I’ve previously taken you on a virtual tour of tech I use in my home office. This time, let’s take a peek inside at the tech in my bag and see what type of gear I use to keep myself charged, connected, and organized when I’m on the go.
Computing Tech In My Bag
As a consultant, I travel quite a bit. I try to travel as lean as possible; I’m just not into hauling a ton of stuff with me. Let’s take a quick spin through my backpack to see what keeps me productive, powered, and connected while on the road.
OnePlus 7 Pro (GM1917)
My taste in phones has changed over the years. I was an early iPhone adopter back when it was first released. After a few iterations there, I switched to Windows Phone for a period of time (don’t judge me). A few years ago, I jumped to Android and haven’t looked back. I’ve been rocking the US version of the OnePlus 7 Pro for about 6 months now and absolutely love it. It’s a beast of a phone with top notch display, a great camera, and 6gb of RAM. I love the dual-SIM functionality because I can handle both personal and work numbers on the same phone. My only two critiques are the curved screen (not a fan) and the lack of expandable storage (not available when using two SIM cards). I’m definitely sold on OnePlus.
TIMBUK2 Q Laptop Backpack
I’ve had a number of bags that I have enjoyed over the years. This bag from TIMBUK2 is a good option. I dig the styling. The two main sections offer plenty of storage and there are 4 smaller zippered compartments for organizing smaller items. It is lightweight and I absolutely cannot do without its built-in bottle opener. It is not waterproof — or even water resistant — but that has not been an issue for me.
Anker PowerCore 10000 Redux
I’ve been a fan of Anker products for the past several years. I’ve been impressed with the quality and functionality. This is the portable power bank that I keep in my bag in case mobile devices fall a bit short.
Jelly Comb Organizer
What a fantastic thing! With its two large zippered pouches, this organizer keeps all my cables, USB accessories and adapters well organized. The interior is also bright green which makes everything super visible. The quality is outstanding — even the textured zipper pulls are extra grippy. Very well designed.
Razer Atheris Bluetooth Mouse
I’ll be honest: I actually don’t mind using my laptop’s trackpad for doing my pointing and clicking. I suppose I’ve just gotten accustomed to it after years on the road. However, there are times when a mouse does come in handy. I purchased this one due to its insanely long battery life and the positive reviews. I have no complaints.
NET-DYN Wireless USB Adapter
This is more of a just-in-case type of item. I think we’ve all been in a situation where your laptop’s wireless capability just craps out — or that of a colleague. It’s handy to have one just in case. I chose this one because it’s a bit beefy so it won’t get easily misplaced. It is a bit old, so there may very well be newer technology out there, but this is what I carry.
DuoTen Bluetooth 5.0 Wireless Headphones
I wanted to dip my toes into the world of “truly wireless earbuds” without shelling out $150+ USD. I did a little bit of research and found these. They will definitely not win any product awards, but they are inexpensive (~$40 USD) and I have been quite happy with them. The sound quality is great. The battery life is more than ample. They can be used independently if you just need single-ear functionality (with either earpiece). They are comfortable. I’ve never heard any complains on call quality. And, like many others, they recharge while sitting in their case in your pocket. Not bad for the price.
Conclusion
That’s about it; the main pieces of tech in my bag. I don’t carry around anything else really — perhaps a few hotel pens, an umbrella, some snacks, hand sanitizer. Your turn. What kinds of items do you carry? Anything that I should consider adding to my pack?
