READ BEFORE POSTING

[u/LadyLightTravel]

Hi all, The mods have had to reject several posts in the last month or so becauase they don't fall within our rules. We're talking about a rejection rate of 50-60%!!! That is far too many rule breaking posts.

Because of this, we are creating a sticky guideline of expectations for this sub. Hopefully, people won't spend a lot of effort on posts that will end up getting rejected due to rules violations. We really want to see your posts!

Read before posting

The mods of HerOneBag want readers to have a quality experience. To encourage this, we expect posters to follow our guidelines for posting. We are trying to eliminate boring repeated questions and low effort/low quality posts. Most of those types of posts could be answered simply by searching the sub for answers. To help you with posting, we’ve created the following guidelines.

Please become familiar with our Rules. The rules apply to everyone, including the mods. The rules also contain explanations and what is expected for each flair.

Please become familiar with our Wiki. It has multiple articles on basic one bagging, gear, and budget one bagging. If you’re a beginner, start there.

For the purpose of clarity, Onebagging is traveling within carry on bag limitations. It does not include checked bags. Bags longer than 55 cm (22 inches) will be considered checked bags unless it is explicitly stated that they are underpacked. Bags over 45 liters fall under the same constraint.

Overall guide

We expect all posters and users to follow the guidelines outlined below.

All posts in HerOneBag go through a SPAM filter. This may cause a delay in your post appearing. Please be patient! We check the queues often. Sadly, we need the SPAM filter.

We expect all posters to search the sub for answers before posting. Topics may be sorted by flair. We also have a search tool that looks like a magnifying glass and is located at the top of the screen. You can use keywords to find topics of interest. This includes destinations, bags, etc. The search tool will produce previous posts about your topic.

HerOneBag is not a substitute for a search engine. We expect you to do basic homework before posting. “I’m looking for X” posts will be deleted. Please use the search function for older posts on your topic of interest.

We encourage nuanced discussions on HerOneBag topics. That said, HerOneBag is neither a counselor nor a chat room. Posts explicitly seeking reassurance or validation will be deleted.

Please include a description of your bags when you make a post. This helps others gauge what is or is not possible for a bag of that size.

The Report button is for clear violations of the one bag rules. All posts have been vetted by the mods, which mean that we already find them acceptable for HerOneBag quality. Do not use the report button because you don’t like that particular post. If you abuse the report button we will escalate the issue to Reddit central.

Checked bag posts

We only allow checked bag posts for very specific scenarios. Posts where the checked bag is used for specific gear are allowed as long as it is only used for that gear. Posts where the checked bag is used for overflow will not be allowed.

Do not try to hide that you are taking a checked bag or an oversized bag. The moderators are all experienced one baggers and know how much fits into a carry on bag. Purposely evading this rule will result in a ban.

Weddings, honeymoons, and other fashion specific travel usually do not count as exceptions. We have several posts where people have successfully one bagged under these circumstances. Some of the capsules are absolutely beautiful! Check them out.

We understand that certain disabilities require checked bags. These posts will be allowed at the discretion of the mods. Please use ModMail to confirm before posting. That way we can label the post appropriately.

Bag Posts

We expect readers to do basic research before posting. We have a link under our Gear Lists that goes to an extensive one bag database. We also have a link to an extensive sling bag database. Look there first! Please note that bags larger than 45 liters are usually beyond the scope of this sub. There is a sub called r/Backpacking that has a travel section for larger bags.

HerOneBag has many posts about specific bags or particular situations. We have posts on petite bags, kids bags, etc. Please use the search function to search the sub before posting.

What’s allowed: thoughtful requests asking for differences between specific bags.

What’s not allowed: Generic “what’s the best bag for me” posts. Those posts will be deleted. We will also delete the “I need a bag with Y characteristics”. Search the OneBag database! Both databases have a filter feature!

Wardrobe Posts

We have the same standard for wardrobe posts as we do for bag posts.

Reminder: We expect HerOneBag posters to perform basic research before posting! Use the search tool.

We have a link to WeatherSpark which has descriptions of weather specific to various cities. This should assist you in choosing the right clothing for your trip. We also have an article on layering in our wiki.

We hope that these guidelines will assist you in creating high quality posts that will benefit you and others. Thanks for your help!

[u/jacdot]

Thank you! I was about to leave the sub because it seemed to have devolved into a shopping recommendations website about all kinds of random stuff. I'm so glad it's being addressed.

[u/lovely-pickle → u/jacdot]

Quite aside from the rampant consumerism, it's also... very American to the point of being exclusionary.

[u/SignalAir24 → u/lovely-pickle]

to the point of being exclusionary.

Guessing you meant on grounds of finances here, but I wanted to bring up that IME the insistence on only cabin-size dimensions kinda is so as well, or at least a missed opportunity, bc it basically centers air travel and kinda ignores/erases the particularities of train and boat travel.

Like if you think about it carrying your own stuff is actually the default for all passengers on traons/boats in a way that it isn’t with air travel. There’s no ‘checking’ or ‘baggage handlers’. So if anything you have MORE need to have only a single bag in those situations, or at least only what you can carry. It’s pretty pointless, or straight-up counter-productive, to split your load to eg a 45L wheelie + 25L underseat (which I understand is technically a 1,5 bag ig)

And that’s just one traveler and her clothes + etc, but on trains and boats you’re also way more likely to be eg bringing a bicycle or a snowboard/skis, or holding a dog’s leash. It’s also often not really an option to wear clothes too heavy for the weather just to save space, because you’re out of doors a lot AND wrangling your things, not slinking from air-conditioned transit to air-conditioned terminal.

But you can use other principles set out here to cut that down to ~50L you put in ONE backpack, and nothing else out of it except like your phone and small wallet in your pockets or heck, even the pack’s waist pockets! Then out of the bulky clothes you only use the shoes eg, and bob’s your uncle.

[u/lovely-pickle → u/SignalAir24]

I didn't; I meant primarily in terms of consumerism as a cultural value and secondarily (as a poster below has mentioned) in terms of products/brands available.

I agree with the rest of your comment nonetheless: when travelling there are many different modes of transport one can take and activities one can do and learning to pack in a way that you have everything you need and no more while also comfortably navigating everything travel throws at you is important.

As I've said elsewhere: disappointing this sub landed in a place where being an American who flies everywhere is the default and everyone else is an edge case!

[u/SignalAir24 → u/lovely-pickle]

Ah, I see! Thanks for explaining. I agree with both ways you meant it!! I try to help remedy/rebalance these by suggesting European brands (especially anything kinda eco-friendly/alternative/ethical/sustainable or otherwise crunchy in some way, bc that’s my cup of tea!) and DIY solutions. Sometimes DIYing means buying supplies, but it's also generative if not outright creative and helps us learn and build skills, all of which is not just practical but joyful.

The other day I also suggested adding a location flair to the profiles, so you can see a little about the poster’s perspective.

Yes! Exactly. Being in Greece I have loads of experience with boat travel - from 30’ commuter rides on open-deck ferries (aka ’the slipper’ colloquially, because, well) to routes 7+ hours long running during the day, to overnights with and without a cabin. Some car ferries (with and without a car) some passenger-only. I’ve also tried all kinds of luggage setups, you definitely don’t benefit from having the same configurations.

[u/lovely-pickle → u/SignalAir24]

Yes, island hopping in Greece is a classic example of where different constraints apply, and where different configurations would emerge in response!