ProMaster’s Rugged CINE SD Card and Combo Card Reader Transform Your Workflow

Apr 21, 2025

Kate Garibaldi

A ProMaster device and a rugged 128GB SD card rest on a mossy branch with blooming cherry blossoms. The image features the Petapixel Showcase logo in the corner.

ProMaster’s popular Rugged CINE memory cards are aimed at photographers and cinematographers looking for industrial strength and high-speed performance. I tested the Rugged card’s speed paired with ProMaster’s new USB-C Combo Card Reader and Hub for a winning combination.

As a photographer who dabbles in cine, I want cards that can handle both the speed of photographing bursts of high-resolution RAW photos at fast frame rates and the demands of recording high-quality video. When the opportunity came up to test ProMaster’s already widely acclaimed 128GB UHS-II Rugged™ CINE SDXC memory card and new USB-C Card Reader & Hub for 2 SD Cards, I jumped at the chance.

Packaging of two tech products placed on autumn leaves. Left: A red and white package for a 128 GB Rugged CINE UHS-II SD card. Right: A black box for a card reader and hub with USB 3.2 and HDMI support. Both are surrounded by green foliage.

First Impressions

My first impression based on looks alone is that I appreciate that the memory card is red. If you’ve ever dropped one of these little cards on the ground, a traditional black SD card is very hard to find, so that eye-catching color is a welcome change of pace. Additionally, I could instantly see this card in my memory card folio compared to others, knowing immediately that the red card was the ProMaster Rugged. It’s a small thing, but I like it.

Packaging of a 128GB Rugged Cine UHS-II memory card by promaster, partially submerged in water with green leaves surrounding it. The packaging highlights features like shockproof, waterproof, and fast read/write speeds.

Now, when I pulled it out of the packaging for the card reader, I could instantly feel that the material was high-end. It feels like painted aluminum or at least rigid plastic; tapping on it gives that satisfying metal-like tick. I then noticed the USB-C plug and all the ports; there were so many ports. This must be why ProMaster calls it a “hub.”

I tested the SDXC card on several devices, and it worked as promised. I just popped the card in my camera, hit format, and was ready. The less I need to worry about my memory card when shooting, the better.

Rugged Stats

I had no issues creating photos or videos, and the card kept up with high-speed burst photography, only stopped by me maxing out my camera’s internal buffer. The SD card has a 300MB/s read speed and 260MB/s write speed. It is a UHS-II speed class 3 card with a V90 video speed class rating. It is also UHS-I backward compatible, so you can use it in your legacy devices without issue.

ProMaster advertises that the Rugged aspect of its card’s moniker is not taken lightly. ProMaster says the card’s molded design, “a unique manufacturing process,” makes the card up to three times stronger than typical memory cards. The company promises that industrial-grade internal components deliver maximum protection against water, humidity, extreme heat and cold, and even impact. The write-protect switch and thin plastic ribs typically found on standard SD cards are absent here “to offer additional protection against physical failure.”

A red SD memory card lies on dry leaves and twigs, surrounded by plants with pink and green leaves. The card is partially embedded in the ground, blending with the natural debris around it.

As for the extreme temperature protection, ProMaster says its new CINE SDXC card can withstand temperatures from -13 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit (-25 to 85 degrees Celsius) and can survive full submersion in water for up to 72 straight hours. Hopefully, I’ll never need to test the heat or 72-hour water protection claims, but it’s good to know the card can handle an icy winter photo adventure.

A person holds a 128GB SD card labeled "RUGGED Line" under running water, demonstrating its water resistance.

That said, I did put the whole card underwater, got it all up in the mud and dirt, and gave it a hard time to test the all-weather, shockproof, and waterproof rating. After wiping it off with a disposable wet lens wipe, the rugged card kept going like nothing happened.

A close-up of a red 128GB SD card labeled "RUGGED CINE," partially covered in soil, resting on white flower petals with a green blurry background.

A ceramic bowl with green glaze and brown rim sits on a wooden surface, filled with water, pink flower petals, and a 128GB memory card floating on top.

Double Card Reader Full of Slots

Back at home with a full memory card, I was able to try out the USB-C Card Reader & Hub for 2 SD Cards. With fast cards like a V90 UHS-II SD card, a reader that can keep up and not bottleneck the workflow is key to moving data quickly and efficiently.

With such a straightforward name, the USB-C Card Reader & Hub for 2 SD Cards delivers as promised, and I can already foresee this as my “daily driver” for readers. It literally has everything in one device. It’s even smaller than two of my other card readers while having double the slots.

