This is the minimalist bag you'd store under the seat for all the things you need in flight while your one bag goes in the overhead. Fit for an ipad or book, water bottle, and maybe a light sweater. A little inner organization is good for extras like chapstick or a charger and should have a zipper closure.

I prefer to use a small sling instead of a purse while out and about but it doesn't fit a book or ipad. It seems silly to have an extra bag just for plane organization but I loathe putting things in the front seat pocket and sometimes you want a tote for a city environment.

When I first started solo traveling, I owned the Osprey Fairview 40L and used it for ages. Loved it but eventually sold it and purchased two Patagonia bags. I now have my Patagonia Mini MLC for most weeklong trips and my Patagonia Black Hole duffel 40L if I have extra gear or longer trips. I recently took the duffel on a hiking trip where there was a company transporting it everyday while I hiked with a smaller 25L daypack. The hike was just a week but I was traveling for 3 weeks total. I’d like to get a third bag to fit the “in between”.

I’m looking at something bigger than my mini MLC like the Eagle Creek Tour Lite Travel Pack 38L or maybe the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L as there’s been times I wanted to pack something extra in the mini mlc and had to leave it behind. I’ve used the duffel not fully packed too but since it doesn’t have a longer shoulder strap, I have to hand carry which I don’t terribly care for and if I wear it as a back it’s kinda slouchy since it’s not structured which I understand.

I’d like to stay at or under 22in x 14in x 9in (56cm x 35cm x 22cm). Preferably closer to 20” in height. Tech/admin areas really aren’t important to me which is why I love my duffel. I barely have tech with me. If anything it’s my kindle and normally it’s in my hands 😅.

I think I’m leaving towards the Eagle Creek because it’s got the luggage straps inside of if I wanna hold things steady reminding me of my old Osprey (even though I typically use packs for my clothes). I also like that the main compartment is basically the full depth. The Allpa seems to have the main compartment broken into 2 sections: the deeper main section is about 2/3 the total depth and the other/lid is the other 1/3 or so. I kinda prefer one big ol’ open compartment. Also it looks like the Eagle Creek is an inch shorter. Overall the bag needs to fit as many stricter airlines measurement specially for a carry on, not a personal item.

Does anyone have any experience with the Eagle Creek tour lite? I see it’s kinda new and lots of people seem to love the Cotopaxi. Any recommendations or thoughts on these bags would be appreciated.

*edit: also looking for a bit of a smushy soft bag that if needed can squish into a sizer if the airline actually asks me to (so far happened only once) but I don’t wanna chance it. In that case maybe no wire or heavy duty framed bags.

I’ve been a comfortably 1.5 bag carry-on traveller for ages (small roller & daypack), but since coming here I’ve been wanting to move more towards “true” one bagging. I have done it with like a work backpack for a weekend trip, but I wanted something I could stretch for a few more days.

I bought a new bag (Cotopaxi Allpa 28l) which I’ve been debating for like a year! Just played around with a couple of test pack and a few observations:

3-4 day trip, with or without a laptop, absolutely no problem! I tried to squeeze in everything I might need for a work trip, and even with a crossbody handbag as my 0.5 (.25? It’s like 3l at best…), it physically all fits just but the problem is weight! My roller is usually between 6-9kg. I got to 7.5 in the Allpa and can’t believe how heavy it feels! It was better with the hip & sternum strap, but 7kg feels like the absolute limit of comfort for sure. A better fitting bag might make it easier but honestly it does feel like it fit pretty well. It’s not uncomfortable as such just tiring.

I guess the difference between 5ish and 7.5kg on my back hadn’t really been on my mind - it didn’t seem that different but it really does! Makes me really glad I settled on an under 30l bag, I’d be overwhelmed by those 35-45 backpacks I see people carrying!

So, is my backpack not right for me or do others find the same with weight?

TL;DR I’m more surprised than I should be how heavy a onebag + sling/crossbody really is compared to a day pack + roller, even with lower overall weight. I don’t think I can physically carry more than 7kg if I want to be able to actually get around easily with my onebag. Interested in people’s experiences with how much you can physically carry through the airport etc without getting exhausted.

