Last Updated on May 19, 2026
Updated May 2026 · By Florian Smeritschnig, Former McKinsey Senior Consultant
The 12 items every new management consultant should buy before their start date are a well-fitted suit, dress shoes, a durable carry-on suitcase, a structured laptop bag or backpack, noise-cancelling headphones, a portable charger, an e-reader, a universal travel adapter, a sleep mask and earplugs, a TSA-compliant toiletry kit, athletic clothing, and 2-3 reference books. Everything else (laptop, phone, stationery, software) gets provided by McKinsey, BCG, or Bain on day one, so do not waste money buying it yourself.
I spent 5 years at McKinsey traveling 80+ flights a year and bought (often re-bought, after the first cheap version broke) every item on this list. The recommendations below are the ones I actually wish I had started with, with three picks per item across premium, mid-tier, and budget tiers. This is my recommended consultant starter pack.
Key Takeaways
- 12 items to buy: suit, shoes, carry-on, laptop bag, headphones, charger, e-reader, adapter, sleep mask, toiletry kit, athletic clothing, books
- What the firm provides (do not buy yourself): laptop, phone, secondary monitor, charging cables, security tokens, all stationery, all software
- Budget for the full kit: $1,500-2,500 for a solid mid-tier setup, $4,000-6,000 for premium across the board
- The two biggest mistakes: buying premium leather in year one (you will scuff it) and buying a cheap suitcase to save $150 (you will replace it within 6 months)
- Order of priority: suit and shoes first (you wear them the first day), then headphones (the consensus productivity upgrade in week one), then suitcase and bag
Affiliate disclosure: This article includes Amazon affiliate links. We may receive a small commission on purchases at no extra cost to you. Every recommendation below is based on first-hand consulting experience, not commission rates.
What McKinsey, BCG, and Bain Provide on Day One
Before the buying list, the items you do not need to purchase. Most new consultants waste $500-1,500 on duplicates of things the firm provides anyway.
Laptop: All MBB firms issue a high-spec ThinkPad or equivalent on day one. Comes with charging cable, second cable for travel, and a privacy screen.
Phone: All MBB firms issue a company iPhone with an unlimited international plan. Some offices issue a SIM you install in your personal phone instead; ask your recruiter before buying anything.
Secondary monitor or peripherals: Provided in the office. Most consultants do not need a second monitor at home for the first year.
Stationery: Pens, legal pads, sticky notes, notebooks, printer access, business cards. The office is stocked. McKinsey ships “teamroom-in-a-box” to client sites with full stationery. Do not buy.
Software: Microsoft Office, Adobe Suite, Tableau, Alteryx, Slack, Zoom, Mural, and firm-specific platforms are all provided. Personal subscriptions are unnecessary.
Training materials: Internal LMS, training videos, case databases, all provided.
If the recruiter has not explicitly told you to buy something, assume the firm provides it.
The 12 Must-Buy Items for the Consultant Starter Pack
1. A Well-Fitted Suit (Or Two)
The single highest-use purchase. You will wear a suit in your first week on at least one client engagement, and a poorly-fitted suit signals “junior and uncertain” before you have said a word.
- Premium: Suitsupply Napoli or Custom Hugo Boss ($800-2,000)
- Mid-tier: J. Crew Ludlow, Brooks Brothers Madison, Suitsupply off-the-rack ($400-700)
- Budget: Banana Republic Tailored, M&S Heritage ($200-350)
Color: Navy blue first, dark grey second. Black only for formal client environments. Avoid patterns in your first suit; subtle pinstripes are acceptable in the second.
Fit matters more than brand. A $400 suit tailored to your body looks better than a $2,000 suit off the rack. Budget $100-150 for tailoring even on premium purchases.
To keep your outfits polished and winkle-free: Travel steamer.
2. Dress Shoes (One Black, One Brown)
You will wear these every day for years. Buying cheap shoes is one of the most expensive false economies in consulting.
