EmailBest Reviewed
USB Flash Drives
- Best USB flash drive Corsair Flash Voyager *Est. $40
- Most durable USB flash drive Corsair Flash Survivor *Est. $40
- USB flash drive with U3 SanDisk Ultra Cruzer Titanium *Est. $30
- Most secure flash drive IronKey Secure *Est. $140
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Most durable USB flash drive
- Aircraft-grade aluminum casing
- Impervious to the elements
- 10-year warranty
- Average transfer speeds
- Bulky
- Mac users will need to download software
March 2009. Reviewers say the Corsair Flash Survivor and Corsair Flash Voyager (*est. $40 for 8 GB) are the best USB flash drives for portable data storage, proving fast in tests. The Survivor sets itself apart by withstanding medieval-style punishments, such as being boiled like a lobster. The exterior is made of aircraft-grade aluminum, but some reviews say this durability (and the 10-year warranty) may be overkill. Some reviewers also say the cap comes loose. The Flash Voyager is available in 16 GB (*est. $55) and 32 GB (*est. $80) sizes as well, and they are compatible with Mac and Linux as well as Windows, although the included encryption software is Windows-only (Mac users can download compatible software). PCMag.com's reviewer Eric Griffith compares the drive's size to that of a roll of Lifesavers candy; if you want a slimmer USB flash drive, consider the similar Flash Voyager, which costs about the same but lacks the impervious casing.
We found the best reviews at specialty websites like PCMag.com, Phoronix.com, BigBruin.com, I4U.com and EverythingUSB.com. All of them conduct hands-on tests and are unbiased in their assessments. We found owner reviews at Amazon.com, encompassing various Corsair Flash Survivor storage capacities.
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Our Sources
1. Phoronix.com
Tests includes boiling the Corsair Flash Survivor GT for more than 10 minutes and whacking it several times with a hammer. On a tamer note, reviewer Michael Larabel says the transfer rate is pretty good, and the drive is compatible with Linux, making it worth the price.
Review: Corsair Flash Survivor GT 8GB, Michael Larabel, May 23, 2007
2. PCMag.com
The Flash Survivor takes a dip underwater and gets dropped down stairs to no ill effect in this hands-on review. Transfer speeds are merely average, but it's still called a "spectacular" performer. One downside is that if you lose the screw-on cap, your drive isn't protected from the elements.
Review: Corsair Flash Survivor (32GB), Eric Griffith, June 27, 2008
The Corsair Flash Survivor is one of 19 drives tested by this anonymous reviewer, but it is primary compared with the two other tough drives in the test, the Flash Voyager and the ATP ToughDrive Mini. Performance of the Voyager is in the middle, but the drive is commended for its durability.
Review: 19 Flash Drive Roundup, "Grace", Feb. 27, 2008
4. BigBruin.com
Big Bruin offers very detailed reviews of many flash drives and includes objective testing. The older Corsair Flash Survivor GT gets a Recommended tag, but reviewer Jason Kohrs notes that it would be more strongly preferred if it were cheaper (prices have dropped since).
Review: Corsair Flash Survivor GT 8GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive, Jason Kohrs, June 20, 2007
5. I4U.com
Reviewer Shane McGlaun gives the older Corsair Flash Survivor GT an 8.5 out of 10, saying it's a "real winner," although the cap comes loose during "wash and dry" tests (when the drive takes a ride in the pocket of some pants that are laundered) and the speed in testing falls short of the company's claims.
Review: Corsair 8GB Flash Survivor GT Review, Shane McGlaun, Aug. 23, 2007
Reviews here are thorough and based on testing, but there's no overall score or ranking. The gist is the Corsair Flash Survivor is extremely durable and fast, although the end cap comes loose.
Review: Corsair Flash Survivor GT 8GB Flash Drive Review, R. Scott Clark, June 20, 2007
7. Amazon.com
About 40 owner reviews give the Corsair Flash Survivor a great average score, with just a few complaints and no common thread on those. Note that these reviews encompass a variety of storage capacities, not just the 8 GB version. There's a decent video review here, too.
Review: Corsair 8GB Flash Survivor USB 2.0 Flash Drive, Contributors to Amazon.com
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