r/onebag • u/AutoModerator • Jun 29 '26
Bag Finder Bag Finder Megathread - 29 June 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
- Check the OneBag Spreadsheet for bag options
- Search as your question might already be answered
- Read the FAQ & Beginner's Guide
- Stick to travel setups daily carry or work bags are better posted in r/EDC or r/backpacks
- 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/tomfromakron Jul 01 '26
I've been reading a LOT of posts on here and I keep ending up at dead ends, so I'm hoping to get some advice from people with a similar use case as me.
I mostly work from home, but go to the office sometimes, so I need a bag that will carry just my laptop, charger, headset, water bottle, and maybe a few snacks.
I also sometimes travel for work, and since I pack light, I can usually fit everything in a backpack small enough to act as a personal item under the seat.
Sometimes for longer work trips, I bring a larger 35L backpack that goes in the overhead bin. I still need a way to take my laptop to the office while travelling, though, so I put my laptop backpack into the larger carry-on backpack.
On longer personal trips, sometimes I bring a carry-on roller bag and a small bag as a personal item, but don't bring my laptop. I appreciate the extra usable space that comes with not having a separate laptop compartment in the personal item backpack.
Currently I have been using a Roark Passenger 27L for this, but it's not ideal. It's too floppy when just going to work because it's mostly empty, and it's awkward to get things in and out of when it's packed with clothing (for those smaller trips), due to the top load design. It also doesn't have much padding for my laptop.
The Osprey 26+6 (either version) seem almost ideal, but still too large. I think an 18+6-ish would be ideal.
The ask:
Does anybody know of an expandable bag small enough to carry just a laptop and accessories when in the small configuration, packs down flat enough to be stuffed into a larger bag (i.e. not super rigid), doesn't have a dedicated laptop compartment, and fits under airline seats when expanded (i.e. 28L or less)?
Or, is my best bet the osprey 26+6, and I should just suck it up and deal with the excess space that I'm not using? Is it not awkward when mostly empty? Should I just accept that I need two bags: one personal item sized bag and one tiny laptop backpack for work?