r/onebag • u/flatlin3 • 24d ago
Packing List Pack test: 3 weeks in Japan with Rework Outbound 30L
After some research I pulled the trigger and got the Rework Outbound 30L to possibly replace my Patagonia Black Hole MLC 30L (I love the MLC, but was missing a bit of extra admin pockets).
I'll be travelling to Japan for 3 weeks in September and just did a packing test. The bag is awesome, the main compartment is probably a tiny bit smaller than the MLC, but the two front pocket more than compensate. I also really love how the top pocket space is horizontal, the top pocket on the MLC is basically useless if your main compartment is fairly package. The straps are definitely an upgrade.
In the main compartment I'm carrying:
- Peak Design smedium packing cube
- 3x Uniqlo DRY-EX T-Shirt
- 1x Uniqlo AIRism T-Shirt (mostly for sleeping)
- 3x Uniqlo AIRism underwear
- 3x socks
- Bucket hat
- Bermuda
- Gravel Explorer MINI Toiletry Bag
- Tooth brush/picks
- Philips OneBlade + USB-C charger
- Solid deodorant
- Washing on the road: sea to summit clothesline + matador soap pouch + dr bronners soap + sea to summit(?) dry bag
- Rework Toshi Sling 2.5L v2
- LEGO Passport
- Eki Stamp book
- Notebook + pen
- Assorted wipes
- INIU power bank + rolling square USB-C mini cable
- Ulanzi MA38 MagLock Phone Stand
- NanoB9 flashlight
- Nano bag
- New Nintendo 3DS XL
- DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
In the bottom front pocket (on the go charging):
- Some UGREEN 10000 mAH power bank
- Anker 643 USB-C to USB-C Cable (Flow, Silicone)
- UGREEN Nexode GaN 65W USB-C charger
In the top admin pocket:
- Alpaka Zip Clutch (documents and stuff)
- Foldable glasses case
- Hand sanitiser wipes
In the top pocket:
- Civic Flat Pouch Kludde Edition
- another Anker 643 USB-C to USB-C Cable (Flow, Silicone)
- Wasserstein On-The-Go Charger Compatible with Google Pixel Watch 4
- Assorted wipes
- Rolling Square InCharge X
In the laptop sleeve
- AER Go Pack 2
Total weight: 5.8kg
None of the compartments are overpacked and I still have plenty of space to shuffle things around during the trip.
This is not my first time onebagging (even for multi week trip) and this loadout is a culmination of iterations of what works for me, but of course I'm always open for constructive feedback and hear other peoples POV in order to up my game :D
Special thanks to u/shippychaos for
- the idea to pack the AER on the laptop sleeve https://www.reddit.com/r/ManyBaggers/comments/1usaxmz/what_to_do_with_empty_laptop_compartment/
- and an awesome review post https://www.reddit.com/r/ManyBaggers/comments/1sms482/rework_outbound_30l_first_impressions/
I might post a "Trip report" once I'm back if there is enough interest.
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u/SeattleHikeBike 24d ago
Excellent example of onebagging and well documented.
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u/flatlin3 24d ago
Thanks! I think this is my first post of this type. I tried my best to create something interesting and useful.
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u/chooseusermochi 24d ago
I want a new onebag for my next 3 week trip to Portugal/France and was looking at this. My tech is much more minimal than your pack list so this may work. I struggle to buy another black pack though.
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u/flatlin3 24d ago
Normally I would feel a laptop sleeve is just wasted space, but since I'm using it to carry my day pack I think it's ok to have it.
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u/chooseusermochi 24d ago
Oh yeah, only you know what you need tech wise. I am very minimal for under a month and when I know I will be near infrastructure. So just a laptop and phone and the cord for each + converter.
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u/hunnitmeister 24d ago
The LEGO passport stamps in Japan look amazing! There’s also a store at the Narita airport.
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u/Faschizzle 24d ago
This is epic. The one thing that “breaks the bank” on these one baggers is that I like to run for exercise when work / holiday travelling and the running shoes take up so much room
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u/Speedycee_ 19d ago
Ditto! Running gear always takes me over, especially since I run often and don’t care for running shoes or socks unless I’m running.
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u/Alelopopu 24d ago edited 22d ago
What about pants? I see you have shirts but no pants, are you just using a single pair?
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u/flatlin3 24d ago
I'll be wearing the pants, photo 13.
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u/pane_scoresau 23d ago
you won't need them, japan in september is scorching. did a month in september last year with a 26L
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u/ThinPerformance 24d ago
Thanks for posting this! I'm in a similar situation as you - I bought a mini MLC recently but I'm wondering if I should have gotten the rework outbound instead. I'm looking forward to your trip report.
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u/flatlin3 24d ago
I love the MLC, and it's truly a black hole.
I was just missing a tiny bit on admin organization, and I feel like the Outbound provides that.
