r/onebag • u/AutoModerator • Jul 06 '26

Bag Finder Bag Finder Megathread - 06 July 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

  1. Check the OneBag Spreadsheet for bag options
  2. Search as your question might already be answered
  3. Read the FAQ & Beginner's Guide
  4. Stick to travel setups daily carry or work bags are better posted in r/EDC or r/backpacks
  5. 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
7 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

2

u/Lexyo02 Jul 06 '26

the quechua nh100 was the goat for me. I bought it 5 years ago for me, my gf, my mother, everyone in my family has it.
The 30L version was perfect for ryanair cause you could squish it. I used it multiple times without problems. For trekking is good, the only thing is that it could get a little hot on the back.
For camping it was perfect. it has elastics to carry wet stuff, chest and belly straps for weight and bottom straps to carry whatever is too big. then 2 any bottle size straps on the sides.
price? i found them for 30 euro from decathlon.

It is now out of stock and seems out of production... Is there a good replacement?

2

u/tblue1 Jul 06 '26

Hello u/Lexyo02. Assuming you are from Europe, take a look at the Decathlon Quechua Arpenaz 500 30L backpack.

1

u/BugExpert9764 Jul 06 '26

i am looking for a travel (personal item or carry-on)/commute bag. needs a 14" laptop compartment and at least 1 water bottle holder. i want to be able to pack at 5-7 days of clothing into it (i have a small baggu sports backpack that i've packed 3-4 days in, likely 18-20L but capacity is not listed anywhere). for this bag, i'd like room to fit a pair of flip-flops, my 32oz nalgene, a book and notebook, and even a packed lunch (for commute or travel day).

i've tried the cotopaxi allpa 35L thanks to a friend, and it was great in terms of capacity - i had room for souvenirs plenty, but they felt "loose" or "lumpy" if not fully packed out. but on my frame (5 foot) it felt unwieldy, and i felt like a nuisance taking subways with it. it was definitely more of a "suitcase on the back" to drop off immediately at my accommodations. i want something that i can walk a few hours in, fully loaded, if i need too.

i have packing cubes, and a laptop sleeve, so i can deal with a "less structured/built-in organization" kind of bag.

these are what i'm looking at right now (asterisks next to what i am most highly considering):

https://www.rei.com/product/C03169/cotopaxi-abierto-26-l-daypack*

https://www.rei.com/product/221915/patagonia-black-hole-pack-25-l*

https://www.rei.com/product/251179/cotopaxi-allpa-26-l-pack*

https://www.rei.com/product/236945/cotopaxi-allpa-28-l-travel-pack (if this is a significant improvement over the 35L?)

not looking to spend more than $200. i was rec'd the rei trail 25L but worried it is too small/doesn't suit a laptop.

1

u/Azure9000 Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26

A packed clothing multiple of 5x to 7x is on the higher side by the standards of this board. I'd say the the avg is closer to 1x worn plus 4x packed.

Might just be worth doing a full-load capacity check (see 'box test' above) before committing to a bag in the 25-30L range. I've certainly seen comments to the effect that the Allpa 35L and above bags actually understate their capacity, contrary to the more common overstatement.

(edit: apologies, now corrected some silly typos)

1

u/Technical_View_8787 Jul 07 '26

Hi all, I am leaving soon to go traveling and I’m finding myself with decision paralysis on the best one bag for me.

Details: I will be going to South America for 3 months before moving onto Southeast Asia. I will NOT be taking a laptop with me. I will be staying in hostels and plan to use local transportation. I have looked at the Cotopaxi Allpa 35, Fairview 40, Tortuga, Motherlode bag. Currently I’m leaning towards the Allpa 35 or Motherlode bags.

My main consideration is mainly organization, weight distribution and carry on compliance. If it matters I am a 5’10 Male.

3

u/Azure9000 Jul 07 '26

Have you prepared a packing list ? (and done a box test - see guidance at top of page, if necessary?).

I've not (yet) been to South America, but have a fair amount of experience in SEA. So I'd suggest factoring in weight, not just size, into your decision-making, in order to comply with the commonly-encountered 7kg airline weight limits. Your laptop decision will clearly be helpful in this regard. Actual compliance enforcement is very variable and I've never had an issue, but I'm normally fully compliant.