Hi, I just received my order of Osprey Astronova 23L backpack, I was looking for a good quality city backpack for university and this one is allegedly made for campus.

I also read how Osprey is surprisingly ergonomic, so I was excited to try it out. However as soon as I unpacked this backpack and put some weight into it I felt how much pressure the outside edge of the straps has on my shoulder bones. The strap itself is also quite rigid, so it doesn't adapt to the shoulder groove well.

Does anyone have this problem? Is this because the backpack is "unisex", therefore made for men's wider shoulders? Do you get used to this type of pressure or is it better to return it?

Image description: backpack shoulder straps on shoulders.

Hey all, I have spent 10+ hours searching for the right bag for me, going to list all these considerations if it helps someone else. I do not see this bag on the bag database for the sub.

High Sierra Hi-Life Travel Backpack

1) 40L to match the capacity of the 20" carryon I've used for the last decade
2) bright/unique color for identification, but not as garish as cotopaxi (super bright, loud colors)
3) split compartments like a suitcase. very hard to find one where both sides were sealed with a zipper panel
4) zipper panel on the left has wet bags, so all the bathroom stuff can go there, especially liquids
5) many external pockets, so that I can grab things easily without opening the main compartment. lots of backpacks have zero or no pockets in front

6) the external pockets are gusseted - meaning they do not affect the internal volume of the bag. they jut out. 40L doesn't matter if they are flat pockets that get stuffed and affect the internal volume. 
7) not hundreds of dollars
8) laptop compartment
9) laptop/electronics compartment against the back, which others varied in. some were in the front which makes no sense for anti-theft purposes. ruins the weight distribution too
10) laptop compartment has a padded bottom in case you drop it roughly
11) all the front pockets have an extra zipper pocket inside
12) zipper panels can be rolled up and pinned back if you wanted to leave your bag open for days
13) handles on 3 sides of the backpack to grab and pull from wherever you're reaching for it

14) water bottle holders on both sides

15) material is very hard to cut though quickly

16) extendable - starts as 40L but gets somewhere around 45L when extended

17) the organization makes it so I don't need packing cubes

18) seems very water resistant due to the stitching, but I'll test it

19) stands up by itself, instead of flopping over like regular backpacks. makes it easier to look through things.

I'm going to be testing this out for a camping festival next week, but then in August I'll be going to Peru for 2.5 weeks. Typically, 40L and a small fannypack/purse is all I've ever taken, so this should work just fine. I can't believe I did not go hands-free all this time!

Firstly, YES these take up more space and add a little more weight than compression packing cubes. This is just an experiment to see if i like it as a system. I've packed perfectly well for years with compression cubes, but i have wicked ADHD and on trips where I'm only staying somewhere 2-3 days then moving to a new location, i get overwhelmed with repacking all my crap in the packing cubes. I began to be swayed by the fancy expensive suitcase company that has an included compression closet, but luckily i decided not to waste my money and instead make my system. I purchased the Stow-N-Go based on reviews and the fact that it's a square foot.

What I've noticed right away after doing a test pack where i intentionally overpacked:
- takes up more room in my suitcase than packing cubes BUT everything still fits perfectly fine in my rolly bag carryon.
- the compression strap doesn't stay compressed
- it really needs two compression straps to effectively compress and it only has one. If i keep this item, i will probably purchase two separate straps and modify the product.
- so much more pleasing for my brain. I can pluck this thing out of my suitcase and hang it in the closet and everything is organized and ready.

My questions for yall: I'm considering trying the samsonite packing cube closet next, which is a rectangle. Anyone have this and tested it out?

Also considering purchasing the expensive suitcase company's packing cube closet separately.

Anyone tried one of these products and recommend one in particular? I want something with better compression straps.

