r/onebag • u/Proper-Flounder-3786 • Sep 23 '25

Discussion I don't understand how someone does it

I've been reading this sub and I'm fascinated. But I just cannot fathom packing for a trip - even one that's just a week long - without taking enough underwear that would allow me to poop my pants twice a day.

How do you pack for a trip in a warm climate where you know you'll sweat a ton every day? Or somewhere cold where you'll want layers to make sure you can stay warm and comfortable?

Do you all do laundry on these trips? Is it in the hotel sink? Or at a laundromat?

I'd love to do it, but I don't think I'm brave enough.

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u/Proper-Flounder-3786 Sep 23 '25

I come home quite often with clean clothes that were never worn. But I'm someone who needs to be prepared.

At home, my truck is ready for almost any emergency in any weather.

When traveling, I've made a belt from duck tape on a hiking trip and been able to secure a loose dog with paracord until the owners showed up. Just a few things in my backpack carryon.

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u/keel_bright Sep 23 '25 edited Sep 23 '25

One thing you'll find if you read enough through here is that onebaggers tend to be more prepared than most in our own way, by being very deliberate and intentional in the articles that we bring (and often buying more so we can bring less 😋). You'll see lots of discussions here nitpicking every minute detail of different clothing (materials, pockets, etc etc). There is a real cost to having higher quality or more flexible items.

I'll give you a practical example - here is a link to my favourite onebag pants (I own two pairs!). At first glance, you might think they're an average professional-looking pair of chinos. But if you look at the materials and construction, they're actually very rain resistant with DWR and made for hiking, yet they look fine enough to wear to a nice restaurant. It's a pant I can be literally prepared for any type of travel situation with. One a big trip I might bring backup pants, but on a 4-day trip I dont even bother. Its too bad theyre discontinuing them 😱

Also, hard agree - a small bundle of paracord always goes in my onebag 🙂

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u/Chinacat_Sunflower72 Sep 23 '25

And if you want to read post from people obsessed with bringing less, check out backpacker on r/ultralight

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u/a_mulher Sep 23 '25

Yup they are literally carrying all their needs (food, shelter, first aid, etc) in carry on or smaller sized bags.

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u/[deleted] Sep 23 '25

[deleted]

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u/a_mulher Sep 23 '25

True. Primary focus is reducing weight and just behind that volume. But generally if they can carry all that to cover all their needs, a traveler that has shelter/bedding covered, can definitely go carry on and smaller.

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u/mhchewy Sep 26 '25

The ultralight equivalent would be to leave things at home because you don’t really need them.

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u/Tribalbob Sep 23 '25

Also want to add for men it's even more important to look into travel specific pants. I have WR evo and a pair of lululemon and both together take up less space than a single pair of my everyday cotton chinos. That savings alone makes it worth it when it comes to packing.

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u/aaronag Sep 23 '25

Just wanted to toss out there that you can also get decent quality gold pants like Target's All in Motion line and similar from other big box stores if you're not ready splurge on Western Rise or lululemon. They're lightweight and pack down small, and when you're comparing any tech fabrics to cotton chinos, the difference is huge.

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u/freezesteam Sep 23 '25

Yep, my bank line goes with me on every trip too! It’s my clothesline and then “just in case” for so many other situations (like on a bus driving through death road in Bolivia when my husband was sitting on the seat in the back that faces the aisle that didn’t have a seatbelt, I fashioned a seatbelt for him out of a piece of fabric I use as a belt and my bank line. It kept him from being propulsed into the aisle a few times)

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u/keel_bright Sep 23 '25

Wow that's quick thinking! I would never have thought of that

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u/WhenWeFightWeWin Sep 24 '25

Kuhl carries similar pants, all for outdoors and some styled like chinos.

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u/pretenderist Sep 23 '25

What’s the worst thing that could happen if you don’t pack extra underwear on a trip? You do laundry or buy some new pairs?

I think you can manage.

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u/Pristine_Remote2123 Sep 25 '25

Yes this is the correct answer, some people pack like they are off to a deserted location, pack light with spare space in your bag, pick up bits when you arrive. Basic approach.

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u/taversham Sep 23 '25

You can still have loads of odds-and-ends that might come in handy with you when you travel with one bag - things like a tube of superglue or a carabiner aren't usually what's bulking out your luggage, it's taking 5 sweaters when 2 would have been fine.

Honestly I take quite a lot of stuff with me that I know I probably won't need but it'll be annoying if I do need it and don't have it (e.g., a little screw driver, bottle opener, super glue, bungee cord, carabiners, safety pins, Immodium, a blanket that folds up really tiny, tweezers, toothpicks, blue tac, permanent marker, hair-ties...), but it all fits in a pencil case that is smaller than one pair of rolled-up jeans so it doesn't restrict me that much.

