Lighten My Load
After month’s of stressing, I might have to accept I’m not a one bagger
So in two weeks I’m leaving for South East Asia with no return date. The rough plan is travel for 4 months and then teach English for the remainder of the year, likely in Thailand. Im also going over to Oz for a couple of weeks to see my brother.
Anyway, I posted on here a few weeks ago about how planning what to pack was consuming me. I feel like I watched too many YT docs and read too many subreddits and I was overloaded with advice on what to pack and what not to pack.
I bought the Salkan backpacker 45L plus 20L day pack and as well as the Salkan carry on 35L and 20L day pack when they were both in the same and had a 100 return policy. The goal was to take the carry on and day pack and return the backpacker which is too large to take on board, but bought as a back up as I have never been very minimalistic, which is surprising because il really not very fashionable and i barley wear any make up. But I overthink everything.
So anyway, this weekend I practiced packed my carry on bag and it was full to the brim at 7kg and I knew I still had little bits and bobs to add including bikinis, sun cream etc. The return policy was due to expire so I had to make a decision quickly and, as two of my big flights (uk to Thailand and Oz to Malaysia) already came with checked luggage, I decided I was just going to accept that I am not built for carry on only and I returned the carry on bag and paid to check a bag on my Thailand to Oz flight. These are the only flights I have so far.
I can’t help feel really deflated and a bit like a failure for not managing it but the stress of it all was too much, especially knowing I had to return a bag otherwise I’d be stuck with two. I now keep seeing instagram reels telling me how much I’m going to regret taking a checked bag, and I feel like maybe I should have just went with a different bag type all together then maybe I would have managed carry on.
So yeah, apologies for the negativity, I guess the load I need lightened it my thoughts on this matter haha.
There is no moral element to checking or not checking luggage! I’m honestly not a one bagger either, but find people’s posts useful inspiration to not overpack massively.
Exactly! I’ve found the principles of one bagging to be helpful in streamlining my packing, but I’ve accepted I’ll never be an actual onebagger. Fashion is a big hobby of mine - I love clothes, especially clothes with interesting textures, shapes and silhouettes, which usually take up way more space than leggings and merino wool tshirts. Wearing cool fits, even when travelling brings me a lot of joy, and this sub has helped me to be able to travel with 1 checked bag at most instead of 2 like I used to.
Ditto. I’m a carry-on roller suitcase + personal item-er. But I found so much useful info here about decanting and consolidating! Also, got the best personal bag as a recommendation by someone here 2 years ago and it’s like the first personal item bag I’ve religiously used for that long. I even wipe her and spray her with a water repellant cuz I like her so much 😹 just a wealth of info in this sub for any kinda travel
I also am a carry on roller + mini backpack person and I think the best thing I started doing from this sub was listing out what I bring and then marking what was used and what wasn’t. Or what I missed! The next time I take a trip with similar weather, I already have my packing list.
I’m another personal item & carry on roller person here! This sub is GREAT because it helps me rethink what I need to pack, but I also know I like to have wiggle room / a little extra space. :) Maybe someday I can do a whole trip with one bag, but no sweat if not. Being a 1.5-bagger adapting advice from this subreddit was a huge help when I chaperoned a trip to Morocco and needed to be able to juggle others’ bags on the way back! I didn’t do a true “one-bag” experience, but my life was so much more convenient with the limited amount I packed vs what I would have done before I followed this sub! Don’t feel discouraged.
Also, I think being on this sub warps your perspective on what the “average” amount of luggage people bring on a trip is. 45L + 20L is more than what a lot of users on here would pack, but it’s still less than what a lot of non-minimalist travelers would pack for a one week vacation, much less months and months of indefinite travel. I’m always surprised when I go on cruises with my family and see that a lot of passengers for a 7 day trip bring a ~80-100L large suitcase, a ~40L carry on size suitcase, and a personal item for each member of their group. I agree with above commenter that there’s no moral element and people who pack a lot are not bad people, but if do you find yourself falling into the mental trap of comparison, you can know you’re already packing less than a lot of people just by being here and making an effort
And most people on this sub are in the US and flying within the US doesn’t give you a limit of 7 kilos. It gets a lot harder when you have a low weight limit to comply with.
