Quick take: Five everyday tools that make working on the go easier for video people: a stick-on SSD sleeve so your drive stops dangling, PGYTech's card case with a built-in UHS-II reader, a cheap portable second monitor, the Plaud Note Pro for recording and summarizing client calls, and an Anker Prime power bank that can run a whole mobile kit.
The Stuff That Makes Working on the Go Easier
This isn't about big-ticket gear like a NAS. These are the small, practical things I actually use every day that make traveling and working as a video professional easier.
1. SlipDrive SSD Sleeve
A lot of us work off external SSDs like the Samsung T5 or T7, and having one dangle off the side of your laptop is asking for a disconnect. Depending on your editing software, relinking files after a drive drops can be a real headache.
A SlipDrive-style sleeve sticks to the back of your laptop screen and holds the drive in place. It removes cleanly and wipes down with alcohol. There are a ton of knockoffs, and the brand doesn't really matter since none of them are doing anything new. I'd skip the two-slot versions. It's an inexpensive way to give your working drive a home, so you can edit on your lap or in the car without worrying.
2. PGYTech Card Storage With a Built-In Reader
I shoot on the Fujifilm X-H2S and Canon R5 C, so I carry SD, microSD and CFexpress cards, and memory isn't cheap these days. This PGYTech case holds mixed media and, the headline feature, has a built-in UHS-II card reader with an attached cable. I'm surprised nobody else has copied it yet.
The slots are oriented so SD and CFexpress cards face the right way when it's plugged in. Clearly designed by someone who offloads a lot of footage.
It includes a UHS-II microSD adapter, so newer fast cards offload at full speed.
It has an IP54 weather resistance rating, so a surprise downpour won't hurt your cards if it's closed.
It plugs into your phone, too, for quick offloads through the Files app.
My only wish is a separate USB port in case the cable ever fails, but a year in, the thick cable is still fine.
3. A Portable Second Monitor
If you're used to two monitors at home, a single laptop screen feels limiting in hotel rooms and shared workspaces. An iPad works as a second screen on a Mac, but a cheap portable monitor is a dedicated option. I use mine for file browsing, text or my Capture One library while I edit on the main screen.
Mine was about $100 a couple of years ago and runs off a single Thunderbolt/USB-C cable, so it needs no separate power. Older laptops without that port will need its power supply, which gets annoying. Newer models add AirPlay, and there are color-accurate options around $300 to $400 that could be great for colorists, though I haven't tried them.
4. Plaud Note Pro
This sits on the back of my phone and records calls. It's extremely handy for long client conversations. The app transcribes and summarizes the call, pulls out notes, and lets you ask questions about it, like what the deliverables are, the agreed dates or checkpoints on a workback schedule. If a client later asks for more assets than you discussed, you have a record.
It doesn't replace actually listening to your client, though. AI tools are just tools, and you're still responsible. I've used the original Plaud and the NotePin, and the Note Pro has the best audio quality. There's a free transcription allowance, and I pay for the mid-tier plan.
5. Anker Prime Power Bank
I don't like traveling with a pile of camera batteries. My Anker Prime power bank runs my whole mobile YouTube kit (light, camera, mic) over USB-C PD, and it can even power cinema cameras. With the optional base it recharges in 30 to 60 minutes.
It also extends laptop battery life. Even my M5 Max MacBook Pro can drain in a couple of hours on heavy tasks, like Magic Mask in DaVinci Resolve removing a stain from someone's shirt through an entire talking-head video. I keep one with my media kit and another just for the laptop, since I like working outside when the weather's nice.
Final Thoughts
None of this is glamorous, but these five things make life as a working video person on the go a lot smoother.
Keep Reading
Gear in This Video
Gear in this video
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Buying through these links costs you nothing extra and helps support the channel.
