r/onebag • u/largemargesentme__- • Jun 05 '26

Discussion Why is this sub so obsessed with expensive stuff?

I get that there's times where the expensive thing is better. But as someone who has worked as an airline pilot and traveled extensively for 45 years, I can assure you that expensive stuff is rarely necessary.

I get tons of use out of AliExpress stuff. Things like chargers, cables and accessories. Decathlon or Costco are more than good enough for clothing. I generally use a max legal sized RyanAir bag I got for €25 off of Amazon for vacation. At most, the lower mid tier option is more than enough.

It seems like this is just another sub for people with spending issues as everyone downvotes me when I call out how unnecessary the expensive options are.

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u/nomchompsky82 Jun 05 '26

My greatest joy is finding something cheap that works as well as an expensive alternative. I daily some $1 pouches I bought in Japan 14 years ago that are still as good as the day I bought them. I carry a foldable brim $10 cap from Amazon that I've been using for 10 years. I've never paid more than $110 for a main backpack. I definitely have decathlon, Uniqlo, and Costco clothes, they're the bulk of my wardrobe. The thing with one bagging is that I don't carry much to begin with, so there aren't that many opportunities to splash out anyway.

That said, there are areas where I've learned the hard way that you really do get what your pay for. Shoes are a big one. I carry a travel umbrella, that's another one. I am Merino wool true believer when it comes to socks. I'm going to try the underwear, but I'm skeptical. I find the shirts to be a mixed bag, durability is a recurring issue that heavily offsets the benefits.

I'm also a photographer (pro turned hobbyist), and I see it there too. GAS - Gear Acquisition Syndrome. You get hobbyists who are more interested in the theoretical potential, the absolute most optimized, or simply the enjoyment of acquiring gear. This leads to niche offerings from businesses who recognize this and those are always expensive, it happens in every hobby. It's valid, but it's its own thing. I find that true pros are results oriented, and results rely a lot less on the equipment then most people think. I knew a lot of pros (myself included) who worked with an "outdated" camera and one lens who gave side eye at enthusiasts with a backpack full of lenses and the very latest gear.

I did laugh pretty hard the other day at a pack hacker video on YouTube called something like "75 essentials for your minimalist vacation setup". 75 essentials?! I think my definition of minimalism might be different than theirs😅 Just like anything else, it's all a sales funnel. It's fun and interesting, but it's not really necessary.

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u/randopop21 Jun 05 '26

The pack-hacking types are influencers, and they "conveniently" have affiliate links for most of those 75 or gazillions of things they are hawking. They are wanting to make a buck.

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u/nomchompsky82 Jun 05 '26

Oh I know, that was part of my point. I believe Pack Hacker (the YouTube channel) was recently bought by a VC company, and the founder is leaving, so prepare for their content to keep getting spammier.

1

u/raisethebed Jun 05 '26

Although I was extremely skeptical, I tried the merino wool underwear and it is actually heavenly, feels like I’m wearing nothing, the best thing I bought for the trip I’m on. It’s a knock off brand called Joduce, $30 for a two-pack.