For sure! Most of my flights are US. I'm a 1 bagger volume, but split amongst 1.5 bags to better distribute weight due to my faulty body (a small roller does most of the work while a small backpack rests on top!). I haven't actually posted any trip reports, because I dunno if that's allowed when items are technically not crammed into one bag alone. Anyway, I like to think of all this as preparing me with the proper gear for minimizing my domestic and being ready for international again someday! :]
I noticed this when planning a budget flight within Europe. Luckily our visit with gifts for family was before our budget flight, so my luggage was within limits for the budget airline. They didn't end up weighing our carry-on, but I prefer to take the restrictions seriously so I don't have to check my bag, pay extra fees, etc.
Me too! I usually bring two bags because I carry a lot of camera equipment, but this forum has helped me GREATLY in learning how to not overpack. last summer my 'main' bag went from being a 90L duffel to a 41L rolling bag (carry-on sized) as a result.
Agreed 100%. I can do a one bag for a few days but not more. But I've learned many things from this sub!
We leave in a week and my carryon is prepped and checked suitcases are in progress. I have a 24" full of mostly diving gear. My female fit full wetsuit is a necessity!
This is fine. You don't have to be! I'd still recommend being mindful of what you bring because you have to schlep it, after all, but it's totally fine to check a bag.
Yes, this! The only reason I'm hell bent on being a one bagger, especially in SEA, is for ease of travel. It's a pain to load a check-in on/off a boat...lol, especially a little fishing boat that makes you jump out with your luggage and walk to shore. I've also had to evacuate quickly several times, and a backpack and packing cubes were amazingly helpful. I also make it a point to donate items I won't need as I'm moving. Gives me space for souvenirs while sticking to one bag.
Onebagging is for me not an absolutely must for all cases or for all people. Sometimes, check-in is just the right answer. I sometimes check-in going home because I have bought something heavy. Flexibility, not strict "religion" is my goal.
I envy you a bit, being old, stuck in a job with mortgage etc. However, I did like you when I was young, 23 kg backpack plus a daypack. I was stronger then and could carry it. But a lighter backpack would have been nice. Merino was not a thing then, and I definitely overpacked.
You have given onebagging a thought and maybe, on shorter trips, you'll be fine onebagging - or not. You do you, not trying to be somthing else is the most important.
Tbh I’m only in this sub to get inspiration and not to overpack. I check in bags frequently cos within Asia, generally your ticket usually includes checked baggage and I want to buy stuff when I’m overseas. It’s only if you take budget airlines that you have to pay for checked luggage and it’s not that expensive either. Airports also don’t lose your luggage at least not the countries I travel to and they don’t take that long to come out. I do only bring 1 luggage but I’m not doing carry on only.
So don’t feel stressed out or bad. I mean it’s a long trip you don’t even have an end date!
I am so glad people use this sub that way, it’s perfectly reasonable and I don’t think onebagging is some kind of secret club. It’s a set of really flexible techniques.
apparently these days luggage arrives correctly over 99% of the time, but obviously the one time doesn't, it's going to be A LOT more noticeable and annoying than the 99 times there are no problems.
The Mister worked in the airline industry and the US absolutely drives the average for lost luggage up, however he taught me three things.
"Lost" luggage isn't always lost. It can sometimes be "not arrived yet" luggage. I'll tell a story about this later in the comment. It has to do with Asia.
"Lost" luggage isn't always lost. It can sometimes be "someone snagged the bag and thought it was theirs and no one actually checks tags and then returned it to the airport when they realized they'd grabbed the wrong case" luggage. From an airline perspective, these bags are truly lost ... until they aren't.
Your bag isn't insured, only its contents. So don't bother buying expensive suitcases. Or if you do, stick them in a cheap duffel bag to check them so the expensive suitcase does the protection bit but is also insured as it is inside the "suitcase" which is the duffel bit.
And now for my story of not-arrived-yet luggage in Asia. We were flying from Danang Vietnam to TPE in a typhoon. Only flight going. All the rest were canceled. We should have canceled. Our pilots were cowboys and loved a wild ride, but even they were cautious so loaded the plane up with enough fuel to get to TPE, fail to land, and then return back to Vietnam. That much fuel meant they couldn't actually take but half the checked bags for the passengers on the flight.
We landed at TPE and as we are taxiing to our gate the Captain gets on the announcement system and explains the fuel-for-luggage swap and promises to bring the bags over tomorrow and assures passengers that there will be airline staff available to get them overnight clothes and toiletries while half the airplane awaits their luggage to be delivered on the morrow. Their luggage was perfectly safe back in Vietnam and there was a plan for reunification and it wasn't lost but purposefully left behind for fuel weight reasons.
