PCA 2024: What’s In My Bag — Brooks Whittington

Welcome to the first of three streamlined versions of What’s In My Bag.

This year, we are dropping a number of items that had become staples: since we are not shooting any video this year, the monopods and the microphones that took up so much time and effort to haul around are gone, leading to smaller bags and significantly less weight.

Here’s what is in my bag this year:

• Think Tank Retrospective 10 V2.0 — Smaller than my other regular Think Tank bag I carry around for work—and much smaller than the bulky Pelican 1510 rolling bag I have used in the past—this bag was chosen so that I could carry around a 13-inch MacBook Pro in case there is any breaking news on the show floor that needs to be reported on.
• MacBook Pro — The aforementioned computer.
• Sony A7rIV Camera with 16-35mm f/2.8 lens — The classic combination is back, better than ever.
• Hand Sanitizer — For some reason, I still cling to the belief that I can prevent myself from getting sick after one of these trips.
• Credentials — These are huge, but sturdy. Yes, the halfwheel branded lanyards are back.
• Reporter’s Notebook — The exact same type that I have loved since I was a newspaper photojournalist way back in the 90’s.
• Nuts Mix — A mix of peanuts, cashews and pistachios that I have come to love, especially when I need a boost.
• Clipboard — I was apparently an insurance adjuster in a former life, or at the very least, played one on T.V.
• Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Guillotina de Saka Cutter — Great cutter that I have apparently beat to hell. Still works like a charm.
• Palió Single Flame Lighter — Small, light, works like a charm and will probably not need a refill at any point during the entire time I am at the show.
• Pens — I lose them constantly, so I carry around a lot of them.
• Breath Mints — Cigars, duh.
• Bag with Boveda — Shocking fact: Las Vegas is dry as a bone, this makes sure my cigars don’t suffer the same fate.