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A lovely viewer of The Tech Diary recently suggested that it might be a good idea to reveal what’s in my backpack. I’ve watched loads of similar videos made by other creators, and I’m often left feeling a bit of a fraud. Their bags are chock-full of super interesting stuff, clever accessories and quirky gadgets that make you think, ‘why didn’t I think of that?’.
Mine, by comparison, always feels a little boring. But on reflection, it’s also a realistic glimpse into how I actually run a YouTube business with relatively limited gear. And while it might not be flashy, it works.
Running a YouTube business might sound glamorous – studios, camera rigs, shelves of tech gear – but the reality for me is that most of it fits into two bags. That’s right: my entire workflow for Mark Ellis Reviews (and The Next Drive) lives inside one large and one small Peak Design backpack. This setup has taken me around the world, into countless press events, and onto car shoots, all while keeping the channel alive and kicking. I’ve dialled it in over the course of five years, so hopefully it can be helpful to you too.
The Everyday Backpack
The backbone of my kit is the Peak Design Everyday Backpack. It’s deceptively roomy, packed with compartments, and endlessly adaptable. I’ve been using it as my main backpack for travel and everyday use for over a year now and have no desire to look elsewhere.
It just fits everything I need into it in a very efficient way and it is so obviously designed with the user experience in mind. You can velcro in separators to create compartments in the main part of the bag, which is especially useful if you’ve got things like camera lenses to protect, and there are various ways to unzip the backpack to access the sides, bottom or top.
It’s very light and the straps have magnets stitched in so that they stay compact when you’re not using them. I also often carry around Peak Design’s Everyday Sling bag which goes over your shoulder and fits in your essentials for quick access. They haven’t paid me to say these things, I just really like their stuff!
The Very Important Bit: Laptops
At the heart of it all is my 14-inch M3 Max MacBook Pro, the workhorse. This thing edits video like a tank, whilst working on scripts or emails is a bit of an insult to its power. Ever since I bought it, it has travelled everywhere with me.
Related: M3 Max MacBook Pro review
In truth, I don’t really do much video editing anymore, that’s down to my editor, Niall. As I have written elsewhere, this makes the M3 Max MacBook look like laughably large overkill for what I need it for. At any one time, I might be typing out an email or writing some newsletter copy on a machine that has enough power to carry out some of the most complex statistical modelling you could think of.
This isn’t entirely true. I do still edit for my new car channel The Next Drive and some other production-based bits. But still, I don’t need to be lugging around this very heavy laptop anymore so I might be on the path to switching to an M4 MacBook Air more permanently.
Read my M4 MacBook Air review!
Aside from that, I don’t carry around a tablet. Old-school habits die hard, which is why you’ll also find a notebook and pen in the bag. My to-do list and meeting notes live on paper these days. It’s not glamorous, but it works far better than anything else I’ve tried.
The Other Very Important Bits: Cameras and Audio
Of course, running a tech channel means I can’t escape the filming gear. DJI has become my secret weapon and go-to option. The DJI Mic Mini and Mic 2 handle almost all of my audio recording duties, whether it’s in-car dialogue for The Next Drive or quick ramblings at events for the Tech Diary channel.
Check out my list of the best iPad accessories!
For video, I (and most other creators I know) lean heavily on the DJI Osmo Pocket 3, a ridiculously capable little camera that comes with built-in stabilisation and has replaced the bulky rigs for most of my B-roll and vlogging. Of course, the big guns are still in use at the studio.
When it comes to filming inside of cars, my sling bag houses a couple of DJI Osmo Action 4 cameras, a DJI Mavric 3 Pro drone (yes, it’s that compact), and a collection of suction mounts. These let me stick cameras to windscreens, wheel arches, or wherever I need them to get dynamic driving shots. It’s simple, quick to set up, and, most importantly, profitable, there are no wasted hours fiddling with complicated gear. I can have a car ready to be filmed within minutes.
Earbuds, Headphones and Accessories
Travelling means you need good noise-cancelling earbuds and headphones. It makes long journeys so much more bearable when you can actually block out external sounds to try and sleep. Primarily, I carry AirPods Pro 2 (still Apple’s best bit of ‘it just works’ magic). These handle most tasks like meetings or helping me lock in for work.
Then, if I want something a bit more indulgent for some downtime, I usually have a second pair like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. These blend the best audio quality with excellent noise cancelling so it’s a no brainer really.
My best headphones recommendations, for all wants and needs
I always have one pair of over-ear cans, too. At the moment, the Nothing Headphone (1) has snuck its way into the backpack, a device that I seemed to like a lot more than most other reviewers. They have become particularly popular when I’m editing or occasionally DJing at home.
Powering all of these devices is the 10,000mAh Anker Nano Power Bank, which has a built-in cable and Anker’s GaNPrime wall charger. Look, I know these aren’t particularly out-there picks, but Anker’s stuff is brilliant and it just works.
Beyond that, the other essentials are my wallet, glasses, microfiber cloths, a long USB-C cable, travel adapters, spare batteries, an inevitable pile of other cables and a waterproof SD card holder. That last one is very important. Losing an SD Card = major problems. I’d advise you to get a proper heavy-duty waterproof holder ASAP if you do anything like photography or video production. I use the Jaimela SD Card Holder which is incredibly cheap and top quality.
Phones, Phones, and More Phones
One of the quirks of being a tech reviewer is that I always have a ridiculous number of smartphones in tow. My everyday driver remains the iPhone 16e, which I have permanently ditched the 16 Pro Max for. Not because I particularly love the 16e, in fact, I think it is objectively worse than many Android phones at the same price, but because it ties into my Apple Watch so seamlessly. I do sometimes carry an alternative like the Garmin Fenix 8 for when I’m feeling adventurous.
Beyond that, there’s usually a rotating cast of review units: Pixels, foldables, Xiaomis, Nothing Phones, you name it. I carry them in neatly organised phone holders that fit three devices each, and at any given time I’m juggling at least half a dozen.
Related: iPhone 16e review
A lot of my phone reviews revolve around assessing what they are like to live with, so in order to speak on that with authority, I need to actually use them on a daily basis. It’s quite fun to be able to whip out a random phone to take a photo and put it to the test.
Why It Works
Pairing everything back to these two bags has been transformative. It means I can run my YouTube business from literally anywhere, hotel rooms, press events, a plane or the front seat of a Bentley Continental GT Speed. It’s not about having the most expensive or complex gear; it’s about having the right mix of power, portability, and reliability. This setup keeps the content flowing, lets me travel light, and makes the business viable.
So, that’s how I run my YouTube business from a backpack. Nothing fancy, just a carefully honed system that works for me. The beauty of this approach? I could pack up right now, head to the airport, and not miss a single upload. What do you think?
