8 Awesome Office Essentials for Digital Nomad
Traveling and working at the same time isn’t like being a tourist. That’s why packing the right remote office gear before setting off is essential.
Without the correct tech gear, your working day can become a nightmare instead of a shiny adventure full of Instagram photos. You need to find things that not only fit into your backpack, but also ensure a comfortable and productive work environment.
As a Front-end developer at Pragmatists, I’ll mostly focus on products that suit programmers/UX. I will present my choices to you, and offer suggestions on where you can delve deeper. I am not selling anything or getting paid for it ;)
I won’t elaborate, however, on the computer itself; I’m 100% sure you have the one you already love.
Backpack
Let’s start with your backpack, in which your remote office will be stored.
I could write a whole new article about backpacks. When you do minimal travel, backpacks define the way you organize your day-to-day life. If you travel with a suitcase, it’s a matter of how much you can take to your temporary office, or for a weekend trip.
Before buying an expensive backpack or carry bag, try to define the most likely uses, and anticipate the problems you might face. I recommend buying a decent bag and to test it beforehand, or to at least make sure you’ll have the option of returning it for a full refund. 20L is not always as much as you think. It needs to be extendable, waterproof, comfortable, and needs to fit with your everyday outfit somehow. To read more, look at Matterful. This guy is crazy about bags and backpacks.
Right now, I’m in possession of a Peak Design Travel Backpack, an Everyday Backpack, and an Errant Pack by Boundary Supply. I am in love with them and can’t imagine life without.
Peak Design Travel Backpack
While choosing a bigger backpack, I was considering both Peak Design 45L and WANDRD HEXAD. Both are well designed in terms of weight distribution on your shoulders and back, they are waterproof, and the materials and zipper are bulletproof. Why did Peak Design win?
It has 3 configurations. Amazing, isn’t it?
30L for use as a day bag, which really works for me. In this configuration, I can fit my laptop, food for a long day, gym clothes and some extras. I’m aware that a 30L bag can look better. It’s a bit bulky, but I can accept this, as after a long day, I just do groceries and simply expand the bag so I can fit all I need. This configuration is also good value for weekend trips if you want to leave your base and visit some more remote cities. There is one “no no” — the rear ventilation is not good enough to travel by bike, which is passable with other 30L bags.
A 45L configuration meets the international max carry-on standard, which is a second configuration of this bag. I usually use it for groceries or travel. I choose this one for travel mostly because of Peak Design’s packing cubes, designed specifically for this backpack. Each one has a compression zipper, so you can fit additional clothes. It makes traveling more organised. I’m a bit crazy about it, especially when a bag is all I have with me. You can get an extra 10L by using expansion zips, which I’m not a big fan of. The expanded area is rather flat, so you can’t fit anything square and hard. (Update: it is cool after all, but you have to unzip the compartment.)
I do recommend trying different organization cubes — they might work better for you, and there are no hard and fast rules here. For example, I’m always taking one from Decathlon just to have a place to carry dirty laundry.
Personally, I think that Peak Design’s tech pouch takes up too much space, and I prefer just to store my cables and dongles in a small backpack. (The one that you have to put under your seat in a plane.)
One more thing. Sterum strap — the attachable strap on your chest. Better unmount it and hide it in one of the pockets. I’ve already lost mine somewhere, somehow. Be sure to travel with an external carry strap. Should you need an extra one, a travel laundry line will do, and it’s much cheaper.
I’m practically living in this bag for almost a year, not only while traveling, but during my daily commute.
Peak Design Everyday Backpack & Boundary Supply Errant
They can both fit around 20L: Peak Design up to 20, Errant 24. I bought Peak Design first because I love the design of their products.
The Peak Design Everyday Backpack is a good choice if you’re carrying photographic gear, or need some professional organization. After a year of using it, I’d suggest buying the 30L version for everyday use. I’m always missing that extra 4–5L.
To be clear: I’m not recommending it as a second bag for travel, paired with a Peak Design Travel backpack. In my opinion, a better choice would be something more lightweight and foldable; a bag that can fold in a brick not bigger than 15cm and weighing under 300g. Imagine being itinerant, changing your place of stay every week or two. Unfortunately, I haven’t found my perfect bag for that scenario.
Stand
Working remotely doesn’t absolve us of considering ergonomics, especially the level on which your screen, keyboard and mouse are. It’s hard to travel with an adjustable desk and chair, so a laptop stand is a good solution with reasonable effort and weight.
Roost stand
The Roost stand is just amazing, stable enough to hold a 15' laptop. It’s easy to set up and then pack away. Once folded, it is no bigger than the keyboard and weighs around 200g. It is rather pricey when compared to other stands, not to mention you can simply use books or a pot from the apartment you’re currently renting.
As mentioned, the Roost Stand is rather expensive, but I did require one at an Airbnb apartment when I had to choose between cooking and working. I’m always trying to look for a place with a separate desk so I can work, or at least a dining table. This time, my friends were visiting me, so if they wanted to cook for us, I had to work in a different position. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s supposed to be comfy, right?
Besides folding stands, you can choose any options made from wood or cardboard. I wasn’t considering them, however, as I wanted the option of adjusting its height to suit my needs.
