Smartish Review: The Everyday Tech We Actually Use

If you’re here for a no-nonsense Smartish review, this is it. We’ve used Smartish gear for years—on desks, in the car, and everywhere a dad can drop a phone. This isn’t sponsored; it’s a real-world look at the Smartish Cable Wrangler, Crown Joule charging cable, Wallet Slayer and Gripmunk phone cases, and the MagSafe Charge Dinghy that Jenna uses daily. Smartish keeps showing up with practical designs that survive family life—and that’s why they’ve earned a spot in our “Brands We Actually Use.”

There’s a running joke in our house that I’m a “gear goblin.” If it charges, clips, snaps, or organizes, it’ll eventually find its way onto my desk, my nightstand, or the console of our car. And in that sea of gadgets, a handful of things actually stick around—the ones that solve a real problem and don’t quit on me a month later.

Smartish is one of those rare companies I keep coming back to.

They’ve been good to me over the years; sending phone cases, charging cables, and cable organizers when I was still figuring out what Fatherhood Reloaded wanted to be. And even though I tested a bunch of other stuff along the way, their gear is what’s still in the car, still on my desk, the case on my personal phone, and still in my wife’s daily rotation. This isn’t a perfunctory “thanks for the package” post. This is me finally giving a proper nod to a brand that’s quietly made my everyday tech life better.

Why Smartish?

First, a quick who-they-are. Smartish is an Austin, Texas outfit that’s been around since 2009. If the name “Silk” rings a bell, that was them too—they rebranded to Smartish in 2019 but kept the same “take the product seriously, not ourselves” DNA.

That Austin vibe shows up in two important ways:

1. They build practical gear that doesn’t feel precious. It’s designed to be used, tossed in a bag, dropped on the driveway (…look, it happens), and used again.
2. They put their money and time into causes that actually mean something locally—more on that in a second.

The Human Factor: Support that feels like… people

Look, products matter. But the people behind the products matter more. Every time I’ve corresponded with Smartish, it’s been personable, funny when it should be, and direct when it needs to be—none of that stingy, straight-line, whiteboard corporate tone. It legit feels like emailing a friend or a good acquaintance. I get less personable emails daily from coworkers I see regularly. That human approach is a huge part of why they’re one of my favorites.

The Stuff We Actually Use (and Keep Using)

Cable Wrangler (desk sanity in a brick)

If you’ve ever spent a full minute fishing a charging cable off the floor from behind your nightstand like some desperate spelunker, Smartish’s Cable Wrangler is the cure. It’s a weighted, grippy little block with a magnetic top that keeps cables where you left them. Mine lives on the desk; the bigger one wrangles the chaos on my nightstand. Magnetic collars are included for non-magnetic cables, and the base doesn’t slide around. It just works, every single day.

Crown Joule (the car cable I never replaced)

I’ve run the Crown Joule cable through hot summers, cold mornings, and more coffee runs than I should admit. It’s fabric-wrapped, reinforced, and charges fast. I’ve used the universal/“multiverse” version for a few years now, and it has been a life saver, covering and at some point charging, every single family member’s device. They back it with a lifetime warranty, which is the kind of confidence I like to see in something that gets bent, tugged, and slammed in a console lid.

Charge Dinghy (Jenna’s MagSafe daily driver)

Jenna’s charger of choice is the Charge Dinghy, a MagSafe-compatible puck with a long USB-C cable that keeps her phone docked and topped up without fuss. It’s the kind of “set it and forget it” accessory that blends into your life—no overheating drama, no weak magnets, just a dependable charge.

Wallet Slayer & Gripzilla

On the case front, Smartish has two standouts: Wallet Slayer (Vol. 1 and Vol. 2), their built-in wallet case that lets you ditch a bulky billfold, and Gripzilla, their heavy-duty case with hard backplate and MagSafe compatibility.

The “Why” Behind the Brand (and why that matters to me)

Smartish isn’t just shipping widgets out of a faceless warehouse. They’re Austin-based, and they channel that “Keep Austin Weird” energy into a company that actually supports its community—specifically the four-legged kind. They partner with the Austin Humane Society, sponsoring a cat “Meownsion” and a dog “Pup Pad” (yes, the names made me smile), helping cover medical and dietary needs while animals wait for their forever homes. They’ve also created animal-themed cases and support AHS events. As a dad raising a kid to notice where companies put their time and money, that lands.

What This Looks Like in Real Life

• School mornings: The Cable Wrangler keeps cords from swan-diving behind the dresser while I’m grabbing a quick top-off before we head out. No more cable fishing expedition before coffee. Small win, big mood difference.
• Errands and appointments: The Crown Joule lives in the car because it’s the one cable that hasn’t frayed, peeled, or given up. It’s also long enough to reach the backseat when needed.
• Evenings: Jenna plops her phone onto the Charge Dinghy while we’re wrangling everything else. It clicks on, lines up, and does the job.
• Travel: Wallet Slayer lets me carry the essentials (ID, card, emergency cash) without playing pocket Tetris. Gripmunk’s saved me from more than one parking-lot facepalm.

None of this is flashy. It’s the kind of reliability you only notice because your gear isn’t driving you crazy.

The Details That Win Me Over

• Design with purpose. Grippy textures so you don’t yeet your phone. Air-pocket corners so the drops you do have aren’t catastrophic. Cable collars so the organizer works with the cords you already own. It’s all the “someone actually thought about this” stuff I appreciate.
• Longevity + warranty. They stand behind the gear with a straightforward warranty. Translation: they expect it to last, and so do I.
• Not another Amazon lottery. Could you find cheaper? Sure. But Smartish consistently hits that sweet spot of quality > gimmicks, and I’m not burning time re-buying the same thing every few months.

If You’re New to Smartish, Start Here

• Desk/Nightstand: Cable Wrangler (or the Bigger Cable Wrangler if you’re taming multiple cords).
• Everyday cable: Crown Joule—pick your flavor (USB-C/USB-C or the universal).
• Charger: Charge Dinghy MagSafe charger for iPhone (and Qi2-compatible devices).
• Case: Wallet Slayer if you want to ditch the wallet; Gripmunk if you want light, grippy protection.

A Quick Note on Philanthropy (and a case I love the idea of)

If you’re the type who likes your purchases to do a little good, check out their “Keep Austin Adopting” case and their “Case for Paws” pet-themed cases as part of their Austin Humane Society partnership. Tech that protects your phone while helping pets find homes? That’s an easy “yes” from me.

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Final Word

Smartish isn’t the loudest brand on the block. No stunts, no helicopter-drop videos—just well-made gear that solves daily annoyances and a company that shows up for its community. That matters to me as a dad, a tech, and a human. That’s why Smartish earns our FR Tried & Trusted badge.

So, Smartish—thanks for the gear over the years, but more importantly, thanks for making stuff that’s earned its spot in our everyday life.

—Michael

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Editor’s note: This post is not sponsored. Smartish has sent review samples in the past; there were no strings attached here. As always, opinions are my own. Fatherhood Reloaded occasionally uses affiliate links, which never affect what I recommend.

Part of Brands We Actually Use—real gear we rely on daily.