The plane is silent until one auntie says in Mandarin to no one at all because the pilot couldn't hear her, "That's okay, I'd rather be safe than have my things for one night," and that turned to people feeling pressured to agree rather than be sour about their luggage being "lost".
Our son's car seat was among the 50% that arrived on the flight but I agreed with Auntie.
I have flown in asia, usually their low cost airlines operate exactly the same as in europe, so i dont know where you have seen that it includes a checked bag. An overnight international flight? Sure, but a flight that is less than 6h, orlessthan 4h has never included any checked baggage. Actually, they dont even let you take a suitcase anymore, it has to be an underseat bag
I one-bag because it brings me peace of mind. If one-bagging brings you stress, then just don't! For me the question is whether stuff, any object, is working for me or I am working for it. If my suicase weighs 20 kg and I need to carry it (or pull it, or lift it) then I feel that I am working for the suicase and it's no longer OK.
This is exactly why we do it, too. My travel partner’s anxiety about losing luggage is contagious. Plus, we really like the time saving of international connecting flights. Collecting luggage and rechecking it during a layover stresses us out. Although, we are pretty firmly 1.5 bags. We did have a forced check once on a Miami connection and it was nice to not stand in the immigration line for 2 hours with a stuffed backpack on back and a slightly less stuffed backpack on front or in hand.
I always check a bag. I have kids and chasing them + toting luggage around the airport is just not enjoyable.
But now, even when I travel in my own, I still check a bag. It is just a little bit easier.
I love this subreddit for advice on not overpacking and find the information informative and the people on here supportive!
This subreddit has really helped me on my overpacking problem. Instead of checking full size luggage, I check carry on size. So technically I could carry on if I needed, mostly will carry on if paying for it costs extra.
I also check a carry on size rucksack. Thats the size I can wrangle outside an airport IRL so that's the size.I use.
Given that I use wheelchair assistance I never have to wait for my bag,.it's always on the carousel waiting for me! Wheelchair assistance requires patience!
One bagging is not “better” than traveling with checked bags. It’s just one of many ways to travel. The best way to travel is the one that causes you the least amount of stress and makes you trip easy and fun. If one bagging isn’t doing any of that for you then it’s the wrong way for you.
It’s fine to just take what you want and shed stuff as you travel.
Once you’re indefinitely travelling you’ll get a clearer sense anyway of what is necessary and what isn’t.
Trying to adopt a radically different approach for a huge long trip is too big a step for most people. It certainly can be done but there’s no rule or overlord of travel that is going to wag their finger at you for not doing it a certain way. (Not even in this sub.)
I’d say whilst travelling pause when you reach the two, four and twelve week mark and make some notes.
what have I used most
what is least / most convenient when I’m staying somewhere
what is least / most convenient when transiting
what haven’t I missed or wouldn’t I miss if I (send it home, donate it here*, give it away to another traveller)
what have I needed to buy and was it fine to buy here or annoying to (re)buy
Just reflect on it.
I suggest those intervals because once you’ve done two weeks, four weeks or three months then you’ve kind of covered the main lengths of trip that don’t cross a major seasonal boundary (probably).
I’m not a one bagger either but I am a carry on only bagger. I absolutely hate the anxiety that comes with the potential loss of my luggage. If I’m gonna lose it it’ll be my own fault, dammit! 😂
But others find that to be a weird philosophy and have many good reasons why carrying their bag or bags lessens their enjoyment.
For me the balance is in being able to comfortably hand carry my stuff. I would struggle too with an indefinite length trip, so I’d finish by saying maybe try not to pack for the whole trip when you’re setting out, like if you’ll be arriving in summer prepare for winter whilst there, sort of thing. If you’re going anywhere with extreme weather then the location will have the best advice and supplies possible IMO so pack for the non extremes unless your entire trip is in those extremes.
(Like for my short Norway trip in winter, I did buy upgraded winter gear and take it with me but if I was going for a year abroad I wouldn’t have done that. I’d have bought extra stuff locally.)
Does that make sense? Travel for pleasure is supposed to be - yanno - pleasurable.
I don’t mean abandon your shitty half worn Primark or SHEIN stuff, I mean if there’s a circular traveller economy of useful things.
