You spend your days working from cafés, coworking spaces or community spaces, and you're wondering how to stay organised without ending up carrying a suitcase? We've put together our real list — the one we actually use day-to-day at Deskover. No useless gadgets, no professional-grade gear. Just what genuinely works when you want to work seriously from anywhere.
The essentials: what you never leave home without
Three absolutely non-negotiable things. First, your laptop, obviously. We recommend something light — between 1.2 and 1.5 kg max if you're on the move every day. Then your charger, even if the battery lasts all day, because a free power outlet you can find, but a charger left at home ruins a morning. And finally, a compact power strip or extension lead. It's the most appreciated gift in a busy café — it lets you share an outlet and make friends instantly.
Noise-cancelling headphones: not a luxury
If you work regularly outside the home, a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones quickly becomes essential. The neighbourhood café can be perfect at 10am and unbearable at 12:30pm. With headphones that cut out the noise, you work in your own bubble whatever the atmosphere around you. We don't have a brand to push, but avoid headphones that are too bulky: they take up space and you'll end up leaving them at home. A foldable format changes everything.
The "nice to have" kit: useful extras
A few additions that make a difference without weighing down your bag. A portable battery, especially if you take calls or use your phone a lot. A compact mouse, because three hours of trackpad on a spreadsheet tires your wrists. A laptop stand, so you don't spend the day with your neck bent in two — some folding models fit in a pocket. None of it is mandatory, but if you work more than four hours per session, you'll thank yourself.
Apps that replace hardware
A few tools on your phone or laptop that save you from carrying hardware. A Wi-Fi password manager so you don't struggle at every new spot. Coffitivity, which simulates a café background noise if you're working somewhere too quiet or too noisy. And a solid notes and tasks system — Notion or Todoist depending on your habits — so you don't lose the thread between moves. Simple, light, effective.
The bag itself: not too big, not too small
The container matters as much as the contents. A backpack between 20 and 25 litres, with a dedicated laptop compartment, a padded strap, and a shape that doesn't break your back. Too large and you'll fill it unnecessarily. Too small and you'll leave essentials at home. We like discreet models that don't look like hiking kit or military gear. You want something you can set down without embarrassment in a nice café.
What we definitely don't put in the bag
The external monitor, the full mechanical keyboard, the XXL gaming mouse. All great for your fixed desk, but when you're on the move they're just weight and bulk. The café doesn't have room for a full setup, and the other customers will give you looks if you monopolise an entire table. The nomad's golden rule: if you're not sure you'll need it, leave it at home.
The golden rule: the best setup is the one you actually carry
A setup that looks perfect on paper but is too heavy to carry ends up at the back of a cupboard. The goal is to build a kit you grab without thinking, whatever your day looks like. Start light, add what you genuinely miss over time, and remove what you never use. Within a few weeks, you'll find your perfect balance.