My Essential Business Travel Kit

My don't-leave-home-without-it bag of tricks

My philosophy on travel has always been to find ways to enhance what I consider to be an enjoyable experience rather than to simply endure a hardship. Granted, that's easier in some parts of the aeroplane than others but the following is my go-to list for business travel - nothing revolutionary, just things I always use.

Technology

Arguably, the most important part of surviving a long-haul journey is some good tech. Active noise cancelling headphones are top of my list and bringing your own is a much more multi-purpose option than relying on the in-flight offerings.

• Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H8i Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones (an equal first are my Sennheiser PXC 550s which have better bass but smaller ear pads which make them marginally less comfortable after multiple hours)

• Amazon Kindle - One of the greatest pleasures of flying a lot is reading a lot (IMO); so after headphones, this is the one thing I can't leave behind.

• Apple iPod Touch - call me old school but I like having my music separate from my phone. Enhanced with a Cyrus Soundkey external DAC (for wired headphones).

• 1More Quad Driver In-Ear Earphones - My on-the-move choice when I don't want to juggle large headphones. These are (audiophile cable) wired so there are obviously more convenient wireless options out there but the sound is excellent.

• Apple MacBook Air - The older version of the MacBook is smaller and lighter than the newer ones which suits me fine. I keep the Mac for non-business stuff.

• Microsoft Surface Pro - For work that I can't avoid on the plane, the Surface Pro is my pick. I have a magnetic privacy filter which is an essential item in any public place.

• Apple iPad Air - I use the iPad less than I used to thanks to the MacBook, but I still bring it along when I have downloaded movies to watch and/or as a lighter alternative to the MacBook.

• Plantronics Voyager 5200 UC headset - Bluetooth, so it works with multiple devices and has a portable charging case. The best thing is the directional microphone which is excellent at filtering background noise.

• Rleron 25000mAh portable charger (get it from Amazon). This is a bit of a beast when it comes to chargers so I don't usually take it on business trips. However, it has saved the day on many other trips when needing to charge multiple devices including the MacBook. (I also keep a smaller credit card sized charger in my bag for emergencies).

What I'm Wearing

There are plenty of blogs about stylish attire for travel, but these are my preferences.

• Uniqlo fine-knit merino sweater. The budget option is a winner here - the £29 Uniqlo merino sweater is hard to beat in my view. It's light, warm enough for inside a plane when needed, smart and works well with a blazer.

• Suit Supply lightweight navy wool blazer. This blazer is only half-lined with an open weave fabric so it doesn't crush and is cool enough for airports.

• Spoke London cotton trousers or Spoke jeans depending on the mood. In my opinion, Spoke make some of the best custom fit trousers out there.

• Grenson leather brogues. I'm a big fan of Grenson shoes and I have a go-to pair for travel that are comfortable with a fit that accommodates swollen feet after a long haul. Yes, I know trainers make more sense but gotta dress for that upgrade!

• TM Lewin Navy Wool Pea Coat - the win for this budget model is that it is lightweight, warm, tolerant of being scrunched into bags if you have to and works equally well with jeans or a suit.

Gents, I appreciate that wearing your suit jacket with your Dad jeans and grubby trainers seems like the practical and comfort-focused option, but it has defeat written all over it.

Luggage

Quality luggage is a worthwhile investment but the choice is a lot about how you use it. If you are comfortable being the max-out-the-overhead-bin dude who's always scrambling to find a space for your oversized carry-on, then good luck to you. For how I roll, these are my picks

• Rimowa Classic Cabin S. I love the design of this case inside and out. The wheels are excellent and it stows in any size overhead bin.

• Louis Vuitton Bandouliere Keepall. I almost always take this on trips of any length as it's simply the easiest way of keeping all of the in-flight paraphernalia together along with a change of clothes and/or airport gifts.

• Mont Blanc Westside Briefcase. Briefcases are a very personal choice but I'm on my second version of the same model that's served me well for hundreds of thousands of miles over the last twenty years. Comfortable to carry when fully loaded, lots of usable space and an understated design. Not a current model on their website but available from various sellers.

• Mont Blanc Tie Case. Ok, so this might not sound essential but I've tried many ways to transport ties over the years without them getting crushed and a tie case is the best option I've found. This version fits four ties comfortably and slides easily into the case. Again, not available from Mont Blanc's website but there are plenty of options for tie cases out there.

• Mont Blanc Passport Holder. As passport holders go this is a good one. Easy to get the passport out for inspection and card pockets for airline lounge cards etc.

• Smythson Panama Travel Clutch. Not in the current range but this handy item fits all the Kindles, phones etc. in a slim-line package that's not too man-baggy with a passport pocket on the outside.

Other Essentials

• Swiss Army Knife - Doesn't fly with just carry-on but otherwise something I always carry. A model with scissors has proved invaluable many times.

• Aesop Travel Products - Australian brand Aesop make high quality products with gender neutral smells. I keep a small go-bag with essentials for a transit lounge shower for longer trips and recommend the Immediate Moisture Facial Spray for a quick refresh. Great gift packs for travel buddies as well.

• TripIt App. I love TripIt's easy interface as a way to keep your itinerary all together and easily accessible. You just forward your confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com and its AI engine extracts the data and adds it to the itinerary with a high degree of accuracy.