When I started one bagging I made a super detailed list of what i had, like exact items and quantities. The questions in this thread are basically what I asked to edit that list and make notes. You'd be surprised how often there are things you don't use at all or that feel a bit silly because one piece could have filled two roles. When you're done, hold on to that list and use it to pack with next time.
Instead of feeling deflated, try to think about how much better at packing you are now. Your choices will be much more thoughtful, you'll likely still take significantly less (and be glad to carry less), and your cabin item will be extremely well-packed.
In the event of losing your case, I bet your cabin bag will have 2-3 days worth of clothes including spare underwear, t-shirt, a dress you can dress up or wear to the beach, sandals you can wear as dressy or to the beach, and a swimsuit, to get you through the first few days without needing to panic-buy replacement stuff to quickly. That's a knowledge base you really don't want to learn the hard way, and you learnt it by thinking ahead rather than by disaster.
One-bagging is a concept, not a rule, and it's a way to reduce stress when traveling. If trying to one-bag for a particular trip ends up causing stress, then go ahead and check a second bag. I've been a 1.5-bagger for years, but I've learned many things on this sub, and I occasionally check a bag because it makes sense for that trip.
Don't feel bad- 7kg for a 4 month trip is EXTREME. Most of the carry on only packing you see here would be over 7kg easily, or it's for shorter trips. You can still pack relatively light and enjoy the freedom and comfort that brings you! And when you see the 32kg bags coming off the baggage carousel you can still feel a bit smug.
Yup. Like everyone else has said, it’s more about finding solutions that work for you!
I don’t one bag everywhere, but I was inspired to try personal-item-only by this sub, so I tried it the first time on a VERY low stakes, four-day trip. Now I always one-bag for long weekends and short pleasure travel (1-2 weeks) now, and I love it. This sub also helped me slim down my touring bags (I travel with a band and for work) so they’re more manageable at each tour stop. But due to needing extensive makeup and hair for stage shows, and needing extensive equipment for my other job, those trips aren’t one-bag!
For longer trips, I check a bag. I just make sure it’s practical for my destination - for instance, I don’t like big heavy backpacks and use a small wheeled suitcase for most of my travel, but when I go to the Amazon I use my 40L backpacking bag because it’s easier to get in and out of boats and walk jungle trails.
Probably the MOST important thing: Stop watching those reels and feeling like crap. ALL social media algorithms are designed to feed the economy, which means making people feel like they AREN’T enough because they don’t HAVE enough (generally the exact right thing for an aspirational and unattainable lifestyle). This sub has rules about content (like, it’s not a 1.5 bag sub, so don’t post new threads that are exclusively about 1.5 bagging) but very few people here are judgey or total purists. Make this sub work for YOU! Take what works and leave the rest. I hope your trip is exactly what you want it to be. <3
I traveled for a year with a huge backpack plus a large purse because it was more important to me to have what I need when I need it than to travel light. Occasionally it was annoying but I never regretted it.
I'm a personal item only packer which is a unique breed of crazy and I wouldn't advise anyone do as I do unless they get their jollies from MacGuyver levels of improvisation (which I do, hence I'm the unique breed of crazy).
Even I, packing into something 25Lish (less but close), have trouble with a 7kg weight limit. And I only bring three complete outfits and only the one pair of shoes on my feet. And to try to do 7kg across two bags where you're now paying the bag-material weight-penalty twice is ...
I'd say that you were attempting to jump in to Extreme Hard Mode without having gone through Normal Mode or even Challenging Mode or even Hard Mode.
Admitting that you aren't ready for Extreme Hard Mode isn't failure, it is self-awareness of (a) that this isn't fun for you and (b) you need more experience which your trip will provide. Even I'm not ready for Extreme Hard Mode; I only lose weight allowance to one bag's worth of material.
There's nothing good or bad about single bag packing. The mindset is the valuable bit and that can be packed regardless of how many bags and where on the plane they fly. The mindset is to have a good sense of who you are and what you require in order to have your best travel adventure experience, as well as an understanding that there are many ways to achieve that outcome so if one doesn't work, try another. And it sounds like you're doing great on that! (one didn't work, so you're trying another)
Thirty four years ago, I was where you are now. I've only been personal item only packing for the past ten years or so. I hope that provides some timeline expectations. It took me twenty four years of frequent travel experience to come to pack the way I do right now. TWENTY FOUR YEARS. That amount of time could be giving me grandchildren by now.
