I can’t say I’ve lost count of how many IPCPR Convention & Trade Shows I’ve attended, but it’s been a few at this point, probably eight or nine if I recall correctly. This year, I wanted to make a conscientious effort to lighten my load as much as possible and really streamline my bag down to effectively just the essentials, and while I didn’t do quite as good of a job as I had hoped going into day one, writing this reminds me to take out a few more things before we get on the floor for day two.

Notably, I’m back to a backpack this year as I’ve been using it daily for a while and have gotten use to it and where everything is located amidst is numerous pockets. I brought my old rolling briefcase along as well, and while I’m not planning on switching over, if my back starts aching I might return to the pull-behind option, though I seem to hit it with the heels of my feet at an annoying rate.

As for what’s inside, it’s a pretty standard rundown, though the laptop generally stays in the office while I’m on the floor, and the camera is on my arm or in my hand.

  • MacBook Pro Laptop — the same one as in years past, and I’m proud to say it survived an unexpected drop during an Arizona Rattlers game this season
  • Canon 5d Mark IV camera and Canon EF 16-35 ƒ/2.8L II lens — not mine, but loaners from the office and a rental company as we look to up the image quality of our coverage
  • Notebooks — lots of them from assorted manufacturers. If anything, I didn’t make an effort to get new ones this year, but just use up the ones I already had.
  • Pens — same idea, though I did pick up some a few Pentel Tradio Pulaman and R.S.V.P. recently, as they’ve become my favorite pens of the moment.
  • Quest Bars — when I need a snack that doesn’t melt
  • Smartwater
  • Anker Batteries and power splitters
  • XIKAR MTX Scissors
  • XIKAR Allume lighter
  • XIKAR travel humidor
  • Djeep lighter
  • Goody’s Headache Powder — I’m not a fan of pills, so this is a great substitute.
  • Business Cards
Davidoff is the official sponsor of halfwheel's coverage of the 2018 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.