My Remote Work Setup: What's in My Bag After 3 Years of Nomading
Three years ago, I left Melbourne with a 28-litre backpack containing everything I needed to work remotely from anywhere. Since then, I've iterated on every single item. Some things I added. A lot more I removed.
Here's the exact kit I carry today, including the stuff that failed and why I replaced it.
The Core Setup
Laptop: MacBook Air M3 (15")
The M3 Air is the best nomad laptop that exists right now. 18+ hours of battery life means I can work a full day without plugging in. The 15" screen is big enough for development work without needing an external monitor most of the time. Weighs 1.5kg.
I had a 13" MacBook Pro before this. The smaller screen was fine for writing and browsing but painful for code. Two terminal windows side by side on a 13" display is an exercise in squinting.
Headphones: Sony WH-1000XM5
Non-negotiable for any nomad who takes calls. Noise-cancelling blocks out the cafe noise, coworking chatter, and construction sites that seem to follow me to every city. The microphone is good enough that clients don't know I'm sitting in a Vietnamese cafe.
I've tried AirPods Pro. They're fine for music. But for 2-hour client calls, over-ear headphones are more comfortable and the noise-cancelling is significantly better.
Mouse: Logitech MX Anywhere 3
Small, works on any surface (including glass cafe tables), connects to three devices. I switch between my laptop and phone hotspot setup with one button. Weighs almost nothing.
Portable Monitor: None (Anymore)
I carried a 15" portable monitor for my first year. Used it maybe twice a month. It added 700g to my bag, needed its own cable, and I was always worried about cracking it in transit. Donated it to a nomad friend in Bali.
The dual-monitor productivity gain is real when you're at a desk all day. But as a nomad who works from different locations daily, setting up and packing down an external monitor is more friction than it's worth. I adapted to single-screen workflows and haven't missed it.
Connectivity (The Most Important Section)
This is where most nomad gear guides get it wrong. They list "laptop" and "headphones" and call it a day. But your ability to work depends entirely on your internet connection, and if you don't have a backup plan, you're one router failure away from a missed deadline.
Primary: Coworking / Cafe Wi-Fi
Most of my working time is in coworking spaces (when I'm settled) or cafes (when I'm exploring). Speeds vary wildly:
- Best coworking I've used: Dojo Bali (180Mbps)
- Worst coworking I've used: a place in Medellin that advertised "high-speed" and delivered 3Mbps
- Average cafe Wi-Fi in SEA: 10-25Mbps (with drops)
- Average cafe Wi-Fi in Europe: 15-40Mbps (more stable)
You can't control the Wi-Fi. You can control your backup.
Backup: GOAN eSIM (Phone Hotspot)
My GOAN eSIM is always on, always connected, completely independent of whatever Wi-Fi I'm using. If the cafe internet drops, I hotspot my laptop from my phone in under 10 seconds.
I've done this mid-call at least a dozen times. The client doesn't notice because the switch takes about 2 seconds and the connection is stable.
Why GOAN specifically:
- 20GB/month handles my backup usage comfortably (I use 3-5GB on hotspot in a typical month)
- Works across 105+ countries so I don't reconfigure when I move
- Real phone number for calls (landlords, banks, services)
- $29/month on the group plan (my girlfriend is on it too)
I went deep on comparing eSIM providers for nomads in my Europe nomad eSIM guide.
What I Stopped Carrying: Pocket Wi-Fi
In year one, I carried a GlocalMe pocket Wi-Fi device. It was:
- Another device to charge (died by 3pm)
- Another thing to carry (200g)
- Slow (rarely above 8Mbps)
- Expensive ($8-12/GB in most countries)
- Pointless once I had an eSIM
The eSIM-to-hotspot approach is better in every way. Your phone is already charged, already in your pocket, and modern phone hotspots deliver better speeds than most pocket Wi-Fi devices.
Power
Charger: Anker 65W GaN (2-port)
One charger for laptop and phone. GaN technology means it's about the size of a standard phone charger despite delivering enough power for a MacBook. Two ports so I can charge both simultaneously.
I used to carry a laptop charger AND a phone charger AND a multi-port USB adapter. Replacing all of that with a single 65W GaN charger saved space and weight.
Power Bank: Anker 10,000mAh
Smaller than what Mia recommends in her packing guide (she carries 20,000mAh). But I'm rarely far from a power outlet. This handles one full phone charge for emergencies, which is enough.
Cables: 2x USB-C
One for laptop, one for phone. Both USB-C. Having matching ports across devices is an underrated quality-of-life improvement.
Universal Adapter: Skross World Adapter
Works in every country I've visited. Has USB-C and USB-A ports built in plus the standard plug adapter. One device replaces the bag of adapters I used to carry.
Storage and Security
Backpack: Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L
Not a classic travel backpack. It's a camera/tech bag that I use as my daily carry. Padded laptop compartment, multiple access points, weatherproof. Looks professional enough for client meetings.
My actual backpack (for travel days) is an Osprey Farpoint 40L. The Peak Design is my daily work bag that I use within a city.
Hard Drive: Samsung T7 (1TB SSD)
Encrypted, fast, tiny. All my project files are backed up here in case my laptop dies. Also stores my photography and video projects.
VPN: Mullvad
$5/month. No-logs policy. Activates automatically when I connect to any Wi-Fi network. Essential for public Wi-Fi security and for accessing geo-restricted development resources.
When I'm on my eSIM data (cellular network), I don't always use VPN since the connection is inherently more secure than public Wi-Fi. But on any shared network, VPN is non-negotiable.
What I Wish Someone Had Told Me
1. Your internet connection is more important than your laptop
A $500 Chromebook with great internet beats a $3,000 MacBook Pro with spotty Wi-Fi. Invest in connectivity first. That means a reliable eSIM, knowledge of which coworking spaces actually have good internet, and a backup plan.
2. Carry less, not more
Every item in your bag that you don't use daily is dead weight. I've removed more things from my setup than I've added. The portable monitor, the pocket Wi-Fi, the extra cables, the "emergency" equipment. If I haven't used it in a month, it's gone.
3. Redundancy beats quality
Two okay internet connections (coworking Wi-Fi + phone hotspot) beat one excellent connection that might go down. My coworking spaces have failed me enough times that I will never work without a cellular backup again.
The Full Gear List
| Item | Weight | Cost | Essential? |
|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Air M3 15" | 1.5kg | $1,699 | Yes |
| Sony WH-1000XM5 | 250g | $350 | Yes |
| Logitech MX Anywhere 3 | 99g | $80 | Yes |
| GOAN eSIM | 0g | $29/mo | Yes |
| Anker 65W GaN charger | 120g | $55 | Yes |
| Anker 10K power bank | 185g | $30 | Yes |
| USB-C cables x2 | 60g | $15 | Yes |
| Skross adapter | 150g | $40 | Yes |
| Samsung T7 SSD | 58g | $100 | Recommended |
| Peak Design 20L | 930g | $250 | Nice to have |
| Total | 3.4kg | ~$2,648 |
3.4kg. Everything I need to earn a living from anywhere on the planet.