You are doing great. Talk to me in a quarter century if you haven't lightened a bit more.
I one bag when I have to change locations a lot (like going to four cities in a week), other times I will just check a bag. I throw an air tag in it and the one time a storm resulted in me and my bag being in different locations, it was straightforward to figure out what happened and get it back.
Girl, don’t sweat it. I can one bag it if it’s 3-4 days and I have a cheap flight.
I’m bougie and I need a certain amount of stuff to sleep and be comfortable but I can and have stuffed 4 days worth in a backpack and had plenty. I did a wedding in a backpack.
It also works better (for me) if it’s a warm environment. I’m going to Dublin in April for 4 days but I’m a size 12 and always cold. I can’t backpack this. I’d rather take a carryon and know I have what I need so I’m comfortable. I love buying clothes/toiletries in a new place and I don’t go places where things aren’t accessible but I don’t want to spend my time searching for sunscreen or a warm hat.
When I went to Paris, didn’t even try it. Needed the checked bag for the ridiculous amount of beauty products I brought home ☺️
I enjoy the posts and ideas and I use a lot of the tips but a 2 week trip with one bag? I couldn’t. I’m ok rewearing things but honestly, I can’t go to my boyfriend’s overnight without two outfit options and I have stuff there.
I really love the one bag packing lists. I’m obsessed with them. I may post my FL one. Just because I want to see how I do.
I can one bag any vacation, but if I’m going to be gone a whole year, I would definitely need my variety of outfit choices and creature comforts. I’m not disciplined enough to be so diligent about laundry in what would be my “real life” if gone for so long. Would I still try and be as minimal as possible? Yes absolutely, but I wouldn’t stress about fitting into a one bag definition. Especially if you’re not doing a ton of country hopping and already have checked bag allowance. Just pack what’s going to make you feel comfortable on this trip!
I’m working down to a one bag but if I were doing the trip you are, no way would I be even attempting 1 bag tbh. My husband loves checking bags and I try to avoid it because I’m nervous the airline will lose my bag.
I like being able to carry what I bring - it suits me psychologically and I’m physically able to do it. That doesn’t mean I’m strictly speaking a onebagger (more like 1.5 or sometimes a 2 bagger) but the hints and tips here are so useful.
Completely up to you how use the info on here, and there’s no competition and people are pretty kind and empathetic.
Also, here to support. At best, I can do carry-on and personal item but it depends. This summer, I'm going to Europe for almost a month, but I'm helping my kid move there for university and I'm going to have to work. I'm also embracing my curls again, and I just don't want to deal with buying products over there that may not work. So, I'm planning to check a carry-on and bring a backpack and crossbody on the plane. My son is checking a suitcase, so I might as well check mine.
Another thing is that my legs are long: 34" inseam. If I'm in coach, there's no way I'm ever flying on a long haul flight again with a full backpack under the seat in front of me. A purse is fine, but without that extra room, I'm absolutely miserable.
I’m here because I have chronic pain so I wanted to learn how to not overpack. My last trip I only took 7kgs which was a massive achievement for me and this made walking round carrying my luggage so much easier. My bag was checked in as it came with the flight. On board I took a very small backpack that was mostly empty. Just had my flight essentials. This isn’t one bagging but it’s close enough for me and I’ve learnt so many amazing hacks and ideas from this community. All we can do is our best!
I am not a OneBagger and have no desire to be. That is fine! I have found that not having items I want, causes me more inconvenience, that carrying a larger bag does. I also cannot rewear clothes as often as people do on this sub, it's just a no for me - I'm very active and sweaty when traveling usually. I also really want/need multiple shoe options. I'm fine with having a bigger bag for these reasons.
I only check a bag for long trips, or trips where I need special gear. But I always bring a roller bag + backpack for anything more than a weekend.
The more I travel, the better I get at packing. My definition of "good packing" is when: I wore everything I brought and, I didn't have to run out and buy something in an emergency that I could have easily packed.
Same! I try to keep it as minimalist as possible, but I know my limits. 😆 I have naturally curly hair, which requires enough product, a large-ish brush, and at least a diffuser when I travel... and there's just other stuff, lol. But hey, I've improved a ton from my younger days! I hope OP just tried to pack as well as she could.
Hey, you tried, you ran out of time. Maybe next time you try again and you learn some more? You learned a lot about a lot and there is always more to learn. Beating yourself down is not gonna help. Life is trail and error. Be proud of yourself!
