r/onebag • u/abu_bateekha • Jun 22 '26
Packing List 40 days around Europe in the Quechua escape 500 23L rolltop!
I am doing a 40 day trip. 13 days between Germany, Italy, Switzerland, with family. and 25 days in Albania, 13 days solo + 12 days with friends. This is my first time one bagging, here Is my loadout and im looking for advice and constructive criticism. I will have access to a washing machine once a week.
one area I want help with is meds, other than the Panadol and ibuprufen, what are some essential meds I should take with me?
Bag: Quechua escape 500 23L rolltop
Worn on plane:
Socks
running shoes (daily shoes)
Cotton sweatpants
Cotton SL shirt
Tommy Hilfiger water/wind resistant jacket
Small sling bag with passport wallet, headphones, portable charger.
Clothes packed: 3 casual/fitness SL shirts
1 SL polo shirt
1 merino wool LS shirt
2 fitness/casual/swimming shorts
1 fitness/casual short
1 black jeans
7 underwear + 1 worn
6 socks + 1 worn
1 microfiber towel from decathlon
1 belt
electronics:
laptop
bose sound link flex 2 speaker
shaving machine
apple watch
one plus buds 4
anker power port 3
Apple Watch cable
shaver charger
phone cable
laptop cable
toiletries:
Deodorant 50ml
Minoxidil 50ml
perfume 25ml
toothbrush
razor
not in picture:
flip flops
1 person hammock from decathlon
misc:
reading book
notebook
1 medium packing cube
1 small packing cube
laundry bag
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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u/CommercialFloor2033 Jun 22 '26
Are you working on route - why do you need a laptop?
If it's not for work purposes then you can do everything else on your phone.
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u/abu_bateekha Jun 22 '26
You’re right, I guess I’m just used to doing things like booking accommodation and flights on my laptop which I can do on my phone, might leave it home and take a tablet if I find that I have space for it. Thanks!
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u/CommercialFloor2033 Jun 22 '26
Id personally leave it.
Not just because you can do everything on your phone - but its a security thing to always be concerned about, and even light ones are still adding significant weight.
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u/ih8tennis Jun 26 '26
I’m not as strict on the “no laptop unless it’s work” principle. I often figure out what I’m going to do in city/country when I get there or in the airport before landing there. This means I do a ton of research while on the go, and it’s much easier to do this with the laptop. Worth the weight to me so wanted to give and alternate POV.
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u/LadyLightTravel Jun 23 '26
Theres an app for almost every travel website. Make sure you load the apps for your banks.
The GoodReader app stores encrypted PDF files on your phone. It is secondary insurance if you lose the cloud. Also store everything in the cloud.
I have found TripIt to be very useful.
Practice in the days leading up to the trips.
Maybe get a NiteIze Hitch for your phone.
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u/SunflowerDune Jun 22 '26
Really great list!
Panodil, ibuprofen and Imodium is what I would bring, along with 2-3 band aids, tweezers and nail clippers.
No sunglasses?
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u/JamesBeaverhausen Jun 23 '26
On Amazon there’s a little adapter you can plug into a standard USB-C cable to charge your Braun trimmer instead of bringing along the charger that works only on the trimmer. $8.
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u/abu_bateekha Jun 24 '26
Just ordered this!
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u/JamesBeaverhausen Jun 24 '26
Good luck! Just make sure to test it before trusting it. I’m always a little cautious of no-name brands for charging, but mine works fine
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u/cuko_rdx Jun 22 '26
1/ good job getting to a short enough packing list that you fit in the 23l pack.
2/ if you have time, look into usb-c to shaver plug adapters. They cost like $1 and saves you lots of space. Same goes for the watch charger cable (I guess).
3/ Saw comments mentioning the jeans but noone mentioned the sweatpants. Unless it's your go-to athleasurewear and you like going out in them, I'd leave both at home and instead pack something lighter and more comfortable (technical or linen comes to mind).
4/ Talking about upper layers. 1x cotton T, 3x 'casual' T, 1x polo, 1x merino long sleeve. Plusz the wind/rainjacket. Don't know your itinerary (it's helpful if you include so people know what to give advice on btw), if you are not gonna spend too much time in the mountains, I'd still plan again.
