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Rather than add to the weighty mountain of articles about “what to expect from CES 2026”, this year I thought I’d share my trade show survival tech. That is, what I carry with me so that I can keep working effectively for a week away from my desk.
Most of this is technology, but I continue to be a fan of a pen and paper. So, my constant companions will be a cheap Bookaroo notebook and a set of PaperMate InkJoy pens. Don’t worry, the other things are more interesting. Mostly.
I live in the UK, and that means a ten-hour flight from London Heathrow to Las Vegas. Here’s what I take on my carry-on bag, in order of importance.
I remain a fan of the over-ear Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones. Not only are these a fraction cheaper than Sony’s newer WH-1000XM5 headphones, but they fold up neatly. The new WH-1000XM6 set also folds – what an innovation! – but are almost twice the price.
The key point about the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones is that they offer excellent audio and noise cancellation, they’re easy to plug into Virgin Atlantic’s AV system, and they’re comfortable for hours of use. I just need to remember to charge them before the journey, which I entirely failed to do last time.
My 12.9in iPad Pro is a few years old but still meets my two key needs on flights: work and entertainment.
With a cheap stylus in hand (I lost my original Pencil years ago) I can proof magazine pages, while thanks to Netflix, Prime et al I can download a few favourite films and TV series to battle the tedium of long-haul flights. Although I confess that on recent cross-Atlantic trips I’ve stuck with the supplied offerings from BA and Virgin.
I don’t often use it on flights, but I also bring the Magic Keyboard along for the ride in case writing inspiration strikes.
This is one of my oldest travelling companions: an Amazon Kindle Paperwhite that dates all the way back to 2015. Still, the backlight remains ideal for flights and the battery life is never a problem.
Nothing to do with technology, but I bought a Turtl pillow earlier this year and always try to remember to grab an eye mask. I tend to travel Economy, so no freebie masks for me. Neither grant me the miracle of sleep, but they definitely help me to relax.
The problem with reporting from CES is that you have to get out onto the showfloor, interview numerous people, shoot lots of footage – and then turn it all into articles and videos. CTA, the organisation behind CES, does provide press rooms but they tend to be crowded and annoying. (I’m easily annoyed, particularly by journalists who “reserve” their spaces with jackets and laptops only to disappear for hours.)
This means that I far prefer to work in my hotel room at the start or end of the day, and so I try to mimic a full working setup as much as possible.
While most of my colleagues use MacBook Pros or ultraportables, I’ll be hefting around a two-year-old MateBook D 16. It isn’t light, so won’t come with me to the showfloor, but it’s cheap and that means I won’t mourn it if damaged or stolen – both genuine perils on any trade show trip.
But more importantly it has a classy 16in screen with a high 2,560 x 1,800 resolution, and I need that space when I’m working. In fact, sometimes I want more…
This year I’m also packing an Acer PD3 portable monitor with me. Its not-so hidden talent is that it has two 15.6in screens, so I can enjoy a three-screen setup in my hotel room. I can even power the screens via USB-C from my MateBook, simplifying the on-desk setup.
Both screens offer 1,920 x 1,080 resolutions, so I’m hoping that I can reach similar levels of productivity as I can at home with a 32in 4K monitor.
I’m shoving the slimline Cherry KW X ULP into my suitcase so that I don’t need to rely on my laptop’s keyboard. Not that it’s bad, more that I hate typing in that position for hours. I’m faster and more accurate with a full-size keyboard, and Cherry always delivers for quality.
This is actually my regular mouse, and while it isn’t fancy it fits snugly into my hand and has excellent battery life. I usually sling a second mouse into my suitcase as a backup: I can’t survive trade shows without a mouse.
This may seem like a silly inclusion, but few mice play nicely with clear glass worktops – and hotels love to include them. So, if I manage to remember, I always throw in a mouse mat. A piece of white A4 paper will do at a push.
And finally let’s talk about the daily grind of trawling Las Vegas for tech stories. Anyone who has ever been to CES will tell you how big it is. Not only does the official show sprawl across around ten hotels, the gigantic Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) and the Venetian Expo, but you’ll also find yourself heading to unofficial suites in non-accredited hotels.
But the real issue is that Vegas hotels are huge. You can walk for a mile in a single visit to one hotel, especially if you need to visit its convention hall, so comfortable shoes, walking socks and plasters are all vital inclusions. The only good news is that Vegas in January is cold, so hydration shouldn’t be a problem.
Anyway, here’s what I’ll be packing into my backpack. Starting with the backpack itself.
I reviewed the Dell EcoLoop Premier Backpack earlier this year. It’s my CES pick because it’s well organised, with three separate storage areas, but is also slim – that makes it much easier to navigate my way through packed rooms.
This comes into its own thanks to the fact I also bought a wireless mic to stick into the lapels of interviewees. There is a *lot* of noise on the CES showfloor, and the only way to capture clear audio is to stick the mic as close to people’s mouths as possible.
I’m currently testing the Honor Magic8 Pro, which makes its official international debut at CES 2025. Its two key inclusions are a gigantic 6,270mAh battery and 200MP telephoto lens. I’ve already tested the camera and in particular its zoom; suffice to say I’m impressed.
This year I intend to do my main writing in the hotel, and that means I’ll only be taking the iPad, Magic Keyboard and mouse with me during the day.
So long as I can wrestle this off my daughter, I’ll also be carrying this with me. It’s compact and can top up the charges of all my devices me in case I become unstuck.
