I carry a lot of stuff with me on the road. A 55 pound Briggs and Riley 36 inch suitcase, a 65 pound pelican case I use as a toolbox, a Solo brand laptop bag, and a Samarai Tactical backback. I am a fan of Topo Designs zipper pouches for organization of most things, Hide and Drink leather pouches for things such as Zyn pouches, handmade cloth book covers with a button flap that covers the page side of a book to protect it in my backpack (currently carrying a hardback copy of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations in a cover like this), a zip-up tablet case to hold other books such as the Perl Pocket Reference, and the Emacs Pocket Guide.
I choose things based on utility and æsthetics. I like what I like.