What’s In Your Gear Bag?
Peeking in someone’s gear bag is always a learning experience, and it’s fun in a voyeuristic way. When we share our gear bag contents with you it always generates good conversations around the whys and hows that determine our gear.
I am just like you in that regard, I love hearing what other folks use in their daily mobile kit, so how about sharing? Leave a comment that details the gear you carry every day, and let’s all discuss it. We’ll all learn something, plus we get to see how different needs create different solutions. Don’t forget to include what bag you carry it all around in, too. We love those almost as much as the gear itself. :)
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Honestly, I don’t carry a lot, and I’m not big on bags either. Here’s what I absolutely must have with me daily:
1. Eee Pc 1000he
2. Whatever phone I’m using. These days I’m swapping back and forth between a Blackberry Pearl and a Napoleon.
3. If I’m traveling, throw and iPod Touch or a Zune on the list.
Other than that, nothing really. I carry the computer in my hand. Everything else goes in pockets.
Bag says Diesel but I highly doubt it is the case as I bought it in Thailand, :) It is green/olive khaki military looking vertical messenger. Flap has two pockets. A large one which has a Puffs tissues and a top one that holds the charger. Front has 3 pen holders: mechanical pencil, sharpie, pen (with highlighter on the end. Sometimes the fountain pen makes it in there. Small sipper in the front holds a screen wipe, 16GB Kingston DT Mini (which actually holds a hackintosh OS), a few guitars picks just in case and a very small USB bluetooth (that I never used). Small pocket right behind the zipper has the iphone cord and random pieces of paper (currently my voter registration, todo list, and a receipt for registered mail.) Bigger compartment right behind this has my glasses (that I need for driving or seeing the board/powerpoint) and a mini stapler. Main compartment just fits the red Dell Mini 9. I put the mini 9 in snug a sleeve my tailor made using a Radtech Macbook Pro sleeve. (No pre-made bag would have fit. I have a Shinza 10.4″ for backpack use). Main compartment has a fake grey snake skin mini (legal) pad holder with a pad in there. (I don’t like the snake skin look. I would prefer my maroon school logo pad that I cannot find.) Up to a half a dozen research papers/articles folded in half fits. There is always a few in there. Side-cellphone picket had my Randolph Aviator sunglasses in its original case. It hangs out so the flap over the sell pocket is not allowed to come down. Does anyone really care? I never cared about this. :)
I am considering a Tom Bihn Ristretto Messenger for the soon to arrive Macbook Air.
Billingham Hadley Pro bag containing:
MSI Wind (2GB Ram 320GB upgrade)+ extra battery.
Livescribe Pulse pen + Notebook
Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse
iPod Touch
Sony Reader
Canon G9 Camera
Blackberry Flip
iGo Charger for all my charging needs
USB – mini USB cable and mike/earpiece cable for Skyping.
Can’t imagine leaving any of that behind.
1. EEE 1000h
2. Nokia N82 or N95-3, depending on how long I’m gone…the camera and battery life on the 82 are great, but the 95-3 has 3g here in the US.
3. RCA Small Wonder (cheap, decent quality video on the go)
4. Nokia N810 (extremely quirky, but easier than using a laptop sometimes)
5. small neoprene zippered pouch for various chargers and memory sticks
6. Burt’s Bees lip balm
7. Nokia CA-100 charger (coolest accessory for anything Finnish).
8. Timbuk2 Commute bag
9. Sharpie marker
Eagle Creek Guide Bag
* Samsung Saga (home)
* Blackberry 8830 (work)
* Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth Headset
* Garmin Nuvi 350
* Canon SX200IS
* Spare battery for SX200IS
* Sunglasses (Numa Tactical SWAT) in case
* Fenix P2D flashlight
* iPod Touch
* Pen and notepad
Waterford Sleevecase with the extra pouch:
1. Vye S37 upgraded with 2GB RAM and 250GB HDD.
2. Both the standard and extended batteries for the Vye (one attached to the system)
3. Logitech Bluetooth laptop laser mouse + a couple spare AA batteries.
4. Sprint/Sierra Wireless USB 3G modem.
5. D-Link 802.11N USB adapter (don’t use this often, but it is small and nice to have when a wireless-N network is available).
6. A couple USB flash drives.
7. earbuds and small plastic storage case.
8. MicroSD card adapter (for reading the card from my cell phone in the Vye’s SD slot).
9. Retractable mini-USB cable.
10. Amazon Kindle 2
I also generally carry my Sprint HTC Touch Pro with me, but in my pocket instead of in the bag.
I think I carry WAY to much with me every day, but I am never at a loss for either something to do, or the tools to access what I need. My current everyday bag is a Tom Bihn Ruck’s Sac. It is a small backpack, but holds a surprising amount. In the pack I carry:
EEE PC 901 (occasionally the power cord)
Kindle 2
A bag of cords/accessories
MS BT mouse
Flip Mino HD
Old Casio PS digi cam (Needs replacing)
Nintendo DSi + a few games
Levenger Circa Notebook/Journal
Dell Wasabi zInk Printer (a new addition)
Blackberry Storm
WD Portable HD
Business Cards + Moo Cards + Akoha Cards
16gb Zune
I also have a small Timbuk2 messenger that I use on weekends when I don’t need the full stash of gear. I have a somewhat dated picture of my gear…some has been replaced like the Kindle 1 for the 2 and the Zune from the Creative Zen.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/seanabrady/3177185798/
Timbuk2 commuter bag
Macbook Pro & charger
Graph paper pad for app design ideas
Latest issue of Linux Journal
Ruby pocket reference from O’Reilly
Spare pens, pencil leads
Laser pointer ($3 in the bargin bin)
Ear buds
Multi-card reader with mini-usb cable
6 ft CAT5 cable
Business cards
LED flashlight (AA Maglight)
Gum/mints/chapstick
Yaesu VX-2 2M/70cm Ham radio
Pager, if i’m on call
1.iPhone
2.HP Mini
3.Cable for the mini
4.iPhone charger
5.Klipsch X10 headphones in a small case
6. A bunch of papers and a couple of books
7. All these in a SwissGear back bag.
I am waiting for someone to come up with a tablet that has:
-keyboard like the vaio P
-size somewhere between the Shift and the P
-capacitive display and an iphone like GUI
-a mature mobile platform that has instant on/off, all basic office software and better power management than the current desktop OS’s
Until then I may switch my mini for a 2140 – I just hate the slow hd the mini comes equipped with…
Just updated my list:
http://runtowin.blogspot.com/2009/05/re-whats-in-your-gadget-bag.html
Basically a netbook (Acer Aspire One), iPhone, Kindle2, Trager Transcontinental bag, spiral notebook/pen, iPhone/USB AC/car charger/cable, 2x8GB USB thumb drives with personal/professional files + apps, wallet, keys.