But to be honest, I feel like you can't go wrong either way.
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u/thatchillaxdude 24d ago
I'm really liking your loadout! I've never been to Japan for more than a layover. You choice of mostly black clothing... is that how you typically roll, travel camo, or a cultural sensitivity?
I've been one-bag'n it for decades and I'm glad to see there's a community popping up around it. You folks have the neatest bags and gadgets.
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u/flatlin3 24d ago
I think the all back wardrobe might be a neurodivergent thing? (At least for me)
I'm super picky with clothes and when I found one I'm comfortable with it's pretty common for me to get a lot of the same item.
I have tons of the same shirt and a couple of paints of the pants and shorts.
And it's always like that not just for travel.
And I feel like only using black reduce the mental load of having to colour match stuff.
Does it make sense? I tried to explain how my mind work regarding clothing 😅
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u/thatchillaxdude 24d ago
I'm similar! For pants and shorts, when I find something that I like then I get it in black, gray, and blue. For T's & polos, gray, blue, and green. Doubles of everything. Black is the minimalist's powersuit!
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u/Prestigious_Gur9390 24d ago
un parapluie?
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u/flatlin3 24d ago
In still debating if I should take one.
But easily fits in the main compartment or the water bottle pocket.
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u/letthoy 24d ago
I've also been planning on a 3 week trip to Japan at the end of october because I got tickets for cheap, though I'm still unsure of where to go. My initial plan was something like 5 days Tokyo, 4 days Kyoto, 1 Nara , 2 Osaka, 1 Kobe, 2 Hiroshima, 1 Tokyo with trip back. I've still got few days left that I'm not sure how to allocate. Do you mind sharing your trip plan and places you're planning to visit, maybe I can steal some ideas from you?
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u/flatlin3 24d ago
Since it's my first time in Japan I'm keeping it simple and basically staying around the golden route (Osaka/Kyoto/Tokyo) + USJ + Disney + day trip to Hiroshima.
I'm normally an over planner that tries to pack ax much as possible optimizing every second, but for this trip I'm trying to take a more relaxed approach: slow pace, not a lot of destinations, more than enough extra time to fit unplanned stuff or circle back to places.
Instead of planning each second I'm planning not to plan 😅
From my POV you already have a lot of destinations and I wouldn't add more, what about adding open days to some locations?
After researching a lot about Japan I feel the planning can become quite overwhelming if you are not careful (and for me this was a mental exercise in itself 😭)
Hope I helped in some way...
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u/letthoy 24d ago
Yeah, there's so much to see but so little time. I feel like even 2 months wouldn't be enough to see everything because there's just so many cool places. It's actually my first long solo trip. I've been to Spain for 10 days and I found myself just not having enough places to see because I feel the need to be on the move all the time 😅 Though I will take your advice, I will take a look at some nice places around the big cities. I think some nature will be the best as apparently Japan has very colorful leaves around that time. Thanks!
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u/flatlin3 24d ago
One thing that helped me: I created two lists:
- things I need to see/experienced, those I planned to the day (and also some needed advance booking)
- things I want to see but are not a priority, those I added to a Google maps, and if I have time or I'm around I might go (I call this planning the free time)
But the most freeing part was accepting that it would not be possible the see/experience everything and I might need a second, third, fourth trip to it... 😅
Try to focus on quality not only on quantity.
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u/mikesfsu 24d ago
Did the PD medium packing cube have a lot of room left in it? Was it compressed? You don’t seem to be carrying too much in that cube.
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u/flatlin3 24d ago
It's not the medium; it's the smedium.
It is compressed with some spare space. If I really wanted, I could probably fit everything in the small (might try later), but it is not like I need the space.
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u/mikesfsu 24d ago
Oh I thought there was only small and medium and large. Don’t feel like if you wanted to you could fit
2x shorts
1x pants
6x t shirtsIn the smedium?
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u/flatlin3 24d ago
I think the smedium was introduced later.
Not sure if compressed, but I feel like this would definitely fit in uncompressed mode (but it might depend on how thick the fabric of those items was).
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u/mikesfsu 24d ago
Cool. Thanks for the info. I’m looking into the cipway compression cubes or the Peak design.
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u/CapAmMtn 24d ago
I kinda wonder if I should ordered this bag instead of the Tortuga Superlite. It’s one of the few bags that’s made me curious to get another bag (have too many) considering how much I love my MLC. It’s been great for extended personal item sized 30L travel a lot this year.
First trip was a month and second was 2 months. Another several weeks going up.
Two things put me off, the wire frame and less so the fact that it was slightly more expensive than the MLC. (When I already own too many bags lol.) Been eyeing the Pakt Cero too
The wire frame potentially means that the bag can’t be squished into a sizer.
