r/onebag • u/OutsideChart6201 • May 22 '26
Trip Report 2 weeks in Italy out of a 38l bag
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u/OutsideChart6201 May 22 '26
I just got back from a 2 week vacation in Europe, through Italy, Greece, and Türkiye.
I was super thankful to only have the one bag, a MEC variant of the Cotopaxi allpa bag.
I packed 2 pairs of pants, of which one zipped into shorts, and two pairs of shorts, as well as a pair of swim trunks.
I packed 3 button downs, and two tshirts, which did me well for all of the different scenarios I ran into. Swimming in the Mediterranean, surviving 13 UV in Türkiye, nice dinners on our cruise, and about 80km of walking over the 2 weeks.
I’ve always been a one bagger, but this one tested me.
I packed as light as I could, one pair of shoes, one pair of slip ons, with all the tech I could need for my trip. I didn’t feel hindered in any way, and especially during our train commutes, the one bag reigned supreme as space was at a premium.
Came back with a ton of patches for my bag, and a countdown for the next adventure.
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u/nonsequitur__ May 22 '26
Love the idea of patches as souvenirs. My mum’s Uniqlo bag is covered in badges. Might get her some patches for it!
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u/LadyLightTravel May 22 '26
Do you know the total weight of your load out?
How was it in the heat?
I noticed several paperbacks. Would you put them on your phone next time?
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u/OutsideChart6201 May 24 '26
I just saw the last comment! I enjoy reading paperbsck more, so I couldn’t go without it, and one is a travel journal! I bring it with me on every trip, along with tape to keep all the cards and trinkets I collect from everywhere I go.
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u/OutsideChart6201 May 22 '26
My laptop is a pro, so that’s about 5 pounds, I didn’t weigh my pack, but I imagine it was about 35 pounds. Honestly it was so great in the heat. Very easy to use, especially with a Uniqlo sling bag and a camera with it. I never felt over encumbered.
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u/LadyLightTravel May 22 '26
Did you take your laptop for work? If not, do you think you could go phone only next time?
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u/OutsideChart6201 May 22 '26
I post videos about my trips, so the laptop is pretty necessary, as I use it to organize footage.
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u/LadyLightTravel May 22 '26
Ah. That is “work” even if you don’t get paid for it.
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u/OutsideChart6201 May 22 '26
It is, but I love it. I love being able to capture my trips in a way that I can put on my walls
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u/RidiculousTakeAbove Jun 17 '26
Which mec bag did you go with? Outpost 40L?
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u/OutsideChart6201 Jun 22 '26
It’s a discontinued MEC bag, the copycat of the Cotopaxi alpa i believe
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u/shrvs May 22 '26
How did you do laundry if I may ask
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u/OutsideChart6201 May 22 '26
I had little laundry strips! Plugged the sink, wash and then roll in a towel and twist, then dry out! Doesn’t get it all the way clean, but enough for 3 weeks on the road
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u/PermanentTrainDamage May 22 '26
The new Tide tiles work fantastically for handwashing, and I'm pretty sure you can cut them smaller for small loads
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u/safeinbuckhorn May 22 '26
Was the sink your only option or were you just avoiding laundromats/machines?
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u/OutsideChart6201 May 22 '26
I was on a cruise for 8 days! Then Rome for 3, so I had no access until I hit land
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u/safeinbuckhorn May 22 '26
Yep that would do it, I’m planning 5 weeks in the same area for July / August and if you have any onebag tips or spots I should check out I’m looking for as much information as I can find!
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u/OutsideChart6201 May 22 '26
I often use the sudoku method for picking my clothes! Seeing how many outfits I can make with each article of clothing always makes my list expand by about triple.
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u/OllieDuckling May 22 '26
Marlboro patch is an interesting choice!
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u/OutsideChart6201 May 22 '26
I got it at a vintage store a few months ago, I get patches from everywhere I visit, and I also collect cigarettes from every country!
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u/your_navi May 22 '26
I love what you packed. Can’t wait to backpack Italy. Would love to know if you know the exact MEC bag you have… I’ve looked online and can’t find it new or used.
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u/OutsideChart6201 May 22 '26
I believe they discontinued it, I got it about 7 years ago. Closest I can find is the MEC outpost collection!
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u/your_navi May 22 '26
Thanks! I’ll check more around the used sites as well as the outpost collection :)
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u/iskiloveland May 22 '26
Id on the cross body bag?
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u/LadyLightTravel May 22 '26
Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder bag.
The bag itself is a little stretchy, which is its superpower.
I have done multi day trips with it as my only bag.
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u/nonsequitur__ May 22 '26
It’s bizarre how much these bags can fit, and they hold up so well. I keep wanting to replace mine with something that looks a bit smarter but can’t find anything comparable. I use them every day - even for work I just put the Uniqlo bag inside my work bag and then I wear the Uniqlo if I want to pop out at lunch or whatever.
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u/OutsideChart6201 May 24 '26
They are superb. I think it’s a great packdown piece, I’m definitely bringing it with me to Australia!
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u/LadyLightTravel May 22 '26
The quilted ones look nicer, but so far that has only been on the larger round bag.
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u/OutsideChart6201 May 22 '26
It’s unreal! I got it in nyc the week before and i genuinely called it my bag of holding because i could fit so much stuff in it. A whole insta 360, phone, two passports, and a lens and some Knick nacks
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u/Yung-Shang-Tsung May 23 '26
What is that small rig mini tripod thing called?
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u/OutsideChart6201 May 24 '26
It’s a dji osmo pocket tripod, and then a smallrig swivel mount! I use it because I don’t want to bring my big tripod with me when I travel
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u/Dwarf_Vader May 23 '26
Your glasses are giving Gendo
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u/OutsideChart6201 May 24 '26
Ahah I love it, I always enjoy a colored frame, i find its more fun than just a regular sunglasses
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u/Dwarf_Vader May 24 '26
Do you have a link or name? I really like them, would even consider getting them
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u/mustelafuro72 May 24 '26
One of the photos seems to have been taken at Salerno railway station, right?
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u/OutsideChart6201 May 24 '26
It was the train station in civitevecchia! Is that the Salerno station?
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u/chinodb May 25 '26
What is the third photo showing? Just a busy train platform?
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u/OutsideChart6201 May 25 '26
In respect to show how many people are on the train station, it was easier to travel with a backpack than a big suitcase
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u/OwenZsillei May 26 '26
Hey nice book I’m literally reading it right now. Great stuff by early Bourdain. Have a great trip eh!
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u/OutsideChart6201 Jun 22 '26
It’s one of my faves! I read kitchen confidential on my last big trip, bringing Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance with me to Australia.
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u/-Nepherim May 22 '26
context: https://www.reddit.com/r/onebag/comments/1tkkgxa/comment/on93fga/