Your kit matters. The laptop, the cables, the drives — that’s the obvious stuff. But the things that actually separate a smooth shoot day from a stressful one are usually smaller than you’d think.
Here’s what I carry and why. Not all of it is glamorous, but every item has earned its spot.
Gum
I’m starting here on purpose. A bowl of gum or mints on the cart, easy reach for anyone to grab — it’s like having crafty at the tech station. It sounds trivial, but it’s a conversation starter. It breaks the ice with new clients and creatives, and it signals that you’re approachable.
Tools are important. But a good personality and friendliness will get you further than any piece of gear. The best techs I know are the ones people want to work with again, and that starts with small things like this.
The Crossbody Sling
This is what stays on me or within arm’s reach on set at all times:
- Color Checker
- Universal Card Wallet (2x SD, 2x CF, 2x CFexpress Type B)
- Level
- Flashlight / Headlamp
- Box Cutter
- Big Screwdriver
- Laser Distance Measure
- Cleaning Cloths, Pancro Solution, Pre-Moistened Lens Wipes
- Tether Block
- Notebook, Pen, Sharpie
- AA and AAA Caddies with Batteries
Hanging outside: Mini Gaff Tapes, Gloves, Outlet Tester, Cube Tap.
The outlet tester alone has saved me more than once — bad circuits on location are more common than you’d think, and finding out after you’ve powered up your whole cart is not how you want to start a shoot day.
The Tool Bag
Allen keys, short and long screwdrivers (two of each), needle nose pliers, 6-inch slip joints. You won’t need these every day. But when a monitor mount strips out or a cage screw won’t budge, you’ll be glad you have them instead of asking the grip truck.
The Cable Pouch
- 2x USB-C 3.0 to Micro B
- 1x USB 2.0 A to B
- 1x USB 3.0 A to B
- 2x USB 2.0 A to Micro B
- USB-C to MagSafe 3
- 2x Thunderbolt 4
- 2x HDMI
- CF/SD Card Reader
This covers legacy cameras, modern tethering, monitor connections, and charging. Redundancy matters — carrying one of everything is carrying zero backups.
The Digi Case
- Tether Cables: 2x USB-C to C, 2x USB-C to Micro B, 1x USB-C to Female C with pigtails
- Cleaning Kit (swabs, solution, rocket blower)
- USB-C battery for quick top-ups
- Digi Plate: Arca base, SSD caddy, USB hub, gold mount power inverter, AirTag holder, cable management
The Accessory Case
Monitor cable bag: Eizo power cable, 2x HDMI, Thunderbolt HDMI splitter, 2x USB-C to DisplayPort, USB-C to DisplayPort adapter.
Cables and accessories: Thumb drive (Capture One settings, scripts, software installers), 2x short Thunderbolt, 2x USB 4, label maker, Thunderbolt hub with spare TB3/4 cables.
Personal/medical kit: Mini medical kit, energy bar or gel, deodorant, tissues, hand wipes, face wipes, Advil.
The personal kit sounds like overkill until you’re on hour 12 of a shoot with no break and you haven’t eaten since 6 AM. Take care of yourself — you can’t troubleshoot a tethering issue if you’re running on fumes.
The Point
The best kit isn’t the most gear. It’s the right gear, packed consistently, so you’re never digging for something you need. Build your kit around your actual shoot days — what slowed you down, what you wished you had, what you never touched. Then refine it until grabbing your bags and walking out the door is automatic.