Speaking of USB SSD adapters, I use a lot of the garden variety USB-3.1 Type-A to SATA adapters and enclosures here.

But I only just this week discovered the joys of UASP, and have since been busy replacing some of my gear with these more capable versions.

Eg.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0736JB1NV/ (not yet tested)
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B072JW2SB7/ (UASP works very well)
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B072JW2SB7/ (UASP works very well)

With spinning rust it hardly matters, but for SSDs over USB, the difference is 430MBytes/sec versus 240MBytes/sec max with the non-UASP variety. And nicer CPU utilization regardless.

The only problem is that one does have to carefully scour reviews to ensure a device that advertises UASP really does have it. I've returned one (thus far) to Amazon for false-advertising.