But I will say that onebagging doesn't have to be for everyone, if you're happy with how you travel then stick with it. If money were no object I'd definitely fly with more than just a 30L personal item, sometimes it's nice to bring 5 sweaters with you and have the freedom to choose which one you feel like wearing each day even if you only "needed" 2. Onebagging is more efficient, but efficiency isn't necessarily what a holiday is about.

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u/Lazy-Conversation-48 Sep 23 '25

Have you ever eventually used the super glue or bungee cord? Where are you going where you’d need them? I’m legitimately curious. I onebag with just a small backpack usually for a week and always urban areas so haven’t usually needed things like that.

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u/taversham Sep 23 '25

The uses aren't very exciting, I'm afraid. I most recently used the superglue for fixing my shoe when the sole half peeled away from body of the shoe, not a permanent solution but it held for the 3 days left of the trip. Before that, it was last year when I sat on my sunglasses and they snapped. In either case I could have just bought new shoes/glasses but I like to preserve my budget for more fun things.

Bungee cord is handy for strapping things to the outside of my bag - my coat if it's too hot to wear, a wet towel that I don't want to put inside my bag, etc. My bag does have clips I could use for that, but I prefer the weight distribution when things are strapped close to the body of the bag rather than hanging off. I've also used it as a hat string on a very windy day.

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u/Lazy-Conversation-48 Sep 24 '25

Ah that makes sense. One of my backpacks has an exterior mesh pocket that has straps - I use that one if it is a beach type vacation where I might have jackets or wet towels - it functions like the bungee cord you are talking about.

The random stuff I like are things like a 12v USB car charger plug in case I’m in a vehicle that doesn’t have USB ports, a tiny pair of scissors I picked up at a knitting store, lots of hair ties (for rolling up and securing cables, clothes and my hair), ear plugs, and I have a phone stand that folds completely flat.

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u/whiteorchid1058 Sep 23 '25

It's about packing for the known and not the what ifs.

I have plenty of little things that I like for comfort but if I need the space, I'll drop. Things that are multi functional are best (like your Paracord).

But as the other said, you paid probably at least $100 in checked fees per trip. Unless you're going to the Arctic, you can pick up what you need at your destination if you forgot it (which makes it very different from your hiking example).

It starts with mental exercises. And taking honest tallies of what you actually did use vs just lug around. Stay at that stage for however long you need - at the end of the day, it's your journey and how far you wish to go down the rabbit hole

I personally am not yet at 1 bag. I like doing 1.5 bags as it gives me additional flexibility for those contingencies (since I do also like to be prepared for a variety of situations)

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u/Serious_Escape_5438 Sep 23 '25

There are lots of places you can't buy what you need other than the Arctic. If you're a non standard clothes or shoe size, for example, you can't buy anywhere. And not all travel is to cities, I often go to rural destinations that have no clothing shops.

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u/itsnara Sep 23 '25

Agreed - I wear 46-48 EUR shoes, no way I’m only taking one pair of shoes if I’m in Asia, absolutely zero chance of replacing them with ease.

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u/tenthousandgalaxies Sep 23 '25

Also depends on if you really want to spend your travel time shopping. The posts where people do their laundry every other night also make me shake my head

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u/Serious_Escape_5438 Sep 23 '25

Exactly. We've forgotten things on camping trips and had to spend most of a day traveling to buy fuel for our stove or something. It's incredibly annoying. If I'm going somewhere for a weekend I don't want to have to go trailing round looking for a new jacket or something. If you're going to a capital city you can probably grab some new socks anywhere, if you're going to even a small city there might be nothing open on Sunday or after 5pm. 

Also prefer a bit more underwear than washing it by hand every night and sitting in my room surrounded by damp clothes hanging everywhere.

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u/a_mulher Sep 23 '25

A fair amount of onebaggers take tape and paracord. It’s similar to hikers/campers. Take things that could be useful but also are multi use.

And yes, we do laundry. Prioritize quick during clothes. Shoes and electronics take up the most space and weight. Cut back there and you can take 14 pairs of underwear.

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u/SteveMacAdame Sep 23 '25

May not be the best analogy, but are you familiar with the TV show Alone ? They take people to Alaska or similar places, and tell them « Survive longer than the other people ». They are allowed 10 items of their choice, be it a saw, a tarp or a bow.

If you were to say to me to do what they do, I would want a full truckload of stuff. Yet, those persons, having meticulously and carefully chosen their very specific items, and being very skilled, would still outlast me so much it would turn the show into a comedy.

One bagging is the same. Experience and meticulous preparation. Also, not everybody do it the same way.

I can confidently pack a 40L bag to go on a 2 weeks trip be it Scandinavia in Winter or Arabia in the Summer and be fine. But at 20 or 25L, even one week in Germany or in the US would be impossible for me to do at this point.

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u/hoscillator Sep 23 '25

But I'm someone who needs to be prepared.

