Tag: EDC

Posted on

Productivity Overload: Must See Notebooks, Pens, And Organization

These are the best options for people looking for new notebooks, pens, or organizational items to elevate their productivity. You could find a pen anywhere, but after you’ve used a finely crafted writing instrument, it’s hard to go back to any old Bic.

Pens

  • Baron Fig’s Squire Pen is an excellent pen which is perfectly balanced, weighted, and neat looking. There’s also a click-button version of the Squire which runs a little bit cheaper, but doesn’t quite have the same look.
  • Squire may be a classic in the making, but the Fisher Space Pen is already a classic and hard to beat for that study, go-to pen. It even writes upside down (obligatory  Seinfeld reference).

Notebooks

  • Despite Moleskine’s long history, Field Notes has become the first thought in personal carry notebooks. In addition to quality pages, the quarterly themes are a fun way to mix things up. The current space notebooks are especially exciting.
  • Rhodia is constantly heralded as one of the highest quality paper notebooks. Like all the other competitors, Rhodia offers a variety of size and styles, but the classics shine for a reason.
  • For a hardcover, lay-flat option, Baron Fig has the Confidant. Available in multiple size, the Confidant is a great hardcover option for a reasonable price.

Organization 

  • In terms of desk items, Baron Fig’s Mastermind is a neat way to keep your notes in front of you. They also offer an alternative to Sticky Notes with the Nomad. It comes in a graph option as well.
  • Got a lot of cables laying on your desk? Check out Bluelounge’s CableDrop Multi for a sensible solution.
  • Bellroy has a really nice leather notebook case which also fits a tablet, business cards, and a few miscellaneous items. If you’d rather something simpler, Bellroy’s Pencil Case is also handy for collecting your items.

 

Posted on

The Best Travel Cases For Electronics For Under $50

You probably carry a bunch of electronic devices with you when you travel, but do you have a really good way to carry all the cables and chargers that go with those devices?

Almost everyone uses a toiletries bag to keep their personal care goodies organized when they travel – why shouldn’t we have the same for our electronic gadgets?

3 Key Features of a Tech Travel Organizer

After putting several electronics bags through the wringer over the years, here are the three main factors I consider when evaluating a tech travel case:

  1. Size: The size should be wide enough for your laptop charger, but not so bulky that you can’t fit it in your backpack or purse.
  2. Versatility: Make sure that there are enough pockets and straps to suit all of your gadgets, laid out in a way that will work for different cables and devices as your electronics change over the years.
  3. Price: If you want to throw down, that’s your prerogative, but, in the end, this is a bag for cables and small electronics. There are plenty of good-looking options for under $50.

Here are four the best options I’ve found – all of which meet the criteria above.

Bellroy Classic Pouch – $49

The curved nature of this “pouch” makes it feel smaller than it actually is, but still holds a bunch of cables and chargers–including being long enough to hold an Apple Pencil.

Aer Cable Kit – $45

With a book-like opening on one side and an open compartment on the other, Aer hits a lot of the needs for organization while remaining thin and manageable. The Cable Kit also has a handle, so you can use it stand-alone, if that’s all you want to carry.

Incase Nylon Accessory Organizer – $49.95

The Nylon Accessory Organizer is similar to Aer’s Cable Kit with a book-like opening, but provides a few more pockets, straps, and internal organization options.

There’s a very similar Incase Travel Organizer which is $10 cheaper if you’re looking to save a few bucks.

Topo Designs Accessory Bags – $19

This bag is just that, a single pocket bag. While it’s not the best option for a lot of situations, it’s flexibility allows it to be useful far into the future. It’s also stylish, well constructed, and provides plenty of space.

Throw in some cables, cards, chap stick, coins, adapters, and then throw it in your bag. Sometimes it’s freeing just putting miscellaneous items in a place to keep them from floating around.