The Gear You Need to Work from Anywhere
Two different apartments in New York City, a house in suburban New Jersey, a ski cabin in the Poconos mountains, and a shotgun house in New Orleans: these are just a few of the places that have stood in as my “office” over the past year. And I’m not alone in that. The pandemic turned working from home into the norm for many, and it was only a matter of time until that became “work from anywhere.” But just because you’re away from home, it doesn’t mean your work setup has to consist of squinting at a tablet with a rapidly dying battery. Wherever you’ve decided to post up, here are a few things to pack that will help you stay connected, productive, and organized.
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Roost adjustable laptop stand
You don’t realize how badly you need a laptop stand until you use one. It brings the screen up to eye level, meaning you can maintain a more comfortable, healthier posture over the course of the work day, and is actually something you can easily travel with if you find the right one. The Roost stand is the best I’ve tried: it’s intuitively adjustable, lightweight but sturdy, and folds away into an easy to stow carrying sleeve. Rumor has it a new and even better version of the stand is on the way this summer, so it might be worth holding off just a little longer before buying.
Logitech K-380 multi-device Bluetooth keyboard
If you finally give your back a break and invest in a laptop stand, you’ll need a few other accessories to round out the setup, including a portable keyboard. Options abound, from flimsy sheets of cheap plastic to mechanical powerhouses that will run you triple digits. This one hits a sweet spot. It’s small, sturdy, and a joy to type on once you get used to the circular keys. Despite its packable size, it still has a bit of heft to it, so you really feel like you’ve got a keyboard under your fingers and not a toy. You won’t have to worry about running out of juice either: Logitech says the pre-installed AAA batteries will run for two years.
Logitech MX Anywhere 3 mouse
You’re going to sacrifice ergonomics for portability with a travel-friendly mouse. But, for most people, this little gadget from Logitech will be just the right solution for an on-the-go office. It is designed to roll on just about any surface and is packed with high-end features like a USB-C charging port, multi-device pairing, and horizontal scrolling. All of this in something so small and so light you’ll forget you’re even carrying it.
Anker PowerExpand+ 11-in-1 hub
We’ve all been there: setting up for a day of work at a café in an unfamiliar city and quickly realizing you forgot that one dongle you need for your memory card or tablet. No more—this is the one dongle to rule them all. The USB-C hub comes with 11 different ports for everything you could possibly need, including super fast charging, separate SD and microSD slots, an Ethernet port, and two different connection points to link up with external monitors. Best of all, it’s less than an inch thick and comes with a snazzy carrying pouch.
Skyroam Solis Lite Wi-Fi hotspot
For many people, a reliable internet connection is the top priority when it comes to remote work. Traveling with a Wi-Fi hotspot means you don’t have to leave anything to chance. Hotspots from Skyroam provide a 4G connection by tapping into the cellular network wherever you, without the sky-high roaming rates of your cell phone plan. Options to buy or rent a device as well as a whole range of pay-as-you-go or monthly subscription data plans means you can customize your setup to fit your needs. While there are fancier hotspots, including in Skyroam’s line of products, the Skyroam Solis Lite is the most well-rounded option for most people.
Peak Design Tech Pouch
I travel as light as possible but, due to my work, I am often carrying at least three hard drives, a dozen memory cards, and a veritable spaghetti bowl of cords. All of that fits comfortably and neatly into the Tech Pouch from Peak Design, a company that specializes in innovative gear for travelers, photographers, and traveling photographers. Using a packing system that combines multiple pockets with an accordion-like opening mechanism, the result feels like magic. To really master the organization game, combine the tech pouch with Peak Design’s other pouches and excellent Travel Backpack.
Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones
Sometimes you need to tune out the world to tune into your work. These wireless, noise-canceling headphones—which we’ve previously called the best around—are just as useful on long, loud flights as they are in crowded coffee shops. The ability to pair to two devices means it’s easy to be listening to a Spotify playlist in one moment and joining a conference call the next. They also make music sound absolutely incredible. Best of all, with 30 hours of battery life, you can generally go a couple of days without hunting for yet another outlet.
