Gear I Use
One of my favorite obsessions is watching or reading about the gear other people use. I’ve watched almost every “What’s in my tech bag” video on YouTube, it feels like, and I’m always prowling blog posts that detail what someone is using. In case there’s anybody out there that is as interested in these things as I am, here’s an overview of the gear that I use to make videos, write both blog posts and code, and generally mess around on the internet.
Home Office 1 (the Netherlands)
Edit: After a reader suggested I provide links to these items, I’ve included them below, and some are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to click these links, but if you do, I get a tiny percentage of the sale. Thanks!
Video production gear
Not on desk
- Elgato green screen (long, black metal object on the left side of the photo, on the floor)
- Canon 6D Mark II with a Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L (upper left, on tripod with teleprompter)
- Manfrotto 290 tripod
- TeleprompterPAD iLight Pro 10"
- Neewer 5-in-1 reflective reflector set (gold, silver, white, black, and transparent)
- Neewer two-way rotating aluminum light stand
- Manfrotto universal smartphone clamp (mounted on light stand above desk)
- Neewer Camera Monopod with rotating column for panoramic shooting
- 2 x Nanlite PavoTube 6C II tubes on the shelves in the background
On desk
- Aputure AL-MC portable light (attached magnetically to the back of my external monitor)
- Blue Yeti microphone - (pictured, but retired for the next item)
- Røde PodMic microphone - my new main mic
- Elgato Key Light
- Canon M50 (between my laptop and monitor screens, used as my main webcam)
- Elgato multi-mount (holding up the M50)
- Blackmagic Atem Mini video switcher
- Røde Wireless Go wireless microphone (secondary microphone when I need to move around)
- Rødecaster Pro for crispy audio on calls and videos
- Samsung Portable SSD T5, 1TB (always connected to my laptop) the drive I edit off
- Macbook Pro 13" (2020), 2,3 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, 32 GB RAM - main laptop
Not pictured but in frequent use
- Sony A6600 with Sigma 16mm f1.4 lens (main shooter, used to take this shot)
- Røde Wireless Go II two-person microphones (used as on-board camera mics)
- SwitchPod tripod
- Peak Design Travel tripod: Pricy, but the only full tripod I use these days. Excellent for travel!
Other tech
- Synology DS920+ 4 Bay NAS with 4 x WD RED 4TB drives (just outside the photo)
- Amazon Echo Dot (on the bookshelf)
- Google Wifi wireless extender (just outside photo)
- 2 x Nintendo Switch (on bookshelf; one Animal Crossing edition)
- Nintendo Lite Zacien and Zamazenta edition (on bookshelf)
- Amazon Kindle Oasis (bookshelf)
- Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (bookshelf)
- Kobo Aura One (bookshelf)
- Risa Electric Solid Tenor Ukulele, black (bookshelf)
Non-tech gear
- Wyrmwood Gaming Cherry magnetic dice tower bundle including dice tower, personal dice tray, and dice vault
- Kimi Rainbow Acrylic kalimba
- Visconti Homo Sapiens Lava Midi, steel age fountain pen (the only fountain pen of many that I use regularly)
Non-video gear on my desk
I already listed the video-related gear on my desk in the first section above, but here’s everything else.
- Samsung Galaxy S10 (secondary phone, primarily for timelapses and overhead videos)
- Samsung Galaxy Wireless Buds, rose
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ (primary phone)
- Apple Macbook Air 11" (2011, used as my presentation laptop)
- Apple Magic Trackpad
- Apple iPad Pro 11" (2020) tablet
- Niz Plum Atom 68 electro-capacitive keyboard with Pikachu keycap
- Logitech MX Master 3 the best mouse I’ve used!
- Bose NC700 wireless noise-cancelling headphones
- Oura health and sleep tracking ring
Home Office 2 (Portugal)
I live between two countries: the Netherlands and Portugal. Since I spend a few months in each place, that also means I need a place to work in each apartment! My home office in Portugal is larger but definitely less well-equipped. It’s a little embarrassing, but I thought it would be interesting to show a more realistic, in-progress setup.
Why yes, I do indeed have clothes hanging on a rack behind my desk to try and soak up sound.
Desk
- Elgato Key Light Air x 2: I bought two of the smaller key lights than what I have in the Netherlands, because this room is larger and requires more light
- Hidrate Spark Pro: bluetooth water bottle
- Samsung 32" 4K UHD monitor: a bit overkill on the size front, but nice
- Apple iPad Pro 11": This is from 2020, but still going strong
- Elgato Stream Deck MK.2: 15 programmable keys for shortcuts and macros
- Keychron K6: hotswappable, RGB mechanical keyboard
- Logitech MX Anywhere 3: my travel mouse
- Blackmagic Atem Mini: my video switcher
- Røde Rodecaster Pro II: my audio mixer
- Røde PSA1: the best mic arm
- Røde Podmic: great XLR microphone
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10+: my secondary phone
- Baseus 17-in-1 USB-C Docking Station: for connecting my laptop to all the peripherals
- Nintendo Switch Lite in coral: my travel gaming console
- Fully monitor and laptop arm: arms to hold my monitor and laptop
- Macbook Pro 13" (2020): same laptop that I bring around with me
- Sony A6600 with Sigma 16mm f1.4 lens (main camera that I take with me from the Netherlands)
- SwitchPod DSLR Tripod: best travel tabletop tripod
Free-standing
- Fully Jarvis standing desk: bamboo-topped motorized desk
- Neewer 77 inch tripod: basic tripod
- Neewer Photo Studio Backdrop Support System: I hung an acoustic curtain and some clothes on this to help with echo for now
Not pictured
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: my primary mobile phone, used to take this photo
My everyday carry
What about what I carry every day?
