Hello, friends! Welcome to Bob’s EDC update. I am always on the go for work and I am obsessive about functional design, so I’m constantly tweaking my toolsets to optimize my daily carry. Here’s the go-to list of items that find their way into my daily EDC!

(Note: I’ve included links to all the items on my list where available f you would like to check them out yourself. In some cases, an item may be an older model, so I have linked to the latest product page where appropriate.)

The Bag.

I’m obsessive about bags. I have used more messengers, briefcases, and backpacks than I care to count. My current go-to is the Timbuk2 Command Backpack. It allows me to haul a whole day’s worth of work stuff (including lunch, gym gear, etc.), and it’s ridiculously comfortable to carry for extended periods. It looks good in a business-casual workplace, and it’s great for one-bag work travel for a short trip. I do have some issues with the accessibility and pocket design, but I have yet to beat it for day-to-day flexibility and capacity.

Having said that… we’re moving to an “open space” office design at work, and I’ll need to adapt to a more flexible, mobile office solution. I’m thinking that a bigger messenger bag may meet my needs, and I’m researching solutions at this time (I don’t mind taking suggestions!).

The Laptop. 

I work in digital marketing, so testing things across multiple devices is a key part of my job. I have a Thinkpad, but I much prefer my 13″ MacBook Air for daily use on the go. It’s smaller size and lighter weight is great for running about. Did you happen to notice that MacBook skin in the picture? Kinda cool, right? That’s a natural Stone Skin from Cover-Up, which I am currently evaluating for an upcoming review here on The Gadgeteer. More on that soon!

The Tablet.

I’m experimenting with switching to a tablet as a laptop replacement for day-to-day use. I have a work-issued iPad Air that I can use get 80% of my work done, but the current love of my life is the iPad Pro 12.9″. This is my personal tablet, and I have it tricked out with the iPad Pro Smart Keyboard and the Apple Pencil. With this combination, I can accomplish virtually any business, personal, or creative task that I need to get done.

If you’re wondering about the illustration on the iPad in the photo, that’s one of mine. I draw for fun, and to keep my creative muscles in working order. That piece was done in Sketchbook Pro, but I’m currently digging Proceate as my go-to drawing package. Its integration with the Apple Pencil is amazing.

The Phone. 

I’m an iPhone guy from the first generation, and I currently have the iPhone 6S. It’s got all the function and ease-of-use I need at this point, and I don’t see the need to upgrade any time soon. My phone case is also a Cover-Up product, called the Stone Explorer. It’s also a natural stone material like the MacBook skin. I’ll be posting pictures of this along with a detailed review with my evaluation of the MacBook Stone Skin soon!

The Headphones.

My headphones are the Yurbuds Signature Series Sport Earphones. I hit the gym almost every day and these buds are great for their durability, comfort, and water resistance. Sound quality is not exceptional, but more than good enough for playing tunes & drowning out background noise. The microphone is pretty good for personal and conference calls, with minimal background interference. The wire-wrapped chords minimize tangles, which is an added plus.

The Wallet. 

Last year I picked up a Harvey’s Seat Belt Wallet. I’m a fan. Not only is it a cool eco-friendly solution, but it’s indestructible and really well designed to carry all of your cards & cash without getting overly bulky.

The Coffee Gear.

Life without coffee is unthinkable. I’ve been using an Aerobie Aeropress Coffee Maker for years. As long as you have access to hot water, it makes the best brewing solution out there in a simple, portable package. I also use stainless steel mesh filters instead of paper filters (yes, it does make a difference in flavor!). There is an  endless variety of these filters available through Amazon, but these are the ones I currently use.

I grind my own beans fresh every morning and keep in a classic Ball jar for transport. You can’t beat Ball jars. They keep a tight seal, they’re compact, and they are virtually unbreakable.

The Beverage Mug.

The Force is strong with is my Tervis mug. I love that you can go from hot-to-cold in this double-walled beastie, it is easy to clean, and really tough. They also sell a variety of add-ons for lids and accessories. The only downside to this mug is that the lid is not completely sealable, so you do have to be careful about transport. I’ll probably need to switch to a watertight option if I switch to a messenger bag, but I’m a Star Wars guy. I’m kind of attached to my Stormtrooper mug at the moment.

Accessory Pouches.

I love Tom Bihn products and have owned a number of their bags over the years. Tom Bihn is legendary for the design and build quality of their bags and accessories, all made in Seattle. Pictured here are a set of their accessory pouches that I use to corral all the loose stuff in my bag. There’s a standard pouch (the blue one), a padded pouch that’s great for delicate items (the black one), and a cool little pouch that uses a cork material that I have never seen anywhere else. Every pouch also comes with a built-in clip, which allows me to keep them attached to a ring for easy access when dumped into the bottom of my pack. Check out the Tom Bihn web site for all of their products.

