PCA 2024: What’s in My Bag — Charlie Minato

Welcome to an annual feature that has a bit of a cult following amongst our readership. It’s pretty simple: what’s the equipment you’ll be using to cover the 2024 PCA Convention & Trade Show. This year, we won’t be doing as much coverage, which means less equipment.

Here’s what is in my bag. I’ve noted new items in italics:

• Tom Bihn Shadow Guide 33 — I believe this is year three of this Tom Bihn backpack. The bag looks as good as it did new, Tom Bihn knows how to make a backpack.
• Trade Show Badge — Breaking the fourth wall of journalism: I am writing this post before getting to Vegas, I haven’t seen the badge.
• Think Tank Cable Management 10 V 2.0 — A lot of random cables for phones, laptops, even a spare camera battery.
• Sony A7RIV + Sony 24-70 ƒ/2.8 GM II — I’d normally shoot the trade show with the 16-35, but given I’m only covering the show for one day, I’ll use this larger lens.
• Moleskine Reporter Notebook — Three years later, this notebook hasn’t run out of pages yet.
• Leuchtturm Small Hardcover Lined Yellow — This stays in my bag year-round, I don’t have any great use for it during PCA 2024.
• Leuchtturm Medium Hardcover Lined Red — Unlike last year, I’ve used this once.
• Big Idea Design Dual Side Click Pen — I really want one of the Dessert Warrior models, but for now, the black version of this pen works. I’ve used this for most of my writing on the trade show floor.
• Pilot Envelope Address Writing Gel Ink Pen — Now known as the Pilot Tough Wash Fabric Pen. I use the 1mm size. It’s my favorite pen.
• Blazer PB-207 — This is the lighter I use every day. While I don’t smoke many cigars here, it holds a ton of fuel and always works.
• Chaves CHUB Flipper — This small body holds a utility blade. I don’t use the knife all that often, but when I need a sharp blade, it’s there.
• Sony WF-1000XM5  — I like the MX4 model for air travel as I think it has better noise-canceling, but these smaller and newer models are much more comfortable.
• Clipboard With Storage — We are trying something new this year, so each of us have these clipboards.
• Business Cards
• Bottled Water — It may not be The Venetian, but it’s still Las Vegas.
• Anker Battery — I normally carry around two of them.