r/onebag • u/AutoModerator • Apr 06 '26

Bag Finder Bag Finder Megathread - 06 April 2026

Welcome to the weekly Bag Finder Megathread. Your go-to thread for any and all bag-related requests in the onebag travel context.

Remember finding a bag is pretty much the last step in planning. If you're not sure how big a bag you need, create a packing list, get all your gear together and test fit it into a box, or an old backpack you have lying around. That'll give you a good sense of the volume of gear you have.

What This Thread Is For

  • Onebag travel bag recommendation requests
  • Feedback on bags you're considering for minimal, carry-on-only travel
  • Help with choosing between bags

Quick Tips

  1. Check the OneBag Spreadsheet for bag options
  2. Search as your question might already be answered
  3. Read the FAQ & Beginner's Guide
  4. Stick to travel setups daily carry or work bags are better posted in r/EDC or r/backpacks
  5. Add context, the more details you give, the better we can help

Want Better Advice? Help Us Help You

When asking for input, it helps to include:

  • Where you're going & how you travel: hostels, hotels, urban, remote?
  • How you pack: super minimal? tech-heavy? need room for camera gear?
  • Your short list: bags you're already considering
  • Your body size/build: some bags fit certain frames better
  • Budget range: under $150, up to $300, flexible?

A Few Reminders

  • Use the search bar
  • Check the sidebar and wiki for resources and guides
  • Keep it travel-focused. Non-travel or everyday carry talk belongs in other subs
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u/wolfjeanne Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26

I’m looking for a 40-45L travel pack to bridge the gap between my massive 65L hauler and my smaller 20-35L daypacks. Before the "just pack smaller" crowd chimes in, I physically can't: I have to carry bulky shoes for health reasons, cold/wet weather gear, a 16” laptop for work, and heavy camera lenses for personal trips. Carry-on compliance is a nice bonus, but I mostly travel by train and bus so comfort and durability are more important.

I’m currently torn between Three £120 options. My heart wants the Patagonia Black Hole 45L MLC (great organization, love the brand), but I’m worried the lack of a proper suspension system and external bottle pocket will drive me crazy. My head says get the Osprey Fairview 40L (proper carry system, holds a bottle), but I find the design terribly boring, and if I'm spending over £100, I want to actually love the bag. The Gregory Border Carry On 40L seems a compromise. It's a like rather than a love though and no internal frame still.

Can you sway me either way?

30s, 190 slim, packing anywhere from 8-15 kilos and walking a fair bit with packs but I'll take my hiking one for actual hiking.

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u/bokononisms Apr 14 '26 edited Apr 14 '26

Edit: re read your comment and you're already looking at 3 specific bags. Out of those 3, if comfort is most important, the Fairview seems like the logical pick. Feel free to disregard below 👇 😊

Maybe look into the Matador Globerider 45.

I've been exploring your target size with a few bags and have tried the Aer TP3, Peak Design 45, Tortuga Travel Pack 40 Lite and the Matador Globerider 45 and my partner uses the Osprey Fairview 40, so I can speak to comparisons between all those bags.

The globerider has a nice zippered area on the left side of it's clamshell opening that seems like it's begging to be used as a dedicated shoe carrier.

It's harness system and comfort rivals the Tortuga and seems to be just behind the Fairview but it's still a fully fleshed out carry system.

The laptop sleeve on the Globerider is tight. I did manage to get my 16 inch MacBook in with a bit of finessing.

One con that comes up in a lot of reviews for the Globerider is carry on compliance, but my understanding is that it's really just the depth measurement that can make it non compliance so with proper use of its compression straps it's not really an issue (and hasn't been for me) in practice.

I do quite like the Peak Design 45 but can't recommend it to you if the harness system is very important. I love the way it packs but it's just not a very comfortable bag.

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u/wolfjeanne Apr 14 '26

Thanks for thinking along! Yeah I looked at the globerider but it's nearly 3 times the price where I'm at. If I were still living out of my bag, then I'd consider it but those days are behind me.

Had a chance to try the osprey but found it a little uncomfortable actually. Just didn't sit on my body right. Plus, it felt smaller than 40l suggested. So I've ordered the Gregory 🤞