The Ukulele.

I’m an avid ukulele player, and I own several of them. I wouldn’t call myself good, but I compensate for a lack of skill with a ton of enthusiasm. I’ll confess that I normally don’t carry my ukulele… but it felt right to sneak one into the picture. 

That’s the rundown, my friends! If you have any specific questions or comments about my daily EDC, let me know!

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Tagged: EDC, gadgeteer

Gadgeteer team EDC updates – Bob Patterson originally appeared on on March 20, 2017 at 3:25 pm.

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When Julie asked each of us to do an EDC update I thought, “I don’t have that much stuff.” When it came time for me to empty my bag I was surprised how much stuff I could catalog. So, after neatly laying things out and using an orchid/violet item-neutral label, I’m proud to present my daily schlep: 

1. Company issued Dell Latitude E7450. I’d prefer one of the newer touch models with the full HD screen. Maybe the IT fairy will bring me something nice for my next upgrade.
2. Clipboard for keeping things neat and a Livescribe notebook. See item #30 for more details.
3. Company issued High Sierra backpack. I added a LED lamp/reflector for when I’m walking out at night.
4. Power brick for the Dell. Actually, this is for the older model but brick has higher wattage for faster charging and weighs only a couple of ounces more.
5. Mini DisplayPort to VGA. The computer has HDMI, but not every projector/AV system does
6. Cat5 cable and 3.5mm 4 pole audio splitter. Sometimes I can use cat5 wired internet at places with secured wifi. The audio splitter comes in handy once in a while.
7. VGA cable and 3.5mm 4 pole patch. The audio cable and the splitter can be used as an extension cord (with loss of impedence if I actually split the signal, but this is usually for low-quality recording anyway.)
8. SOG Paratool multi-tool. MacGyver should have this model.
9. Contigo Autoseal Randolph stainless steel vacuum insulated travel mug. I like this more than some people. See my review here,.
10. Wallet. The old fashioned, scoliosis-inducing, leather version.
11. Bright green laser pointer. I’ll answer the question I always get now, “No, I don’t point this at airplanes.”
12. Microsoft mouse in an old Jaybirds pouch. Cuz sometimes you just need a mouse.
13. PhotoFast i-FlashDrive CR-8800 iOS microSD card reader. See my review here.
14. Hairbrush.
15. Umbrella. Like my scoutmaster told me: “be prepared.”
16. Keys. I have a couple of things on the ring that are useful: A Huskey Key ring screwdriver with three flats and a Philips compatible blade and also a 8GB USB thumb drive
17. Phiaton MS 300 BA earphones and case. See my review here.
18. A keyboard/screen brush/cleaner. A dusty screen in the midst of bright sun is one of my pet peeves.
19. A micro USB charger for whatever else I happen to be carrying that day. This has an extra long metal part for charging devices with hinges, like my Jaybird Freedom earbuds.
20. Sewing kit. See #15
21. An iPhone charging cable with a 10W power supply. Gets the job done twice as fast on an iPhone 6 or later.
22. Little bag for the Livescribe pen, GoSmart stylus, and scale (ruler).
23. iPhone 6 with what’s left of a Spigen case with an Aluminum ring. The Aluminum fatigued so now its just a rubber bumper case.
24. First aid kit. See #20 and #15
25. A bag of paper towels. See #24, #20 and #15. Actually, I usually have a small bag of tissues, but I need to restock.
26. Business cards, post-its, including a Livescribe Sticky Notes, on a bag for carrying these items and the pens to the right.
27. Gum, a granola bar, and some cough drops (which lasted longer than the tissues…I guess it was more of a cold than a cough.)
28. A 4-color pen, a sleeve for the GoSmart stylus, the GoSmart stylus and a wood-tone scale (ruler). See Julie’s review.
29. A pink Frixion highlighter, mechanical pencil, green highlighter, LED lamp/red laser/stylus/pen combo, and a stain remover pen (that has saved me from embarrassment on more than one occasion).
30. Livescribe case, Livescribe echo pen and Livescribe earphones with binaural microphones (in a pill bottle).

So there you have it. I included a bunch of links for my EDC but leave a comment if you want me to elaborate on anything.

Filed in categories: Articles

Tagged: EDC, gadgeteer

Gadgeteer team EDC updates – Howard Sneider originally appeared on on March 8, 2017 at 6:42 am.

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