The Perfect Outdoor Office, 3 Ways

The weather is getting nicer and most of us are still working from home. So, why not bring your office outside? Heck, maybe take a roudtrip? It’s 2020 and the truth is that a lot of us can work anywhere (so long as there are a stable Wi-Fi connection and a reliable power source). Whether you just want to bring your workstation to your outdoor deck or you’re traveling and want to build a more robust remote workstation, we’ve rounded up the necessary gadgets and accessories to build the perfect remote workstation.

The Bare Essentials

Sometimes, whether in an airport lounge or a remote campground upstate, the nearest electric outlet or Wi-Fi signal is miles away. If you’ve got to check in with home base despite the trouble, these gadgets are the bare minimum you need to get up and running, at least for in the short term.

Verizon Jetpack MiFi 8800L: Don’t kill your smartphone’s battery by turning it into a hotspot. This is the best mobile hotspot for anyone willing to go on contract with Verizon which, if you need to be sure of your coverage, is a good bet. $200

Mophie Powerstation USB-C Power Delivery XXL: The 19,500mAh portable power bank can breath an extra 14 hours into your MacBook Pro. $149 $76

Jabra Elite 85h: Released in 2019, Jabra’s noise-canceling headphones have an 8-microphone array and deliver great call clarity. $250

Upgrade Options

If you want your workspace-to-go to be a little more robust than just the tools that meet the minimum of what you need to stay connected, keep your laptop on, and keep your brain focused, here are a few options that will take your setup from “good enough” to “good” and let you report in from the wilds for a few working days.

Goal Zero Yeti 150: This durable, 12-pound portable power station can charge a number of devices simultaneously. $200

UAG Plasma Case for MacBook Pro: This rugged case puts an armored shell and impact resistant bumpers on your MacBook Pro. It adds an extra layer of protection against drops and scratches. $80

CalDigit Tuff: This very fast and very portable hard drive is a great MacBook Pro accessory, but because it’s drop-proof and water-resistant, it’s ideal for folks working in hard environments. $160+

Gnarbox 2.0 SSD: A step beyond your average SSD, the Gnarbox gives photographers a quick-and-easy way to backup their photos and upload them to Instagram. $499+

Nomad Charging Cables: Don’t worry about cables breaking. Nomad’s rugged cables are wrapped with the same material that the military uses to guard against shrapnel and bullets. $40+

The Full Power Setup

For some people, the remote office is the main office. They don’t have the luxuries of free Wi-Fi or even an office chair, but they do wake up knowing they’re going to be somewhere and do something different — it’s a professional life that some revel in, and if you’re one of them, you probably require more substantial and dependable tools to stay connected.

Dell Latitude 7424 Rugged Extreme: Anybody living off the grid but still reporting into it will want a rugged laptop — and this is one of the best. It meets all the military’s rigorous standards, and it’s virtually indestructible. $3,499

EcoFlow River Bank Main Module: This is the highest capacity portable power bank that TSA allows you to fly with. But it also acts as a USB hub, so you can transfer files between your various devices. $599

Anker PowerHouse 200: Anker’s largest portable power station is perfect for a long weekend camp trip. It can charge your devices several times over and still have charges to spare. $230+

EcoFlow 21W Solar Panel: Eventually, you’ll have to charge the devices that are charging your devices. That’s where a solar panel comes in. $159

Lacie Rugged Raid: The Rugged Raid has a huge 4TB storage capacity, meaning photographers can shoot as much RAW as they want without worrying about running out of space. $255+

Anker PowerLine+ Charging Cables: Anker’s line of nylon-braided cables is significantly tougher than the stock cables that come with your smartphone or laptop. $13+

Goal Zero Sherpa 100AC: This rugged portable battery has a 25,600mAh capacity and can charge a number of your devices simultaneously, including your laptop. $225+

MCD-4800 Portable Global Hotspot This is definitely overkill for the vast majority of people, but it’s the ultimate mobile hotspot. It can get an LTE signal from anywhere in the world. $12,995

Bose QuietComfort 35 II: These are still the most comfortable noise-canceling headphones to date. If you need to wear headphones for many hours at a time, these are what you want. $350

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