March 18th, 2019

As an audio visual guy, probably one of the things most people have noticed about me over the years besides my orange hat has been my backpack! My backpack carries all kinds of tools and survival bits I use when I’m traveling to spec jobs or run installs and shows. Over the years what I keep in it has changed, but the purpose is still the same, to have the essentials to survive on the road and not be a bottomless pit of AV mess. Since I get so many questions about what I carry around in my pack I wanted to share a few items with you.

The first item is my backpack itself. This is a North Face back pack really designed for day hikes. This is the second #northfacepack I have owned as an AV guy and the first one lasted over ten years. I love these packs because they have tons of storage compartments, are rugged enough for me to continually jam it under airplane seats and the bright colors help me find it when I set it down right next to wear I’m staging hahahaha. 😉

Inside my pack is the workhorse of Lambda Audio Visual my 2017 MacBook Pro. I have had several MacBook pro’s over the years, and I have been loving this one the best, so far. I use it to design spaces and systems as well as control and program AV systems. It is light weight and rugged being all aluminum.  A lot of folks complain about USB-C but once I found the right set of adapters, I have begun to find it extremely versatile. I can plug anything including the power adapter into any port and I love that.

My #Anker charger is one of my favorite finds. With frequent stays in hotel rooms, VRBO's and just hanging around different conference halls and venues, I need a way to charge all my day to day stuff with ease. The#ANKER charger allows me to plug my phone, my watch and all kinds of other stuff in at the same time on a bedside table or desk and have one small plug that can plug into any outlet i run into. This brings me to some of the devices I love that charge via USB.  This year at Christmas my wife bought a USB rechargeable flashlight for me; it's amazing. I am always needing flashlights while looking through AV systems and though I have owned several, they never got used more than my phone flashlight because the batteries were always dead. The USB on this flashlight allows me to top off the charge the night before I go and use it for at least a few days before I simply plug it back in. ​

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Lots of folks notice my #bosch laser distance tool as the first piece they see on any job. A laser distance measuring unit allows quick measurements of a room with only the click of a button. It also performs verification and leveling of objects in the air. There are a variety of laser units ranging $50 - $300 in price. This is a new unit I just picked up to replace an older unit. Like my flashlight it is USB rechargeable, and as an upgraded feature, it also has a camera for those times when it is hard to see where the laser is pointing, and Bluetooth to record measurements on my phone. I simply couldn’t get through most days without a unit like this.

Not all my gear is about tech. Some of it is comfort for me. That is where my travel pillow and water bottle come in. This travel pillow I picked up in Houston Airport after an extended travel stay during a storm. I never owned one before, but Jolene of Any Screen Inc said I had to own one and now I understand why! This pillow is memory foam and compacts easily so anytime I need to catch a nap in an airport or truck it really does help me to rest. I can’t recommend enough picking one up to take care of yourself on the road. My water bottle is a #YETI bottle and was given to me by owner of Pixel Pro LED, Dave. It keeps my water ICE cold, which I love, all day long. I can put ice in the bottle in the morning and keep refilling it all day. I never have been good at staying hydrated, but doing so keeps me clear thinking and level headed wherever I am.

The last few items I have are based around keeping this backpack of mine organized. My lovely wife has helped me with this every year gifting me new ways to keep things organized. My first item is the#GridIT. It’s a flat 8x10 area covered in elastic straps. I use it to hold all my most commonly used adapters and cables for quick access. It stores upright in front of my laptop in my backpack and lets me easily grab what I need, and make sure I have it all when I leave a venue. The next pieces are these little zippered pouches from REI. I use each one to hold specific types of cables, or devices so my backpack does not become a giant pile of stuff inside. If I need my laptop power adapter I grab the bag with it, if I need my stash of USB cables I can quickly grab the bag with those, or the bag with coffee pods and my foam football.... These are extremely handy and allow me to even quickly unpack my backpack and re pack it when TSA decides they don’t like what they see. ​

The last piece I will include is my #Tile devices. These handy Bluetooth locators I put not only on my keys, but in my suitcases and one in my backpack. They help to make sure I never lose track of all these great tools that keep me functioning on the road. What are the cool devices you keep with you? Do you use a backpack, side pack, or briefcase? Let us know in the comments on Instagram or Facebook!