The Ultimate Traveling WFH Setup // Gear
In recent years, the ability to work remotely has revolutionized the way we work, allowing us to be productive from anywhere with an internet connection, especially in the tech sector. I’ve spent months working at a home away from home, and have put together the ultimate WFH (work from home) setup for those who are traveling, complete with all the necessary tools and gadgets to make your remote work experience more effective and enjoyable.
Macbook Pro
Honestly, the only thing you really need is a solid computer. M uses a MacBook M1 Pro, which has a powerful processor, long battery life, and lightweight design, because he was frustrated by his previous computer’s inability to process Premiere Pro files. I recently switched to a 1TB MacBook M1 Air, which is lighter, smaller, and has enough processing speed for all the design and editing work I need to do. The new M2 Air is slightly larger and faster.
Desk
While it’s easy to work on a sofa for a few hours at a time, if you really want to be productive while traveling, you need a desk. And ideally a decent chair you can sit in for long periods of time. At home, we have Fully desks, but on the go, we just look for hotel rooms, Airbnbs, or Sonders that have a table and chairs we can use. Sometimes this is a dedicated desk, and sometimes this is the dining table (as in these photos, that were all taken in a Sonder in NYC).
If you’re sharing, obviously, you need a desk with enough space for both of you, and if you’re lucky enough to find a room with a standing desk, that’s ideal. Wander specializes in these stays for remote workers, but nights with them are quite expensive.
Alternatively, you can get a regular place and get access to a coworking space, like WeWork or Deskpass.
Roost Laptop Stand
The Roost (now on V3) is an adjustable laptop stand that elevates your laptop screen to eye level. This helps reduce neck and eye strain, making it easier to work for extended periods. A friend of mine had his out one day in early 2019 when I went to his house, and I was shocked by how useful, lightweight, and portable it was.
Keyboard
When your laptop is lifted, you need a good keyboard that can rest on the desk. I find that the Apple keyboards (both wireless and those that come with their laptops) strain my wrists, so I use this ergonomic keyboard that is a lot more annoying to carry around, but has mitigated wrist strain and pain.
Mouse
You’ll also need a solid, wireless mouse. Again, the Apple ones, though beautiful, cause serious wrist issues, so I use an ergonomic mouse (in white) that I highly recommend to everyone. It also has buttons on the side of the thumb that allow for you to go forward and back in the click of a button — a very under-appreciated feature that is hard to go back from.
AirPods Pro
When I’m on a plane or at a cafe, I basically cannot work without noise-canceling headphones, such as the AirPods Pro. The level of concentration they unlock is worth every dollar they cost. I write more about why I love these in my travel gear blog post, but the tl;dr is that these are a must.
Multi-Unit Charger
I also write about this in my travel gear blog post, but this 200W USB C 6-port charger is a gamechanger. It is powerful enough for us to charge 2 Macbooks, a camera, an iPad, and 2 iPhones, all at the same time, and using only 1 outlet. If you only have a regular computer charger, that’s fine, but this one unlocks so much.
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These are the things I use to make working from home away from home more ergonomic and less stressful for my wrists, neck, and back. Hopefully they help you, too!