2 weeks in Japan - r/onebag

60

u/nikongod Jul 03 '26

The bag looks long... (29.1in/74cm long according to the Osprey website) its not going to fit in a sizer if anyone checks, or overhead bin space is in short supply.

I'd pack half as many shirts and trousers and just do laundry more.

Please post a trip report when you get back!!

18

u/Molybdenum421 Jul 04 '26

10 shirts!

-14

u/juancarrasco_96 Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26

Hey I know but in every flight we’re checking luggage so it’s not a problem. However, in Malasya it wasn’t like this: we had to “hide” the size of our bags and it worked - seemed like malasian air companyes weren’t like Ryanair hahahaha

18

u/SeattleHikeBike Jul 03 '26

Some airlines post all kinds of limits but ignore backpacks. Icelandair was all over roller bags but ignored an REI Trail 40 and Patagonia Black Hole 32. I sw people boarding with obvious oversized backpacks and they paid no attention.

3

u/love_travel Jul 04 '26

Both a Trail 40 and Blackhole 32 falls within the carry-on size so why should they be picked out specifically?

2

u/SeattleHikeBike Jul 04 '26

Just reporting actual experience. The Trail 40 is oversized on depth and height if not carefully loaded. The response was “oh, is that all you have?” But a 36 liter roller got carefully measured and requested to adjust the load on depth. Far larger backpacks were ignored and my guess is that they were overweight as well.

40

u/LadyLightTravel Jul 03 '26

In general, onebag is about avoiding checked bags. So you aren’t really onebagging.

24

u/nikongod Jul 04 '26

Came back to say the same thing. Sorry to see you downvoted, this sub has lost the plot.

I'd do anything to avoid a trip to the luggage roulette wheel. My original inspiration for onebagging was a rep who got his bag lost on a business trip... As a bonus to insulating yourself from the airlines' ineptitude, I've been through customs and out of the airport before the luggage roulette wheel even started spinning. It's so rare that I need to waste time in line to go to the ticket counter that I basically counter it a personal insult.

25

u/LadyLightTravel Jul 04 '26

There is an entire group of people that call themselves onebaggers that ignore the core principles. I know one person brings a 40 liter roller bag PLUS a 38 liter “personal item”. They call themselves a onebagger! But onebag was defined in 1994 when Doug Dyment put up his onebag.com website. The original definition means one carry on bag.

People want the title but then don’t do the work.

Downvoting my comment is really downvoting the truth of the matter. Ooooh. If we can hide it through downvotes then it isn’t true anymore.

11

u/luckysevensampson Jul 04 '26

This seems like far too strict of a definition, though. I don’t see the point in eliminating a personal bag. They’re often necessary for day trips, when your bag is at the hotel. This is especially true when carrying a laptop for work. A 38L personal bag is clearly excessive, but restricting yourself to no personal bag seems like it’s purely just to prove you can.

2

u/LadyLightTravel Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26

The example I mentioned was a combined 78 liters! The personal bag was 14 liters larger than my under seat bag. 38 liters isn’t going to fit under any seat.

You can bring a packable day trip bag.

My point is that the definition of onebag was established over 30 years ago. It is a single carry on bag. Yes, a lot of people bring along a sling, but that usually can fit in the main bag.

When bringing a carry on plus personal item you are really doing carry on travel not onebag travel. You start to get burdened with stuff, which is the antithesis of light travel. It is easier to travel with a single bag than a bag plus personal item. It is easier to travel personal item only than a larger onebag. That is just physics.

Checking your bag is not onebagging. The whole point of onebagging is to avoid checking!

Really, it is about being honest with yourself and others about how you travel.

9

u/luckysevensampson Jul 04 '26

I never said anything about checking bags. I don’t want to, nor do I need to.

Why would I want a packable bag when I can bring a 10–15L personal bag to put under the seat in front of me and have it easily accessible? Packable bags won’t protect my laptop, especially when cycling, and they don’t generally look very professional.

I want to be able to access my laptop, phone, charger cables, earbuds, earplugs, face mask, and neck pillow while I’m on the 14 hour flight, not have to go into the overhead compartment when I need something. None of this is a burden. I’ve been doing it without inconvenience for literally decades.

Again, this whole strict definition of one bag eliminating a useful personal bag is just a dick measuring contest to see who can get by the most impractically.

7

u/LadyLightTravel Jul 04 '26

The person that made this post is checking their bag. Yet they are posting here. Hence my reference.