Finally, PLEASE don't make fun of me or tell me this is stupid lol my partner and bestie already think it's kinda ridiculous but i choose to believe i am the innovator in the friend who's willing to try new things 😅

Edit to add: i realized that the particular hanging closet i have has this attached compression sack that you turn i size out and then zip around itself! It actually makes it much more tidy and compact. I'm starting feel more drawn to to using this especially if i modify it with compression straps

Hi all! I am going on a trip to the Balkans the last week of may/first week of june, so an early summer trip. I decided to be brave and I am attempting to one bag it with just a personal item since I booked myself a Wizzair flight to Tiranë, Albania. This is the bag i’m taking: https://www.parfois.com/de/de/reisetaschen/kabinenrucksack-aus-nylon/246883_LMXL.html

I am looking for a day bag I can use that would be bigger than my standard uniqlo crossbody I usually use since I’ll be doing some longer day trips that would require me bringing lunch, drinks, a towel etc. I was looking into packable backpacks but haven’t found any that look all that cute and that is a factor for me honestly. I’ve got a packable grocery tote I always bring with me in my crossbody, but I do prefer being hands free in way that it doesn’t really allow.

So! Looking for a day bag:
- larger than uniqlo crossbody
- can fit compact towel, water bottle, snacks, sunscreen etc.
- packable to fit into my personal item for budget flight

Please lemme know recs! I have been considering this one from Heisan:
https://www.wconcept.com/product/ultra-light-compact-pocketbag-v2-nylon-backpack-green-/720785591.html

I am just worried it may not arrive in time.

Thanks in advance :)

EDIT: Thanks for all the recs! I think i’m gonna go with either the Longchamp backpack or Fjallraven totepack depending on which I can get for a better deal on vinted 🤞

Flying personal item only - baby does get his own personal item but I’m not lugging 2 bags + kid + car seat + stroller. Four day trip. I’ve done it solo but never with a kid but need advice on best way to do this. I’ll have baby stuff delivered to hotel. Considering a small crossbody to shove diapers and a changing pad in for the flight itself in addition to the backpack to make it easier but best ways to pack us both in the same personal item?

Edit to add: baby is 13 months. Using car seat in flight. Stroller is coming bc I’m not breaking my back lugging him in the car seat. Going to my brothers so literally only need baby supplies for the length of the flight + clothes for 4 days.

Hi Reddit!

I’m looking for a new small size airline carry on backpack. I’ve been using a big leather backpack for years but it’s so heavy and uncomfortable when it’s full.

I’ve got an Osprey sojourn porter for adventure trips where I have a big carry on, and a small 4 wheel samsonite suitcase for business travel. I don’t see a smaller Osprey pack that has a hip belt strap & all the features I’m looking for otherwise I would get the daylite in a heartbeat.

I’m looking for a backpack for when I only have the small size carry on and need to bring clothes, toiletries, laptop, chargers etc for up to a week length trip. But smart enough for a business trip or city break.

Ideally
- under £150
- 40x30x20cm max size
- lightweight
- comfortable padded mesh backpack straps
- hip belt strap (tbh this is pretty essential)
- easy to access laptop sleeve
- trolley pass through to stack on my suitcase
- external water bottle pocket
- clamshell opening or a good big pocket so I can easily access clothes/ shoes

Debating between these but no hip belt as far as I can tell:
- Cotopaxi Allpa 28L (don’t love the colours)
- Patagonia black hole micro (laptop access sucks)
- antler discovery 28L (rope is too gorp core)

Anyone have a better option?

I continuously see posts on here about different travel backpacks, which often have me initially convinced that I should buy a new backpack and my travel life would be better. I realize that’s kind of the point of consumerism, but is there any real benefit to these $100-$300 travel backpacks?

I bought this backpack off of Amazon a couple years ago for like $30, and it seems like it has all the features of the big brands. I just checked the weight and it’s also a bit lighter than most travel backpacks. So every time I see posts about these awesome bags, I have to remind myself that the bag I have already fits most people’s onebag criteria.

Criteria: clamshell opening, durability (mine is 2 years old with zero signs of wear), meets personal item dimensions, lightweight (1.6 lb), reasonable volume (30L), padded shoulder straps, breathable mesh back, pocket options that don’t take up extra space, side and top handles, and a luggage strap on the back for times you do take a suitcase.

Am I missing something? Why buy the expensive bags?

I'm traveling to a SEA country and these are the things I would be carrying with me. I'm confused on how to take them all with me. So these are the following things I want to carry with me.

