Recently I’ve found myself getting more and more into well-made bags and thoughtful EDC setups. I think it goes hand in hand with minimalism, something I have always been drawn to. But now that I’m not commuting to a full-time office job every day, I’ve been asking a new question. How much stuff do I actually need to carry?

I came across a video from Ryder Carroll, the creator of the Bullet Journal, where he scripts entire videos on his phone using an Apple Magic Keyboard. And it made me pause. I work either here in the studio on my Mac mini setup or I’m out at a coffee shop, and honestly, I don’t need a full laptop to do most of my work anymore. So instead of the phone plus keyboard route, I decided to try something a little more my speed. An iPad mini powered EDC.

Today’s carry is built entirely around that idea. It’s compact, simple, and honestly kind of perfect for my creative workflow right now. At the end I’ll share one bonus item that brings the whole setup together in a really fun way.

The whole EDC revolves around a new bag from Orbitkey. It’s a three liter tech bag that can be used like a crossbody or simply carried by the built-in handle. I’ve never been a huge crossbody person, but this thing feels more like a compact tech kit than a fashion accessory.

The straps detach. The entire interior opens and stays open on a desk. The bag expands when I need it to and stays slim when I don’t. There are even built-in loops that make the zippers harder to access in crowded spaces. One could use them while traveling or walking through busy areas to give a surprising amount of peace of mind.

This is the orange one, but Orbitkey also makes it in black and a clean stone color. It has quickly become the perfect “leave the house with everything I actually need and nothing I don’t” bag.

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Inside the rear pocket, which faces my body, I keep my wallet and a very simple key setup. I’ve been using the Orbitkey key holder with an AirTag attached. I only have three keys, and this setup keeps them silent and compact. It’s honestly all I need. The goal is to keep my pockets empty except for my phone, and this makes that easy.

Also in that back pocket is something new from BladeX. It’s a small folding knife with a unique rotary design. I’m doing a full review on it soon since the BladeX team has an interesting background in EDC manufacturing. If you’re into knives, keep an eye out for that one.

The heart of this EDC is the iPad mini 7. It fits perfectly in the bag with room to spare. I tried carrying it without a case at first, but the inner pockets of the bag sit a little low, and I didn’t want a zipper grazing the screen. The folio case adds a bit of protection, and everything still zips up easily.

To actually work on the iPad, I added the ProtoArc folding keyboard. The one I’m using is the bifold version with a faux leather exterior. When open, it gives me what feels like a 60 percent keyboard. It is clicky, responsive, and connects instantly over Bluetooth.

My only complaint is that my thumb sometimes hits the little hinge instead of the space bar, but shifting my hands slightly solves that. The battery lasts forever. ProtoArc makes a trifold version and even one with a built-in trackpad, but this one has been great so far.

I’ve also been making an effort to carry a nicer camera again. The Ricoh GR III HDF fits perfectly in one of the internal pockets. The images straight out of this camera are just gorgeous. It is one of my favorite cameras ever made for quick lifestyle and tech shots.

I’ll sometimes put it in my pocket instead, but even in the bag it is always within reach.

A tiny 45 watt Belkin charger lives inside the bag too. It’s powerful enough to charge everything I carry, including the iPad mini. I keep a simple USB-C cable tucked into one of the stretchy pockets. There are a few more internal pouches for business cards, AirPods, and whatever cables I need.

The last thing in my kit is something purely for fun. The Anbernic RG34XX handheld. I have it loaded with Game Boy Advance games only. Right now I’m playing Pokémon FireRed, and loving it. It looks almost exactly like a GBA but with a better screen and a few hidden buttons. It can play up to PS1 titles, but for me this is all about GBA. The sprites, the colors, the music. It’s perfect.

It slips into the front pocket and gives me a little mental break when I want one.

This bag has simplified my day to day in a way I didn’t expect. I realized I was carrying a backpack every day with almost nothing in it except a laptop. And once I started leaving the laptop at home and using the iPad mini as a lightweight remote workstation, everything else clicked into place.

This setup fits my current workflow perfectly. It’s compact. It’s intentional. It carries only what I actually need. And it makes leaving the house feel lighter, mentally and physically.

If you want to see any iPad mini focused content, let me know. I’ve been using it quite a bit lately and could definitely put one together.

Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed this setup, feel free to subscribe and stick around for more product reviews and everyday tech that marries form and function.