's Mini Surge is a useful and versatile portable power strip. It's just a smidgin too big and heavy for the manbag, however, making it better in the hotel room than the coffee shop.

Readers asked us to check it out after we gave Monster Cable's Power To Go a positive writeup: it's actually a very different kettle of electrons. Whereas Monster's item is a sturdy, tiny but otherwise standard power strip, Belkin's box contains a surge protector and adds two USB power ports. It has three grounded outlets, and can swivel around the prongs to fit in tight spaces, locking at each 90 degree interval.

Sturdy and relatively easy on the eye, the Belkin Mini is $20-ish.

Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger [Belkin]