This is what I carry to work every day. The phone, watch, AirPods Pro, keys and card are on me of course, so it's just the iPad, Kindle and charger and cables that are in the bag. It's nice having a light bag. The work provided 14" MacBook Pro typically stays at work these days, unless I'm relocating to a different site, or I'll be working from home for an extended period, so 9 times out of 10 it's not being carried with me.
The charging stuff stays in a zipped part of the bag that I never see. They are almost never used, but on the very rare occasion I've needed them, they've been life savers - definitely useful enough to justify the tiny amount of extra weight. The 20W charger will even slowly charge a 14" MacBook Pro during normal use in a pinch, and a pinch is the only scenario in which I'll charge any of these things during the day anyway.
I used to carry a fair bit more, including a battery bank, but lately I've been trying to change my mentality and not weigh myself down with unnecessary bulk and clutter. I could take my MagSafe Duo with me for example, but that is just unnecessary bulk when I'm almost never going to use it on a typical day at work.
I carry no wallet. The public transport card is the only card I take with me, and our PT system will eventually be compatible with typical contactless payment credit cards, so its days are numbered. I am very lucky to be able to say my work ID is digital now as well - I just use my Apple Watch to access the doors, printers, etc. I use the watch instead of a credit card or cash.
- M1 iPad Pro 11"
- Kindle PaperWhite (whatever the current model is. I use this voraciously)
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- Apple Watch Series 7
- Apple 20W USB-C charger, with USB-C, Lightning, and Apple Watch charger
- Keys (with an airtag that mainly just looks cool, but has helped me find them once when I lost them at work)
- Public transport card
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Unpictured: AirPods Pro. Whoops
Since this is an iPad thread - I tend to use the iPad when I'm on the go. The MacBook is at the home base, and it's what gets used for 90% of the workday, but when I have to get up and go do something, it's nice to be able to carry something small and light that still gets the job done. It's also nice not to keep disturbing my desk by docking and undocking the main computer constantly. Occasionally I'll get something very urgent while I'm walking between buildings, or on the train, and being able to just whip out the iPad, which is already connected to the internet, and get that thing done quickly, has been absolutely invaluable. In most jobs, I'd be of the opinion that people can just wait until I get back to the office, but in my particular line of work, I do need to be able to respond at a moment's notice.
