Much of the same staples from years past return to my bag, though I am packing just a bit lighter this year, in addition to going to a backpack after using a rolling briefcase for the past few years. A few things might make an appearance depending on how the week goes, but this is what’s in my bag at the moment.

  • XIKAR 5-count travel humidor — I’ve used this for years, and it held my cigars for the drive up from Phoenix. I don’t tend to take it out much during the show, but I keep it on hand just in case I need to stash a cigar or two, or so that I can have something to grab quickly.
  • Apple MacBook Pro — The same one I used last year, I got this in November 2014 and still going strong; it’s a 15-inch with the Retina display and a recently replaced keyboard and battery, which was a more expensive repair than I care to talk about.
  • JetLine lighter — A triple flame at the moment, but I brought about 20 for the staff so there’s a good chance this will get swapped out with
  • Djeep lighter — My go-to soft flame and travel lighter.
  • XIKAR MTX cigar scissors and multi-tool — Pretty self explanatory, this is my preferred cutter, and the tools tucked into the handle are fairly useful.
  • Notebooks and pens — A mishmash of styles, just need to have at least a few on hand at all times for notes.
  • Apple Lighting cables, plugs and car charger — For charging my iPhone 6s Plus (not pictured); I always carry around a few extra cords and plugs just in case one goes bad or to loan one to someone in need.
  • Jack Black lip balm with SPF 15  — The intense sun and hot dry air can wreak havoc on your lips, so much like the sunscreen, a travel size tube is never far away.
  • Water —It’s hot here and easy to get dehydrated, especially with all the walking we do. I’m back to SmartWater at the moment, but pretty much any brand works for me.
  • Flash drives — a bit of a relic, but an easy way to share files or move big files off my computer as we rack up gigabytes of photos and videos of show coverage.
  • Canon EOS 7D — I’m trying this model out for the show along with some different lenses, but most likely the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD. I may use a Canon 24-70 2.8 II as well, which is pictured. I also carry an extra Transcend 32GB SDHC card which is in the camera.
  • RØDE microphone — For better sound quality with our videos. A backup 9V battery will make its way into the bag at some point as well.
  • BlackRapid RS-7 camera strap — My second year with this and still a big fan. For quick access to my camera with a comfortable strap that can be work on the shoulder or across the body, I think this strap is great.
  • Business cards —The same ones you’ve seen before from CardsOfWood.com, mine is the maple pattern, a nod to the wood used to make baseball bats.
  • ANKER batteries — Used to power my phone or other USB chargeable devices when I can’t get to an outlet. I can’t recommend the company’s products enough.
  • Three-way power adapter — Old school and a life saver, especially if asking to share an outlet with someone.
  • Shure SE215 earbuds — My daily use earphones for the gym, listening to podcasts or meditations, flying, etc.
  • SwissGear backpack — Got it from eBags, it seems to be their most popular model. We’ll see how my shoulders and back fare after a couple days.

While not in the bag at the moment, the following will likely make an appearance at some point:

  • Butane — Since I drive to the show, I’m in charge of bringing butane. This year we have a can of Vector and a can of XIKAR; we usually leave it in our office space but sometimes it ends up with one of us.
  • Contact lenses — I almost lways have an extra pair on hand in case I lose one, it gets gunked up or I just feel like a fresh pair would help. These will probably get added before the show starts.
  • Sunscreen —Like I said last year, skin cancer sucks, and Las Vegas has plenty of sunshine this time of year. Usually Target’s Up & Up brand, but Neutrogena is my other go-to.
  • BC powdered aspirin — As I’ve mentioned before, I can’t swallow a pill. No particular reason, other than I have simply never been able to. Fortunately this does the trick and is washed down with a bit of water.
  • Dental floss — I hate the look and feeling of junk in my teeth, so I generally keep a small role in my bag.
  • Canon EOS 60D — this will be my backup camera, but as noted above it won’t be my primary.which I have paired with a lens.
  • MagicFiber wipes — To keep the lenses, camera and computer screen all clean.
  • Boveda 69% humidification packs — Normally I would have a Ziplock bag or two as well, but I put cigars in these to protect them from the desert heat.
Davidoff is the official sponsor of halfwheel's coverage of the 2017 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show.
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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.