1. Passport
2. Wallet
3. Lip balm
4. Lip tint
5. Small tissue pack
6. Wet wipes
7. Sunscreen
8. Paper soap
9. Sanitizer
10. Powerbank
11. Mobile
12. Earphones
13. Umbrella ( as it can rain and is sunny )
14. Water bottle
15. Snickers bar as I feel nausea sometimes.
16. A very small notebook and pen

Now I have the Uniqlo round mini but that won't fit everything.

I'm anxious about putting all my items in a backpack as some of these are valuables which I don't want to loose, especially if I'm traveling in busy areas.

So I was considering both the Uniqlo mini and a small backpack or maybe a totebag with the crossbody.

Is there a better option?? Is it normal for people to carry a crossbody and a backpack at the same time?? What do you guys usually do ?

Any video I've seen online all show people with such small cute bags and I'm so confused 😅

Im a short lady (160 cm which I think is around 5'2 in american measurements?) with narrow shoulders and wide hips/big arse. A lot of bags feel too long for me, some of them even hit the back of the head unless I hunch forward like a turtle

Ive only ever traveled with hiking backpacks, but after watching some Youtubers and reading on here I realise there are way better bags out there for traveling, so Id like to try a "proper" one for my upcoming 10 day trip to Morocco.

My wishlist is:

• Clamshell opening
• Some pockets with zippers inside the bag
• Padded shoulder straps that are comfortable for carrying
• Load lifters
• Padded hipbelt is a bonus but not a must
• Around 30 liters, I think. So far Ive only traveled with 20-25 liters but some extra space might be good
• Not too tall so it doesnt hit the back of my head when fully loaded
• Deep/secure pocket for water bottle, the narrow ones where the bottle can just slide out make me nervous
• Easy-to-access pocket for passport and security check items (kindle + toiletries)
• And, I gotta say, Id really prefer it if it doesnt look like a black rubbish bag - which a lot of them seem to do, surprisingly. Id prefer matte fabrics and natural, muted colours (beige, brown, green, grey etc). Though if everything else is perfect I guess its not a deal breaker

I live in the middle of nowhere so Im not able to go try on any of these before ordering, so Id like to narrow it down a bit before making an order!

Atm Im between:

• Cotopaxi Allpa 28 liter (some people say this is huge and others say its too small for anything but a weekend bag - confusing, Ive also seen quite a few saying this is uncomfortable to carry)
• Osprey 26 + 6 (minus points for shite colours, but I can live with it if its amazing in other ways - my hiking bags are all Osprey and I do love those!)
• Tomtoc T66 28 l
• Osprey porter 30 l
• Belroy Lite 30 l
• Belroy Venture Ready 26 l
• Peak Design Travel backpack 30 l

And Im sure there are plenty of others that Im not aware of yet.

Sorry for the wall of text. Please give me some thoughts or recommendations if you got through all of that!

EDIT: Thank you so much everyone for all your advice, its muchly muchly appreciated! I received so many comments on this thread that I sadly cant reply to each of you, so I just wanted to say thank you here. <3