- Premium: Allen Edmonds Park Avenue (black), Allen Edmonds Strand (brown) ($350-450)
- Mid-tier: Cole Haan, Magnanni, Johnston & Murphy ($180-280)
- Budget: Florsheim, Clarks formal ($80-150)
Leather soles signal professionalism, rubber soles are more practical for travel. The standard recommendation: leather soles for client meetings, rubber-soled dress shoes for travel days. If you can only buy one pair, get black with leather soles.
3. A Durable Carry-On Suitcase
You will travel weekly. A bad suitcase fails on the tarmac at the worst possible time. After breaking three cheap suitcases in my first year at McKinsey, I learned to spend the money once.
- Premium: TUMI International Carry-On, Tumi Trip Checked Bag, ($600-1000)
- Mid-tier: Briggs & Riley International 21″ Carry On Spinner, Bellroy Transit Carry-On ($300-600)
- Budget: Travelpro Maxlite, Amazon Basics 21″ hardside, Amazon Basics 30″ Hardside. Samsonite Freeform Hardside Carry-On ($100-180)
Hardside vs softside: Hardside protects laptops and avoids over-stuffing temptation. Most consultants prefer hardside after their first year. Get a 4-wheel spinner.
Consider these add-ons:
- Travel umbrella
- Travel pillow
- Packing cubes to organize your suitcase
4. A Structured Laptop Bag or Professional Backpack
A bag is one of the few visible signals you carry into every client meeting. The firm-issued laptop bag is generic and bulky; most consultants replace it within the first month.
For the full breakdown of which bag to buy by use case (briefcase vs backpack, women’s options, premium vs budget), see the complete guide to the best bags for management consultants.
Quick picks:
- Best overall (mid-tier briefcase): Samsonite Classic Leather Slim Brief ($150-170)
- Best backpack: Bellroy Classic Backpack Plus ($200-280)
- Women’s: Tumi Voyageur Carson ($250-350)
5. Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Every consultant I know identifies these as the single biggest productivity upgrade in their first month. You will use them on flights, at hotel desks, in airport lounges, and at client sites for quiet thinking.
- Premium: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, Apple AirPods Max ($450-600)
- Mid-tier: Sony WH-1000XM6, Apple Airpods Pro ($300-400)
- Budget: Sony WH-CH720N, Anker Soundcore Space Q45 ($100-150)
Over-ear vs earbuds: Over-ear blocks more noise and is more comfortable for long flights. Earbuds win on packability.
6. A Portable Charger (Power Bank)
Your phone and laptop will die at the worst times, at the gate, in a cab, during a client call. A reliable power bank is the cheapest peace-of-mind purchase in the kit.
- Premium: Anker Prime Power Bank (26250), fast-charges laptop ($170-200)
- Mid-tier: Anker PowerCore 20000 ($60-80)
- Budget: Anker PowerCore 10000 ($30-40)
Match to your laptop: If your firm-issued laptop uses USB-C charging, buy a power bank with at least 60W USB-C PD output. Otherwise, you have an emergency phone charger but not a laptop one.
7. An E-Reader
You will read on planes more than at any other point in your life. A Kindle weighs less than the spy thriller you would otherwise pack and holds 1,000 books.
- Premium: Kindle Scribe ($400-600)
- Mid-tier: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition ($190)
- Budget: Standard Kindle Paperwhite ($140)
The Paperwhite is the right answer for 95% of consultants. The Scribe is excellent if you want to take notes; most consultants do not need that on top of paper legal pads.
8. A Universal Travel Adapter
If you will travel internationally even occasionally, this is mandatory. Buy one with multiple USB-C ports so you can charge phone, headphones, and laptop simultaneously from one outlet.
- Premium: MOMAX 9-in-1 Universal Travel Adapter 205W ($120-150)
- Budget: EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter ($50-60)
Even within the US, the USB-C output saves you from packing 3 separate cables and chargers.
9. Sleep Mask and Earplugs
You will sleep in hotel rooms with thin walls and street-facing windows. A good sleep mask + earplugs combination is the difference between a 6-hour sleep and a productive day, versus a 4-hour sleep and a wrecked one.