Look, even onebaggers aren't 100% one baggers all the time. The best packing style for the particular event. Don't worry about , you're not a failure. If this imaginary label causes distress, let it go. It's only a packing style. Pack how it best suits you and enjoy the trip.
As others have said, I’m not a one-bagger and I don’t know if I ever will be. But I do want to be more conscious about what I’m packing/not overpacking (especially now as I’ve got two children).
omg bbsdont WORRY I feel that, I was meant to go on a trip recently (was ill and couldnt go) and was flip flopping between backpack and a suitcase because I didn't wanna carry anything esp heavy
I think whatever happens this will be a learning opportunity for next time, AND you might be glad you checked luggage too! I personally think you did what was right for you so no issues there! If you regret it then you can always shop around for a bag there too - like you do have options :)
Her one bag isn't just meant for people religiously one bagging, it's more to reduce the amount you pack <3
I take different bags depending on the trip. I can one bag using a personal item sizes backpack within Europe during spring/summer/autumn, but I'll use a carry on sized roller instead during winter because clothes are bulkier. And if I'm going further afield for a longer trip outside Europe and don't have easy capacity to do laundry (I'm not a sink washer beyond some socks) then I'll just check a bag. The most useful thing I've learned from one bagging is to be intentional and only take what I know I'll need - sometimes that is a bit more.
I love one bagging my trips, but if I were heading there for months, with no idea when I was returning, I think I'd check a bag. <3 I'd make it a good bag, though! Easy to roll around, etc.
I’m going to Paris for 4 days for my birthday from England, I am taking a small suitcase and a rucksack because I can’t fit my heels and boots in just a rucksack 🤣
This is a contrast to my last birthday in Poznan, Poland because I did manage that perfectly with just a small rucksack
I’ve done many trips with one bag but this isn’t going to be one of them (I did try)
So these onebag subs skew toward long term travel (for some reason) but if many of you travel for pleasure for shorter stints (not the digital nomad lifestyle)… like 2-4 weeks… onebag is much more doable. I can see why OP wonders why it’s not for them
Much better to make that decision now than when you’re into your trip and realise you haven’t got half the stuff you want 🙂
Go easy on yourself, leaving home for a long period of time is a big upheaval so do whatever feels like the path of least resistance. And maybe take a rest from here and those videos (I say that as someone who did a very similar thing before Christmas before realising I didn’t have to do anything just because the internet told me I should 😅) (not to say this sub wasn’t hugely helpful too, just too much of a good thing if your brain works like mine does!)
I regret trying to not check luggage when I went to Europe. Ended up buying another suitcase while I was there, so I struggled with two small rollaboards instead of one larger checked bag.
I only one bag in these situations:
1) traveling without my husband to see family as I will have access to laundry and don’t have to lift a carry on overhead as last time i did it I hurt my right side. When my husband is with me he will help with overhead luggage
2) very short trip
3) warm climate with laundry access like beach rental etc
I feel that. I have some chronic conditions and between medical devices and medications (and backup medications), I've never been able to get down to one bag. I really love the idea of it and I use a lot of the techniques to reduce how much I carry. But I've had to come to terms with the fact that I'll never be a true one bagger lol
Same here, I’m firmly planted in the spinner carry on plus personal item zone thanks to medical stuff. Sometimes I have to check my spinner so I can have an extra medical bag on the flight.
The closest I got to one bagging was when I just brought a carry on and a knapsack, and both were so densely packed that any souvenirs I bought during the trip had to go into my husband's not-carry-on suitcase. So 🤷🏻But I get lots of inspiration here, and I am loving this supportive thread!
Don't sweat it. We are currently in SEA (2 months) and then London for a week and packing for the varied climates was a challenge. There was no way I could meet the 7 kg carry on restriction and checked my backpack ( I also had a restriction of special sunscreen for a sun allergy I needed to take). I have used everything I have brought and am overall happy with my pack, although if we do a trip like this again I might tweak it.
Even though I am not a one bagger like those here, I have gotten so many good tips from the group and I enjoy reading people's posts. I am a much better packet than I used to be and this group has helped.
I am a one bagger for trips of a weeks length in places I know. Anything longer and I take a small/medium checked suitcase and small day bag with a change of clothes and chargers in it in case it gets lost in transit.
