Need a USB flash drive but the everyday ones just aren’t tough enough for you? GorillaDrive might be your new data storage best friend. It’s crush- and water-resistant and includes a metal lanyard loop. Plus, it looks tough. Gadget on!
Specs
- Host Interface: Universal Serial Bus 2.0/1.1 (USB2.0/1.1), UHCI (Universal Host Controller Interface)
- Supported Operating Systems: Windows® 10, 8, 7; Mac OS X®; Gaming Consoles (XBOX 360® & PS3™)
- Pressure / Impact Resistant: Up to 250 PSI
- Heat Resistant: Up to 225°F
- Water Resistant: Up to 65 Feet
- Dimensions: 55.5 mm (H) x 20 mm (W) x 10 mm (D)
- Weight: 0.60 oz
- Software Installation: None – USB Plug and Play Technology
- Uninstall Procedures: None – Simply Unplug USB Flash Drive
- Warranty: 2 years
Options
GorillaDrive is available in 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 Gb storage capacities. (16Gb reviewed here)
Packaging
Features, Functions, and Performance
GorillaDrive basically screams “tough” right out of the package. Between its appearance, with its matte black color scheme, as well as its industrial- or military-styled geometry, it looks like a device that darn near dares you to try and wreck it. It appears to be worthy of the term “ruggedized.
Most of GorillaDrive’s exterior, the black portion, is an anti-shock and anti-scratch TPU material. Because it has a matte, slightly rubbery feel, it aids in gripping GorillaDrive, even when it might be wet or slippery. The blue portion is a metal attachment loop. More on this below.
I mentioned the look and feel of GorillaDrive above, and those are both a big part of its appeal to me. Both its main body and cap have a boxy look, with ribbing and angular facets that aid in gripping the components when wet. The whole look reminds me of the U.S. Air Force’s Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter or some type of night-time special ops gear.
Like most USB flash drives, GorillaDrive has a simple cap that protects the standard USB 2.0/1.1 interface. 
The cap even has some facets and ribs to aid in gripping as well, like the main body.
But upon closer inspection, GorillaDrive’s cap isn’t really so “simple.” GorillaDrive’s cap is designed to fit TIGHT. As can be seen in the image above, there is a lip that runs the circumference of the drive, at the base of the metallic USB interface. There is also a mating groove inside the opening of the cap. The combination of this lip and groove are what gives GorillaDrive its claimed water resistance to 65 feet(!). Yes, hypothetically you could go snorkeling with it (not recommended).
As mentioned above, the blue loop on GorillaDrive is a metal attachment loop with the capability to secure the cap when the drive is in use. A lanyard is not included with GorillaDrive, but there are many options, so choose what works for you, like a length of 550 paracord or even a ball chain. Just make sure it’s tough. GorillaDrive does not want to hang from something wimpy.
GorillaDrive is roughly the size of most USB flash drives available today, perhaps a bit larger due to its tough construction.
I’ve been using GorillaDrive in my EDC kit for several months now, and for me, it has performed flawlessly. Although I try to be careful with my tech, it gives me some confidence in knowing that GorillaDrive can probably handle just about any punishment to which I might accidentally subject it, be it a drop on the floor, smashing it with something heavy, spilling coffee on it or even dropping it into a mud puddle.
Conclusion
GorillaDrive is a great product if either a) you are plain careless with your tech, or b) you aren’t careless, but you work in hazardous or extreme conditions. It’s slightly rubbery, matte finish, shape and geometry, water-resistant cap, crush-resistant body and metal lanyard loop are all great features that enable the GorillaDrive to be a bit tougher than a typical USB flash drive.
Update 5/1/20
I don’t use USB flash drives much these days, but GorillaDrive is the one that I do still keep around. It’s the only one that I consider to be tough enough for everyday EDC as well as travel.
Source: This product was purchased with the reviewer’s own personal funds. For more information, please visit http://epmemory.com/ or Amazon to order.
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I bend my flash drives all the time by accident. Normally right at the point between the part that plugs into the pc and the usb itself. Can it withstand this kind of treatment?
Christian, I can’t say with full certainty, but I think that if you are diligent about keeping GorillaDrive’s cap on, it would be mostly likely to prevent the situation you are describing. If not, I think the GorillaDrive would likely fail similarly to other USB drives.
Hope this helps and thanks for stopping by!
I am done with GorillaDrive, I’ve had 2 decide to change themselves to “write protected” while trying to transfer videos and now they’re good for nothing. I can no longer add or delete things on them. Latest one only had 6 months of use…
I have about a half-dozen 16 GB Gorilla drives. They are nice drives, but the Bitlocker option does not exist on them. Discouraging, and makes them useless for encrypting data. If anyone has a solution I would appreciate it.
Purchased the 128G version May 2021. Lasted about 2 weeks and completely died !
Putting drive into computer gives endless loop of dialog boxes (about one per second) saying:
“You need to format the disk in drive E: before you can use it.
Do you want to format it ?”
That’s what you get for buying an expensive “tough” device.
Cheap and nasty ones for me from now on .. they last much longer.