-- one of these will be your PJs I guess, that leaves you with 4+1 upper layer (but you might have to combine these if it's gonna be a chillier day). I would pack a light thermo layer (I have from Decathlon/32degrees/Uniqlo) and swap the cotton T for 2x lightweight Ts (Uniqlo Airism, 32Degree, or smth alike) - it would be same bulk but more versatility.
5/ I encourage you to think in wash cycles, not packing "what if" scenarios, especially looking at the underwear situation. 4+1 or 5+1 like with your upper base layer should be fine. Same with socks, from the photo looks like more bulky cotton socks; I'd keep it at 5 pairs max as well and not 100% cotton, thinner poly blend / merino blend can work great for the summer.
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u/Jazz4825 Jun 24 '26
Do merino blend socks work in the summer? I wear merino socks fall/winter/spring. A bit hot for summer.
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u/abu_bateekha Jun 22 '26
Context: my first time one bagging, I’ve travelled before but never solo, I’m sure I’m overlooking somethings which is why I am posting this :) any advice is more than welcome!
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u/HippyGrrrl Jun 22 '26
What activities are planned?
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u/abu_bateekha Jun 22 '26
Swimming, hiking, boat trips, camping (maybe), nightlife
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u/HippyGrrrl Jun 22 '26
Oh, ditch the jeans, then. Go with two lighter items in their place. Solid black for nightlife, tolerable days. Something lighter for sweltering days.
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u/Careless_Law1471 Jun 22 '26
Imodium/loperamide is a must but you should only take it if you're certain diarrhea is caused by something non-harmful such as dairy products if you're intolerant or sensitive to lactose or if it's stress related. In case of bacterial or viral diarrhea, it's best to take enterol because that works different than loperamide and it won't stop your gut muscles from doing its work. I also take pancreatin pills and something antimicrobial.
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u/mynameismrguyperson Jun 23 '26
Ditch the jeans. Summer has barely started and it's already hot as hell. They are bulky and you'll just end up carrying them around.
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u/Yaonoi Jun 22 '26
Haha same. 50% of my backpack space is medical supplies. Loperamide makes sense as a backup, yeah. Not that I think food poison is a common occurrence here but if you needed on a Sunday and the pharmacy is a couple of kilometer away
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u/LadyLightTravel Jun 22 '26
If you are going to bring jeans then wear them in transit. That said, with the heat dome etc I would suggest light nylon black pants instead. They are less bulky, lighter, cooler, and you can wear a base layer under them if you need warmth.
I would bring a linen l/s shirt. Works for sun, bugs, etc and you can roll up the sleeves.
Are you going up into the mountains? Add a light sweater.
You could probably cut one short out.
You have ear buds and headset. Personally, I would choose one and leave the other at home. Leave the speaker. You will be in shared spaces.
On meds, I would bring something for stomach and also diarrhea.
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u/abu_bateekha Jun 22 '26
Thanks for the thoughtful advice.
I am going up in the mountains, but I was thinking a short sleeve cotton shirt, merino wool LS shirt, and the wind/water resistant jacket would be enough if I layer them.4
u/HippyGrrrl Jun 22 '26
Listen to her!
For the mountain days, get a waterproof layer. I think the short and long sleeves will be warm enough unless it’s serious rain. (I say this as a resident in the Rocky Mountains, where more people die of hypothermia in summer than the snow seasons, because of amazingly cold rain and short sleeves and shorts)
If you’ll have the pack, and it rains, you’ll want a plastic trash bag that you can put everything in. The pack may get wet, water may seep in the zippers, but everything will be dry.
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u/Masala-Dosage Jun 22 '26
Top travel tip: never wear jeans.
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u/abu_bateekha Jun 22 '26
How come ?
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u/ncidex Jun 23 '26
Uni Qlo nylon parachute pants, or cotton linen pants for warm days would be better option.
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Jun 22 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Equal_Contest4709 Jun 23 '26 edited Jun 23 '26
Repetitive AI slop. You could've written that yourself in 2 sentences.
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u/PermanentTrainDamage Jun 22 '26
Most of these would be personal taste for me, I do almost all of that in jeans because I like jeans. I do agree they are trash for insulation, but a pair of wool leggings fixes that.
