What’s in your bag? is a recurring feature where we ask people to tell us a bit more about their everyday gadgets by opening their bags and hearts to us. Show us your bag in this forum post. This week, we’re featuring James Chae.
As a designer at The Verge my bag is relatively light and simple. I don’t have to carry around an abundant amount of gear like some others here, but I definitely used to be that guy. I once had an extra-large Timbuktu bag fully loaded with a 15-inch MacBook Pro, DSLR, bike tools, extra tubes, and a couple bike lights. I looked like the hunchback of Notre Dame. Over the years I’ve learned to trim down my daily load. Below are some of the essential things found in my bag.
Bag
When I first learned about Freitag’s unique creation story, I wanted one. For years, I searched for the right style and pined over the high price. Finally, a few years ago I rewarded myself with the Leo. It’s a nice fusion of several different styles and is similar to an old airline crew bag. The versatility is what does it for me. If I’m going somewhere I can pack everything I need, including a DSLR and a sweater. But for everyday use it conveniently holds all the essentials without weighing me down. I also love how I can carry it in various ways, either on or over the shoulder, or by the handles.
Other stuff
Phone and hard drive
I used to have an iPhone 4, but wanted a larger screen and was very curious about Android (a direct result of working here at The Verge). When Google announced the Nexus 4 I knew that I wanted to give it a spin. I’ve been pretty happy with it overall and I love the form factor. As a result, I actually find myself spending less time on my laptop. I also carry around a 1TB Seagate hard drive. When I was a freelance designer it was handy to have all my old work, and my “toolbox,” with me at all times.
Reading materials
Despite my love for printed matter, I’m not really a purist when it comes to paper. That said, I’m in a bit of a transition because I still love print magazines, have a bunch of unread paperbacks, and love my Kindle. That is why you’ll find all three in my bag at the same time. I don’t mess with touch and use a normal 6-inch Kindle.
Notebook and pens
I’m also in a strange transition period with notebooks and pens. Despite my love for Evernote I still need to pen things by hand. My dad instilled in me a weird love for pens so I always have a wide assortment of them on me. I found this wonderful Preppy fountain pen at the Japanese bookstore near our office. As for notebooks, I prefer the flip-over reporter style. I find it really easy to use and I enjoy pretending to be a writer. Also, this style is perfect for to-do lists.
Ray bans and wallet
I picked up these Ray Ban Clubmasters sunglasses a few years back in California. I’m not a huge sunglasses guy, but I had been in search of a pair for a while. When I found them, it was like a match made in heaven. The style and fit suits all my sensibilities. I’m pretty fussy with my wallets and have gone through many. When I finally committed to shelling out the clams for this Jack Spade wallet and felt the fine leather, I knew I made the right choice.
Camera
I’ve already professed my love for this camera, but I love this camera! Back in the '80s, the Olympus XA was considered to be the professional’s point-and-shoot. It truly is a great piece of glass that fits right into your pocket. Despite the inconvenience and cost of developing film, I still find the need to take a snap or two in my daily life. It’s fun to develop a roll that’s a few months old and revisit those fleeting moments of living in NYC.
