Whether you’re heading out to a local coffee shop, boarding a flight for vacation, or just going to work, you probably rely on a variety of tech. Your devices are the reason you can be productive, but when you toss them into a generic bag with tangled cords and no padding, they become a liability.
This article will walk through how to pack and carry your essential tech so it stays organized and protected.
Choose the right bag for your gear
Before you even think about cord organizers and ways to handle your chargers, you need a bag that works. If your bag fails, your whole setup will fall apart. This is especially true if you carry your bag on a plane.
If you’re carrying around a full-sized laptop, you want a bag with a properly padded dedicated compartment that keeps your laptop in place and separate from everything else. This will prevent it from getting scratched or dented. If your tech is a bit smaller, like a tablet or just a smartphone, a shoulder bag will offer convenience in a low profile that you can take on a plane and pass through security with ease.
If you’re carrying multiple devices, it helps to have a bag with segmented storage and individual, small pockets inside to organize your cables. Just make sure the shoulder strap is comfortably padded with reinforced stitching if it’s going to be frequently used.
Prioritize physical protection
When you carry multiple devices like a tablet, laptop, and other tech, it’s crucial to prioritize protection based on your bag. Ideally, it’s best to buy a bag that accommodates everything with ease, but if you can’t find one or your ideal bag is too expensive, you’ll need to plan out where you stash everything.
First, put your laptop in its own, independent case or padded sleeve. Never rely solely on the padding provided by a bag. Do the same with the rest of your devices, like tablets and gaming consoles. If you put your devices together without protection, you’re asking for scratches.
Never put tech in checked luggage
Theft and damaged electronics claims are common for airlines, so keep everything as a carry-on. If your tech is financially valuable, necessary for your trip, or contains irreplaceable data, it’s worth keeping your tech in hand and checking everything else.
Be strategic about cable organization
Unmanaged cables are awful to deal with and can slow you down when going through airport security, but it doesn’t have to be that way. A simple cord organizer (or two) will make your life easier. Cable organizer cases come in a variety of styles, sizes, and capacities, and your choices are endless. These pouches prevent clutter and tangled cords and make it easy to access specific cords right when you need them.
Some cases are simple and only accommodate a few cords, like a bulky laptop charger and a few USB cables, while others are built to hold 10, 30, or even 50 small cables. If you have a bulky laptop charging cable, it’s worth getting a dedicated case. Yes, it will take up a little more room in your bag, but it won’t get tangled.
When searching for a cable organizer, consider everything you might want to stash inside, including USB wall adapters, earbuds, and even small hard drives. Some cases can fit them all.
Before heading out on a business trip or vacation, consider adding color-coded labels to your cords so you can immediately tell which cord goes with what device.
Focus on security
If you’re bringing your tech to the airport, train stations, or any other public spaces, it helps to have anti-theft features on your bag, like lockable zippers and hidden pockets. You never know when someone standing right behind you might unzip your bag and grab something without your knowledge. It happens all the time. This can be prevented by locking your zippers and not stashing anything of value in outer, unsecured pockets.
Pack for TSA
Going through airport security isn’t fun when you have to empty a bag full of messy cables and devices. If your tech isn’t packed right, you can slow down the entire line. If you don’t have a dedicated cable case, at least put your cords in plastic bags to keep the chaos contained.
Carry your tech like a pro
Protecting your tech can prevent damage, theft, and move you through TSA lines faster. As long as you choose the right bag and pack intentionally, you’ll be prepared for anything.
