When the Road’s Your Office, This Is the Gear You Need
Our seven favorite products for working smarter, quicker, and more caffeinated on the road
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The office worker tethered to a landline and desktop is giving way to new breed of desk jockey—someone who works on the road at co-working spaces in adventure towns across the country or halfway around the world. For those who’ve been de-cubicled, we’ve rounded up the essentials to make your mobile office not only more functional, but more enjoyable as well.
WD My Passport Wireless Hard Drive ($140)
Life on the road is hard on your electronic gear, and few things are worse than losing months of work when your computer mysteriously goes haywire. This wireless, one-terabyte hard drive lets you connect up to eight devices at once to easily backup all the important files from your computer, phone, or tablet in minutes. Plus, it features an SD drive that allows you to dump photos and then view them on the go via your phone or tablet.
Timbuk2 Stealth Folio Laptop Sleeve ($49)
From the outside, the Stealth Folio looks like minimalist laptop sleeve. But open this sleek, water-resistant case and you’ll find a fully padded pocket for your 13-inch laptop, plus ample storage for cords, chargers, a mouse, a notebook, and other accessories, thanks to an abundance of neoprene pockets and organization loops.
Looptworks Upcycle Coffee Travel Kit ($150)
A great cup of coffee is essential for a productive workday, and this portable caffeine kit includes everything you need for the perfect cup. There’s a Hario mini hand grinder for fresh grounds, an Aeropress coffee and espresso maker, Nossa Familia Full Cycle beans, and a Klean Kanteen insulated tumbler mug for sipping. Everything comes conveniently packed in an upcycled leather travel bag with removable bike handlebar straps.
Skullcandy Grind Wireless Headphones ($90)
These Bluetooth headphones check all the boxes: comfortable enough for all-day wear, excellent sound, 12-hour battery life, built-in mic, and leather accents to give them a touch of class.
Anker PowerCore 20100 Portable Battery ($42)
Keeping all your devices charged is half the battle when you’re working on the road. In test after test, this portable battery tops the charts. Though it’s just 6.5 inches long and 12.5 ounces, the PowerCore is powerful enough to fully charge your iPhone seven times.
InCase Path Backpack ($80)
Faux-fur lining and padded pockets and pouches make the inside of this backpack like a day spa for all your gear. But we loved it for its crisp, modern design that didn’t make us feel like a middle-schooler.
Moleskin Professional Notebook ($23)
The Professional version ups the functionality of the classic Moleskin with designated page layouts for organizing key tasks, planning projects, and setting personal and group goals. All pages are numbered with an index in front for reference, and there are perforated pages for tear-out to-do lists and a pocket in the back for storing receipts and other paperwork.