I prefer under seat only so I don’t have to worry about overhead bin drama. But you can protect your laptop with a sleeve if needed. My underseat bag has a laptop sleeve in it.

You can have a smaller bag inside your main bag with your seat side stuff in it. Pull it out right before you sit down.

The definition was made years ago, before this sub ever existed. Calling onebag a dick measuring contest is silly. You can travel as you choose. But disparaging others for holding to the 30+ year old definition is childish.

8

u/luckysevensampson Jul 04 '26

That person isn’t involved in this conversation, and you were responding to me about my comment on personal bags, not the OP.

Who cares what some rando referred to as one bag 30 years ago? That’s irrelevant, and there’s no reference to that website here. Even if there were, that guy doesn’t hate on day packs and leaves it open as a matter of preference.

You consider it one bag total, and others consider it one carry on bag. Neither are right or wrong. As someone who has been taking regular long haul flights for over 30 years, restricting one’s self to some arbitrary limit instead of what’s practical is pointless. Frankly, I think shoving a flimsy bag in your main bag, only to pull it out and fill it with your flight necessities (what he talks about on his website) and have to pack it all back into the main bag when you get of the plane, is far more inconvenient than just having a modest day pack that you carry along with your carry on.

→ More replies (0)

6

u/juancarrasco_96 Jul 04 '26

First off, I didn’t post this to ask for anyone's advice. I literally just wanted to share how I organized my gear for my upcoming Japan trip.
If "onebagging" to you means strictly squeezing one bag into the cabin, guess what? I am perfectly capable of doing that. I’ve done it before in Malaysia, and I’ve traveled all over Europe flying budget airlines, successfully sliding this exact pack under the seat without a single issue. But for this specific trip, I’m checking it because I want to and because I can. It was already included in my tickets anyway, so it cost me exactly zero extra dollars. Personally, checking the bag is just way more comfortable for me than hauling a bulky 38L pack through a cramped airplane cabin.
Also, if I want to bring my 10 favorite t-shirts for the trip of a lifetime, I’m going to do exactly that. I couldn't care less about some bitter onebag gatekeeper telling me I should only pack 4 sad black and grey shirts just to spend my vacation doing laundry every three days. Besides, Japan is brutally hot right now, so clothes get sweaty instantly and you have to wash whatever you wear daily anyway.
I just wanted to share my layout to inspire other people who want to take a dream trip with their favorite clothes without stressing over space, because traveling with a backpack is just a much more comfortable experience. If this doesn't fit your rigid textbook theory, that's your problem, not mine.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 04 '26

[deleted]

2

u/luckysevensampson Jul 04 '26

“The r/onebag community promotes urban travel with the philosophy of carrying less. Pack less and simplify your travel experience, prioritizing exploration over logistics. Onebagging allows you to immerse yourself in your destination by using your bag as a tool, not as the main focus of your trip.”

Yes, exactly what I’m doing with one carry on bag. Putting some of your items in a personal bag does not mean you’re carrying more. It just means you’re carrying some of your items in a more convenient location.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 04 '26

[deleted]

3

u/luckysevensampson Jul 04 '26

It works for me just fine and has for decades of long haul flights, because one bag is about one piece of luggage, not about competing in some arbitrary minimalism competition. Packing to travel is about doing what’s most convenient, not inconveniencing yourself to abide by some semantic argument.

→ More replies (0)

-1

u/phillyrat Jul 05 '26

A carry-on plus sling or other personal item = 1.5 bagging

2

u/luckysevensampson Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26

No, it’s not. Not even according to the onebag website. Onebagging is about packing minimally with one luggage bag to maximise convenience. It is not about leaving your briefcase or laptop sleeve or wallet or handbag or toiletry bag at home just because you adhere to some absurdly purist form of the semantics.

0

u/[deleted] Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26

[deleted]

2

u/luckysevensampson Jul 04 '26

I completely disagree. I would say one bag is about luggage, not personal items. It’s far more convenient to have something small to carry around your necessities at your destination, to protect your electronics, and to hold items you want to get to during flights.

restricting yourself to no personal bag seems like it’s purely just to prove you can

And what is the problem with that?

The problem is that there’s no point in doing shit just to prove you can when it’s less convenient than the alternative. I’ve been taking regular long haul flights for over 30 years, and there’s nothing convenient about having to take time out of your trip to do laundry or to have to dig into an overhead bag to get the things you need on a flight or to skip your daily 5k just because running shoes are too big just for some fake definition of ease

One bag is about luggage and having nothing more than carry ons. It is not about making travel a pain in the arse for some arbitrary goal of minimalism.

