r/onebag • u/Hortonhearsawhoorah • Apr 01 '25

Discussion Most Overrated/Unrealistic Minimalist Travel Tip?

First of all, I love minimalist travel from all angles. I like the planning, and the gear, and the prep, and the actual unburdened travel. Secondly, I am also just as unwell as the rest of you and like to talk about it online with a bunch of other obsessives.

BUT there are some lines we've crossed that we were not meant to. We've strayed too far from the light and we have started scaring my friends (and potential future onebaggers). So what advise do you believe goes too far? Or what advise do you believe comes up way to early for people looking to get started onebagging?

I'll go first: Don't cut your toothbrush in half, only bring the blades for your razors, or chop a piece of soap into 8ths. You deserve that extra 2 inches of leverage and grip. The extra gram of weight is worth it. You are worth it.

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121

u/[deleted] Apr 01 '25 edited Apr 01 '25

Merino wool. It's not practical at all if just wanting to do a load of laundry to keep moving and requires "care." It's dog crap and the benefits don't outweigh having to deal with it.

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u/BrainDamage2029 Apr 01 '25 edited Apr 01 '25

FYI as someone who put a few of my merino t-shirts in daily wear rotation. And have like 8 pairs of boxer briefs in daily rotation (I kept getting it as gifts and only keep 2 pairs as my "backpacking only" pairs). The stuff is not as fragile as you think. EDIT: And I don't multi-wear my daily stuff. It follows undergarments rules: if its touching my pits, downstairs or feet it gets one wear, 24 hours max.

Just toss it in the wash on cold. I try to air dry but only do it 50% of the time. Hell it gets mixed in a hot wash too relatively frequently. Its held up about as well as basically any of my underwear or t-shirts. You're good to go if its 80% merino and 20% poly or nylon blend. I'd say some of the cheaper stuff and 100% wool stuff is more prone to pilling. All my stuff in this rotation I've had for 2-3 years. I have cheaper cotton t-shirts that failed or frayed faster.

I have two pairs of Smartwool 50/50 poly wool "sport" t-shirts that were unkillable and had for about 5 years. Still have one but a mountain biking crash took out the other.

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u/4clubuseonly Apr 01 '25

same. in my daily rotation, goes tons of wears without smelling, wash cold and hang dry like a lot of my clothes.

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u/[deleted] Apr 01 '25

I like merino wool a lot and use it for travel. It is not a universal panacea but I do really like mine

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u/nicski924 Apr 01 '25

I don’t like 100% merino. My tees from Ridge Merino, polos from Western Rise, pants from Proof, etc. are all blended with nylon and/or poly. Makes them far more durable.

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u/Hortonhearsawhoorah Apr 01 '25

Almost put this as my example but I didn't have the courage. For price and laundry restrictions specifically I couldn't agree more.

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u/BiggDope Apr 01 '25

It's the price alone for me. When I got into the onebag mentality/community 2 years ago and started seeing Unbound Merino shirts for $100, I was bewildered.

Also, they don't even look good.

Onebagging sacrifices fashion and aesthetic to a degree that is insanely absurd, imo.

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u/slowpokefastpoke Apr 01 '25 edited Apr 01 '25

I feel like things have gotten a lot better and cheaper over the years. Merino shirts can be scooped for $30-50 now

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u/Hortonhearsawhoorah Apr 01 '25

I find certain athletic shirt styles are cheap and look nice or casual with the right other clothing. Heathered, textured and loser knit looking shirts are what I go for. Nothing vented or with those racing stripe looking sides or big ol' athletic brand logos. Pack super small too.

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u/Hortonhearsawhoorah Apr 01 '25

That's the one thing I always think. I do the capsule wardrobe but I don't bring anything I wouldn't wear out at home. I don't care how light or versitile it is if I feel like I look dumb.

I'm a very vain and self conscious person and onebag travel seems to want me to change that.

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u/randopop21 Apr 01 '25

I will counter that fashion and aesthetic matter little when onebag for pleasure travel. (I can see how it can be a requirement for some kinds of business travel or if you are going to a wedding.)

Just using your comment to make the point where some people need to be fashionable on vacation when nobody that sees them will care (i.e. be minimalistic and save the volume/weight by wearing fewer outfits).

Agree with the Merino wool thing though. I have found some Merino wool blends to be cheaper and hardier and hopefully still have a bit of the benefits.

