Cable Matters 5 Color Combo Snagless Cat 6 Ethernet Cable, 5 ft (160021)
A well specified 5 pack of short Cat 6 cables that suits most home networks.
We bought Ethernet Cable, Rankie RJ45 Cat 6 Patch LAN Network Cable - 5 Feet (5-Color Combo) - R1300. It's no longer documented anywhere, so this page reviews the closest well-covered match. It is the same format, a 5 pack of 5 foot Cat 6 patch cables in five colors, from a known brand that publishes its conductor and gauge specs.
The short version
- Home and office setups linking a router, switch, console or PC over short distances
- Anyone who wants color coded patch cables to track which port goes where
- Buyers who want stated bare copper conductors
- You need runs longer than 14 ft from this pack style
- The cable will sit beside power lines or motors and needs shielding
- You need a cable rated for in wall or outdoor use
What owners like
- Bare copper construction and a stated 24 AWG gauge, which many budget packs leave out
- Color coding makes a crowded switch or router easier to manage
- Tested at gigabit and 10 gigabit speeds without packet loss in one independent test write up
Common complaints
- Unshielded, so it is not the first choice beside heavy electrical noise
- Cat 6 is now seen by some editors as dated next to shielded Cat 6A
Based on The Cable Matters product page, the Amazon listing, an independent speed test write up and a How To Geek buying guide. No owner forum thread for this exact pack could be read..
Research scores
Scored from the maker's specs and what owners report. Drew's own notes and photos will refine these.
Ownership
- Nov 2016
First bought.
Drew's hands-on notes for this product are on the way. Long-term updates will be added to this timeline.
What it does
A pack of five 5 foot Cat 6 patch cables in five colors with snagless RJ45 ends; reviewed here in place of the Rankie 5 color Cat 6 pack it closely matches.
- Five colors in one pack, so cables to different devices are easy to tell apart
- Snagless boots protect the RJ45 latch when pulling cables through a desk or rack
- Bare copper conductors rather than copper clad aluminum
- Works with PoE devices and standard RJ45 ports on routers, switches, consoles and PCs
- Backward compatible with Cat 5 and Cat 5e networks
A sound pick for anyone wiring a router, switch, console or desk who wants short Cat 6 cables in different colors and a maker that states bare copper, 24 AWG conductors. The trade-offs are that it is unshielded and that, at home lengths, it will not feel faster than any other properly made Cat 6 cable.
How it compares
Specs
- Category
- Cat 6, unshielded twisted pair (UTP)
- Conductor
- 24 AWG bare copper
- Bandwidth
- Up to 550 MHz per the maker
- Speed
- Rated for up to 10 Gbps
- Length
- 5 ft (also sold in 1, 3, 7, 10 and 14 ft)
- Pack
- 5 cables: black, blue, green, red, white
- Connectors
- RJ45, gold plated contacts, snagless strain relief boots
- Standard
- TIA/EIA 568 C.2 Category 6
- Model
- 160021
Questions
Is a Cat 6 cable fast enough for gigabit internet?
Yes. Cable Matters rates this cable for up to 10 Gbps, well above gigabit service.
Is this Cable Matters cable pure copper?
Yes. The maker lists 24 AWG bare copper conductors.
Does it work with PoE cameras and access points?
Cable Matters lists it as compatible with Power over Ethernet devices.
Can I use Cat 6 with an older Cat 5e network?
Yes. The maker states it is backward compatible with Cat 5 networks.
Sources
- Amazon.com: Cable Matters 10Gbps 5 Color Combo Snagless Cat 6 Ethernet Cable, 5ft
- Cable Matters: 5 Color Combo Cat6 Snagless Ethernet Patch Cable
- DC Speed Test: Cable Matters Snagless Cat6 Cable Review
- How To Geek: The Best Ethernet Cables
Researched 2026-10-02. We bought this product; our page is built from the maker's details and what owners report across reviews and forums. We never copy Amazon customer reviews.
