It was the weight test that showed the true character of the cables. Both the Belkin DuraTek and the Cygnett Armoured cables claimed to have been tested to hold loads of 80kgs, while the DuraTek Plus only had a vague promise of being 10x stronger than standard cables. This test used cables brand new out of the box, so the introduced weakness from the bend tests wasn’t a factor.

The test started in the more controlled conditions of my gym, tying the cables to increasingly heavy weights and waiting for them to break. Unfortunately, we only managed to get the Belkin DuraTek and Boost Charge cables to 40kg unscathed before we were politely asked to stop misusing the gym equipment.

After that, I gathered four people of varying weights (50kg, 55kg, 78kg and 88kg, including clothes and shoes) and tied the cables to a gazebo so they could hold their weight from the cables.

The results

First up was the Cygnett Essentials USB-A to USB-C ($18), which broke easily, halfway between the two knots, at the first sign of pulling from our 50kg weight.

Second was the Belkin Boost Charge USB-C to Lightning ($29.99), which impressively survived two jumps and a sustained hold from 50kg, but snapped mid-way down the cable on the second chin-up from the 55kg person.

The Belkin DuraTek USB-A to Lightning ($34.95), which includes brand-name Dupont Kevlar and claims it can hold 80kg, snapped at the lower knot after ten seconds of 50kg.

Cygnett’s Armoured USB-C to Lightning cable ($34.95) also claimed a rating of 80kg, but broke at the top knot at the first suggestion of 50kg, with the lifter not even getting her second foot off the ground.

Finally, it was time for the USB-A to Lightning Belkin DuraTek Plus ($39.95), whose only claim was that it’s ten times stronger than a standard cable in bend tests.

It easily survived ten seconds from 50kg, then another ten seconds at 55kg. The cable largely survived the first pull up from 78kg, though something felt a little off at the end. The second 78kg pull up was its undoing, breaking at the top knot, leaving the 88kg tester with nothing to test.

At the end of those tests, the Belkin DuraTek Plus is the clear winner. It held more weight and came out of the bend test with flying colours. It’s surprising that the previous DuraTek and Cygnett Armoured cables broke so easily.

But the more shocking result is the Belkin Boost Charge. Sure, it looked a little deformed after the bend test. But if you’re not likely to bend your cables a lot, the Boost Charge seems to survive more mistreatment than its lower price tag would imply.