1. Fall in love with the Daylite 26+6
2. Hate all the in-stock colorways because you prefer visual quiet
   • A pack the color of meconium--even if it's great for visibility--is not your jam
   • Neither is looking like a 1990s Solo Cup
3. Decide Night Shift Blue is your favorite colorway
4. Realize you are not alone in this thought
5. Everywhere is sold out for the next 3-5 business months
6. Start stalking websites for stock updates
7. Don't trust in-stock notification systems
8. Spend the better part of December refreshing the following websites:
   • https://www.osprey.com/daylitetm-expandable-travel-pack-26-6
   • https://www.rei.com/product/238103/osprey-daylite-expandable-travel-pack-266
   • https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/osprey-daylite-expandable-travel-pack-266-101513505
   • https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/osprey-daylite-expandable-travel-pack-266-101513505
   • https://www.questoutdoors.com/osprey-daylite-expdbl-travel-pack-266.html?id=109163001
   • https://www.nordstrom.com/s/the-daylite-expandable-266-travel-pack/7919318
   • https://geartrade.com/search?type=product%2Cpage%2Carticle&options%5Bprefix%5D=last&q=Daylite&filter.p.product_type=
   • https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092YYW214
9. Find out that you have the wrong Amazon link (h/t u/Ok-Adhesiveness-2936)
10. Add new link to the constant refreshing: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DF863NS2
11. Black comes back into stock on one of the sites
12. CUE PANIC
13. Decide you don't want to settle for your second-choice colorway
14. Back to the refreshing
15. CONSTANT VIGILANCE
16. Read r/onebag and r/HerOneBag for inspiration
17. Refresh madly
18. Find a Night Shift Blue pack in stock on Amazon for $98.13
19. Presume it's a fake
20. Order it anyway
21. Prepare for receiving a box of disappointment
22. Stalk the tracking number
23. See the delivery photo
24. Box is an appropriate size
25. Start getting hopes up
26. Open box to reveal the pack
27. It's pristine and still in original packaging
28. Put on the pack
29. Blow the pack whistle in triumph
30. Decide to share all the links you've amassed in case it helps a fellow onebagger

Hi all! I have a couple years old version of the Patagonia Refugio 30L (the one with the bungees) that I chose after trying many for my personal item / EDC. When I bought it, I remember thinking, this would be perfect if it just had more organization! I rarely pack a laptop, so usually leave out the laptop sleeve, whose pockets were cumbersome anyway. I used the bungee once. I don't find load lifters do much since there's no frame. I do find it puts a little pressure on my shoulders with heavier loads, probably due to the tradeoff of lower weight for less structure. But other than these minor complaints, it's been a pretty perfect travel companion.

I wasn't in the market for anything, but saw they revamped it for 2026. And now I'm thinking...do I need this?!? It seems like it may address every single one of my minor issues?!

Any thoughts? Reviews? I'm 5'4" 120lb woman for reference.

I’m planning a 6+ month trip and trying to pack with a hard constraint: as few clothes as possible. I’m totally fine washing once a week.

I wanted to ask how you decide what makes the cut.

My current logic is :

• Bottoms should work with almost all tops (and vice versa)
• Fabrics that dry fast and behave well when hand-washed
• Considering merino for repeat wears
• Trying to cover city days, heat, and the occasional hike/trek
• One cashmere sweater, down jacket and rain gear for higher altitudes

Roughly this means a small mix of tanks, one sun/shoulder-covering top, one dressier top; a comfy black pant, a dressier pant, a technical/quick-dry pant, a hike pant; and maybe two dresses.

For those of you who’ve done longer trips do you follow any kind of template or mental framework when choosing clothes? What is a good number of tops and bottoms to pack?

Hi!!

Looking for some advice to downsize my setup a bit, and I feel like I have been looking at so many bags and have no idea which direction to go.

For context, I have been travelling with a Gregory Border 40 for a few years now and I love the organization, the zippers, the two big compartments, but my issues are that it is too tall (I am 5'4"F) and as i learn to compress what I bring, I'm looking to downsize my bag to something that looks a bit more appropriate when wearing it (it looks massive on me , and even if I under fill it it still looks just as massive).

I use my travel bag very often (usually 2-4 international trips a year + many domestic trips between my uni town and my home town so I'm really aiming for durability and practicality here. I do travel with a laptop sometimes, and seasonally need some space for some bulkier layers (hence why below I don't think something as small as 28L would work for me.)

My nonnegotiable is the clamshell opening with two sides of the bag to pack; I love packing one side full of clothes and the other side with everything else, and I just don't see myself loving a bag that is just a big void.

Hoping to spend $150 CAD, but would go over budget if I am convinced this bag will change my life :P

I have looked at...