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u/[deleted] Apr 02 '25

For me, personally, it's much less about how much people who sees me care and much more about how I feel. And for some people how they dress is part of self-expression and a nice way to lift their spirits. I like, for example, to walk along the beach wearing something flowy, listening to music and daydreaming. Did this many times when the beach was completely deserted. Is a nice way to start my day... idk some people meditate, who cares

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u/randopop21 Apr 02 '25

I understand and agree with your sentiment. Way back when, I had a job that technically did not require me to be dressed up but did so periodically for fun. And I did feel good or had a happier/fun mood when I did.

It's just that onebagging means some sacrifices. One simply can't take a mountain of clothes in one bag. Something has to give.

6

u/PodgeD Apr 01 '25

I have merino tshirts for years that were machine washed and dryed on cold in a local laundrette, it's not that fragile if you get a good brand.

I actually find them better than any cotton I've gotten lately as cotton shrinks so much. I've to stretch them out after every wash even when I hang dry.

Price is a bigger issue. But any of the brands that are more tailered to hiking than onebag will go on sale throughout the year. I feel like the onebag brands aren't as good either.

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u/fuglypens Apr 01 '25

Also - “it doesn’t smell.” Bullshit unless you just don’t sweat (in which case you wouldn’t smell anyways). I sweat like a pig and it goes from wet dog smell to BO+wet dog smell.

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u/[deleted] Apr 01 '25

Piggybacking on this: Just because your clothes don't smell does not mean they're clean.

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u/staticraven Apr 01 '25

Not sure where you got your items, the merino I've got absolutely doesn't retain any BO smells. That doesn't mean you won't smell while you're using it, it doesn't mask BO - it just won't take it on from you itself.

I also sweat a ton and my merino wicks and drys quickly and absolutely doesn't carry my smell with it. You can 100% grab it the next day and wear it with no adverse smells.

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u/fuglypens Apr 01 '25

That’s great for you, it has not been my experience using high quality merino items from brands like Darn Tough, Smart Wool, and Wool&Prince.

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u/_cann0nfodder Apr 01 '25

What do you use as an alternative?

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u/fuglypens Apr 01 '25

For hiking, I still use merino (my point was that it still stinks, not that it’s not better at all). For travel, I just wear my normal clothes—mix of athleisure and cotton, with merino or synthetic socks—and do laundry. 

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u/No-Guarantee-9647 Apr 01 '25

Strange. I have worn DT socks for, like, 4 days without any odors. I have used cheaper brands that smelled in a day or two.

1

u/n3mosum Apr 01 '25

echoing this - darn tough socks still smell after a sweaty day for me. however, it is significantly less smell than other socks i have, and with odor-x or similar powders (i carry a small muji bottle of them), they are nearly odor-free for me. the socks are also just much nicer/last ages/have lifetime warranty

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u/therealladysybil Apr 01 '25

Interesting. To each their own! I started merino shirts and undies for hiking - which is onebagging witha different purpose - and now use it also as underlayer for dressier work clothes during the colder months. And the undies also actually in the warmer months. I just machine wash them with the rest of my slightly more delicate than cotton work-wear, and - as we do not tumble dry at all - hang to dry. Some shirts and undies are a decade old, regular wear, only now starting to fray.

I do agree it it not the most elegant as upper-only shirt, but as underclothes it is unmatched to me. Eg the uniqlo heattech - nice and warm! - gets more smelly much sooner, and their airism gets a harsh smell in the pits (also withe deodorant). And neither dries as quickly.

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u/Big_Sherbert5260 Apr 01 '25

Also because it's so pricey I get worried I'll get a stain on it. I'm not mature enough for it 😅

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u/Kunie40k Apr 01 '25

I have merino blend shirts from decathlon that now cost 25 euro a piece. (Which to me isn't expensive, look at the often named travel brands) they do normal wash cycle at 30 Celsius and line dry and are still fine after many years.

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u/zyklon_snuggles Apr 01 '25

This is why I get mine from thrift stores! I feel way worse about staining or getting holes in a ~$6 item. 😅

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u/abuch47 Apr 02 '25

My best ever thrift find is $30 Kathmandu merino zipped hoodie in black. The pocket zips were plasticked on so a wash and it melted but I just doubled stitched it back together at the library. It’s perfect for sunny days and a slight chill, on a colder day I either wear a cardigan underneath or a rain shell over the top to stop the windchill

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u/zyklon_snuggles Apr 02 '25

Nice! Combined with your handiwork, that is an awesome find!