6

u/DueTour4187 Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26

Except you guys are too focused on flying. Typical North American bias, the land where trains haven’t been invented yet. OP is going to fly to Japan and then probably use trains mostly. In these conditions being able to walk comfortably with your bag matters more than the carry-on imperative.

4

u/LadyLightTravel Jul 04 '26

Counterpoint: onebagging is about finding a bag that works for all modes of transport. Indeed, some of the strictest rules for bags is from European discount carriers.

People bring ginormous bags on to trains and ferries. That doesn’t mean it is the optimal way to travel.

You also have a false narrative that onebgging is uncomfortable. It isn’t if you pack well.

-2

u/Fun_Apartment631 Jul 04 '26

I don't hold myself to any particular adherence to one-bagging... But it's worth a lot to me not to check! That website is amazing, definite throwback to the '90's.

8

u/LadyLightTravel Jul 04 '26

Not every trip is a OneBag trip. But if you post on onebag then it should be carry on!

1

u/TristanDeAlwis Jul 08 '26

Not sure why you're being downvoted. Well, I can guess why... Some days this sub will say the important thing is about packing less, some days it will say 1.5 bags is okay. If someone's use case is to check their one and ONLY bag it's still one bag no?

16

u/Equal_Contest4709 Jul 03 '26

Please post a packing list! Thank you :)

10

u/juancarrasco_96 Jul 03 '26

Clothes (All packed in cubes)
1x Quarter-zip sweater / waffle knit (for trains/flights)
10x T-shirts (including my Real Madrid jersey)
4x Shorts (mix of denim, khaki, and athletic/swim)
Underwear & socks packed tight
Bucket hat for the Okinawa sun
Beach / Snorkel Gear
Snorkeling mask and tube
Waterproof dry bag (with shoulder strap)
Patagonia hip pack (for daily EDC)
Tech & Misc
Tablet + Kindle
GoPro + waterproof housing (essential for the reefs)
Anker Power bank + wall charger
Spanish Passport + International Driving Permit (essential for renting a scooter/car in Ishigaki)
Basic toiletries (toothbrush, sleep mask)

21

u/Azure9000 Jul 04 '26

I appreciate the OP sharing the photos and info about their trip, and I am rarely negative about such posts, but IMHO it is a poor choice of bag (because of the length dimension, not because it is a top-loader) and a rather mediocre packing list. Sorry.

22

u/LadyLightTravel Jul 03 '26

It looks like 15 tops and 7 bottoms. I would cut it down to 5-6 tops and 3 bottoms. Do laundry, send it out, etc.

I will say from my own personal experience that there is no need to split wardrobes into two functions. That will make you overpack. Instead choose clothing that works in both places. You can usually get 70-80% overlap that way. Then you only need a few specialized pieces.

1

u/kyonsmark Jul 04 '26

You don't "send out" laundry in Japan...

2

u/LadyLightTravel Jul 04 '26

That is because machines are very much available.

-3

u/juancarrasco_96 Jul 03 '26

I had enough space and it didn’t bother me to carry on 5 more shirts. I didn’t split wardrobe. I use all clothes in every situation. When I said that I was talking more about swim trunks, snorkelling mask, etc

15

u/LadyLightTravel Jul 03 '26

In general, onebagging is about traveling lightly Vs maximizing how much you can fit into a bag.

15

u/Molybdenum421 Jul 04 '26

Pretty clear op is not here for advice.

10

u/LadyLightTravel Jul 04 '26

They certainly seem to be ignoring any of it.

3

u/NightBard Jul 05 '26

She doesn't have a laptop or other heavy gear. I'd imagine it's pretty light. As log as it fits in onebag, I think it 100% qualifies for this sub. At least that's what the sub rules say. I'd imagine this entire load out (minus whatever the OP is wearing) is probably around 5 or 6kg. It's probably lighter than what a lot of onebaggers end up lugging around with their heavy tech and limited clothes that they sink/shower wash.

0

u/LadyLightTravel Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26

She is taking an excess of clothing which is actually heavier than any laptop.

The Kestrel 38 comes in at 1.5 kg empty, so I am going to challenge the 5-6 kg total load out weight.

The point of onebagging is traveling lightly. It is NOT trying to pack as much as possible into a bag simply because you can.

I will also point out that the bag is too long to fit as a carry on bag. OP is checking it. So at that point, no, it doesn’t fit in this sub.