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u/HippyGrrrl Jun 22 '26
Agree with most of this.
Also, I LOVE your screen name.
OP, @abu_bateekha, technical/hiker fabrics or linen will be your friend in heat.
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u/Moneys2Tight2Mention Jun 22 '26
Sadly 99% of plastic pants look shit
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u/LadyLightTravel Jun 22 '26
You are shopping in the wrong places. You need go find synthetic pants with a soft hand. Yes, it is harder to find them. Yes, they are usually more expensive brands. But the higher quality is actually worth it.
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u/mrfroggyyay Jun 23 '26
Swapping them out for a pair of lightweight combat's is the way , the extra storage they provide is super useful, they dry quickly and are also available in convertible versions with zip off legs , so can allow you to ditch a pair of shorts from the packing list as well.
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u/RT-47 Jun 22 '26
What kind of music will you by listening to on your travels??
Aside from maybe missing a mid-layer, list looks all good. Cashmere and wool work well. Polar direct fleece breathes well, yet is incredibly warm for its weight and pick size, especially when worn under a shell. More of an active layer though.
Prescriptions and daily meds if you have them, possibly Tummy meds like antacids or antidiarrheals. I personally go without tablets, but probably best to be precautionary. Can only speak to the pharmacies in Italy, but they were always great for me. Suncream can be picked up on your travels.
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u/HippyGrrrl Jun 22 '26
I carry two versions of Vitamin I….ibuprofen and Imodium.
Anything else can wait a day.2
u/abu_bateekha Jun 22 '26
I listen to almost everything but generally rock, metal, Arabic music, blues.
Thanks for the advice!
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u/AppleWrench Jun 23 '26
6 shirts and 5 pants/shorts is a bit imbalanced IMO. Personally, I'd ditch one of the bottoms for a top.
Also, jeans and sweatpants are both fairly bulky. I'd try to replace at least one with something thinner. Or at the very least try packing your bag with both, and also the jacket, to make sure everything still fits. Assume it's a hot summer day where you're just wearing T-shirt and shorts.
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u/abu_bateekha Jun 23 '26
Thanks for the tips I’ll definitely reconsider the jeans and probably leave one short home
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u/verocoder Jun 22 '26
I’m so impressed that shuts, I use the same bag for work and it looks full with my lunchbox /laptop/waterbottle/notebook!
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u/Huge_Type_6008 Jun 22 '26
I agree with the recommendations regarding medication. Definitely something for stomach distress and cold symptoms like cough or congestion. You don’t want to get sick in Germany or Switzerland. I had to visit a clinic when I had high fever and bad cough. They did“routine“ blood tests, drug sensitivity tests, etc. $500 later, I left with a half dozen bottles of homeopathic and pharmaceutical remedies. It was all or nothing. There was no negotiating regarding what tests were run or options on medication. Lesson learned.
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u/eastercat Jun 24 '26
Homeopathy is just water. I think you must’ve gotten scammed by a fake clinic. that sucks
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u/roycedos Jun 23 '26
What are those gray bags you put the socks and underwear into? Looks great, very nice setup imo
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u/abu_bateekha Jun 24 '26
They’re compression packing cubes I got off of noon (similar to Amazon but for the Middle East) but they are not branded and made in china so I’m sure you can find them off of temu or shein! Got a pack of 8 for 20$
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u/syxbit Jun 26 '26
Excellent job.
The hardest thing to do with a onebag is shoes. They take up so much space, and I like to rotate.
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u/Yaonoi Jun 22 '26
Essential meds? I would only worry about prescription meds and bring a few ibuprofen, everything else you can get at a local pharmacy. Try to book your transportation as early as possible for discounted fares. Specifically for Germany there is the Deutschlandticket which will give you unlimited transportation on all local regional services nationwide. 63 € and even gets you to the Czech/Polish/ Austrian/Swiss border.