Both sides of ProMaster’s reader are filled to the brim with ports, including two SDXC, two USB-A 4.0, one USB-C 100W PD, one USB-C 4.0, and lastly, an HDMI-A. Right away, a feature that I found neat was that it could take two SD cards at the same time. My camera also takes two SD cards, so to pop both in the reader at the same time lets me grab a full camera’s worth of pictures at once.

I also appreciate that the main plug for connecting the reader/hub to your devices is USB-C, so it’s not taking one of the few precious USB-A ports on my desktop or laptop. The hub’s built-in USB-C is permanently attached via a SuperSpeed+ USB cable. Using a high-end cable like this maintains the fast data transfer speed when looking at the entire ecosystem of a fast card, reader, and cable to bridge the gap.

A black multi-port hub with USB and HDMI slots rests on a moss-covered piece of wood. Next to it is an orange SD card partially inserted into a crevice in the wood. Background is blurred, showing natural textures.

A multi-slot card reader with USB-A and USB-C connectors rests on a mossy tree branch. Below it, a red SD card is partially inserted into the reader. The background is blurred greenery.

My Lightbulb Moment

However, all the tech stats aside, I had a lightbulb moment. That this reader has a USB-C means that I can plug the thing into my phone and grab pictures from my SD cards on the go! Now, even from the field, if I just want to look at files larger or share them straight with my editor or team, I can upload them right from my USB-C-equipped Android phone.

A screenshot of a smartphone file manager displaying a list of image files. Each file is labeled with a name like "DSC1097.JPG" with sizes ranging from 20.09 MB to 27.03 MB. The directory path is shown at the top. Battery level is at 29%.

Additionally, and this is where the hub part of the name comes into play, the reader has features I rarely see in other card readers such as a 100W USB-C PD (power delivery) port enabling pass-through charging; this means that you can plug in and charge other devices like a phone, tablet, or laptop. Another feature I haven’t seen before, on the top of the reader, is an HDMI-A port to connect a monitor, which is great for devices like a phone or a laptop where you have very few ports to spare.

As I mentioned, I could plug my phone in, so if you like to work from your phone or tablet, like I do, you could plug this reader in, and use it for grabbing your files, charging, as well as attaching an external monitor. Now I see what they mean by calling it a hub.

ProMaster Rugged CINE SDXC Card and Reader: I Love This Rugged Card and Port-Filled Hub

While PetaPixel has tested a number of card readers in the past, few compare to the sheer amount of ports that ProMaster brings to the table. Plus, the whole hub for charging aspect sets this unique combo reader and hub apart from standard memory card readers.

As for the SDXC card, the amount of manufacturers making SD cards is enormous, and many are jumping on the bandwagon to create cards with an extra durable rating. Extreme ruggedness often comes at a performance cost or exceptional monetary cost, but ProMaster’s Rugged CINE SDXC card is fast and affordable. ProMaster tells me they have been manufacturing their Rugged memory cards since 2016, making them a market leader in this technology.

A black ProMaster USB-C card reader with an attached cable lies on textured wood. A 128GB Rugged SD card is placed on top of the reader.

While ProMaster sponsored this hands-on of its 128GB UHS-II Rugged CINE SDXC memory card and USB-C Card Reader & Hub for 2 SD Cards, it was for my honest opinion. If I didn’t like it, I would say so, but I’m honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed the combo. Cards and readers are often a mundane part of our kit, but these little devices become a big deal when they offer a quality-of-life improvement to crucial aspects of our workflow.

A black ProMaster card reader with a USB-C cable and a 128 GB SD card are placed on brown leaves and surrounded by green and red foliage.

I expected to be more excited about the card due to its speed, but I loved the reader more because of its wide variety of ports, which makes it such a useful all-in-one device. If I had to nitpick, the only thing I would say that I would improve is that the ports are wide open. I wish it came with some kind of a case or sleeve because I think rattling around in my bag, it will get dirty. So, I plan to keep the reader in either a plastic sandwich bag or at least zipped into one of the inner accessory pockets in my backpack to minimize risk while hiking or traveling.

The ProMaster 128GB UHS-II Rugged CINE SDXC memory cards are $130 and the newly released USB-C Card Reader & Hub for 2 SD Cards is $50. Both are in stock, and ready to ship from ProMaster’s site. They are a very welcome part of my photo kit now, and I think other photographers and videographers should consider adding each to theirs, too.

Welcome to a PetaPixel Showcase, in which our staff gives you a hands-on with unique and interesting products from across the photography landscape. The Showcase format affords manufacturers the opportunity to sponsor hands-on time with their products and our staff, and it lets them highlight what features they think are worth noting, but the opinions expressed from PetaPixel staff are genuine. Showcases should not be considered an endorsement by PetaPixel.

Image credits: Kate Garibaldi