- Sleep mask: Manta Sleep Mask (adjustable, blocks light fully) ($35-70)
- Earplugs: Loop Quiet (reusable, fits in a small case) or Mack’s Original (single-use foam, packs of 50-100) ($10-25)
10. A TSA-Compliant Toiletry Kit
Travel-size everything in a transparent bag for airport security. Either commit to keeping a permanent set in your carry-on (so you never forget) or repackage from full-size at home (cheaper but more friction).
- Premium: Tumi Hanging Toiletry Bag ($150-200)
- Mid-tier: Sea to Summit Hanging Toiletry Bag ($45)
- Budget: Noname Basic Transparent TSA Toiletry Pouch ($10)
The contents matter more than the bag. Travel-size toothpaste, deodorant, face wash, contact solution if applicable, painkillers, any prescription medication, plus a small first-aid kit. Forgetting prescription meds at a client site in another city is a uniquely consulting-grade headache.
11. Athletic Clothing
Most weeks you will have time to use the hotel gym or go for a run. Pack 2-3 days of athletic clothes minimum. Quick-dry, packable fabrics are worth the extra cost, they take up half the space and dry overnight in the hotel bathroom.
- Lululemon, Nike Pro, Patagonia Capilene, Outdoor Research are the consensus brands
- Budget alternative: Decathlon, Under Armour outlet, Amazon Essentials Active
12. Reference Books
You will not read these on the plane (the Kindle wins for that). But having 2-3 reference books on your desk at home, the ones you reach for when you need a quick check on a structuring concept or a McKinsey-Way principle, is genuinely useful in year one.
- Consulting Career Secrets by Dr. Florian Smeritschnig (career advice from someone who has been through the full arc)
- The McKinsey Way by Ethan Rasiel (a classic, still useful for the insider-perspective context)
- The Pyramid Principle by Barbara Minto (the structuring reference)
- The Trusted Advisor by David H. Maister is a must-read, as it delves into building and maintaining client relationships, a cornerstone of successful consulting.
- The Meditations by Marcus Aurelius provides aspiring consultants with timeless wisdom on resilience and leadership, invaluable for navigating the high-pressure environment and sometimes difficult stakeholder relationship of consulting.
Order of Priority If Your Budget Is Limited
Total budget for the full kit ranges from $1,500-2,500 (solid mid-tier) to $4,000-6,000 (premium across the board). If you cannot do all 12 items at once, this is the priority order.
| Order | Item | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suit (1, navy) | You wear it day one |
| 2 | Shoes (1 pair, black) | Same |
| 3 | Carry-on suitcase | First travel week |
| 4 | Noise-cancelling headphones | Single biggest QoL upgrade |
| 5 | Laptop bag | Visible to every client |
| 6 | Portable charger | Emergencies happen |
| 7 | E-reader | Flight reading |
| 8 | Travel adapter | Once you fly international |
| 9 | Toiletry kit | After first weekend home |
| 10 | Sleep mask + earplugs | After first bad hotel |
| 11 | Athletic clothing | When the project allows gym time |
| 12 | Books | Once settled in |
The first 5 items cover roughly 90% of what makes the first month manageable. The rest can wait until your signing bonus clears.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I buy before starting at McKinsey, BCG, or Bain?
The essentials are a well-fitted suit, dress shoes, a durable carry-on suitcase, a structured laptop bag, noise-cancelling headphones, a portable charger, an e-reader, a universal travel adapter, sleep mask and earplugs, a TSA-compliant toiletry kit, athletic clothing, and 2-3 reference books. Total mid-tier budget is approximately $1,500-2,500.
Does McKinsey, BCG, or Bain provide a laptop?
Yes. All three MBB firms provide a high-spec firm-issued laptop, charging cables, security tokens, and a privacy screen on day one. Most firms also provide a company iPhone with an unlimited international plan. You do not need to buy any technology before starting.
What is the most important item for a new consultant to buy?
A well-fitted suit. You wear it in your first week, often in front of clients you have just met, and a poorly-tailored suit visibly signals junior status. Spend $400-700 on the suit and $100-150 on tailoring before optimizing anywhere else.