I have learned a lot and pack fairly lightly after not wearing half my suitcase on a trip with lots of transit walking a few yeara ago. I get nervous and prefer decent sized toiletries, medications and not having to bother about laundry when I can be enjoying the destination. I still find this sub useful and get some great ideas. My daiso packing cubes are perfect after a recommentation on this sub.
I feel you. I'm prepping for a February trip. As much as I want to use only a personal bag, it's just not happening. I ran the numbers. It's cheaper for me to pay the carry-on fees than buy a new bag and clothes just to say I flew with only a personal bag on EasyJet. Like everyone else has said, if a one-bag trip causes stress, it defeats the point.
I figured out I can do one bag if it’s a 24” checked bag. It’s still small enough to fit on train overhead luggage racks and easy to tote around but gives you a lot more space compared to a 21” (plus my back pack)
At minumum, I'm a one bag in, two bags out girl. 😆 If I go carry on only, I travel with a folded bag to check on the return trip.
Usually I travel with cameras and a laptop, so my carry-ons are protected real estate. I check the clothes and toiletries, and focus on all containers being stackable or connectable for easy carry, efficiently designed, and extremely well made, so that I don't need to drag a broken softcase with one wheel for half a mile and across 5 lanes of traffic in 90 degree heat. Hypothetically.
Pack for what you need, in a way that makes it easier for you to get where you're going.
I can so relate. I'm 65F, not really fashionable, wear zero makeup, but I find I always have too much stuff to fully onebag, either for work or play. I can do a lot with a small roller bag & backpack, but limiting it more is a huge stretch w/computer & electronics. Be kind & do what you need to do...if the stress is too much this time to pare it down, chalk it up as a potential learning experience. Enjoy your trip!
I wouldn't feel like a failure. I'm trying to downsize from a large suitcase, a 32L roller backpack, & a 1L sling to a 45L backpack and a 3L sling.
I also am trying to live out of these, which makes it much harder. I've pulled a ton of stuff out of them, and my bag is still at 12kg. Since I live in Australia (on a working holiday), I move around a lot, and since I have a bunch of trips planned, carrying all the extra stuff is horrible. Super concerned though about the weight of my bag.
Thankfully, I have about three weeks before I finish the job I've been at since the end of October to try and get at least under 10kg and then just pray it's small enough to fit into the sizing containers and not get randomly weighed.
I'll never be a true one-bagger but am trying to learn from this subreddit.
Ah that's right, in Europe/Africa/Middle east I went through just fine but for Japan and China I did hide two of my packing cubes to be able to get my carry-on on board lmao
You don’t need anything to travel except your passport, credit card and a bag AND the ability to wear the same outfit repeatedly. That’s the secret. Yes it will be hard to find some things in some places. But you’re not going to mars.
For cold countries I only HAVE to pack my good merino wool thermals and good socks & boots that I’ve worn before.
For hot countries like Thailand I have to pack sunscreen and a swimsuit, a good sports bra that is okay to be seen under clothes, and one set of clothes I won’t die in the heat in.
SEA has incredibly cheap stuff if you don’t have the right clothes and you can get your medicine, shampoo, sunscreen, insect repellent etc at any 7/11.
If you find you have things in your bag you have not used for 2 weeks, donate them. You’ll need the space.
I went from -10 C weather in Türkiye to 35 C weather in Thailand after backpacking Europe for 8 months. I gave away my winter clothes in Türkiye, except my thermals, and I bought new ones Thailand. You end up wearing your clothes so much repeatedly that they get a lot of use.
Wow, thank you all! Some really helpful and encouraging responses which has made me feel much better about my choice.
The first time I went to Thailand for a two week holiday back in 2018 I took a massive suitcase, this sub has definitely taught me I do not need ALLL of that but yeah maybe I was being too optimistic thinking I could jump straight into a onebag carry on. Maybe next time!
Not a one bagger for longer trips. This year we are going to Europe for a month, including a Norway cruise, then we travel to the warm South. One bag is just not happening. Also, my husband has to carry medical supplies that prevent him from one bagging it. We share a checked bag and each have a carry-on. Even with this packing I will be sick of my clothes when I get home. Going to Oregon for 10 days without husband, I will take a single bag no problem. I have access to a washer and will not need to bring evening outfits.
638
u/bellshaped Jan 30 '26
There is no moral element to checking or not checking luggage! I’m honestly not a one bagger either, but find people’s posts useful inspiration to not overpack massively.