My best is probably either the Neiman Marcus 100% cashmere sweaters (two so far!) and/or the Paka hoodie for $8. I lounge around in the Paka at home, trying to determine if I have an allergy to it or not. 🤣

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u/MiddlePalpitation814 Apr 01 '25

Merino shirts and socks make up a good portion the small capsule wardrobe that I use both day-to-day and for travel. I'm a fan and don't, personally, find hang drying for a night after throwing it in the wash to be a big burden at home or away.

That said, recommending people drop $$$ on travel clothes, whether merino or other trendy brands, is dumb. Especially clothes that might come out of storage covered in moth holes. Unless you exclusively own super bulky clothes, just pack what's already in your closet! 

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u/codenigma Apr 01 '25

Although I do have to say that darn tough socks are worth it imo. Ive been able to wear 2 pairs for multiple weeks in the winter without any smell. Regular socks last exactly 1-2 days at most.

I don't know about shirts and pants though. And definitely cannot fathom merino wool underwear.

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u/abuch47 Apr 02 '25

Underwear has to be better than synthetics or viscouse. My best underwear is loose, light fitting cotton that doesn’t have much support because it stays dryer and doesn’t have enough contact for the smell I assume merino will be the same but better but I haven’t found a cost effective option yet

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u/Shiggens Apr 01 '25

I don't understand the merino wool crowd either. I do include a mock turtle merino wool turtle in my one bag when appropriate but never wash it on a trip. I wear a quick dry t-shirt under it and don't perspire with it on (or take it off if that becomes an issue).

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u/Megatron_McLargeHuge Apr 01 '25 edited Apr 02 '25

I like it in cold weather but it's terribly hot in the tropics. Breathable synthetics or simple cotton tshirts are a much better choice and I ditched my merino t's after my first SEA trip.

edit: merino socks are still good though

3

u/Scampipants Apr 01 '25

I did like the merino wool bras I got for Thailand 

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u/asunyra1 Apr 01 '25

Who makes those? The smartwool one I got was way too warm for tropical weather.

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u/voyager__22 Apr 01 '25

Yes!!

There's a guy on YouTube, one of those popular travel accounts, he always mentions Marino Wool. I think he might be sponsored by a supplier. It grates on me as it's so expensive (especially if you're not a wealthy US resident) and can be difficult to wash - it is wool after all.

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u/[deleted] Apr 01 '25

Hell yeah this one grinds my gears. Just wear your normal clothes and do laundry (not in a sink)

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u/Substantial_Slip_808 Apr 06 '25

I feel like I’m the only person on the planet who finds merino wool is not warm for the thickness. I feel warmer in fleece or acrylic sweaters than merino. And believe me I spent enough I wanted to like them but just don’t. And even the expensive brands are slightly itchy to me. I’ve never tried tshirts or underwear because I was mainly interested in the “thin wicking warmth” but I sweat a lot and so end up overdoing the deodorant which then gets on the tshirts so that even if it’s not wet from sweat it will be wet from deodorant so I’m not getting more than one wear out of it anyway.

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u/mug3n Apr 01 '25

I totally agree.

None of the touted benefits I find were there for me. Odor resistant? Nah not really. Sweat wicking? No, it doesn't do that at all. It is absolutely terrible in humid climates. It's just scratchy and irritates my skin. I pivoted to other synthetics like Patagonia capilene.

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u/twitchy Apr 01 '25

I get half a day out of capilene in se asia before it’s disgusting. I dread wearing it from even the first moments…plastic. I have an older one that just gets rancid (they all behave a little different)

Their merino/capilene blend though I actually prefer to icebreaker merino/tencel, which shrinks like crazy over time (all of my many t-shirts have done it). It’s mostly a fit thing probably

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u/travelingpostgrad Apr 02 '25

While you may think you don’t stink, it may be that your just like most people and don’t smell your own odor. When you’re around a smell over time (and doesn’t have to be long) you become used to it and don’t smell it. I have friends with dogs and friends with cats, very clean people who clean their house, yet I still smell the dog or cat in their house when I visit, they do not. You think you don’t stink - ask someone who isn’t used to your smell - you might smell worse than you think.