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. :)
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, 2×8GB USB thumb drives with personal/professional files + apps, wallet, keys.
I currently use a eddie bauer bag ti carry the following
Msi Wind w/ mac os x for personnel use
Mighty mouse bluetooth
Shure headset for skype, calls, and music
Dell d6400 for work
Iphone 3g for work calls
Blackberry Bold for work email
Nokia n82 for personnel use and photos on the go
pen and notepad
Just Upgraded!!
Fujitsu P1620 (From HP2133)
Iphone
Canon G10 camera
BT mouse
USB 3G modem
retractable USB cable.
USB TV tuner
2×16GB thumb drives (1 with documents backup and 1 with all installed programs backup in case of computer crisis)
If I’m out for a longer period I’ll throw in.
Tekkeon Battery
Kensington slim 120w charger and tips
USB cable kit and retractable network cable
external HDD for photo backup.
After getting the P1620 only a day or so ago I can’t imagine going back to a netbook and a paper notebook.
Gordon
I usually carry a black Samsonite backpack (if away for more than a few hours) or a black Samsonite laptop bag.
As for the gear:
eeePC 901 (black, 2GB RAM and 32GB fast SSD, Windows 7RC)
Vodafone USB HSDPA modem
MS Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000
MS Zune 30GB w/MS Premium Earbuds
MS-branded pen
MS-branded Swiss Army Knife
Pack of Kleenex
Polaroid sunglasses
If going somewhere where pictures might be worthwhile, I also add my Kodak V570 camera (whose art-deco styling I very much love!) and of course chargers for everything are also a must if going away for more than a day.
In my pocket I always have my Palm Treo 680 and Sandisk Micro Cruzer 8GB USB stick (attached to my keys)
This pretty much takes care of my needs wherever I go, but I do have a current wishlist:
3G phone (maybe the Treo Pro if it goes down in price, maybe a Blackberry Bold or Storm)
Amazon Kindle (if they eventually make a GSM one available in Europe)
Belkin Mini Surge Protector with USB charger
1/For Small gear bag (my pant pocket):
-Iphone 3G 16GB and extra kensington battery for iphone.
2/For medium gear bag (maxpedition jumbo style but more small bag):
-Wibrain b1h with extended battery and novatel option 950 hsdpa usb modem, targus 4 in 1 stylus, sony cybershoot compact camera and iphone 3g 16gb.
2/For big bag (eastpak messenger medium bag):
-macbook white, novatel option 950 hsdpa usb modem, extre battery for macbook white, and iphone 3g 16gb.
-And in other bag my olympus e-520 with 14-42 mm lense with manfrotto tripod and one extra lense (zuiko 50mm digital macro), and extra battery for the dslr.
Note: In my car ever carry a kensington 150w ac/dc converter, and the gps mount car with power adapter for wibrain.
I regularly carry the following in a no name messenger bag:
- Asus EEEPC 701/4G running XPSP3/Office03 for some IMAP emails, work, Skype – covers 99% of my computing needs away from the office.
- High capacity battery for the EEE
- Sony earphones for Skype
- ZTE MF622 USB HSDPA modem – double sided taped to the back of the EEE screen.
- Nokia E71 – Quick emails, Garmin GPS, personal wifi hotspot, and of course phone.
- Ringbinder notebook.
- Charger for EEEPC & Nokia
- 40GB portable hard drive
- 8GB thumb drive
- Pen
- Small LED torch
- Pack of tissue, name cards, pocket calculator – love the instant on
Coach Lily Satchel (today this is the purse I am carrying):
Sony P
Fujitsu u810
extra extended u810 battery
iPhone 3G
iPhone charging cable
Kensington Power Port (recharges my iPhone)
I don’t need a USB modem because both of the above have internal WWAN. While both the P and u810 may seem like overkill, I can use the u810 to do surfing and answer light posts but if I have serious work to do I prefer the P with a full-sized keyboard.
In my black leather Fossil tote bag (I switch back and forth between this and various Coach bags)…
Dell Mini 9 (running OS X) in a Built NY sleeve
Dell charger
USB SD card reader and a spare 4GB SD card (8GB is in the Mini)
iPhone 3G
Retractable iPhone sync cable
Earbuds
Extra large red Moleskine cahier
Pen case full of Staedtler Fineliners and G2 pens (and my empty fountain pen)
Sunglasses
Wallet
Makeup bag and other girly essentials
I can work pretty much anywhere with the Mini 9 and my iPhone…it is awesome.
Hi guys..
Just want to share what I carry everyday on my Crumpler Skivvy (M) Bag :
1. Sony Vaio UX1XN
2. Fujitsu U1010
3. iGrado headphones
4. Iphone
5. Blackberry Storm
6. Portable Iphone Battery
7. Portable Motorola battery with Micro USB Converter
8. 4GB Tiny Flashdisk
9. Cables (Iphone, MiniUSB, VaioUX, and Fujitsu)
I use Vaio UX and Fujitsu U with Iphone as wifi router, so I don’t need to carry extra 3G modem
I should choose between Vaio and Fujitsu though…
It is definitely an overkill…
:-p
I use a Brenthaven bag I bought for my 12″ Powerbook which long ago died. IN that bag I have:
Asus 1000HE
PSP
Neuros HD (BIG but open MP3 Player)
Mouse
Powercord for my Asus and one for the PSP.
Digital Camera
Various Cables
USB Fever USB charger
My medicine
Bag full of thumb drives
250 GB External USB drive.
Whatever gadget I am reviewing.
Louis Vuitton Reporter PM containing:
Fujitsu U810 (to be replaced by Viliv S5 in a week)
Cowon D2 16gb + Sony MDR-EX500
Panasonic Lumix LX3
iPhone
32gb USB flash drive
I plan to buy a folding bluetooth keyboard and mouse, but probably won’t carry it around everyday as I rarely have to create contents, but transactions I have to make on the go are pretty much impossible on iPhone (no java) so I just need a small windows machine.
Using a Crumpler executive bag for:
HP TC1100 – slate, no keyboard. In its original executive case. Looks like a regular notebook. This TPC is the core of my music consulting business; notetaker, music notation, etc. all inked. I live in ms one-note.
O2 XDA Zinc – media player and e-book reader. no sim card. Document generator, am very proficient with Graffiti)
Nokia E61 – email machine, skype via fring. I use a 3G sim card for always-on connectivity.
A 8GB thumbdrive with Portable Apps installed.
A Maxtor 320 GB external case for back up.
Motorola S605 Stereo BT for use with Zinc (stereo) and E61 (headset)
usb cable with different tips for charging.
i do not use any voice plans, all data with skype in and out.