How do you maximize productivity and ergonomics when you travel?
I frequently travel for work.
I also work remotely for a good part of the year.
So, to stay productive and healthy on the road, I invest wisely in my travel gear.
I choose each piece of equipment specifically to maximize productivity and ergonomics.
To those of you looking to do the same, here is the gear I currently use while working remotely.
I use a Dell XPS 17 as both my office and travel computer. It’s one of the most powerful and versatile machines for high-tech work but is light enough to take on the road. A MacBook Pro is also a great choice. For tasks that require even more power, I just spin up a virtual machine in the cloud.
I use the Roost Laptop Stand. It allows you to position your laptop at the correct height and distance to reduce neck strain. It collapses into a single plastic bar for travel and expands into a laptop stand for work. You can also use it on an airplane tray to position your monitor and keyboard to a better height.
For short trips, I use my laptop’s built-in screen. If I’m traveling for more than a few days, I place my ASUS ZenScreen portable monitor below my laptop screen, resting it on top of the built-in keyboard. For long trips, I bring my LIMINK LK15 portable monitors for a triple (or quadruple) monitor setup.
I use the Microsoft Sculpt ergonomic keyboard for home, office, and travel. Previously, you could buy it directly from Microsoft. However, a company called Incase manufactures them now. I use the small blue plastic tab (in the battery compartment) to prevent the batteries from draining in transit.
I use the Logitech MX Master 3 both in the office and on the road. It’s the best mouse I’ve ever used. Just remember to flip the switch to the off-position while in transit. I also bring a Corsair MM100 mouse pad since I often work on desks with rough, slick, or reflective surfaces.
I use the Bose QuietComfort noise-canceling headphones as my main headphones while traveling. They are great at blocking out noise while flying and are very comfortable. I also travel with a pair of Bose QuiteComfort 20 earbuds or the QuiteComfort Earbuds II. I also travel with plenty of Mack earplugs.
I use the XREAL Air 2 Pro AR glasses with the Beam Pro. Originally, this seemed like a luxury purchase. However, I use them on almost every flight to watch online courses, videos, and movies. Their virtual desktop mode is almost good enough to replace my travel monitors — maybe the next version or two.
I use the High Sierra Access 2.0 laptop backpack. It has a large section for my laptop, stand, and power adaptor. A middle section for my headphones, AR glasses, jacket, and/or travel pillows. Two smaller pockets for organizing my cables and adaptors and side pocket for my passport and overnight kit.
I also travel with a bunch of cables, adaptors, and accessories to ensure I can handle any situation I encounter. Here’s a list of several of the most important accessories I keep in my bookbag:
Cables
Adapters
USB C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter
Accessories
Logitech Spotlight presentation remote
Inflatable Travel Air Pillow (“The Ostrich”)
To learn how to maximize productivity and ergonomics in your office setup, check out my previous article. If you’re interested in maximizing your productivity with AI, be sure to check out my articles, videos, and courses.