I'm very lucky that I get to test and review lots of different tech products for this channel, and as a result, some of them have become a part of my everyday essentials. Whether it's improving my productivity, adding convenience to my creative workflow, or simply enhancing my entertainment experience, tech has become an integral part of my daily routines. Obviously it isn't practical to bring all of these devices with me when I travel, but there are a handful of items that make the cut. So in today's video I'm going to show you what's inside my tech bag for 2024. If you did want to check out any of these products for yourself, I've left links to everything in the description below. Hey pals, welcome back.
So, let's jump straight in with the bag itself. This is the TI EDC Backpack from Big Idea Design. I backed on Kickstarter at the end of last year, and I've been using it as my main tech bag since it arrived a few months ago.
I really love the design of this backpack. It's minimal without being impractical, and I really enjoy the titanium hardware, which gives it a bit of extra character without being too overstated. I actually found this bag while I was researching my all-titanium everyday carry video. and some of its features really appeal to my needs as a video creator. It has a 25 litre main compartment and an expandable front pocket which unrolls for an additional 10 litres of capacity.
There's also a separate section for quick access to my MacBook Pro which is large enough to accommodate a 16 inch laptop. It's absolutely covered in pockets and also includes this organisation tray allowing you to separate your belongings using these velcro dividers. These are usually an optional extra for most luggage brands so it was nice to see this included within the price.
It's Quite a large bag, which might not be for everyone, but the straps are super thick and comfortable, which is ideal for those long travel days, especially if like me you have a tendency to overpack. Right, let's get this off the desk. I feel like I'm hiding behind this right now, so we'll do things individually from here. So like I said, at the back we have my laptop and it's absolutely crazy to me that after three years my 14-inch MacBook Pro from 2021 is still smashing out all my creative projects.
In fact, it performs so well that I actually returned last year's M3 model because it didn't feel like enough of an upgrade. I've already talked about this laptop in multiple videos, so I'm not going to give an in-depth review, but it really shows how good Apple Silicon is. The M1 Pro chip is showing no signs of slowing down, and still powers through GPU-intensive tasks with zero issues.
When you consider its impressive performance, wide range of ports, and incredible 120Hz display, I think this version of the MacBook Pro represents one of the best all-round devices Apple has ever made. Obviously we're getting pretty close to the end of a refresh cycle, so while I don't really feel the need to buy a new machine just yet, I could probably be persuaded by a big design change, an OLED screen, or maybe even just new materials like natural titanium similar to the iPhone 15 Pro. But we'll just have to wait and see. Speaking of the 15 Pro, even though I've got access to a lot of professional camera gear, I've really started to enjoy the ease and simplicity of capturing moments using my iPhone.
Especially now that it can shoot in a log profile for more flexibility in post. It's really impressive how far mobile photography has come, and the 15 Pro is... is a surprisingly capable tool for creatives. But the thing is, those ProRes video files are pretty massive.
So this is a device that I've started taking with me on all my trips. It's a solid state drive made by Lexar that comes with this silicon case that can attach to the back of your iPhone using MagSafe. This allows you to make use of the USB-C transfer speeds on the new iPhones and capture footage directly to the drive. This helps keep everything organised, rather than just adding to the digital landfill that is my Photos app, and massively improves interoperability between my devices.
There's no doubt AirDrop is a convenient solution for quick file transfers, but it's really slow for anything larger than a couple of gigabytes, so being able to quickly offload footage is a huge quality of life improvement. I've been using the Final Cut Camera app a lot since it was released a couple of months ago and the SL500 really complements this setup. Just plug it in and you're good to go.
with no additional setup required. Also, just look how tidy this is. Obviously this case from Nomad also has MagSafe built in, but there's a stick-on ring included in case yours doesn't.
So yeah, I've been really impressed by this. So I usually carry two types of chargers with me on my travels, one for powering my devices on the go, and another for more static charging when there's a wall socket available. Previously, I was using the Shargeek Storm 2, which is a really unique power bank with this cyberpunk-esque transparent design.
but I found it to be quite hefty, which isn't always ideal for portable charging. This time around, I've replaced it with the Shargeek 140 power bank, which has a slightly smaller battery capacity of 20,000 mAh, but it's much slimmer and lighter than the Storm 2, and also has a higher max output for dual port charging. There's only two ports, a USB Type-C and another Type-A, but to be honest, I rarely, if ever, use more than one at a time, and I think the trade-off is worth it for the smaller size. Just like the Storm 2 has a small display, which provides information on wattage and remaining charging time.
I'm also really glad ShardGeek have carried over the transparent aesthetic. It's really cool being able to see all the circuitry and internal components and I think the 140 looks a lot more premium with this monochrome color option. I usually keep it in one of the bag's side pockets so it's easier to access and I can use it without needing to take everything else out my bag. In my last Tech Vibe video I also talked about this Trio Wireless Charging Pad from Satechi.
It's a good option for overnight charging but I found it to be a bit slow for when you just need a quick top up so I recently replaced it with this 3-in-1 charging station from Anker. which still has everything you need to power your main devices but also makes use of the Qi2 standard to allow for up to 15 watts of wireless charging. I like this style of charge I find it's much easier to fit inside a bag rather than using one of those folding cube things that seem to be popular at the minute. It's also much less likely to move around and damage your other devices. It's not the most premium device I've ever used but the materials and construction are good enough and the main charging pad also has this folding design which means it can be used with standby mode which is a pretty nice feature.
