USB in the Can

If you have multiple computers, or even if you only have one computer but want to be able to take your critical files with you, I'm betting that you also have at least one USB flash drive. I have a few myself in an array of capacities and configurations. But my favorite one to take with me when I'm traveling is my Corsair Flash Survivor. Why? Because it can stand up to pretty much any abuse I happen to throw at it.

My Survivor is the smallest of the two models available, at 4gigabytes (the capacity of the larger one is 8GB), and sells for $60. Those specs by themselves are unremarkable, but the drive itself is very unusual. In fact, Corsair offers several unusual flash drive configuration... but that's a different subject.

4GB of space is more than enough for my purposes since I only carry my most recent work and a few photos on the drive. But the most important attribute of the Survivor for me is its ability to "survive." I've dropped the drive in salt water (on purpose) and driven over it with my Ford E350 van (not on purpose), and in both cases, the drive was still functional afterward.

It keeps itself in good shape because the actual drive is contained within a special housing. As Corsair's literature explains... "Triple Point Protection featuring CNC-milled, aircraft aluminum housing, shock dampening rubber collar shielding, and sturdy metal end caps to prevent the hollow metal tube from collapsing." And the design certainly works.

After being run over, there are a couple scratches on the outer housing, but to me that only adds to the rugged machismo of the thing. I was worried that even if the drive were to be intact, I might not be able to unscrew the end cap and get the drive out of its housing. But is opened easily, as if it had never been abused.

If you carry a flash drive on your travels, take a look at the Survivor.