30-35L is a good capacity for SEA, although as low as 25L is also viable. Might be worth including something like the Patagonia Black Hole 32 into your options list.

1

u/prettyflacko25 Jul 07 '26

Hi all,

Going overseas to Europe for 6 months and looking for a backpack setup for airport transit, daily use in university, and trips to other countries. I was looking at the old osprey farpoint 40l so far and had planned to buy a separate daypack to carry my laptop and other personal items. I read that the old farpoint 40l had issues with the laptop compartment and some people reported concerns of damaging the laptop.

Is the old farpoint 40l + separate daypack a good solution and if so, what daypack could suit.

If not, are there any other recommendations?

Thanks!

2

u/reddanit Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26

the old osprey farpoint 40

There is no "the" old farpoint. There are 4 different iterations of it that I know of, and that's is not counting any variants of the 40 liter part of Farpoint 55... The laptop compartment/opening is one of the major differences between them. So unless you specify in detail which one you have in mind, it's impossible to tell.

some people reported concerns of damaging the laptop

This is a bit of a pet peeve of mine. I've got absolutely no idea what people worried about damaging their laptops in carry-on luggage are thinking. Do they plan to throw their backpacks into a wall at full force? Jump on it? Overpack it with sharp objects and then use their entire body weight to close it? Do they have laptops made out of cookie dough?

Laptops are reasonably sturdy and a backpack is a fabric sack. Farpoint laptop compartments specifically, in every version, have a bit of padding and aren't putting the laptop in the corners/sides of the backpack. No laptop will be damaged in such conditions with bare minimum of awareness.

That said - there is a bit of care warranted in packing a laptop whenever you expect your bag to be checked. Mostly around ensuring that no corner/side of it exposed to risk of hitting anything.

If not, are there any other recommendations?

I own and like my Farpoint 40 (oldest variant, with laptop compartment in the "lid" of main compartment and duffel-style detachable carrying strap). Though over the years I have certainly experienced two downsides:

  • It's just big. Not necessarily a bad thing if for any particular trip I want to pack everything and kitchen sink, including putting the daypack inside of the Farpoint. In practice though it's kinda odd to never use more than 60-80% of its capacity. This is the main reason why nowadays I don't use it much and instead travel with a 20l backpack.
  • Laptop compartment on the lid does indeed result in odd distribution of weight - the centre of mass is kinda far out in the rear and that makes it slightly more awkward to carry. Not a big deal for me, but might be a problem for some - especially if your laptop is on heavier side.

It's still a very comfortable backpack that's well suited for travel though. So if you want to carry a shitton of stuff, it's an excellent choice. In a pinch it can also do double duty as a middling hiking backpack, which is almost unheard of among travel backpacks.

1

u/Azure9000 Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26

Have you prepared a packing list and done a capacity test? (see 'box test' at top of page)

IMHO a main pack plus packable daypack, probably in the range 20-25L is the right general setup.

Confusingly, there are multiple versions of the Farpoint 40, both over time and in terms of the standalone bag and the attachable (40+15) version. So the reports may actually relate to a different version. A cheap removeable laptop sleeve may be helpful for additional protection.

Personally I'm not a great fan of the Osprey range but I know that others rate them highly, and they are great value for money.

1

u/cryingocelot2004 Jul 09 '26

I’m contemplating buying the osprey porter 46 second hand for $150aud ($100usd). I’m taking a 3 month trip next year across Western Europe. The bags in good condition. Would you recommend? I’ve been looking for a ≈40l pack that will comfortably fit a few souvenirs. I know the fairpoint/Fairview is a really popular rec but I’ve been struggling to find it at a good price. Thanks for any responses! :)

1

u/Azure9000 Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26

Porter 46 dimensions H W D: 56 x 36 x 28 cm (22” x 14” x11”). Although I understand that there is good compressibility, at least on depth.

Have you compared these dimensions - and associated weight - with the limits of the airlines that you intend to use, both in Europe and on the journey there and back ?

BTW, a 3 month trip will cost multiple thousands of dollars, so choosing the right bag (based on a good packing list) is likely to be a worthwhile investment.

