Tools of the trade (my gear list)

March 21, 2021

Last updated: March 2021

Technology

MacBook Pro 13 w/ Touchbar (Late 2016 model)

I’ve been using Mac laptops since university and upgraded to the 13 inch Touch Bar model when they were released at the end of 2016. While I loved my previous Mac laptops I’m not very happy withthis model. The logic board fried itself less than 2 weeks outside of the warranty period which resulted in a £500 bill to have it replaced. And the keyboard – I think enough has already been said about the terrible keyboards in these MacBooks but suffice to say I’ll be happy to see the end of it.

iPad Pro 11 inch (2nd gen) w/ Magic Keyboard

I use my iPad Pro to use when I don’t want to be on my main “work” computer. It’s much easier to read long articles or documents and marking up with the Apple Pencil has improved my note-taking. The Magic keyboard adds some heft but unlike my Macbook Pro it actually has keys that I am happy to type on (I’m writing this post on the iPad now).

iPhone 11

I used to be the kind of person who always had the latest/greatest phone but over time I’ve found upgrading less enticing as the improvements have become less significant between each release. That said, the camera on my previous iPhone 7 was showing its age so when Apple announced a “regular” (non Pro) iPhone 11 at a reasonable price I decided it was time to upgrade. I’m happy with the result, the camera is great and the battery finally lasts long enough that I don’t have to think about carrying an extra charger or portable battery when I’m out.

Airpods Pro

I had the original Airpods but they didn’t fit my ears and kept falling out so I gave them to my wife. The Pro’s fit well and the noise cancellation is a very useful feature when I need to concentrate. I did have an issue that required one of the Airpods to be replaced (a process that took almost 2 weeks – one of the many “benefits” of living in Sweden), but they’ve been performing well in recent months.

Jabra Elite 65t

I love in-ear headphones for their blend of small size and decent sound isolation, and when I went looking for a fully wireless pair about 2 years back the Jabra Elite’s were rated as some of the best on the market so I decided to give them a try. I’m pretty tough on them, wearing them at the gym and while running but they’ve been holding up well. The battery lasts around 4-5 hours and they charge quickly from small carry case.

Since buying my Airpods Pro the Jabra’s have become my workout headphones, but I train 6 days per week so they get good use.

Aiaiai TMA-1 DJ Headphones

Originally purchased to use with my mixing deck, the TMA-1’s now live connected to my Mac to be used for those times when I need to get fully “plugged in” and concentrate. They sound great but they are on-ear headphones so they become uncomfortable after a couple of hours of use.

Kindle Voyage (circa 2015)

I’m on my third Kindle, having moved from one of the early models on to the first Paperwhite with the backlit screen, and more recently the Voyage with the physical page turn buttons.

While I still love (and buy) paper books I would guess that 90% of the books I read are now on Kindle, purely for the convenience.

Wrist

Omega Speedmaster Professional Speedy Tuesday Limited Edition

I have a bit of an obsession for watches and like most WIS I am a big fan of Omega’s “Speedy Pro” moonwatches. In January of 2017 they announced a special edition with a reverse panda dial (a black dial with white chronograph subdials). I was fortunate enough to pick one up and it’s been on my wrist most days since I picked it up at the end of 2017. I have made one minor change – I’ve swapped the standard brown leather strap for a similar design in black by Bulang & Sons.

Seiko Samurai

When I don’t feel comfortable wearing the Omega (swimming in the ocean, taking care of my possibly-vomiting baby etc) I’ll wear this Seiko dive watch. It’s perfectly adequate in terms of function but not very interesting from a design or engineering point of view.

Fitbit Alta HR

The Alta HR is a very basic model from Fitbit that I use to keep track of resting heart rate and sleep data. I like it because it’s small and doesn’t get in the way, but I imagine I will probably swap it out for an Apple Watch eventually, mainly as I don’t think Fitbit’s resting heart rate accuracy is good enough.

Carry

GoRuck GR1

One of the USA-built bags. It fits everything I need when I’m out during the day and also works well as an overnight bag. I also have a Mission Workshop Rambler which is very well-made but is best used while cycle commuting, which is less important when I’m stuck at home during Covid.

Away The Carry-On: Aluminum Edition

I used to fly to London regularly for work and wanted a carry-on that could fit a few days clothes, my workout gear, and also look good. I was planning to get a regular Away Carry-On but ended up upgrading to the Aluminum version and have been very happy with it so far. When the world reopens I’ll be putting this to good use.

Filson Medium Rugged Twill Duffle Bag

Mainly used for non-airline travel. It’s robust, I love the look of it, and if anything it improves in style with age and use.

Strength Training

Adidas Adipower weightlifting shoes

Expensive but I try to justify them by training with them 3+ days each week for the past few years. The raised heel is not the best for deadlifts but it’s great for squats, OHP and anything else where I want to feel firmly planted on the ground.

Running

Garmin Forerunner 735xt

The Forerunner 735xt is technically a Triathlon focused watch, but I’m only using it for running. The design is fairly basic but it’s lightweight and has decent battery life.