I tested this rugged external hard drive under stress. Now I carry it with me everywhere

ZDNET’s key findings

• He Orico Wick O20 It is available on Amazon for $240.
• It’s a lightweight and durable external drive that will have no trouble taking you on adventures.
• Performance is not as good as advertised.

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There are many external SSDs on the market, but most are designed to be stored safely at home or in the office, protected from the elements. However, there are a few that encourage you to take them with you on your adventures.

Also: The best external hard drives you can buy: tested by experts

One of those devices waiting to be strapped to a backpack is the Orico Wick O20This is a durable, weatherproof external drive that is more than ready to accompany you on your adventures, wherever you go.

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Technical specifications of the Orico Mecha O20

• NAND flash memory:Quality calculation
• Transfer ratio:20 Gbps
• Capacity options: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
• Interface:USB 3.2 generation 2×2
• Material:Alloy and silicone
• Dimensions: 141.5 x 55 x 16 mm
• Color options:Black, White, Green, Orange
• Support system:Windows, Linux, Mac OS, Android
• Package Included:Portable SSD, 0.3m length USB-C to USB-C/A

If you take a high-speed SSD and wrap it in a tough alloy and silicone armor, you get the Mecha O20. This clever combination allows the alloy to dissipate the heat generated by the drive, while the silicone wrapper provides excellent shock resistance.

Additionally, there’s a silicone plug covering the USB-C port, offering comprehensive IP54-rated protection against water and dust ingress. This ensures that the drive’s internal components are kept safe and your data remains accessible. And best of all, it’s not bulky at all.

For testing purposes, I hung this SSD from my backpack during a few small adventures where it was exposed to rain, dirt, and sand. It endured all of this with ease, proving its durability and endurance in real-world conditions.

Also: This $20 USB-C Cable Includes a Surprisingly Awesome Feature

Performance-wise, the Mecha O20 performed well, achieving read speeds of around 900MB/s and write speeds of 1660MB/s. While these results fall short of Orico’s maximum specifications of 2050MB/s for read speeds and 1800MB/s for write speeds, they still offer reasonably acceptable performance.

Note:My performance tests were conducted on a 2023 MacBook Pro M3 Max running the most up-to-date macOS operating system.

As for temperature, there’s not much to say, which is a good thing. I’ve used external SSDs that get extremely hot under heavy use, but the Mecha O20’s alloy chassis did a great job of dissipating heat. While it did get warm to the touch, it never got too hot.

The included USB-C cable has a swappable USB-C/USB-A adapter, making it compatible with new and old systems.

ZDNET’s buying advice

He Orico Wick O20 It may not be the fastest external SSD on the market, but that’s made up for by its durability. This is a drive that works just as well in the wild strapped to a backpack as it does on a desk in an air-conditioned office. And it’s that durability that gives it an edge over the competition.