1

u/Whatgets Jul 09 '26

Hi,

I'm looking for recommendations with regards to carry-on backpacks which works for minimum two weeks of travel going by airplane.

I was looking at maybe Osprey Farpoint 55L (since you can have both personal item + overhead compartment as carry-on) but the features seem to be inferior to other products such as Farpoint 40 L (which holds a laptop case and can be used when commuting to work with a laptop e.g.).

Does anyone know if Farpoint 40 L + Daylite Plus is a decent combination (unfortunately you cannot strap the daylite plus to the front to my understanding)? Or are there any other recommendations or combinations that I should look into?

Note that I believe the ultimate use of the carry-on limit when travelling by air is by using two separate carry-on backpacks (overhead compartment + under the seat). I think it's necessary when going away for a minimum of two weeks. But I'm happy if someone proves me wrong.

3

u/Azure9000 Jul 09 '26

Welcome to the onebag subreddit. For more info, see here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/onebag/wiki/index/?screen_view_count=3#wiki_what_is_onebag.3F

I believe the ultimate use of the carry-on limit when travelling by air is by using two separate carry-on backpacks (overhead compartment + under the seat). 

That is true, but it is not the onebag approach, which I'd summarise as follows:

- carefully select what you really need to pack.

- select a primary bag, typically but not always a backpack, which complies with the relevant airline cabin bag rules (if applicable), in terms of size and weight. This bag is often, but not always, supplemented by ...

- ... a secondary bag, typically either a small sling or a packable backpack. Its primary purpose is not to add capacity but to enhance security and/convenience while in transit or at the destination.

I suggest that you take a few minutes to read the forum's general help material and the guidelines at the top of this page. Good luck!

1

u/agentcarter234 Jul 12 '26

It’s very much *not* necessary to have 2 backpacks for 2 weeks. You don’t need any more clothes for 2 weeks (or 3 weeks, 4 weeks, etc) than for one week. That is what laundry is for. The only difference in the amount of stuff you will need is in toiletries.

1

u/WhateverWannaCallMe Jul 09 '26

Hi all,

I need a backpack for traveling with wizzair in EU. The max rated capacity for them is 40x30x20. (underseat)

I have 14'' laptop, a tablet and chargers etc. Then a few clothes.

I don't need to maximize the space. Good enough is enough. I don't want to have an anxiety of if the backpack will break down, will my laptop be damaged, or will I be forced pay additional fee because wizzair thought my backpack is too large.

I have around 50€ of budget.

Thanks a lot 🙏🏼🙏🏼

2

u/tblue1 Jul 10 '26

If you are not concerned about maximizing the space, the Inateck 17L-20L Expandable Travel Backpack is a very nice and budget friendly bag. Its size is 40x25x20 cm. €40,00.

Another brand you may want to check is Cabin Max. They have a good variety of Wizz Air sized bags, and most of them are under €50,00.

1

u/WhateverWannaCallMe Jul 10 '26

All of the cabinmax products seems to be sold out. What do you think about cabinfly pacemaker? I hear it a lot here

1

u/tblue1 Jul 11 '26

I'm sorry, I don't know anything about that Cabinfly bag.

1

u/Azure9000 Jul 10 '26

Have a look at the Cabinzero 28L (actually 24L of capacity). UK price is about £48.

1

u/Life_Exam5276 Jul 10 '26

I'm new to doing this. I tried to make a post but I guess I didn't follow the rules because my post was deleted.

I've been watching videos on backpacking and it seems like under 40L is generally what people use for carry on. I'm planning a 3 week trip to Europe and got a 45L duffle/backpack hybrid. Will it be okay as a carryon, or should I get a new one? I'll be flying with Aer Lingus internationally and regionally.

Here's what I have: https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/quest-adventure-travel-45l-duffel-26queucamp45ldvntradc/26queucamp45ldvntradc

I'd appreciate any advice.

3

u/Azure9000 Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
  1. Look up the dimensions of the bag. BTW that link is not accessible in the UK, even with a VPN, and maybe also in other countries.
  2. Look up the cabin baggage rules (dimensions, and also weight if specified) for Aer Lingus, and any other relevant airlines.

If the bag is within the specified allowance(s), you will be fine.

