For many DJs, the days of lugging their records to the club are long gone. Even CDs can be a burden. By putting your music onto a USB stick, you save tanks of time and effort preparing for a DJ set. Plus, analysing your MP3, WAV or AIFF files through Rekordbox gives you access to information like tempo and key and helpful tools like folders and sort options make for a stress-free organised set, too.
For digital DJs, a USB stick is a no-brainer. But what constitutes a good one? Write and read speeds are important, and could be the difference between waiting an hour to export your tunes or just ten. If you’ve got loads of music, storage is key, too – it’s often worth paying that bit extra for more and having your whole collection in one place. Lastly, a sturdy design prevents bent or snapped USB sticks once the drinks tab is in full flow.
We’ve listed some of the most reliable USB sticks on the market right now. Have a gander below.
Our picks for 7 of the best USB sticks for DJs:
- Corsair Flash Survivor Stealth
- SanDisk Extreme Pro
- SanDisk Ultra Fit USB 3.2
- SanDisk Ultra Eco USB 3.2 Flash Drive
- Transcend JetFlash 920
- SanDisk Ultra Luxe
- Kingston DataTraveler Max
Corsair Flash Survivor Stealth
- Storage options: 32GB – 1TB
- Weight: 37g
- Price: $19.99 – $179.99
Corsair Flash Survivor Stealth might look like a military-grade rocket launcher. It is, however, just an extremely durable USB 3.0 memory stick made to last in demanding environments. It’s housed in waterproof anodized aircraft-grade aluminum, which makes it a solid choice for the globally-touring DJ. Think Solomun in a swamp. Tiesto in the Amazon rainforest. Nina Kraviz playing techno inside the Large Hadron Collider. You get the idea – it’s durable.
Asides from allowing you to take your DJ set absolutely anywhere, the Flash Survivor Stealth also offers up to 1TB storage. It can also take 40G of SSD shock, meaning its more heat-resistant and quieter than other USB sticks.
Find out more at Amazon (US) or Amazon (UK).
Sandisk Extreme Pro
- USB type: 3.1
- Storage options: 64GB – 1TB
- Speeds: 420 MB/s read, 380 MB/s write
- Weight: 17g
- Price: $28 – $173
The Sandisk Extreme Pro is a high-performance USB stick designed for a fast-paced DJ lifestyle thanks to its cheetah-like read and write speeds, made possible by USB 3.1 Gen 1 capability. While it may not have military-grade encasing, its robust aluminum build enhances durability, while the retractable connector design safeguards it when not in use.
Find out more at Amazon (US) or Amazon (UK).
SanDisk Ultra Fit USB 3.2
- USB type: 3.2 Gen 1 (USB-A)
- Storage options: 32GB – 1TB
- Speeds: 400 MB/s read and write
- Weight: 1.28 grams
- Price: $8 – $76
Sometimes it’s not all about size. Sandisk’s Ultra Fit, with a height of just five millimetres, packs up to 1TB into one tiny little unit. Who would have thought you could take your whole DJ set around on a device no bigger than your thumbnail?
The newer USB 3.2 iteration of the Ultra Fit touts faster read and write speeds of up to 400 MB/s — more than double the previous USB 3.1 version. And at 1.28 grams, it’s practically weightless too.
The Ultra Fit makes this possible. Its tiny size means there’s no chance of a drunk reveller — or DJ — mistakenly bumping into it and snapping or bending your USB while it’s in the CDJ. For those without massive collections, the 32GB model can be had for under $10, so it’s also an incredibly capable budget option too.
SanDisk Ultra Eco USB 3.2 Flash Drive
- USB type: 3.2
- Storage options: 64GB – 512GB
- Speeds: 100 MB/s read
- Weight: N/A
- Price: $10 – $50
Built with the planet in mind, the SanDisk Ultra Eco flash drive incorporates over 70 per cent recycled plastic, including from disposable water bottles, reducing CO2 emissions, freshwater usage, and energy consumption by over 50 per cent during manufacturing. With storage capacities up to 512GB and transfer speeds up to 100MB/s, it efficiently preserves what’s important to you. It also lets you store your absolutely belting dubplates, which is also important.
Buy it at Amazon (US) or on Amazon (UK).
Transcend JetFlash 920
- USB type: 3.2
- Storage options: 128GB – 256GB
- Speeds: 400MB/s read
- Weight: 10g
- Price: $38/$57
The Transcend JetFlash 920 features a USB 3.2 Gen 1 interface for rapid music transfers. Its compact design, with a durable metallic and aluminium casing, and retractable connector enhance portability and prevent damage. With two storage capacities available, it caters to DJs seeking fast and dependable on-the-go storage while darting from gig to gig.
Buy it on Amazon (US) or Amazon (UK).
SanDisk Ultra Luxe
- USB type: 3.1
- Storage options: 16GB – 512GB
- Speeds: 150MB/s write, up to 150MB/s read
- Weight: 7.5g
- Price: $11 – $52
SanDisk really is the big dog in the USB stick game, in storage terms aswell as design. The SanDisk Ultra Luxe blends style and functionality with its sleek metal design and substantial storage capacity. The Ultra Luxe offers high-speed USB 3.1 performance, making for swift music transfers on Rekordbox. Its compact size and premium finish make it an elegant option for those valuing both performance and aesthetics in the booth.
Find out more at Amazon (US) or on Amazon (UK).
Kingston DataTraveler Max
- USB type: 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-A or USB-C)
- Storage options: 256GB – 1TB
- Speeds: 1,000 MB/s read, 900 MB/s write
- Weight: 14g
- Price: $35 – $99
Kingston’s DataTraveler Max may not win many points for style, but its simple exterior houses a pretty mighty flash drive. Thanks to its USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface, this stick is capable of up to 1,000 MB/s read and 900 MB/s write speeds.
Configuration options nclude 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB capacities and USB-A or USB-C connections. Which you choose will depend on your setup — USB-A iwill be compatible with the vast majority of hardware such as CDJs, while USB-C might make sense for those with laptop setups.
Outside of its impressive specs, the design is highly functional too — you won’t lose grip of the textured casing even in the sweatiest of clubs, while the sliding cap is easily operated with one hand. Plus, you can attach it to a keyring so your record collection is always in your pocket.
Find out more at kingston.com
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