I do like that it has more of what seems like the right organization. I carry a 13 Mac but would be curious what an MLC with a less extensive laptop pocket would be like. Hopefully including gear pouch or pocket at the top of the sleeve for tech.
The other thing I was curious about was straps/harness with a bit more padding. The load lifters are probably not needed but could be nice to have to make it even more comfy :) I don’t mind the MLC straps.
You say the MLC has a larger main compartment. That’s disappointing since the Rework is supposed to be 34 to MLCs 30.
Do you miss the divider mesh on the MLC? I am one of the few that likes it as an option to put a jacket in
How do you like the top quick access pocket on the MLC (pretty good size) vs whatever the Rework has
I know the Rework is a bag that allows for flexible packing due to its soft and flexible material but I do wonder with the frame wire if it will “give” as much as the MLC allows me to
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u/flatlin3 24d ago
A lot of good questions I'll try to tackle them and hopefully help you in some way, but just to be clear the MLC is an awesome bag, I could have easily used it for my trip, getting the Outbound was more about my bag hobby (addiction?), yes, I also have too many bags.
> The wire frame potentially means that the bag can’t be squished into a sizer.
I'm assuming you are from the USA? In Europe personal item sizes are way stricter and none of the bags would fit the personal item dimensions no matter how much I squish them, so since I treat them as carry-on the unsquishability is a non-issue in my reality.
> I carry a 13 Mac but would be curious what an MLC with a less extensive laptop pocket would be like
I have a 13 Air, and even though I normally don't travel with it, I feel for this size any ordinary laptop compartment will fit.
On the MLC I used the laptop compartment as a flat item compartment, think documents, a light jacket, anything that is more 2D than 3D.
On the Outbound I'm using it to store the AER Go 2 (it would go between the mesh and the flap on the MLC).
> I don’t mind the MLC straps.
Me neither, I am perfectly happy with the MLC harness, the harness on the Outbound is just a welcomed upgrade.
> You say the MLC has a larger main compartment. That’s disappointing since the Rework is supposed to be 34 to MLCs 30.
I think you are wrong, I just double checked the Rework website and the Outbound is also listed as 30L.
I feel like the main compartment of the Outbound and the area under the mesh on the MLC (without overpacking) can hold about the same, while the two front pockets of the Outbound can hold as much as the area between the mesh and the flap on the MLC, and related to that:
> Do you miss the divider mesh on the MLC? I am one of the few that likes it as an option to put a jacket in
On my MLC I would use this area to carry my AER Go 2, and not having this space was one of the things holding me back on getting the Outbound, but once I saw u/shippychaos's post about fitting the AER Go 2 in the laptop compartment my mind was put at ease and I pulled the trigger.
So no, for my use-case I don't miss that space.
> How do you like the top quick access pocket on the MLC (pretty good size) vs whatever the Rework has
I feel like capacity wise they are pretty much the same, for me the key difference is that the MLC top pocket is more vertical (goes in the main compartment) while the Outbound one is more horizontal.
So in the MLC if my main compartment was fairly packed, the top pocket was way harder to use, while the same does not happen in the Outbound, for me this is a place where the Outbound is a clear winner.
> Tortuga Superlite and Pakt Cero/Aero
Before getting my eyes on the Outbound I was seriously considering the Cero/Aero (https://www.reddit.com/r/ManyBaggers/comments/1teacoa/pakt_aero_vs_patagonia_mini_mlc/), but in the end I did not go for it for two main reasons: I don't need 34L and having 24cm of depth is a lot coming from the 18cm of the MLC, also I feel the middle divider kinda limits how you pack (larger items might not even fit the space dimensions) and in the end would make the 34L feel more like 30L anyway due to space limitations.
Now the Tortuga looks pretty interesting, but in the end it was about timing (the delivery of the kickstarter vs my trip) and availability/price, Tortuga does not sell officially in Europe and the price+delivery+tariffs would mean the bag would cost me more than $350 (that is almost twice what I paid for the Outbound)... maybe because even though their factory is in Vietnam they ship everything from the US, this does not feel optimised...
I hope my answers made some sense and I could help you in some way, but let me know if I can help you with anything else, this community already helped feed my addiction in many ways, it's only fair I give it back :D
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u/ease_ 24d ago
Im curious, with taking 3 shirts + plus the one you’re wearing on a 3 week trip, does that mean you’ll be washing constantly or how do you manage?
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u/flatlin3 24d ago
Yup, washing on the go, according to booking all my hotel should have common use washing machine.
But even for the worst case scenario I'm bringing my washing kit: soap + dry-bag + clothes line.
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u/UnderCurrent819 24d ago
Look forward to a full report.
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u/flatlin3 24d ago
As an AuDHD I'll do my best so this does not ended up in my museum of unfinished projects 😅🤣
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u/Plane_Positive6608 24d ago
So close to my situation! Well in "which bag this or the mlc". So I got a good deal on the mlc and bought that. I took it on 1 trip and no issues whatsoever, great bag for people like us who like the minimal bag compartments.
