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Here’s my list of items in my portable office. Most of these design weapons are always in my kit, regardless of where I am. I’ve also got a personal network set up so that I can gain access back to the home base and grab any digital tool that I may need and not have access to, although I’ve learned over the years that having direct retrievability is the best solution. Internet access may not always be possible.
In the interest of full disclosure, I started an affiliation account with Amazon, and many if not all of the links contained on this page will be pointed at the Amazon website. At the time that I’m writing this – I’m without an income – so if you’re so inclined – please click away.
I’ve had a Chrome messenger bag for over a decade. When any of my other’s fail – this is the go-to pack for the traveling office. I’ve carried the Mac, 2 iPads, Phone, drawings, field measuring tools, material samples, 2-3 hard drives and all needed chargers & portable batteries to countless meetings and work sites for years & the only thing that’s happened are coffee stains on the shell. Well worth the investment.
In order to get around TSA guidelines about a buckle most agents don’t understand – I picked up this Everki Messenger bag at MicroCenter a few years ago, and never really unpacked it after the trip. It even protected my gear thru a car accident that destroyed my car. Go easy on over-packing though, the zipper finally failed on me after years of abuse, so I switched back to what I have now. I will be buying another in the future. The comfort and organization is pretty great.
My personal workhorse for years. Upgraded the RAM & to a 2TB SSD Crucial Hard drive. This machine has been bulletproof for all graphics, media, and photography projects that I’ve done for YEARS. If you’re looking for value – I’m an Apple fan. Over the years, I’ve swapped batteries, fans and one WiFi card, but have only had one machine. Running Parallels and Windows 10, plus current versions of all software – my 8 year old MBP still churns thru the workload. Highly Recommended.
The indispensable tool for Architect’s. I’ve used this for everything. Sketching, reading, communications, web-calls, streaming, project punch lists, writing, editing… truly an amazing tool. Sketch out a design solution, create a list of needed parts, share it with the phone and hit the hardware store. And then pack it with you for video calls at the family cottage with family members who couldn’t make the trip. My iPad pro is vital. And to think, I spent a couple months waffling on whether or not to spend the money on my first one. It’s still in use as a web and e-reader as its aged out of iOS support.
I’m hardly the first to sing its praises but this tool, when combined with the iPad is truly amazing. Its actually 99% of the reason I purchased my second iPad. The thing that I appreciate the most from the standpoint of digital creation, is the ability to share and edit. I’ve been on the fast-track path for so long that the ability to share a sketch across platforms, or open in Photoshop, include a sketch in an email is a key component in creating & communicating ideas. Combined with the keyboard (and now bluetooth mouse) the iPad package is a necessity for creatives.
This particular item turns field verification from a 2-person task to a 1-person endeavor. Never again is it necessary for someone to be holding the ‘dummy end’ of the tape when doing field verification or site documentation. I added this to my go bag when I was flying around the country doing retail development work, and it’s been a god-send for my field work. At the time I purchased mine, there were companies starting to use a bluetooth connected laser to generate Revit models on the fly. I was researching that as a viable means for delivering existing conditions drawings.
For measuring the short distances, where a laser tape is overkill or just for spatial awareness in the office when designing a desk – the tape measure is an essential tool to have in the bag. Buy one, treat it right and you won’t need to purchase a second one for a long time. Put your name on it somewhere or its going to get borrowed a lot, without a way home.
Not just for tracing profiles for floor tile. This handy profile gauge might not be a daily user for the go bag – but it’s proven itself useful many times for historic preservation work and modeling of existing conditions. Need the dimensions of a 1900s window frame? Profile, trace and measure it out later.
This space was once reserved for a digital camera, but with the ability to make short films on the phone, these days its the pinnacle all-in-one device that virtually everyone possesses. I think that it was the iPhone 5 that finally killed my Nikon point-and-shoot camera because the auto-focus and lighting couldn’t compete with something smaller that I already had with me all the time. I’m also playing with apps for the phone that field measure and document existing buildings.
From time to time, you’ll find it necessary to take notes on a building without ruining the existing conditions. For that, I’d recommend 3M Painter’s tape. I’ve done 127-room hotels with a couple rolls of 2″ wide and a Sharpie Marker. Doubly handy to have around when masking off an entire guitar body or a paint scheme on a 3D print.
Not just for tracing profiles for floor tile. This handy profile gauge might not be a daily user for the go bag – but it’s proven itself useful many times for history preservation work and modeling of existing conditions. Need the dimensions of a 1900s window frame? Profile, trace and measure it out later.
With a bag filled with devices, the ability to charge those items on the go, becomes vital. I’ve got 2-3 of these within reach, and they’re worth their weight in gold. No power strip on the plane – here you go. iPad dying in the middle of a punch list? Problem solved. Child having an episode because their phone just died – problem solved. As much as focused silence is sometimes a very necessary part of the day – it really sucks when you need to accomplish a task and can’t because your gizmo just ran out of juice. There’s always one in my travel bag.
The next bunch of items fall under that ‘Be Prepared’ motto that I learned as a young man. Portable power, portable data and the ability to repair things on the fly has come in REALLY handy over the years.
I have and use a mountain of these. Back up drives, primary hard drives, drives dedicated to video, music, movies, photography, architecture, project archives… You could say that I’m a digital pack rat. But, when you’re in a pinch and need to VPN back to the home network to grab a personal project or presentation done years earlier – having all that handy is a benefit. Data is valuable, and access to it is important. I don’t know how many times that having my archive drive on me or accessible has shaved hours off a task. SSD is preferred, the heads won’t skip on you on a drop or if someone slams into your gear while traveling.
Another handy little device to have around, and getting cheaper almost by the day is the USB Jump Drive. I’ve usually got 2-3 of these in the bag, one of which contains most of my personal Revit library. You never know what office you’ll be working in without that custom chair that you made for previous a project.
The others are dedicated to projects and swapping necessary files at meetings when you’re in the middle of nowhere and wifi won’t let you connect to DropBox.
And because I’m literally an Eagle Scout, I usually have a multitool in the bag. Pro Tip though – don’t try and pack it in a carry-on. You never know when you’re going to need to cut, screw, repair, saw or snip something. I usually also carry a few screwdrivers that fit the Mac for anything that might happen on that front.
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