Stay Powered Up With This Tiny USB Smartphone Charger

The new CulCharge USB phone charger gets right to the point with no unnecessary frills, and it's compact enough to carry around in your pocket.

The CulCharge is a simple charger made of flexible silicone that has a USB plug on one end and a connection to a phone on the other, as explained in the video above. There are versions with connectors for both iPhone and Android devices: lightning (for iPhone 5), 30-pin (for iPhone 4), micro-USB and mini-USB.

The 6-cm-long USB charger can also handle data transfers, in addition to juicing up your phone. The little cable really is flexible, since it can bend more than 180 degrees — nifty for those hard-to-access USB slots.

The Slovakia-based company is trying to raise $15,000 on Indiegogo. With 36 days still left in the campaign, supporters had already pledged more than $7,000, as of Friday afternoon. With pledges starting at $8, supporters can get their own CulCharge. The company is also targeting distributors and resellers at higher pledges by offering self-contained kiosks that come stocked with CulCharges for resale.

1. 

   1. Belkin Swivel Charger and Lightning ChargeSync Cable

   With a devlishly clever design, Belkin's charger has pivoting ability for those times when socket space is sparce.

   Cost: $39.99

   Image courtesy of Belkin

2. 

   2. Une Bobine

   This flexible charging cable doubles as an eye-catching, gravity-defying stand.

   Cost: $30

   Image courtesy of Fuse Chicken

3. 

   3. Scosche StrikeLINE Pro

   Scosche's strikeLINE extends up to three feet, but then neatly retracts for ultra-portable power ups.

   Cost: $24.95

   Image courtesy of Scosche

4. 

   4. Bluelounge MiniDock

   Available for iPhone 4/4Ses and 5s, the MiniDock plugs directly into your existing Apple power adapter for a space-saving, super-stylish solution.

   Cost: From $19.95

   Image courtesy of Bluelounge

5. 

   5. Belkin MIXIT Home Charger

   Belkin's MIXIT micro-charger comes in a range of cool colors for those who don't do plain white.

   Cost: $19.99

   Image courtesy of Belkin

6. 

   6. Eton BoostTurbine 2000

   Eton has your back with its hand turbine power generator that you can crank in an emergency for some extra juice. One minute of cranking gives enough power for a 30-second call or a few speedy SMSes.

   Cost: $59.99

   Image courtesy of Eton

7. 

   7. Duracell TravelMat

   The coming-soon Travel-Mat promises "drop and go" wireless charging for those that want to cut the cables.

   Cost: $129.99

   Image courtesy of Duracell

8. 

   8. Griffin PowerJolt SE with Lightning Connector

   If you're an iPhone 5 owner looking for an in-car charging solution, look no further!

   Cost: $24.99

   Image courtesy of Griffin

9. 

   9. Folding USB Solar Cell

   From a successful Kickstarter campaign, this folding design boasts an impressively fast full iPhone charge from just two hours of good sunlight.

   Cost: $100 (due in July)

   Image courtesy of Brown Dog Gadgets

10. 

    10. Mustache iPhone Charger by PersonalPower

    Finally, if you really want your charger to stand out from the crowd, Etsy seller PersonalPower offers a whole range of fresh designs and matching colored cables.

    Cost: From $17

    Image courtesy of Etsy/PersonalPower

Images courtesy of CulCharge via website and Indiegogo campaign page.