10 Foundational Items for Your Portable Office

Before stuffing your carry-on with electronics, try to eliminate space-wasters and redundancies. Every single piece of hardware you take on your travels should:

- save energy, time and space
- perform a unique function

Below are my personal recommendations. All 10 items easily fit into a standard-size laptop bag, and every single one will make your life as a working nomad easier. Enjoy!

1. Laptop

I’m an Apple, my husband’s a PC–what’s your preference? For many working nomads, your laptop is the cornerstone of your traveling office, so don’t cut corners here. Look for a good balance between portability and horsepower. You want something that will get the job done but is convenient to carry around. Consider extra security, such as a warranty and theft insurance.

>>Buy Apple MacBook MC207LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop from Amazon

2. Wireless USB modem

Recently my husband and I went on a road trip around Australia. With my handy USB modem and speedy broadband connection, I was able to work from anywhere. My temporary offices on that trip included portions of the Great Ocean Road, shady eucalyptus forests, public parks overlooking lakes and bays, and peaceful campgrounds dotted with grazing kangaroos and colorful songbirds. Being able to connect from anywhere gives you a lot of freedom.

>>Browse wireless USB modems at Amazon

3. International plug adaptor

When you’re working on the go, you need to be able to plug in your laptop, chargers, and other devices anywhere. An all-in-one unit is the best, as you don’t want to have to keep buying adaptors every time you go to a new county. Make sure to check the voltage and use a power converter if necessary.

>>Buy Kensington International Plug Adaptor for 150 countries from Amazon

4. Portable hard drive

Unless you’re backing up your files online, you’ll need at least one external portable hard drive for peace of mind. Protect your hard drive with a case or sleeve so that it can stand up to any hard knocks. I like to have several portable drives to use for storing and backing up different types of media.

>>Buy Toshiba 500 GB Portable Hard Drive at Amazon

5. Noise canceling headphones

You know how there’s always that one screaming child on the airplane? With noise canceling headphones, you won’t even know. Block out the hubbub of planes, trains, and internet cafe music. You’ll be less stressed when traveling and more productive when working.

>>Buy Bose QuietComfort 3 Noise Canceling Headphones at Amazon

6. Extra battery

I fly back and forth between the USA, Asia and Australia, and the airtime is longer than my MacBook’s built-in battery can handle. An extra battery is a must when you’re away from power outlets for an extended period. I love the myPower because you can charge other small devices at the same time that it’s providing power to your laptop.

>>Buy Tekkeon MP3450 myPower ALL Rechargeable Battery from Amazon

7. Chargepod

A chargepod replaces bulky individual charging units with plugs so you can recharge multiple items at once. No more mixing up chargers or hunting for extra power outlets. This is an extremely convenient space-saver.

>>Buy Callpod Chargepod Bundle Pack from Amazon

8. Mobile Printer

I don’t need to print documents very often when I’m traveling, but when I do, it’s a pain to track down a print shop. It always takes ten times as long to print anything, too. But you definitely don’t want to lug a full-size printer around in your luggage. That’s why I love the PrintStik. It’s the smallest portable bluetooth printer with self-contained paper on the market, only about 1″ x 2″ x 11″. You can even fit it in your coat pocket!

>>Buy Planon PrintStik PS905 Printer from Amazon

9. Skype headset

You may have noticed that there’s no mobile phone on my list. I do actually have a phone, but I don’t consider it an essential part of my portable office. It’s just a barebones bottom-of-the-line model that I use for socializing locally, not for working. For international phone calls, I use Skype. Therefore, crystal-clear sound is important to me. I like wireless headsets because you can walk around while talking, and you can even answer calls without being at your laptop.

>>Buy Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth Headset from Amazon

10. iPod

Not just a music player anymore, an iPod touch lets you get online to check the news or respond to a time-sensitive email. iPods are prone to damage if dropped or scraped, so invest in some protection: a leather or plastic sheath, screen cover, and earbud case.

>>Buy Apple iPod Touch 32 GB (3rd Generation) at Amazon

If you have any recommendations for products not on this list, let me know in the comments!