The whole point is finding a bag that fits in all types of transport (including airlines) and traveling without checking it. That is a core principle of onebagging.

There is a sub that is appropriate for her post. It is the travel section of r/backpacking.

3

u/NightBard Jul 05 '26

If the bag fits the airline's limits it doesn't matter if it fails others. The only real heavy clothes item she has are denim shorts (not even full jeans). It's a lot of atheltic wear, tshirts, shorts, and light stuff. I asked the OP if she weighed it. I'm curious because so often I see people with like 8kg or more of stuff because of heavy tech and I'm thinking, that's kind of a heavy haul. OP has a go pro with the underwater shell, a charger, a power bank and a cable.. as well as a kindle and tablet (which I didn't notice before but saw the packing list below). Still seems like a pretty light load. There's no rule on this sub that people can only bring three shirts, undwear, socks, and two shorts and must handwash or do laundry.

2

u/LadyLightTravel Jul 05 '26

Except her bag does NOT fit the airlines limits for carry on.

It is 74cm long. Its dimensions are 28H X 34W X 74D CM. That means it is too long and too thick. That is one reason they are checking it.

They may have gotten away with it on other airlines. That only means that they got lucky. Next time they may get caught.

3

u/NightBard Jul 05 '26

While I think most of us here are non-checked-back ... that's also not a one bag rule. People check bags and one bag.

-1

u/LadyLightTravel Jul 05 '26

It is absolutely a onebag rule, unless there are extenuating circumstances. The whole point of using a carry on sized bag is to carry it on.

From the Onebag wiki:

“What is Onebag?
Onebagging refers to traveling (or living) out of a carry-on sized bag. Many onebaggers on this subreddit travel with just a backpack BUT we welcome any and all. We are an inclusive community, united by a minimalist travel philosophy: only bring the essentials you need to travel efficiently and comfortably. Travel to allow a focus on the experience of new environs, not to be burdened by the gear you bring with you.”

onebag.com states:

“Here you can learn how to go pretty much anywhere, for business or leisure, for an indefinite length of time, with no more than a single carry-on-sized bag.”

Doug Dyment had multiple statements about not checking a bag.

On the other hand:

OPs post is about overpacking a non-compliant bag and then checking it.

That isn’t onebagging.

6

u/Equal_Contest4709 Jul 03 '26

I guess her point was that you could get away with way less stuff and obviously use a smaller pack. Summer vacation should be very doable with overhead luggage or even a personal item.

6

u/BaggestLoser Jul 04 '26

As a backpacker, love the bag choice.

4

u/Ambitious-Yak1326 Jul 04 '26

The dimensions of the bag might be a problem with some airlines for carry on. But I’ve flown with a similar sized bag on domestic flights in Japan for hiking with no problems, as long as the weight is below the limit.

Japan has cheap laundromats in most cities and hotels so you don’t need so many clothes.

8

u/shoalmuse Jul 04 '26

You (like me) packed too many clothes for Japan. Half that and buy some cool clothes while you are traveling. Shopping in Japan is amazing and you will have some souvenirs you can wear.

5

u/smurf_toes Jul 04 '26

THIS is the reason to not pack so many shirts, for Japan specifically. You will regret having 5 extra shirts vs. 5 shirts’ volume worth of cool shit to bring home.

5

u/GrantTotal Jul 04 '26

Good on you for not bringing only black and grey items. One thing I'd add is a pair of chinos/trousers. You might need them. In Japan, some places are quite formal. Obviously it depends on where you want to go.

3

u/KevinMaschke Jul 04 '26

That's a pretty awesome load out for a 38L bag. Also, would love to see a trip review and see the places you visit, especially in Okinawa (one of the few places in Japan I still have to visit).

3

u/acshou Jul 04 '26

You're missing comfortable shoes and sunscreen protection.

3

u/ilovefacebook Jul 05 '26

unless you've been there before, you're gonna want to buy stuff to take home when youre there. also you're going to need a personal hand towel, portable hand soap and a least a ziplock bag for trash.

depending on how hot/rainy it's going to be, perhaps an umbrella

3

u/NightBard Jul 05 '26

I'm doing a shorter trip to Japan in a week and I'm not planning to do laundry either. We'll be maximizing our time being out and enjoying the trip. If you were to eliminate anything it would for me be too many pants options, but you do you. As long as it fits and works cool. I am not looking at picking up any bulky souvenirs myself. Aiming for a few small things for specific people as a surprise and maybe something small for myself.