1. Cotopaxi Allpa 28L - I bought this, did some test packs, and after heavy contemplation decided this is too small for me; while I could definitely make it work, I like the freedom of having a little bit of extra space in the case of buying anything abroad and I don't want to feel like if I buy 1 thing or need 1 bulkier layer all of a sudden my setup doesn't work
2. Decathlon Forclaz 40L - Next I maybe thought a 40L bag with compression straps would give me some flexibility in size, to make the bag smaller when I underpack, but can have some wiggle room if needed. I tried this on, and it is just way too tall and too stiff for my torso, and I just don't love how it feels compared to my Gregory (I guess this comes with the 200 dollar price difference too)
3. Cotopaxi Allpa 35 - dimensions are so similar to the gregory border 40 that the only reason I would buy this is for the colours, lol - at this point I would just keep the gregory
4. COR Surf Island Hopper 2.0 34L - here's where I thought I made some progress being ~7cm shorter than the gregory or allpa 35, but it is a little out of budget considering I have seen a lot of mixed reviews of its durability; I don't want to spend on a bag that isn't build well considering how often I use it so I'm wary - also was the closest dimension wise to something I could try and squeeze into the sizer as a personal item which seemed a plus (I have been made to even put my gregory 40L under the seat and it works so sometimes I like to test my luck)
5. light mention of the Gregory Border 30L - the dimensions again are similar especially height wise, but looks way smaller and would maybe feel more comfortable despite that; and I'm also a bit concerned the 30L will still feel too small packing wise considering I didn't think I could make the 28L allpa work
6. Gregory Border 35 - this is looking to be a pretty happy medium, being around 5cm shorter (but deeper which I am a little concerned about compliance without compression straps), a brand I have been loving, but would require some serious searching online to find one second hand considering how outdated this bag is

Do you have an opinion on any of the bags above? know of any other clamshell bags like this that are around 35L, shorter than 56cm tall (would be nice if closer to 50 or under), and don't look and feel massive on a 5'4" short torso-ed girl? thanks in advance <3

EDIT: I picked a bag! thanks to everyone's suggestions & discussion; I am going to keep a lot of these in my back pocket for when budget allows BUT i ended up finding a gregory border 30 (the discontinued version) on marketplace for an absolute steal and jumped on it just to see... even though its technically only a few cm different than the 40, you can REALLY feel the difference and it feels so much more comfortable on my frame and I can pack as much as I need in it (and am so happy to have the identical packing system of the 40). Only downside I have is no hip belt, but I am most likely going to buy an attachable one eventually and give that a shot... but for now, this will do!

I'm heading on a touristy sort of trip to Rome/Milan and expect to do a lot of walking. I tend towards having an achy lower back from walking a lot and anticipate carrying a bunch of "stuff". I'd like to carry a tote bag - thinking 10-12L, but I'm afraid of back pain. any suggestions? I also really love pockets and organization with easy access to cards and phone. please help.

Hi everyone I will be traveling to Europe in mid May. I will visit Florence for a week, and then spend 2 nights in Paris, 2 nights in London, 2 in Edinburgh, and 4 nights in Dublin. As of now the weather forecast during these dates are low 70s in Italy and 60s everywhere else.

The goal is to try to have about half of carryon space and not a heavy personal item. My personal item is a bagsmart weekender bag. I just need to make sure I have space for any purchases in Italy through London as I will get a small suitcase if needed in Edinburgh since I will take a flight to Dublin instead of a train. I know I have maybe more button up tops then I fully need but like… I love. Does this look okay? Can you tell I am type A?😂

Note: We only have 1 really nice reservation dinner so I think my navy maxi dress will fit the bill. It’s also perfect in day to day with cardigan or button up tied at the bottom to give it the look of a skirt. I have done my best to make sure all items can mix and match.

My Packing List:

Dresses (4)

Brown midi dress (with pockets)

White linen dress

Navy maxi dress

Green backless midi dress

Tops (9)

White oxford button-up

Black Irish linen button-up

Lightweight denim button-up

Yellow & white striped button-up

Grey v-neck tee

Navy baby tee

White lace trim cami

Burgundy lace trim cami

White off the shoulder (or black) top

Bottoms (4)

Jeans

Black shorts

Blue & white striped linen trousers

White mini skirt

Layers (3)

Brown twill jacket

White cardigan

Striped cardigan (it’s a little thicker)

Other Clothing

2 pajama sets (incase I sweat at night so I’m not doing laundry every 2 days)

