I just got back from Microsoft Build, which was in Seattle, and it always feels like I'm going somewhere. Whether it's CES in Las Vegas, Computex in Taipei, IFA in Berlin, Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii, the Valnet offices in Montreal, or even just a few days in New York for something or other, there's always something on the calendar.

For me, there's a science to traveling. Everything that goes in my bag has a purpose. And I like a good deal of options when I travel. Will I read, watch a movie, or work on that flight? I'm prepared for whatever I want to do at that time. Here's what I always carry.

7 Pixel 9 Pro XL

It can replace a camera in a pinch

If I'm going to a product launch, I've always got my camera (Sony ZV-E10) with me. But sometimes, particularly at trade shows, things just move too fast for that kind of gear. In a pinch, a Pixel 9 Pro gets the job done.

I've been using a Pixel for occasional work photography since the Pixel 4. It used to make a big difference to turn on Night Sight, even in proper lighting, but these days, the hardware is good enough to just take a great shot.

For that reason, I've always got a Pixel in my bag, no matter what other phone I have with me.

6 Lenovo Go USB-C Laptop Power Bank

Who really wants to carry cables?

This might sound strange, but I really don't care for breaking out charging cables in public places. They're unwieldy, and it anchors you to an outlet. On top of that, I don't even know if whatever event I'm traveling to has easily-accessible outlets. The same goes for whatever plane or train I'm on.

The Lenovo Go USB-C Laptop Power Bank is my portable battery of choice. With 20,000mAh of juice and 65W output, it can handle anything from earbuds to a phone to a laptop.

On top of that, it has its own attached USB Type-C cable that stays tucked away until you need it. There's a USB-A and USB-C port if you need those too, but usually, all I need to take out of my bag is the battery.

I've always got a battery with me though. You just never know when you're going to need it.

5 Shokz headphones

I can't live without them, no matter where I am

There are only a handful of products on this list that don't specify a model, and this is one of them. That's because I'm so invested in Shokz that I have three: OpenRun, OpenRun Pro, and OpenFit.

Shokz primarily makes bone-conduction headphones, something I started getting into because I'm on so many meetings many days that my ears started hurting from earbuds. They changed everything, and they're so much more comfortable.

I usually have OpenRun Pro in my bag, but that's not what I use on a plane. There's too much vibration, and that doesn't mix well with bone conduction. OpenFit is Shokz's version of truly wireless earbuds, and those aren't bone-conduction, so they work a little better. It's still not perfect, but at least for me, I avoid putting earbuds in my ears on flights because the pressure messes with my ears.

4 iPad (A16)

It's my everything device for consumption

This is probably the most "basic" item on the list, but I've always got an iPad with me, no matter where I go. I use it to read, watch shows, and for a bunch of other things. And I download all of it before I leave my house.

I've tried switching up to various Android tablets, but let's face it; the apps are bad. I download shows and movies for offline viewing from Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV+, and whatever else. If one of those apps fails, as they often do on Android tablets, I'm stuck not being able to watch what I want to on my flight.

I also download books from Kindle, DC Infinite, and Marvel Unlimited, so those apps have to work too. Seriously, I create a whole library of things to entertain myself on a flight.

And there's no way I'm relying on in-flight Wi-Fi. For one thing, it's slow. For another, airlines are terrible. All of them are terrible. Delta may have announced that Wi-Fi is free for SkyMiles members, but it's more likely than not that you'll find out on your plane that it's not supported there yet. American charges absurd amounts of money just to use Wi-Fi. It's a mess.

Download what you want and you won't have to worry about it, and you can enjoy a break from messages from the outside world for a few hours.

3 Peak Design Everyday Backpack

It's perfect for security checks

I've been using a Peak Design Everyday Backpack for a few years now, and I love it. Folks that work security checks have even complimented it, because with the way it's designed, you can unzip the side and see everything that's inside. You don't have to sit there and open compartments for this type of thing.

It's also just a solid bag. The compartments inside are adjustable so you can fit things of different shapes and sizes, and of course, there's a sleeve for my laptop and iPad. Naturally, there are pockets on each side for holding a water bottle or beverage of your choosing.

2 A 5G laptop

Always-on, always-connected PCs are a life-saver

I didn't pick a specific 5G laptop because there aren't too many good ones right now. Out of Copilot+ PCs, the only consumer product with cellular capabilities is the Surface Pro, and the rest are commercial products, many of which aren't sold in the US.

But I'll bring last-gen products with me too, such as the HP EliteBook 1040 or HP Dragonfly G4. Connectivity is more important than anything else.

It's way better than trying to use slow airport Wi-Fi, and at an event like CES, it's clutch. CES is a great example because that show charges an obscene amount of money to use its slow Wi-Fi, but it goes for any show where the network gets congested. 5G is more secure too.

But mostly, it's about convenience for me. I want all of my things to just be connected to the internet all the time, which shouldn't be too much to ask in 2025.

1 Gunnar Optiks Tahoe

The best you can get for eye strain

I love all Gunnar glasses, but Tahoe is the best one. Right away, I have to tell you that this particular model is one of the only ones you can't get with a prescription, but if you don't need one, this is the one to get.

A few years ago, I had some health problems that led to a doctor asking me how often I take aspirin, and like doctors do, I got yelled at. But what was I supposed to do? I would get headaches almost every afternoon. The doctor said it was from staring at a screen all day and recommended blue light glasses.

That advice changed my life.

I always recommend Gunnar because it's a quality product, and there's a wide range of styles and partnerships to choose from. Aside from the various in-house styles, Gunnar teams up with Razer, Blizzard, Marvel, and more. You can choose your tint, blocking anywhere from 20% of blue light all the way up to 98%. 'Amber' is the standard, blocking 60%, and that's what I prefer, but if you need more color accuracy, 'Clear Pro' is worth a look.

Tahoe uses mineral glass, and having used various Gunnar glasses for a while, you can feel the difference immediately upon using these. I wish there was a mineral glass option for all of its products, but obviously that would make things complicated.

Wherever I go, I'll be looking at a screen, so wherever I go, I've got Gunnar Tahoe glasses with me.

Some other non-tech travel tips

When I started traveling more and more for work, there was a lot of trial and error before I got into a streamlined routine. There are a lot of airport perks that'll just make you feel more like a human being, but if you've never had them or if you don't travel much, you won't see any value.

• Global Entry: Global Entry costs $100 for five years, and many travel credit cards will pay for it. On its own, it speeds up the customs process when you reenter the United States, but it also comes with PreCheck, meaning you get the shorter security lines and you don't have to take off your shoes or belt.
• Lounge access: There's an array of lounges you can access and an array of ways to access them, but it's worth it. At the least, you get free food and drink, and just a place that's not as chaotic as the rest of the airport. They also have their own Wi-Fi (in case you forgot that 5G laptop), and some even have showers. Don't think you need an airport shower? Wait until you have 16 hours of air time split up between two flights, and the second one is overnight.

I could go into more details about what I do when I travel, but there are plenty of those tips available on actual travel sites.