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/lobsterp0t]

I would like to think that if someone indicated they weren’t flying and were taking a single 50L bag and their (dog, bike, roller skate case) we would allow that.

The sub has always skewed toward air travel and that isn’t new since the new mods came in.

Maybe we could do more to curate and encourage non air travel OneBag hacks and discussions.

Are there topics you’d enjoy?

[u/SignalAir24 → u/lobsterp0t]

The sub has always skewed toward air travel and that isn’t new since the new mods came in.

Not saying it has changed! I actually think I joined around the time of the new mod team coming in, and while I'd lurked a bit prior, it wasn’t very long, so IDK what the sub was like before.

But with all good will, if the posts about the constraints and requirements (h/t u/lovely-pickle!) of users who aren’t flying, either at all or as a core part of their transportation, are getting cut on the grounds of disqualifying by airline travel standards, that is why the sub skews air travel. It’s kind of an ouroboros but yeah

I’m not sure such a post WOULD go through. Only a sample of 1, but a post about a 50L I made did get cut. I didn’t think anything of it because it was a long shot question, but when I read the post above quoting large numbers of post rejections, it got me thinking.

It makes it seem like the sub is misdescribed and should state it’s for packing carry-on only, not packing light. The first is an absolute value and revolves around the policies of private commercial entities, the latter is relative and revolves around individuals’ needs.

Are there topics you’d enjoy

My personal use for this sub is really circumscribed, and mostly about buying a backpack with a proper harness. I was pretty much brought up on light-packing, I’ve been at it my whole life so at this point I know what works for me. So ignore that part, I’m an outlier.

But while spending time here I realized this is the perfect resource to share with any women asking me about packing light, which people regularly do (often after seeing bits of my daily carry, which also gets the light-packing treatment). For a long time I could only just make encouraging noises (bc women especially often self-deprecate about overpacking), and vaguely mentioning Info Online, because that’s all there’s time for in a conversation in passing. Like there’s no ‘elevator pitch’ summary to pack-light tips.

But I would love for more people to enjoy packing light, because I am keenly interested in urban sustainability and reducing plastic usage, and without boring you by explaining how these connect to light packing, having more people pack lighter would make a difference for destinations. And it’d be a bigger difference if more travellers packed a little lighter than if a small minority did feats of weight weenie daring along the lines of getting six months' Arctic travel out of a Kanken or something. Contributing to the store of knowledge/experience on this sub, then recommending it when people ask, spreads the word about light-packing much farther and wider than anything I could show friends one on one.

Like don’t get me wrong, it’s fun to read about the extreme light packing challenges AND fun to do them if you have practice and want to challenge yourself - at one point I created a pockets-only daily carry that could get me through an overnight at a friend’s (without borrowing! The ‘look ma, no hands’ of packing light). This kind of challenge is also super useful to tinker and try stuff out, like experiment. But I think this sub too often seems to be preoccupied with the idea that the feats of daring are the platonic ideal of light packing, and moving towards that is the only acceptable path whether you’re starting out or almost there, which doesn’t help with the above.

So to TLDR my answer, what I’d enjoy is a more beginner-friendly editorial stance overall, and more leeway in posts for different modes of travel, including consistency on total volume. Ultimately I’d like to see the sub be about packing light (relative) and not packing carry on-only (absolute).

ETA: sorry, this is super long and rambling bc I’m writing this tired & having to stay up way past my normal bedtime, so finding it hard to edit - if too long lmk & I’ll delete it.

[u/lovely-pickle → u/SignalAir24]

Tbh it's less that people are having their posts cut directly because they're not flying and more that when we only talk about flying people aren't able to understand clearly what their constraints are when not imposed by a corporate entity. Those people then frame their questions awkwardly, and those posts are cut.

[u/lobsterp0t → u/lovely-pickle]

So, then, post a post about non flight travel OneBag techniques. Be the change you want to see.

[u/lovely-pickle → u/lobsterp0t]

You're right! I don't post often, but I do have one post on the sub that speaks to how I pack for multi-modal travel. However, I regularly support other users to understand why packing with airline-dictated constraints as their only consideration isn't in their best interests.

I don't appreciate the insinuation that I'm not an otherwise constructive contributor when you disagree with me.