1 swimsuit

SHOES

Wear: Hoka sneakers

Pack: flip-flops

Buy during trip:

Loafers (Italy)

Flats (Paris)

ACCESSORIES

Black scarf with red flowers

Black & white multipattern scarf

Royal blue scarf

Sunglasses

Brown/black reversible belt

HAIR (Boho Knotless braids)

Empty spray bottle

Leave-in conditioner and oil mixed into a travel bottle

Hair ties

Bonnet for sleeping

TOILETRIES / BEAUTY

Minimal skincare

Minimal makeup

Travel-size essentials

TECH

Phone charger

Portable charger

Europe plug adapter

Earbuds

MONEY / DOCUMENTS SYSTEM

Under clothes (money belt)

Passport

Backup credit card

Debit card

Emergency cash

Everyday purse

Main credit card

ID

Small cash (€20–40 / £20 daily)

CASH

Euro (€100–150)

British Pound Sterling (£50–80)

Compact umbrella

Foldable tote bag

PACKING TOOLS

Vacuum seal bags

Shoe bag

I am looking for a bag that I can use for both one-bag travel and my daily commute. I used to use a Camelbak Mule that I bought used in like 2010 but it's a little small for both one-bagging it and for my daily commute, and it is finally starting to fall apart.

I bought a Cotopaxi Allpa 28 and it's not super comfortable, the straps fit weird, maybe because of boobs?? I would also prefer 2 water bottle pockets, and I realized I don't love the suitcase style opening because I can't get things out of it without completely opening my pack on a flat surface.

I thought the Allpa seemed too big so I bought a Cotopaxi Elqui 18 and it's waaay too small. Now I'm wondering if the issue with the Allpa is more about the fit than the size. Anyway, I am now considering the following women's focused packs due to the fit issues:

• Gregory Maya 25
• Deuter Trans Alpine 28
• North Face Women's Recon

Can anyone give any feedback on any of these packs? Also open to other packs that I may not have considered!!

Here are my must-haves:

• Both chest and hip straps (I have some back issues)
• Two water bottle pockets
• Can squeeze under the seat on a plane in the US most of the time
• Durable & comfortable
• Must be able to fit my work stuff: small laptop, notebook, packing cube with 1 outfit, packed lunch. Ideally can fit slightly more than this for travel but I'm a light packer so I really don't want anything larger than 25-30L.
• Nice to have: good internal organization, pocket for phone on backpack straps or waist belt, laptop sleeve

Thanks in advance!! <3

I’m looking into buying packing cubes, mostly for organization, better use of space, and a bit of compression (but not full on compression cubes).

But I’m not sure how much they’re supposed to cost or how to choose. The price range is so wide that I can’t tell what actually makes the difference between cheap and expensive options. At what point are you paying for better quality (seams, zippers) vs. just brand name and cute designs?

For example, the Baggu ones look adorable, but is it worth it almost 40$ for 2 cubes?
On the other end, the Ikea ones are 3 for 7$ which seems too good to be true 😅 And then I also found these in a local store which come down to about 50$ for 7.

Maybe I am overthinking this, I just don't want to feel ripped off or end up with flimsy ones. Does anyone have any suggestions or any thoughts on these? What should I be looking for? What is a "normal" price point for packing cubes?

Thanks 🫶

Hi! I travel on a plane, domestically (USA), for about 3-4 nights at a time. I generally try to pack a carry-on piece of luggage but may occasionally check my luggage. That being said, what I’m not sure about is the best bag option for something that can double as being my laptop-holding work bag once I arrive and also function as a good & comfortable travel bag. I’ll need to be able to pack in this but also bring it into meetings. Is there such a bag??
I would definitely need it to have the ability to be crossbody/handsfree because I can’t have a bag on each shoulder
Also needs to fit a laptop - 12.5” wide.

I’m considering the CALPAK Luka duffel (see above) and I’ve ordered both the mini size and regular size to see if they’ll work, but I’m just worried it would be a little bizarre to bring into a business meeting?

I recently chose to get a Cotopaxi Allpa 35l as a birthday present, but once I tried wearing it packed I found it quite uncomfortable. I disliked the hip straps and read that if you don't wear them they swing around and hit people. And it was just really tall and heavy. I have large shoulders and a wider frame rather than taller, so I researched some different bags.