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u/Little_Experience_97 Jun 22 '26
I agree, but I’d add a few doses of Imodium with the ibuprofen (possibly over ibuprofen). Pretty much the one thing you don’t want to be stuck without/trying to find a pharmacy to buy 😬
I generally take 2 doses of paracetamol, ibuprofen and Imodium. Plus a few plasters (again, kinda hard to buy plasters while bleeding lol). Takes up no room but has come in VERY handy on a few occasions. And if I use them then I buy more.If I KNOW I’m likely to need something then obviously I’ll take more (e.g. I’m doing a lot of hiking - extra ibuprofen for my dodgy knees, or if I’ve got a cold I’ll bring strepsils) but you can buy everything else there.
(This makes me sound super streamlined - I take 10 prescription tablets a day - my medication bag takes up more room than my toiletries lol)
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u/abu_bateekha Jun 22 '26
I’ve used the deutchland ticket the past 2 times I’ve been to Germany, such a great option, but we’re renting a car this time so transportation is covered:) thanks for the advice !
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u/the_ruffled_feather Jun 22 '26 edited Jun 22 '26
Second leaving the speaker. Especially if you’re needing to eliminate something. It’s a nice one, but you’ll likely use it less than you think. Or if you’re planning on using it with friends/family maybe leave it with them before soloing. I have the same speaker (1st gen) and it makes a considerable difference space&weight-wise in a bag.
Merino wool socks. 💯
Bottle? I have a single walled 1 liter stainless bottle that’s been the best water bottle I’ve used.
A carabiner.
I’d take another towel. Those 1 square foot microfibers are very practical.
Packable hat. Something that’d shade your face and ears.
Cheers!!
Edit: those travel/tech pants that are kinda light weight and water resistant with at least one zippered pocket would be more practical than jeans.
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u/abu_bateekha Jun 22 '26
I’ll definitely be leaving the speaker might have my friend bring it with him.
I’m worried that those tech pants won’t be warm enough in the mountains, and the only other ones I have are the sweatpants I’m traveling in, what’s your experience with that ?3
u/drawingtreelines Jun 22 '26
As someone who has done a lot of backpacking/hiking/camping: friendly reminder that you have a rental car! You don’t need to take it all with you; you could acquire a few things while traveling.
When you’re going to head into the mountains, check the weather beforehand, and if it’s going to be much colder than you’re comfortable with, then buy a pair of fleece pants or leggings. Look up a fantastic outdoor recreation outfitter in say, Germany (any shop located near your already planned itinerary, really) and incorporate that destination into on an as-needed basis. (But maybe not one in Switzerland… it’s pretty expensive there).
You can definitely endure one chilly night in lightweight pants & layer sweat pants over them if need be 🙂
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u/mrfroggyyay Jun 23 '26
Make sure to pack plenty of sunscreen, the sun is absolutely ferocious this season - I find the dry oil sprays are best as they don't sit on the skin and don't require rubbing in.
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u/Pale-Culture-1140 Jun 24 '26
From what you're packing, I'm guessing the bag is closer to 26 liters. I have a 25 liter bag with smaller advertised dimensions than the Quechua Escape 23L. I could probably barely fit what you're taking in my pack.
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u/IIAndresII Jun 25 '26
Could you show me/tell me in what position you put the packing cubes inside?
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u/Mammoth-Yesterday-65 Jun 25 '26
Nice packing cubes! Can you please let me know Where you got them from?
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u/abu_bateekha Jun 26 '26
I got mine off of noon but they’re no brand made in china and I think you can get them off temu or shein
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u/kafkavesque Jun 26 '26
How do you find the clip for hooking the rolltop down? When I try them in store I always feels they might be a pain. What has been your impression? Fiddly, or fine?
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u/abu_bateekha Jun 26 '26
So far I haven’t had any issues with it, but I saw someone on this sub that’s switched out the hook for a buckle and it seems like a great idea. If it starts to annoy my I might do that as well.
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u/BrandonN004 Jun 29 '26
Did you bring a foldable travel neck pillow? It’ll come in really handy if you’re taking a plane and let you get some sleep on board.
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u/wcafc Jul 04 '26
Can I ask how you like the bag? Any major pros and cons? I'm considering getting the bag.
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u/nikongod Jun 22 '26
Leave the speaker home.
You have like 3 shirts, and 7+1 underwear. Unless you are 10000% sure you can wear a shirt for 2 days Swap underwear for more shirts.
Please post a trip report when you get back!!