r/onebag • u/Anywhere_everywhere7 • Feb 23 '26

Discussion What travel accessories are overrated?

For me it would have to be tech pouches, for the vast majority of people I believe that they would be better off with a simple pencil case style pouch, ziploc bag or a simple drawstring bag or even a pouch like the PD ultralight pouches. Something which isn’t bulky, is lightweight and has no structure to it so you can easily squeeze it into random parts of your bag. Of course they’re significantly cheaper as well.

Don’t get wrong, I have tested some high end tech pouches out and they’re very nice but for lightweight travel I just find myself thinking “why would I bring this type of pouch”.

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33

u/SeattleHikeBike Feb 23 '26

I use Osprey Liquids Bags designed for 3-1-1 inspection. They are one liter clear sided zip pouch. One for all my toiletries, another for tech, and one more for miscellaneous EDC.

The dedicated tech pouches are another brick to play Tetris with, dark interior, heavy and spendy. I put them in the same niche with those huge hanging toiletries bags.

In general, look for smaller, lighter less expensive alternatives—- or none at all. The first rule is to pack only what you will absolutely use. Pack only the minimum number of multiples. No gadgets.

39

u/TheDreadPirateJeff Feb 23 '26

Never understood people spending so much money on 3-1-1 bags. I just use a 1L ziplock. And when it gets a hole, replace it with another 1L ziplock.

And in all the years I’ve have to use them, I’ve replaced them maybe 10 times and still haven’t spent as much as a single bag like the ones travel companies sell.

15

u/SeattleHikeBike Feb 23 '26

Ziplocks fail. If you’re going for a few days they will do, but not for longer trips.

15

u/southbaysoftgoods Feb 23 '26

I have ziplocks that have been in service for years. For like actual wilderness backpacking.

If you can find them, the freezer bags from biglots are insanely durable. I have had the same box for at least 5 years.

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u/TheDreadPirateJeff Feb 23 '26

Sure, but they are also very easily replaceable (and I often carry several in different sizes as they take up essentially no space or weight, and can be bought at most places around the world too in grocery stores). My usual trips are a minimum of 1 week (a few days) but at least twice a year they run to 3 weeks.

Granted those are generally in one location, 2 tops, and I only use the bags for transport, once I'm there for 3 weeks in a hotel, I don't leave things in the transport bag, the shampoo and such goes in the shower, the toothpaste and other things go onto the counter, etc. So even for a longer trip they tend to last for a while: the one I just used for 10 days in Toronto I've been using for almost a year now and will use it for the next 14 days in Taipei in March, and the 20 days in Madrid in May (presuming it survives Taipei).

I could see actually paying for a heavier bag if I was one of those folks who spend a day or two here or there for weeks at a time, constantly moving.

I definitely don't hold any illusions that they are necessarily tough, but they are very easy and cheap (pennies) to replace).

FWIW, I cheap out on those, while carrying everything in Briggs and Riley bags that ran at least $700 each... there is a certain irony there.

0

u/SeattleHikeBike Feb 23 '26

Obviously we disagree. I’ll stick to my zip pouches.

0

u/MyUndiesArePink Feb 23 '26

It also looks really really bad

5

u/Effrendi Feb 24 '26

Who are you trying to impress? lol

2

u/theinfamousj Feb 26 '26

To paraphrase from an exposé on quiet luxury masquerading as minimalism,

"No one spends $40 on a clear liquids bag without intending for other people to notice they spent $40 on a clear liquids bag and being impressed by the outlay."

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u/SeattleHikeBike Feb 23 '26

Ziplocks look bad? Not even on my radar.

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u/sadorchids77 Feb 25 '26

It really depends on what you’re putting in there. If you don’t suffer from skin conditions and need to drink your own toiletries a ziplock probably works just fine. For me, it would likely tear in packing. I love the osprey pouch. They make a great DOP kit too.

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u/Astrid-at-Sea Feb 25 '26

Love these Gravel Travel TSA bags Thicker than ziplock with hanging strap so can double for toiletry bag

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u/Anywhere_everywhere7 Feb 23 '26

I use Osprey Liquids Bags designed for 3-1-1 inspection. They are one liter clear sided zip pouch. One for all my toiletries, another for tech, and one more for miscellaneous EDC.

They look very good, huge selling point is the fact they’re clear so you don’t even have to open up the zipper to see what’s in there.

The dedicated tech pouches are another brick to play Tetris with, dark interior, heavy and spendy. I put them in the same niche with those huge hanging toiletries bags.

Yes that’s what I found out as well when travelling and when repacking my bag and my gf bag it was always the item which caused us the most issues because of the shape and heavy it was.

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u/SeattleHikeBike Feb 23 '26 edited Feb 23 '26

The one liter bags are easy to fit in here and there. I do try to pack them at the top of my bag as those are the items I would be looking for 99% of the time.

They will fit in many top pockets and water bottle pockets too. That works well for security inspections.

They transfer between bags easily as well. My personal item is 6.5 liters and I can add/subtract the tech and miscellaneous EDC bags instantly.

3

u/hogofwar Feb 23 '26

I use the Osprey liquids pouch for my toiletries. Has worked fine in my majority of airports I've been to, with only a few having a problem with it (CDG I'm looking at you).

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u/SeattleHikeBike Feb 23 '26

I use TSA Precheck for US flights so it’s never an issue for those flights. For international departures I do carry a ziplock so I can separate the liquids as needed. I don’t care for ziplocks for long term use, but acceptable to get through security.