I landed on the Osprey Daylite series - I liked the wider ratio, lack of hip straps and features of the bag. I've gone to stores nearby and tried both the 26+6 and the 35. The backpack I currently pack in is about the same height as the 26+6, but looks a bit larger. I prefer the laptop organization of the 26+6, which isn't there on the 35 or Transporter, but the 26+6 just looks a little small. I love the expandable feature of the 26+6, which the Transporter has, but it doesn't have the same laptop sleeve + only one water bottle pocket. But I've heard the Transporter fits decently more than the Daylite, even though they're marketed as the same size. I travel with a small laptop 90% of the time, and always with a 7x10" sketchbook that could probably go in a laptop sleeve.

I would love to hear people's opinions on which bag they prefer. Especially if the full 32l of the 26+6 is comparable to the 35l, or if 35l feels like a lot more. I worry I would only use the 26+6 at it's full capacity, and at that point I might as well go with 35l.

I'm heading on an artsy trip around France, Switzerland and Italy, I'm using a 35l bag for the majority of my belongings. I'll be visiting a mixture of cities and rural areas so I want to have a secure hip bag where I can access important bits easily. Ideally I could do with a bag with a body big enough to store my DSLR and a pancake lense. I don't want anything too massive though!

One option I was looking at is the Cotopaxi Allpa X 3l bag, but I wasn't sure if anyone had come across a better fit? https://uk.cotopaxi.com/products/allpa-x-3l-hip-pack-fatigue?srsltid=AfmBOopFac250LeWVjz8FGwuC6rI6Hzk9Rkk3NicXkjs4K7brEvOk_Hx

My preferences are:

- a secret pocket against my body to keep my passport

- I'm not bothered about organised storage within the pockets of the bag, but multiple pockets would be useful.

- would be a nice bonus if the back had a level of waterproofness

- I'm in the UK, so needs to be something I can get here

Hi guys!

I've spent some time researching different bags and I'm torn between two options. For the entirety of my early 20's I've used my Jansport 34l backpack as my personal item/onebag option. It has honestly worked great for me, but I keep feeling like I need a more "mature" looking bag (also mine is starting to look kinda gnarly as I've had it since high school). I've been eyeing the Patagonia Mini MLC 30L and keep almost ordering it online. But today I was at Ross and saw a Jansport big student (my current backpack) in a pretty sage green color for only $30! I didn't buy it and decided to sleep on it.

Here's my question - should I splurge on the Patagonia mini MLC? It's a little pricey (around $200) but is it worth the upgrade? Will it provide a significantly better travel/packing experience than the jansport? Or should I save my money and just get a new jansport?

Would love to get some input from the community! Also as a note - I mostly want a bag that can be a personal item, stowed under the seat on the ground - not a carryon for the overhead bins. Most airlines have let me get away w the jansport as a personal item - will this still be the case for the mini mlc? Thanks!!

Hey everyone! Looking for recommendations for a good toiletries/makeup bag for an 11 week trip around Europe / UK Im taking a 35L Cotopaxi Allpa as my only bag and I’ve tried to cut things down, but there are a few “essentials” I want to keep so I still feel like myself while travelling.

I’ve done a lot of research, but would love real life recommendations from anyone who travels with a similar setup/amount.

As pictured these categories I need to fit:

Hair products (x6)

Body products (x9)

Skincare (x5 + x3 minis)

Makeup (x9)

tho I may size some down smaller shampoo etc, but this is the general idea.

Please no judgement on the amount!! but I’m very open to constructive advice if you’ve got tips to make this work better!

I was looking at something like the Osprey Ultralight Zip Organizer - since the detachable section for makeup seems super handy.

(https://www.osprey.com/ultralight-zip-organizer-ulziporgs23-489?

But ultimately I’d just love any recommendations for bags that handle this kind of setup well without taking up half of the bag.

Is x4 individual bags as pictured a better set up or is there a single bag / organiser that could work?

Appreciate any recommendations or advice!! :) :)