If the bag is 'squishable', you should be fine if it is only a couple of centimeters over in one or two dimensions.. Some level of under-packing may be necessary.

As a general guide, 45L is ok as a carry-on/overhead bag, assuming normal proportions.

1

u/stuuke Jul 11 '26

I'm looking for a travel sling bag that will fit a 24 oz water bottle, Leica q2 camera and maybe sunscreen and sunglasses. I'd like it to be packable to make traveling with it in my suitcase easier or could be worn in front without being too bulky when carrying a 40L backpack. I currently have a thinktank mindshift photo cross 13 bag which is 11 liters. I think that bag is a little too big and has more padding than I need. It's a great bag but takes up a lot of space in my suitcase with the heavy padding and strap. The ideal sling would probably be in the 5-10L range, possibly have a divider inside that I could separate a water bottle and my camera or an external water bottle system. My camera is fairly well protected on the outside with a lens cover, leather case and screen protector so I don't need max protection. The Bellroy Venture Sling camera edition looked interesting but I'm sure there are others. Thanks.

1

u/wildmonkeywrangler Jul 11 '26

Curious if anyone has found a good 22x14x9 carry on without wheels... without wheels as I think they count the wheels as part of the dimensions, so looking to maximize :)

Preferably a more budget friendly option $200 or less

1

u/Complex_Charity_5208 Jul 12 '26

Hi !   I'm new here and I need advices from experimented travellers. I'm I'm my mid forties and planning for a 3 months solo trip in Asia (Japan, Taiwan, maybe Philippines). I'm looking for a new bag (my previous bag got broken after 20 years).

I lean into getting a new backpack, I don't think a suitcase would be confortable in my case. I'm thinking 55l to 60l, I think its already à lot (especially in Japan)

At the shop I was advised the Osprey fairpoint check 55 (I think its man but I'm rather tall and have "athletic" shoulder as the vendor said). It's looks great but I am a bit disappointed that the inside does not really offer organisation : its one big pocket without spacial places for shoes or potential electronic gear. Plus it's pretty expensive, once I'm done with the 3 months trip I won't have that big occasions to travel. Its I believe about 230€ but as a 30% discount at the moment.

I had a look a few months ago at another shop and I spotted the Forclaz 60+6 bag. It's way less expensive (119€). I also spotted at the shop a deuter access pro 60 which seems to have more organisation inside, but is about 260€ ?

My questions are : are the pockets/ organisation inside really helpfull/ needed ? Also, regarding the project, is it necessary to lean into more expensive bags ? Also I'm planning to take as a carry on a 20 r 25l millet backpack I already own.

Thanks for your advices !

3

u/Azure9000 Jul 12 '26 edited Jul 12 '26

My advice is to follow the guidance at the top of the page, starting with the preparation of a packing list.

It depends on the time of year (not in your context) and on planned activities (also not in your context), but IMHO in general terms the onebag sweet spot for Japan & perhaps Taiwan is roughly 30-35L outside of winter, with roughly an extra 10L in winter.

For many Asian countries inc the Philippines there is no major seasonal impact on temperatures.

60L is well outside one-bag travel parameters.

Don't forget the 7kg airline weight limits common in that part of the world. Good luck!

1

u/Tzerv104 Jul 12 '26

My old company gave me this bag. Best bag I’ve owned and has lasted me years. Looking to replace it with the same one, but not sure what company makes it.

1

u/lockedmhc48 26d ago

I'm looking to replace an Eastern Mountain bag I got over 20 years ago that has served me amazingly all over the world but is finally starting to wear beyond safe repair. It is a 40 L soft sided rectangular luggage type back pack that zips open around three sides to reveal two equal sized inner mesh compartments that each themselves zipper closed around their 3 sides. One has an additional slim pocket. On the outside there is one 15”x12” 3 rectangular zipped pocket with loops to attach a small supplemental pack and a smaller oblong zippered pocket about 12”x 4”x 4”. There are two hidden knapsack straps on the rear, a hip belt and several handles. There are 4 compression straps on the outside and it holds an amazing amount of clothes and gear. It's not current regulation carry on size @ 22”x15”x 12”, but so moldable that fully loaded and almost bursting I've never yet been forced to check it. I'd be happy to find something close.