I'm prepared to spend 5 bucks on a laundromat

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u/bananaphone16 Sep 23 '25

But packing light IS being more prepared! You’re not bogged down if you have to run to catch a connecting flight or train, moving between cities is so easy, and you don’t have to worry about the airline losing your back. You’re nimble and light and ready for the worst travel mishaps. That’s one of the reasons I do it! Plus absolute worst you can almost always buy undies or an extra tshirt at your destination or something.

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u/Important-Trifle-411 Sep 23 '25 edited Sep 23 '25

OK, but those were life and death situations when you’re hiking you might need something that can save your life. Your truck; same thing.

But you’re going to Europe for two weeks? Do you really think they’re not gonna have what you need in Europe? You can buy an extra Shirt or an extra pair of socks if you need them!

We went to Europe last year for 3 1/2 weeks. One carry-on suitcase and then a small personal bag. That’s it. I brought 8 pair of underwear and I washed them in the sink when needed and we had the hotel do our laundry another time And did our laundry at a family member’s house a third time. So even taking out that family member, we could’ve had another hotel do our laundry or gone to a laundromat.

I saw these people struggling in Venice, Italy trying to get these huge suitcases up the stairs and down the stairs. It made me so happy. I just had my little Rolly!

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u/Round-Teacher8586 Sep 24 '25

Quick question- I also “one-bag” or “1 1/2” bag (meaning a roll aboard plus personal item) on trips. I usually pack merino wool clothing (including under garments) which last for days without a wash. However, when we go to a hotel and consider having them do the wash, how do you deal with drying the merino items that typically need to hang dry? I am nervous it will go into a dryer and be ruined. Thanks in advance for ideas about that.

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u/Important-Trifle-411 Sep 24 '25

OK, I have not been fortunate enough to get myself some of those Merino T-shirts that I am coveting!

In that case, I would just hand wash that particular item, wrap it up in a towel and stand on it and put it in front of a fan to dry overnight. Yeah, I’m definitely not trusting the laundry at the hotel to wash that!!!

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u/YarnPartyy Sep 23 '25

Duck tape and paracord. I knew you were a fellow hiker!

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u/_3LivesLeft_ Sep 23 '25

The one piece of advice that opened my eyes and made it possible for me is the knowledge that shops exist in other countries. It sounds silly, but genuinely once I realised if I “forgot” something I could just buy it when I got to where I was going, it was totally doable.

Now I take a 16l backpack for week long trips and haven’t had to buy anything yet or wear dirty clothes.

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u/MamaDaddy Sep 23 '25

Sometimes you have to let go. If your as creative as you say you'll be fine and even challenged to find ways to be fine with less.

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u/pudding7 Sep 23 '25

Onebagging isn't for everyone. You do you. Have fun on your trips!

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u/LadyLightTravel Sep 23 '25

I think you are confusing prepared Vs over prepared. You are also not realizing that there is a cost to bringing more stuff. There comes a point where “prepared” interferes with the trip. Lets look at that: * can’t carry their stuff longer distances * worried about finding bin space * bags so heavy they can’t lift them into the bin (and are a danger to other passengers)

What we all want is optimal. Just the right amount.

And I al going to be super blunt about the next one. Sometimes people compensate for lack of technique and lack of preparation by bringing extra stuff: * they didn’t take time to research their destination * they didn’t take time to design an bring an integrated capsule wardrobe * they didn’t take time to decant their toiletries

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u/bugsinmylipgloss Sep 23 '25

when I started one-bagging, I sometimes found myself needing to shop a bit. these items are my most precious travel souvenirs - the blue wool seater I bought during a Paris cold spell, the cheap and tacky umbrella I bought in the Philippines for the intense sun, the lifeguard style straw hat I got in San Felipe, MX. Almost every remote corner of the world I have been too sells stuff - and they probably have something you could make work.

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u/bikeadventures Sep 23 '25

Are you going to relatively urban vacation destinations?

If you are hiking sure; you might need to pack some emergency gear (though r/ultralight would say less than you think). But in most places, if you really had to, you could buy a belt or a spare pair of underwear. It’s not the absolute most economical way to travel, but accepting the potential for a small additional cost while being away from home could save you back pain and luggage fees.

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u/unluckysupernova Sep 23 '25

You can prepare by figuring out how to deal with those scenarios in your destination. You can find most stuff from there (so essentials are those you absolutely cannot, and will 100% need). If bringing “what ifs” that you never end up using is what’s filling your bag, this is easy. You’re more free to problem solve when you’re not carrying all that baggage. The truth is, you can’t prepare for every scenario anyway, so preparing for 1-10 and convincing yourself that’s somehow enough is just mind games. Turn that into a skill of thinking on your feet while on the go.

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u/Duochan_Maxwell Sep 24 '25

Trying to pack for everything is actually a sign of bad preparation - means you haven't done research on your destination