A couple of USB ports for a bit of extra functionality would have been nice but for all intents and purposes it's a pretty decent charger. I don't really have much else to say about it. So for my headphones I'm using the Sonos Ace.
I've already made a dedicated review on these which goes into more detail about the specs and features, but within the context of how I use them as part of my everyday tech carry, these are my first choice when it comes to listening for longer periods. I've been on a couple of flights this summer and these were a perfect companion for those trips. Super comfortable, excellent audio quality and insanely good ANC.
I know there's a lot of competition in the premium headphone space but you really can't go wrong with these, especially if you already own a Sonos soundbar. which means you can also make use of TV Audio Swap at home, which is a really cool feature. I like these a lot.
This one is a bit more niche, but travel isn't always luxury, and I can't tell you how glad I've been when I've brought this with me on some occasions. So this is the Nebula Capsule 3, and it's a portable projector capable of producing a 1080p image up to 120 inches wide. It only has a max output of 200 ANSI Lumens, so you'll obviously need to be in a darker environment to get the best results. But this provides an insanely good experience for such a tiny device.
There's this little camera here that automatically calibrates the focus and keystone correction. It literally takes seconds to set up so you can move it around without having to worry about diving into the settings to readjust everything. It's using Google TV's operating system and has all the usual streaming apps but you also have the option to connect other devices like a gaming console or a laptop using the HDMI input. The built-in battery lasts for a few hours which should be long enough to catch up on a couple of episodes at least.
and I'd say the speakers are pretty decent for such a compact device. You're also able to connect your Bluetooth headphones for the ultimate portable movie experience. You've probably spotted this mini tripod that I have it resting on, which is actually part of the iFootage Cobra 2 monopod. Not only is this a great place to mount your projector, but also a really useful solution for all manner of things really. There's a spring-loaded 3.8 mounting screw on the quick release plate, which reveals a smaller quarter inch thread when pushed down, providing an incredibly versatile range of compatibility without needing any adapters.
I mostly use it for my camera gear. It's obviously not as sturdy as a dedicated tripod, but it's perfect for travel and it can collapse down to a really manageable size too. There's also a telescopic middle section which gives you a ridiculous amount of height adjustment, making this an incredibly helpful tool for solo filmmaking. Speaking of camera gear, there's quite a lot that comes with me on my travels, but I'll save this for a future upload on my production process and how I make my videos, so make sure to subscribe if that sounds like something you'd want to watch.
For now, I'll just say that I'm still using the Sony a7 IV as my main camera. even though it can feel a bit cumbersome for travel. So I've been thinking about maybe picking up a smaller second body for this. I haven't really started doing any research yet though, so let me know in the comments if you have any recommendations for me to check out. This is another one that I feel like I've talked about in way too many videos, but unfortunately it's 2024 and we still haven't got an updated Nintendo Switch.
I remember buying this in like 2019 and feeling worried that there might be a new model announced shortly after, but turns out there was nothing to worry about because the Switch has now been out for like seven years and we're still waiting. Despite incredibly dated hardware, the Switch still provides one of the best handheld gaming experiences and it's such a good way to pass the time when traveling. So in addition to my larger tech items, there's a number of small miscellaneous items that I find particularly valuable for travel. The first AirTags probably goes without saying but it's nice to have a bit of extra security when you're carrying high value tech products.
I hide one of these in both my tech bag and my main suitcase so I know exactly where they are at any given moment. They're pretty great, I just wish they were a bit more discreet. Obviously they're bright white which doesn't help. and mine seem to make that chirpy noise all the time which is probably going to give the game away to any would-be thieves.
But nonetheless, better to have a couple of these thrown into your luggage for peace of mind. You've probably spotted this capsule that I've attached. This is a titanium key cache made by Wingback and it's basically a place to hide some emergency cash just in case I lose my wallet or something.
It's a bit extra but I think it's cool and has a really clean design with some nice knurling on the exterior. It's also got a rubber seal which should keep whatever's inside safe and dry. This is the Key Organizer Pro from Orbitkey.
This is a fairly recent addition. Basically it holds all my keys in a neat stack so they don't bounce around loose in my bag and scratch up my other devices. I've been using these for years but it's really cool to see OrbitKey innovate on such a popular product.
The Pro has a couple of new features like the quick flip tool which is super satisfying and an updated hardware post that's now spring-loaded for easier assembly. It's also a fair bit bigger than the original which I like so I've added their multi-tool attachment and a USB-C thumb drive for a bit of extra functionality. I know I already spoke about this in last year's video, but this is a tiny video light from Aputure that's also pretty useful for illuminating small spaces. It's got a pair of really strong magnets on the back, which gives it a lot of extra utility compared to using your phone or a torch, and it actually has quite a lot of output for such a small device.
Finally, I always carry a bunch of these lens wipes from Zeiss. They're better for screens than using a microfiber because they don't leave any streaks and they get rid of skin oils and residue really easily, which helps keep your tech devices looking box fresh. So there we have it, that's everything inside my tech bag for 2024. I hope you enjoyed the video, see you in the next one.