In this monthly Travel Checklist column, we ask entrepreneurs to open up their carry-ons and share the items they can't leave home without.
When your company's end product can be used by literally every human being on the planet, you know you're in for a little travel. Or in Mike Del Ponte's case, a lot of travel -- to the tune of 100,000 miles a year.
Del Ponte's business is water -- more specifically, Soma Water. This company’s cleverly designed filtering pitcher features an elegant (but virtually shatterproof) glass carafe and uses filters made of coconut shells and a biodegradable plant-based casing.
The San Francisco-based entrepreneur started Soma in 2012, and with an increasingly jammed schedule of investor meetings, conferences, retail partnerships, and speaking engagements, he finds himself in the air frequently, for both business and pleasure. One day it may be New York or Chicago for work, the next Hong Kong or the Italian coast to decompress from the entrepreneurial grind. “New environments always inspire new thoughts,” Del Ponte says. “I enjoy exploring new cities and writing about creative ways to innovate, whether that’s for a marketing campaign, product development, or strategy for leading my team.”
But for a healthy-living devotee like Del Ponte, all that airport time leaves him scrounging for sustenance -- so he brings his own food and drink, along with some minimalist tools of the trade that help keep his business moving by land, sea, or sky.
Following a recent trip to Tulum, Mexico, we asked Del Ponte to pop open his trusty backpack for a look at the items that always make the journey with him.
1. Surface magazine. “I used to get frustrated during those 15-minute segments around takeoff and landing when you can’t use on your laptop. Now, I bring my favorite magazine. Surface captures trends in art, design, fashion, and architecture.”
2. Moleskine journal. “Flying sparks insights I don’t find anywhere else. The resulting in-air journal entries often become company memos. This red Moleskine is filling up quickly, as I make it a point to journal every day.”
Related: What a Travel Boutique Owner Packs in His Carry On
3. To-Go Ware bamboo utensils. “I love to travel, but I hate the mountains of plastic waste it creates if you don’t come prepared. These bamboo utensils are great because they come with a case to keep them clean.”
4. Muji pen. “Muji is a brand that inspires me because it consistently makes everyday objects simple and elegant. At Soma, we have a similar design philosophy. I keep dozens of Muji pens in the office and grab a few before I travel.”