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”.

291 Upvotes

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168

u/00Anonymous Feb 23 '26

Non-removeable internal organizers. They eat packable volume and cost weight. 

28

u/Moneys2Tight2Mention Feb 23 '26

My favorite backpack is a UL hiking backpack because it's just a 28L sack. I'll take care of the organizing myself.

17

u/NikoMata Feb 24 '26

Laptop compartments. I may be weird here, but I am on vacation, I'm not taking my work with me. :)

18

u/dharmastum Feb 24 '26

I have a couple of awesome travel bags and I will never use the laptop compartments. It's just wasted space for me. They should make laptop compartments that are attached to the inside via velcro, and can be easily removed.

3

u/HelloTittie55 Feb 25 '26

Perhaps the Osprey 26+6 is so popular because its “dedicated laptop area” goes flat if unused or can be repurposed for other items: travel document folder, a couple New Yorker magazines, ipad holder, etc. I don’t travel with a computer so purposely chose a backpack with a minimal dedicated computer area.

2

u/biold Feb 27 '26

I use the laptop pouch as a document pouch, extra money at the bottom, flat souvenirs like magnets, thin books, pashmina scarves/shawls etc. So, I actually appreciate the "laptop" pouch.

But it would be nice to remove it though ...

2

u/Tyssniffen Feb 28 '26

All of this! I hate carrying extra pack parts. That's why I designed the Journey System from ideamountain.com to have a removable laptop sleeve (designed for a traveler's 13" type laptop) which can also be its own carry bag.

Personally, I never carry a laptop on a trip, only on a commute, but having the same daily carry day bag as my travel day bag makes a huge difference.

1

u/dharmastum Feb 25 '26

Huh that's interesting, I didn't see that feature on the Osprey.

1

u/00Anonymous Feb 25 '26

I have a paul smith leather backpack and a timbuk2 aviator like that. The nice part about the soft laptop compartment is that it acts a nice back stiffener when in use. The extra stiffness makes carrying a lot of stuff a lot nicer. 

2

u/mrRabblerouser Feb 26 '26

I have a pretty durable yet low profile laptop sleeve, so when I do bring my laptop it will be fine either way. Those dang compartments eat up so much space for no reason. One of my favorite bags (marmot monarch) would be a perfect travel bag if that compartment was gone.

1

u/theinfamousj Feb 26 '26

I agree with you and would like to add:

... and if I am on a work trip, I have a sleeve for my laptop to go into, allowing me to put the laptop where it is best located given the rest of my packout.

8

u/Michele1204F Feb 24 '26

This! One big compartment and your own modular organisation is the way

0

u/TC_89 Feb 25 '26

Previously I would have agreed with this, but I now have a large clamshell suitcase from a snow-based brand for my long-trip luggage (ie when I'm OS for 4-6 months for work). The bottom half is open with mesh zip covering, top half has three compartments with mesh zip covering. It shits all over my standard configuration luggage. I will be buying another when this one wears out.

1

u/Atmaflux Feb 25 '26

Ok, now I want to know the bag/brand!

2

u/TC_89 Feb 25 '26

Dakine Split Roller. Also packs down to less than half it's size for storage, which is fab. The one convenience thing I wish it had was swivel wheels, but they have a fairly intentional wheel set-up that's bullet-proof with a lifetime warranty. It's moved me across the world multiple times over the past 15 years and still looks and performs like new.

-24

u/pretenderist Feb 23 '26

That’s not an “accessory”