Do consulting firms give you a welcome kit or joining kit?
Yes, partially. McKinsey, BCG, and Bain typically provide a “joining kit” or “welcome kit” containing a firm-issued laptop, phone, security tokens, branded swag (notebook, water bottle, sometimes a backpack), and onboarding documentation. The kit covers technology and stationery but does not include the professional attire, luggage, or travel accessories you need to buy separately.
What’s a good consultant starter pack on a budget?
Under $1,500 for the full essentials: a tailored Suitsupply or J. Crew suit ($400 + $100 tailoring), Florsheim or Cole Haan shoes ($150), Travelpro Maxlite suitcase ($150), Samsonite Leather Slim Brief or Targus laptop bag ($100), Anker Soundcore noise-cancelling headphones ($120), Anker PowerCore 10000 portable charger ($40), Kindle Paperwhite ($140), EPICKA travel adapter ($25), Manta sleep mask + Mack’s earplugs ($45), Sea to Summit toiletry bag ($45), basic athletic clothing ($150), reference books ($75). Total: ~$1,450.
What’s the best bag for a new management consultant?
The best bag for a new consultant in 2026 is the Samsonite Classic Leather Slim Brief (~$200-300), which balances professional appearance with practical features (16-inch laptop sleeve, trolley sleeve, two-compartment organization). For a backpack alternative, the Bellroy Classic Backpack Plus is the modern professional pick. See the complete bag guide for the full breakdown.
What gifts are appropriate for a new management consultant?
Strong gifts for someone starting in consulting: noise-cancelling headphones (Bose QuietComfort Ultra), a Kindle Paperwhite, a quality leather laptop bag, a Manta sleep mask, an Anker power bank, or a copy of Consulting Career Secrets. Avoid generic “executive gift” items like engraved pens or desk accessories, most consulting offices already stock these.
How much should I spend on a starter pack for consulting?
Mid-tier across all 12 items costs roughly $1,500-2,500. Premium across the board is $4,000-6,000. The first 5 items (suit, shoes, suitcase, bag, headphones) are where to spend the most; they have the highest daily impact. The remaining items can be budget tier without affecting quality of life.
What I Would Not Buy
A few items that consulting blogs commonly recommend but that I would skip:
Engraved business card holders / executive desk accessories: Most firms provide business cards on demand. Pretentious accessories signal trying too hard. The minimal-effort approach reads more senior.
Premium leather briefcase in year one: You will scuff it within 3 months. Wait until year 2 when you know how you actually use a bag. The mid-tier Samsonite or Bellroy outlasts a $700 fashion-leather bag in actual consulting use.
A second laptop or personal high-spec workstation: You are not allowed to use it. The firm-issued laptop is sufficient for everything except creative side projects.
A standing desk for your home office: You travel four days a week. The home office is for Friday-Monday catch-up, not for ergonomic optimization.
Expensive watches: Save the watch purchase for the post-Engagement-Manager promotion. A nice but understated watch (Tissot, Hamilton, Seiko Presage) at $300-500 is sufficient for year one.
The Bottom Line
The starter pack budget that maximizes your first 12 months is roughly $1,500-2,500 across the 12 essentials, with the largest spend concentrated on suit, shoes, and noise-cancelling headphones. Everything else is utility rather than investment.
The two mistakes I made in my first year and that I see new consultants repeat: buying premium leather before knowing how rough I would be on it (scuffed within 4 months), and buying a cheap suitcase to save $150 (broken on a tarmac within a few months). The mid-tier picks above are calibrated for the consultant’s actual wear-and-tear.
For the bag specifically, the dedicated best bags for management consultants guide covers 6 picks across briefcase, backpack, women’s professional, and budget. For broader career advice on thriving in the first year and beyond, Consulting Career Secrets covers what worked across the consultants I have coached through the first 5 years.
You will use these items for years. Spend the extra $50-100 once on the items you carry every day. Save the money on the items the firm provides.
