CEO Noah Dentzel Answers All Your ChargeKey Questions

To celebrate the launch of our new Silver ChargeKey, we sat down with Nomad CEO Noah Dentzel to chat about one of our most popular and longest-running products. From an idea sketched out in the early days of Nomad to a cable trusted by thousands every day, ChargeKey has always embodied our belief that the best gear is the gear you always have with you.

If you're new to ChargeKey, here's what you need to know: ChargeKey is an ultra-portable USB-C cable that lives on your keychain, so you're never caught without a way to charge. Whether you're topping off your phone, charging your AirPods, or helping out a friend with a dying battery, ChargeKey is always within reach.

Read on to discover how ChargeKey came to life, why it's remained a staple in our lineup for over a decade, and what makes it one of his favorite products we've ever built.

How did the ChargeKey idea come to you?

ChargeKey came up during a brainstorming session with Brian back in the summer of 2012. We were drinking cheap white wine on the deck of the old boat he was living on in the Santa Barbara harbor. As we discussed how to build on the ChargeCard concept, it dawned on us that the key form factor was the logical next step. Keys, phone, wallet. It was our minimalist get-up-and-go mantra, and it was staring at us right there, chargeKEY! That was powerful momentum in the early days of the Nomad journey.

Why is ChargeKey quintessentially Nomad? How does it represent our ethos? 

At our core, Nomad is about building minimalist tools to keep you powered and protected on the go. ChargeKey accomplishes precisely this. With ChargeKey, you can charge other devices, like your AirPods, or even a friend's smartphone, directly from your own phone. In fact, this ability to lend a charging hand, whether to a friend or a stranger, embodies the true spirit of Nomad.

Where does it fit in the Nomad charging lineup?

ChargeKey is the gap filler. It’s with you when you need it, and out of your way when you don’t. There are moments I’m concerned my phone is dying, only to realize that I already have a cable with me. It’s so integrated into your everyday carry getup that it’s easy to forget you have it on you.

If you had one sentence to pitch ChargeKey, what would it be?

Anyone who relies on their smartphone half as much as I do needs to have one of these on their keychain. Period. I guess that’s two sentences, but let’s run with it. 

What went into developing ChargeKey?

The original ChargeKey borrowed a lot from the work we’d done with ChargeCard, but the first MFi version we made was our first MFi product, and that required a ton of figuring out. It was a huge excitement injection when we got it approved for production by Apple’s Made for iPhone program. Believe it or not, the name of the factory we were working with was KeyJoy and that approval was a moment of true key joy.

Describe a time ChargeKey saved you in a pinch. 

There’s too many to count, but I think the most memorable times are when it’s helped someone else in need. One time, I was walking through the airport when I spotted Simon Sinek, an author I really like. I introduced myself and in the conversation that followed he happened to mention that he was in need of a charge. So I gave him my ChargeKey. He gave me a token of inspiration coin in exchange, something he gives out when he’s inspired, saying he was super grateful for the cable. I later saw him charging his phone with it in the lounge. I thought he might just be being nice, but he really did need to charge. He pointed at it, smiled and gave a big thumbs up. I wish I still had that token, but alas, it got lost in one of our moves.

Are there products in the pipeline that you’re excited about that emulate the ChargeKey ethos?

Absolutely. We have a handful of minimalist, innovative power products coming out that carry the ChargeKey torch forward, and I can’t wait for us to get them out into the field to see how people use them. They’re too good for me to spill the beans on them quite yet, but they’re on track to come out this year.

Over a decade later, ChargeKey remains one of the clearest expressions of what Nomad stands for: thoughtfully designed tools that make everyday life easier. The new Silver finish gives it a fresh look, but the idea behind it hasn't changed. Keep the cable you need attached to the keys you already carry, and you'll never have to think twice about whether you're prepared.

Ready to add one to your everyday carry? Explore ChargeKey in the new Silver finish, or browse the full collection of Nomad charging accessories.