- Samsung Galaxy Active 2: my smartwatch
- d20 spinner ring: a ring that acts like a 20-sided die for roleplaying games on the go
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: my primary mobile phone
- Aer Day Sling 3 X-Pac: my sling bag of choice
- Nitecore Tini 2 USB C flashlight: tiny USB-C rechargeable flashlight
- Nite-Ize locking S-biners: for a little extra security for zippers
- Orbitkey holder: to hold my keys
- Nano bag 2.0: compactable bag
- Kable Card: all essential cables and adapters, a light, a mobile stand, and a memory card reader all in one card
- Aurtech bluetooth keyboard: portable bluetooth keyboard
- Samsung Galaxy S Pen Fold Edition: stylus for my mobile
- Sony WF 1000 XM3: wireless noise-cancelling earbuds
- Spigen Arc Powerstation 20W: small GaN charger
- Secrid mini-wallet: my minimalist wallet
- Dispel Dice Lilac Song: a full-sized d20 I carry around
- Sprawlopolis: small cooperative card game
- LIE: fun party game for 2-6 players and is the size of a pack of gum
- Victorinox Jetsetter: small, travel-friendly multitool
- Mighty Hanks: microfiber on one side, cotton on the other
- Burts Bees: lip balm
- Small red Sharpie: mini marker
- Joby Gorillapod GripTight Smartphone Micro Tripod: tripod for my mobile
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10+: secondary mobile
- Topo designs micro pouch: small pouch
- Tile Mate Pro: bluetooth tracker
- Trezor Model T: hardware wallet and security key
My Remote Working Tech Bag
If I need to go somewhere to work, my EDC bag won’t cut it! Here’s what I bring with me to work and play remotely:
- Aer x Ministry of Supply Lunar Pack
- Platypus soft bottle. Similar here.
- PacSafe Retractasafe 250
- iWalk 10,000 mAH USB C power bank
- Critical Role Nott the Brave face mask (2 pack)
- Apple iPad Pro 11"
- Apple Pencil
- The Crew: Mission Deep Sea (card game)
- Kindle 2022
- Popsockets PopGrip
- Nintendo Switch Lite
- Aer Day Sling 3 X-Pac
- SwitchPod
- Peak Design Tech Pouch
- Keychron K3 travel pouch
- Nuphy Air 60 keyboard
- Roost laptop stand
- Nedrelow Magic Sleeve
- URWizards soft wool felt dice tray
- Shure Aonic 215 wired sound isolating earbuds
- Logitech MX Anywhere 3: travel mouse
- 2 x Lexon Mino X bluetooth speakers: awesome USB C-rechargeable bluetooth speakers that can be paired together
- Logitech Spotlight Wireless Presentation Remote. Similar here.
- 2.5mm to 3.5mm audio adapter. Similar here.
- Yubico Yubikey 5C security key
- Yubico Yubikey 5C nano security key (always plugged in to laptop)
- 8Bitdo Zero 2 bluetooth Switch mini controller
- Anker USB C cables
- USB C adapters. Similar here.
- Røde Wireless Go wireless microphone system
- UGreen GaN 100W USB C charger
- Hyper Drive USB hub. Updated version.
My Remote Work Setup for a month
Here’s what I bring with me when I need to be able to work while travelling continuously for a month. This setup lets me create videos, run livestreams, do programming work, and do presentations at conferences with minimal bulk and maximal functionality.
- Platypus soft bottle. Similar here.
- Samsung Galaxy Active 2: my smartwatch
- Le Chivée USB C portable wireless charger for Samsung Galaxy Active 2 watch. Similar here.
- Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II.
- Apple iPad Pro 11".
- Apple Pencil
- Nedrelow Magic Sleeve
- 3 x Dispel Dice d20s.
- Nuphy Air 60 keyboard
- Logitech Spotlight Wireless Presentation Remote. Similar here.
- Apple Magic Trackpad.
- 2 x Lexon Mino X bluetooth speakers: awesome USB C-rechargeable bluetooth speakers that can be paired together
- Røde Wireless Go wireless microphone system
- Roost laptop stand
- Macbook Pro 13" (2020), 2,3 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, 32 GB RAM - main laptop
- Yubico Yubikey 5C nano security key (always plugged in to laptop)
- Sony A6600 with Sigma 16mm f1.4 lens (main shooter)
- Peak Design Travel tripod: Pricy, but the only full tripod I use these days. Excellent for travel!
- Elgato Cam Link 4K.
- USB C adapters. Similar here.
- Peak Design Tech Pouch
- Anker USB C cables
- Lume Cube Panel Mini LED light.
- Joby Gorillapod GripTight Smartphone Micro Tripod: tripod for Lume Cube
- Samsung X5 2TB SSD. Better here - T7.
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: my primary mobile phone, used to take this photo
- (not pictured, but since added) Logitech POP Mouse: travel mouse, even though I hate that it requires an AA battery.