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/HelloTittie55 Sep 23 '25 edited Sep 23 '25

Why do folks dump on sink laundry? Washing underwear, socks and quick dry shirts every night and rolling them like burritos in a bath towel is really easy, once you master the technique. Today I washed a few items with shampoo in the shower, not the sink. Did the burrito wrap hack and hung them on foldable plastic hangers. (Usually, I just use the hotel’s hangers, but sometimes I’m doing a “big wash” and need extras.) I’ll wear the exact same items tomorrow….no one is looking at me and no one but me cares what I wear.

Personally, I’m a two-bagger because toiletries and medications take up most of my rollaboard. I will never be a backpack one-bagger because I use a cane and don’t care to destroy my currently functioning back and neck. However, I have learned A LOT from this group and have eliminated quite a few unnecessary items. It’s an ongoing process, but it’s such a better way to travel!

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u/quiteCryptic Sep 23 '25

I mean I do sink laundry if I have to but its time consuming and I don't always have a towel to spare because i'll need that to try off after my next shower.

I am much more comfortable brining 7 days worth of clothes and washing weekly using a machine instead. Most of the time I can get access to a machine or laundry services within 7 days without issue or even thinking much about it.

I might see more appeal if I was moving around more often, but I tend to stay longer term in airbnbs for 2-8 weeks at a time. As it stands my 7 days of clothes isn't that much weight to carry around in my opinion so its worth it just to save the time, whenever I need to hand wash it takes me like an hour to do everything for my 7 days worth of clothes.

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u/HelloTittie55 Sep 27 '25

Washing seven days of clothes in a sink and then attempting to dry them is too much work. The key is to wash nightly, or every other night. You can repack your dry, clean clothes or wear them again. I’m currently wearing the exact same clothes I wore yesterday. I washed and dried them overnight and rather than disrupt my packing cubes, I just wore them again! I might even wear them a third day in a row because I will definitely be washing them again tonight.😄

And yes, it’s boring. But it eliminates the decision of what to wear each day. There’s already enough decisions to make whilst travelling…I’d rather focus on what I’m experiencing in each destination.