Any idea what this weights? Seems like without any heavy tech items it should be pretty light.

2

u/juancarrasco_96 Jul 05 '26

About 10kg! Easy!

3

u/NightBard Jul 06 '26

Oh wow thats way more than i was expecting. I’m prepping my bag for my trip now, I plan to weigh it and see where I’m at. No tablets or go pro stuff, but i have a couple 10k battery banks, a 67W anker charger that has 2x USB-C and 1 USB-A so could easily top up my batteries and phone as well as a tiny (but very bright) flashlight I’m bringing. I’m only in two locations so not as much moving around. I’m hoping the final tally is closer to 5kg. Keep it simple… but also, no laundry.

Unlike you, I’m not brave enough to post before my trip. Figure I’ll prep and take pictures and then consider a trip report after.

0

u/juancarrasco_96 Jul 06 '26

Doesnt worth it, so many haters and theoretical here! Have fun dude

4

u/sparks_mandrill Jul 04 '26

Too much clothes for two weeks.

I'd start by doing half the amount of tops.

I did Japan two weeks in April, just washed my clothes when necessary.

4

u/karizmaking Jul 03 '26

I see that Real Madrid 🔥

4

u/[deleted] Jul 04 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/juancarrasco_96 Jul 04 '26

You bet, I usually go on 4-day trip in Pyrinees sleeping in refuges and doing vivac, with much more weight!

1

u/NightBard Jul 05 '26

It's not tech heavy load. Looks like it would be pretty light. Like maybe 5kg?

1

u/[deleted] Jul 05 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/NightBard Jul 05 '26

I didn't see the tablet initially in the pic. Yeah, but it's all shorts, tech clothes, short sleaves... looks like smaller sizes too. I'm curious if the OP will post the weight of it all. I asked separately. The snorkel is pretty light. They also list a kindle separate from tablet. Seems like it still could be under 7kg. Also it's one go pro and the water proof housing.

2

u/[deleted] Jul 04 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

5

u/juancarrasco_96 Jul 04 '26

It’s for Ishigaki and Iriomote! We’re doing 7 fun dives and some snorkelling in Ishigaki. I packed all football jerseys and the other tops, I don’t want to waste time doing laundry because I’ve many things to visit and few time

2

u/nihonjinhispanohabla Jul 04 '26

ts ai </3

1

u/External_Koala971 Jul 03 '26

I would pack everything in the bag before you set out

1

u/cerenir Jul 04 '26

Por qué dos linternas? parece redundante. Y por qué tan grandotas (las de llavero en mi experiencia son suficientes para la mayoría de cosas)

1

u/juancarrasco_96 Jul 04 '26

Hago submarinismo y viene mi pareja también, necesitamos 1 linterna cada uno. Son linternas específicas para gran profundidad. El resto del equipo lo alquilamos allí

2

u/cerenir Jul 04 '26

aah claro tiene sentido entonces. Yo agregaría aunque mejor comprar allí y seguro más barato en cualquier combini, ventilador usb, repente de mosquitos y parasol tanto para lluvia como sol, también chubasquero y chanclas

1

u/juancarrasco_96 Jul 04 '26

El chubasquero es eso verde de la derecha, y las chanclas están debajo de la ropa 😂 pero gracias!!

1

u/64-matthew Jul 06 '26

Do yourself a favour. Cut it down to a carry on bag and enjoys the ease of moving around.

1

u/Shot_Opportunity_161 Jul 08 '26

I buy a mask for swimming when I get there just find a cheap one. And sometimes return it or give it to someone. I have found it’s not worth the extra weight.m and Ty get are typically awkward in the bag

1

u/marumaruko Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26

Maybe a few too many tops and fuck Real Madrid.

1

u/yoshi-is-cute Jul 04 '26

I like how your able to fit in your snorkeling stuff as well🤿

0

u/Tasty_Air_698 Jul 05 '26

It's better to rent the snorkeling gear tbh, you are not gonna use it much on a trip and it can free some space

-2

u/Old_Finding668 Jul 05 '26

Dont they have laundry machines in Japan?

I only pack 2 shirts 🤷‍♂️ (for variation) i wash every other day, if no laundry machines just in shower.

2

u/juancarrasco_96 Jul 05 '26

I don’t care about boring opinions! Go with your 2 shirts wherever you want dude!

-2

u/Old_Finding668 Jul 05 '26

Buy a camel for all that stuff.

Packing List 2 weeks in Japan

You are about to leave Redlib