Blog Kit Set Up

Chasing Ninoy
Apr 11, 2018
3 min read

I have received several emails from some readers who asked me about the set up of my blog kit during travel. Since I travel light, I don't usually bring my mac in leisure travels. I have several objectives in my mind to consider on the setup. Let me share it.

First, my kit shouldn't make a dent in my wallet. Work with what I currently have instead of purchasing a new one. I got my old iPad 4 which I used as my secondary portable monitor at work. That'll do the job for my main platform. I'll write a separate article on how I make my old Apple gadgets still part of my circulation.

My iPad 4 is beefing up with 64g worth of drive space and WIFI 4G LTE. It means there's a sim card slot. I can buy a local prepaid sim card during travels and use it for data or connect to wifi if available. It's quite a convenience for flexible connectivity, right?

Buffing the iPad with a good protective cover is a necessity. It provides protection for the gadget while traveling. Get the multi-functional shell covering to save bag space.

Being a designer, my weapon of choice is working with a stylus and pen tablet. I preferred it rather than using a mouse. I can work faster with more precision when using it. In my case, Wacom is my brand of choice. So, my first gadget to hunt is a digital stylus that can work with my old iPad 4.

Wacom Creative Stylus 2

I finally decided to settle with the Wacom Creative Stylus 2 after some intensive web research. I was lucky to find one in a Virgin Store nearby, and yeah it's the last piece again. This pen is compatible and works with the iPad 4 without a hiccup. A little bit pricey but it's all worth it.

USB wire for charging and extra nib were placed inside the hard case of the pen.

It connects via Bluetooth and very feels like my Wacom pen that I use at work. In familiarity, my hand already knows its way around the pen the first time I used it. Wacom Creative Stylus 2 has a juice-loaded built-in rechargeable battery that makes it a suitable digital travel stylus.

Second, everything should be portable and multi-purpose. Bag space and weight is a big consideration during travels. To save space, everything should serve a double function.

The 2-in-1 cable works in everything that needs juice in my kit. It is compatible with the pen charger slot located at the other end of the tip.

My portable keyboard can function on an iOs, android or windows platform. It connects via Bluetooth, powered by rechargeable batteries and iPhone compatible as well. The iSmart battery pack has a 16800mAh capacity with two (2) slots that can easily handle simultaneous charging. It can fully charge an iPad five times. iXpand Sandisk for iOs is a good idea for cross-platform data transferring and extra storage.

I can bring some options for my sounds like the JBL Go or my BOSE QC35 which are great for listening to music and watching movies. Both are light, portable and has rechargeable batteries.

My Blog Kit.

I made sure that I can do light work beyond writing blog articles on my iPad if I needed to. My must-have Adobe CC apps installed, essentially Lightroom and Photoshop. If I need to do sketch work, AutoDesk will be the one to click. HTML Editor is also there for some basic coding. Gravity Sketch for basic 3D and Bamboo Paper as my digital notebook.

Lastly, these should fit in one small carry bag. I found this one in a local store. The bag has a perfect fit with iPad, a side handle for a quick grab or transform it as a sling bag by attaching the straps. Excellent gray fabric covers the whole thing cushioned with a protective foaming inside. Two big external pockets house the keyboard, battery pack and other stuff.