Blog · Everyday Carry
What I Actually Carry My EDC Stationery In (And Why)
For most days I reach for the Aer Day Sling 4 Max because it is the only bag that fits my full stationery kit and an iPad Pro without turning into a brick. When the iPad stays home, a Peak Design Field Pouch does the job in half the space.
If you carry a planner, a couple of pens, and sometimes an iPad, the bag matters as much as what's in it.
After switching between two pouches for months, my answer is simple: the Aer Day Sling 4 Max is the default, and the Peak Design Field Pouch is the stripped-down backup for days when the iPad stays home.
Why the sling wins most days
The Aer Day Sling 4 Max holds about six liters, and that number matters more than it sounds. Six liters fits my full stationery setup and my iPad Pro (M4), and the sling still closes without a fight. Its tablet sleeve is sized for an 11-inch tablet, so check your iPad's size before you buy one for this. Its tablet sleeve is sized for an 11-inch tablet, so check your iPad's size before you buy one for this.
I tested it with the least convenient item I could think of: a hefty hardcover, Truman by David McCullough. It went in next to everything else with no problem. That is the real test of a bag's volume claim, not how it looks empty.
The front pocket carries a Maxpedition Micro Pocket Organizer, which holds a Leatherman ARC and an Olight Arkfeld Pro. I use the Arkfeld constantly, and not just as a flashlight.
The Arkfeld has a pointer that comes in handy with my kids or in meetings, and a UV light for checking whether a hotel room is actually clean. The organizer is a little bulky for what it holds, but the flashlight's features earn the space.
Next to the organizer is a UGREEN Nexode Pro 65W charger. It's slim enough that it adds no real bulk, and its three ports can charge the iPad and two other devices at once.
The main compartment is where the planning system lives. A spare Uni-ball One sits in the sling's built-in pen loop. It's brand new and I've never uncapped it, but I know it's always there as a backup.
The iPad Pro (M4) and Apple Pencil Pro ride together, so the pencil never wanders off. My sunglasses tuck into a slit of their own to keep them from getting crushed.
The two items I reach for most are my LOCHBY Quattro, the pouch that holds my most-used pens and pencils, and my planner, a MeePlus SlimPad in the personal size.
The SlimPad replaced two planners I used to carry: a Traveler's Company notebook in the regular size and a LOCHBY Voyager. I've mostly retired both, though I still reference the Voyager's monthly insert now and then.
Both were a little too bulky compared with the SlimPad. Its ring binder is the reason I switched, because it lets me swap pages instead of committing to a bound layout.
What changes when the iPad stays home
Not every day needs the full sling. When I leave the iPad behind, I switch to the Peak Design Field Pouch, which expands or shrinks depending on how much I load into it.
I use it as a pocket extender, not an organizer, so for me it's one big open space, and that's fine. My wallet and keys go in the back pocket, and my Kindle goes in the main space.
Sometimes the MeePlus SlimPad comes along too, since it's compact enough to fit almost anywhere. Tools and sunglasses go to the sides.
The tradeoff is real. If I strip the carry down to the essentials, it becomes a pocket notebook, a pen, and a phone, with the MeePlus left at home. That means less room for pens and pencils and less structure overall.
It's a fair trade for a lighter carry, but it's a trade, not an upgrade.
Aer Day Sling 4 Max vs. Peak Design Field Pouch
| Aer Day Sling 4 Max | Peak Design Field Pouch | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | ~6 liters | Expandable, smaller overall |
| Fits my iPad Pro (M4) | Yes, daily | No |
| How I use it | Dedicated slots (pen loop, pencil holder, sunglasses slit, front pocket) | As a pocket extender, loaded as one open space |
| Padding | Structured, holds shape loaded | Soft lining, not heavily padded |
| Best for | Full stationery kit + iPad, daily driver | Pocket extender when leaving the iPad home |
The everyday-in-pocket layer
Underneath either bag is a constant: my wallet, phone, and keys, plus a leather notebook cover with a few Field Notes, a pocket pencil, and a pocket pen for quick capture on the go.
The leather cover feels premium, wears in nicely, and stays slim, which is the whole point of a pocket tool. It should disappear until you need it.
Verdict
If your stationery kit includes a planner binder and you sometimes carry a tablet, get a sling-style bag with real capacity. Six liters is a workable target. Inside it, give loose gear like a multitool and flashlight a small pouch of its own instead of letting it float.
If you're trying to go lighter, the Peak Design Field Pouch, which does not have a lot of organization, forces useful discipline: you carry less because there's less room to hide extra stuff. Skip the field pouch if you need the iPad with you regularly.
Skip the full sling if most of your days don't need six liters of capacity. For the exact list of what's in either setup right now, see my full carry.
The gear worth a look
- Aer Day Sling 4 Max: My default carry. Six liters is enough for the full stationery kit plus an iPad Pro without feeling stuffed.
- Maxpedition Micro Pocket Organizer: Holds the multitool and flashlight in the sling's front pocket so they don't scratch other gear.
- Leatherman ARC: My go-to multitool for days out, kept in the organizer.
- Olight Arkfeld Pro: My main flashlight, with a pointer and UV light I actually use, worth the extra bulk.
- UGREEN Nexode Pro 65W: A slim charger that handles the iPad and two other devices from three ports.
- Uni-ball One: Kept in the sling's pen loop as a backup, so there's always a pen on hand.
- LOCHBY Quattro: The pouch for my most-used pens and pencils, one of the two items I reach for most.
- MeePlus SlimPad: My current planner, in the personal size. Its ring binder replaced two bulkier notebook setups.
- Traveler's Company Brass Ballpoint Pen: A compact metal ballpoint that suits pocket carry.
- LOCHBY Voyager: A semi-retired planner, though I still reference its monthly insert from time to time.
- Truman by David McCullough: The hefty biography I used to test how much the sling can actually hold.
- iPad Pro (M4): Runs everything for the channel and my personal life, and it's the main reason the sling needs real capacity.
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Related reading
- The 10 Pens I Actually Reach for Every Day (Ranked by Use)
- Planner Insert Sizes Explained: A5, Personal, Pocket, and the Rest
- Best Pocket Notebook for Everyday Carry? I Carry Three Instead
Frequently Asked Questions
What size bag do you need to carry a planner, pens, and an iPad?
A bag of around six liters, like the Aer Day Sling 4 Max, comfortably fits a personal-size planner binder, a pen case, and an iPad Pro, with room for a charger and a small tool pouch.
Is the Peak Design Field Pouch good for carrying stationery?
The Peak Design Field Pouch works for stationery if you treat it as one open space rather than an organizer. I use it as a pocket extender for my wallet, keys, Kindle, and a compact planner.
Why switch from a bound notebook to a binder-style planner?
A binder-style planner like the MeePlus SlimPad lets you swap pages and inserts instead of locking you into one bound layout. Its compact size also made it easier for me to carry every day than a bulkier notebook.
Do you always carry an iPad in your EDC bag?
I don't always carry an iPad. On days without it, the smaller Peak Design Field Pouch replaces the sling, though that means leaving some pen and pencil capacity behind.