Second screen
To buy, or not to buy? This depends entirely on how much screen space you require. I strongly recommend starting with a shorter work-trip without an extra monitor. Give yourself some time, and when you become more familiar with system shortcuts and your own needs, it might transpire that a second screen isn’t, in fact, altogether necessary.
iPad
An iPad plus some software can be a good choice, especially if you have one already. Duet Display works with both PC and Apple devices. I highly recommend this solution, as you have a second screen, coupled with an extra device to play with during your trips. [Always have some offline content on Netflix!] When your laptop is already placed on a stand, it’s good to have all screens at the same level. Here Mountie helps. Mountie is a tiny clip that attaches an iPad to your laptop screen.
Portable Monitor
When selecting a portable monitor, your choice will probably be between three. These are the most common choices according to Google, and are in the top 5 at rankings run by Tech Radar or Expert World Traveler. I haven’t tried them yet. Let me know in the comments if you can recommend any.
- AOC e1759Fwu 17-Inch Ultra-Slim Portable Monitor.
- ASUS MB168B 15.6 Inch USB Portable Monitor.
- GAEMS M155 15.5 Inch HD LED Portable Gaming Monitor.
PowerCube
The PowerCube has become one of my favourite gadgets. It not only lets you connect to a power socket in every country in the world, but also transforms one socket into 3 + 2 USB ports. I have mine from Allocacoc. They have a variety of power cables, so pick the one you like most. Good options both when working from your Airbnb with one socket, or arriving at some coffee shop with no sockets left.
I’m a Mac user, and when I go to a country where I don’t require socket conversion, I simply go with a Baseus Speed PPS. To avoid having to carry an extra charger for your phone, watch or tablet, most smart wall chargers will hit the mark. Just remember to check your laptop’s precise requirements. In the case of MacBook, that is PD Quick Charge 3.0.
Noise-Cancelling Headphones
For me, there is nothing worse than sitting down at the cafeteria and finding yourself next to a loud group of people. Noise-cancelling earbuds fix that for you.
There are plenty of big and very comfortable headphones, however, I decided to use earbuds. They don’t cancel as much noise as the full ear variety, but they are about 10% of the size and weight.
I can recommend Bose QualityComfort 20 for a more expensive option, and TaoTronics Active Nose for those on a budget.
For even less money, you can have earplugs. Standard ones from the pharmacy are acceptable, but I just hate to hear my blood flow. Maybe it’s just my thing!
HASPRO have some option that prevents me from using them in clubs, or sometimes on the plane. They are less expensive and you can’t have a call with a client in them.
Why am I not mentioning headphones without active noise-cancelling? Because they are not enough for me. I tried at least three products before and now my brother uses them. The total cost of my trying to be economical was more than one pair of good headphones. Please think twice about your needs, and try headphones in the shop before. Don’t be me :P
Storage
In most nomad groups, you’ll find portable drive recommendations. I can’t really say that I’m using it, as for the first two trips I had my drive, but never used it. Always travel to Airbnb/hostels with a good internet connection just in case. Personally, I store everything on my computer when I don’t have internet access, but later, I simply upload it to the cloud for added backup and quick retrieval.
What I might suggest, is a flash drive with your system installation/copy just in case everything dies, or somebody steals your computer, and an extra one for photos or sharing something fast with newly met friends.
Shoe dryer
Okay, it's a bit off-topic; not a remote desktop unit really. It changed my life, so I needed to mention it! If you start googling for ‘nomad shoes’ or ‘traveler shoes’, you’ll find extra expensive minimalist pairs. No clue if they are good, as I haven't tried yet. Why do I use a shoe dryer? Because I like to do sports from time to time, and when I have only two pairs of boots for travel, I hate to have one that stinks.
The Internet
I need to start with the fact, that I’m always trying to have a good internet connection at the place I stay. From time to time, the owners might not understand what it means for you. In my case, I ask if they can watch Netflix at home and explain that I’ll work from home, so in case they are not completely honest about their Wifi, it might end up with me leaving the apartment (of course, don’t use words like ‘lie’, or ‘dishonest’).
If there is no reliable internet connection for whatever reason, you can choose one of the companies that offer a portable Wifi hotspot across most countries, at one price. One of the most popular is Skyroam Solis.
Packing
If you’ve already bought all your precious gear, the destination is chosen. Give yourself a week or two to note all your needs. You might require your own mug, or a special medicine that you take once a week. What I’m trying to say is that you won’t come up with everything in one evening or two. Remember also that you’re covering 90% of cases: sometimes, you’ll be traveling rather than at home, so not everything will be perfect. I have an Excel sheet for it, something I truly love. In columns such as toiletries, clothes (cold), clothes (warm), I have all the possibilities I can think of. Later, I simply narrow things down to the bare essentials. This is my way of ensuring that I haven’t forgotten anything.
Summary
In this article, I’ve attempted to cover the most common needs. To be more precise, the things I need during my work-travel experience. Everybody’s working style is different, so only you can complete a perfect remote office. During your travels, you’ll face different situations and visit new places, so don’t try to be prepared for everything. It’s impossible, especially with light baggage.
Please share your favorite remote office items in the comments.
See you — and until we ‘read’ again!