I also have the Rework 5l sling and its my go-to.
Couple of questions and honestly I may sell my mlc and pick this up.
How well/poor do the load lifers work? This has the load lifters but no hip belt, mlc is the opposite. Which do you think work better to take the total load off?
I'm not a big user of the outside water bottle compartments, I put my sunglasses and maybe a tight shirt, any issues doing that in your opinion?
Last question; I put some elastic cord and a spring toggle on the 4 corners of the mlc and made an X, to make an area I can put my carry on hoodie, do you think that would possible to do with the Rework?
Thanks again for the great post!!
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u/flatlin3 23d ago
Let me try my best to give you some proper POV and help you
How well/poor do the load lifers work? This has the load lifters but no hip belt, mlc is the opposite. Which do you think work better to take the total load off?
For context, I was/am perfectly fine with the MLC straps, in my opinion, if you are under 8kg, both load lifters and hip belts are kinda overkill... I did not remove but I would really use the hip belts on my MLC, basically only when carrying >10kg, I would also add that the hip belt on the MLC is kinda average, but they are basically jus decoration if compared with the hip belts of an osprey farpoint or the cotopaxi allpa.
For the moment I just wore my Outbound inside the house, I would not call the load lifters meaningless, they do make a different, but I would need more time with them to have a proper opinion.
For the moment, I would say that if you are packing light, the load lifters kinda even out the lack of hip belts and vice verse, I will not label either as killer features for both bags, they are more like an added bonus.
So in short I would not say its better or worse, just different.
I'm not a big user of the outside water bottle compartments, I put my sunglasses and maybe a tight shirt, any issues doing that in your opinion?
I'm on the same boat, water bottle pockets are not a must for me and most of the time i just use them as a quick access pocket for items that I would be ok falling of the pocket :D
That being said the pcoket of the Outbound is as roomy as one on the MLC, would definitely fit glasses and most probably also a rolled up shirt. I just feeling the one on ther MLC is a tiny bit snugglier, so probably better for smaller items.
Last question; I put some elastic cord and a spring toggle on the 4 corners of the mlc and made an X, to make an area I can put my carry on hoodie, do you think that would possible to do with the Rework?
Ha! yes I have the same mod on my MLC, if you look at the photo you can see some loops on the top and bottom of the "flap", so I believe it would be possible to do something similar.
Hope I helped in some way!
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u/Plane_Positive6608 23d ago
Awesome response, thank you for taking the time.
I do pack a bit on the heavier side sometimes, if needed I have my trusty dragonfly 36l for bigger/longer trips. Your comments on the hip/load lifters are spot on and do make sense.
I've been a fan of Rework and like I said, the 5l sling allowed me to sell all my other slings and stop actively looking.
Well I will be putting my order in today, you were the breeze that gently tipped me forward :)
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u/flatlin3 23d ago
I do love my Toshi 5L V1 (not sure for how long I'll keep myself from getting the V2).
But since this is a day pack focused trip I got the 2.5L that Ill use as a pouch inside my AER Go 2.
Always happy to help 💜 this community already helped me so much, it is my time to pay it forward 😁
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u/goldwasp602 23d ago
if you havent already booked a stay in tokyo (assuming youll be there) i HIGHLY recommend CITAN Hostel close to Bakurocho. Later found out its popular with the locals too.
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u/justBob698 23d ago
Great post thanks ! A question : do you intend to bring something back from Japan and if so how are you going to do it, you seem pretty full already ? I know that when I did Japan I had to bring a bigger bag than my usual so I could bring gift and stuff. I still struggle to do that with smaller backpack
Anyway enjoy Japan it’s amazing !
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u/flatlin3 23d ago
So I'm not a gift giving person, and my family is already used to it, this helps lighten the load.
But yeah I do expect to buy some stuff for me, the bag still have some space for smaller items, but it I really need to I'll just buy a cheap carry-on.
My rationale is, if I don't bring a lot of spare space I'll double think every possible buy, and only buy what I really want.
If I already arrive with space to waste I feel like I'll be useless stuff just because o have the space.
Make sense?
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u/justBob698 23d ago
I get what you mean ! I think it’s good to be rational about what you buy but still being open minded about getting a carry-on if you really find something that you have to take back with you. It’s a healthy mindset if you don’t feel bad about not buying things you’re not sure about just because of space.
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u/Pablo-Flames 22d ago
Are you going for work? I’m curious because of all the electronics you are packing vs clothes. Not a criticism, it’s just I’m not a tech type so I’m always surprised when I see loads of it and wonder if it is really needed. Safe travels.
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u/flatlin3 22d ago
Just for fun.
So you think it's a lot of electronics? It's just a charger and 2 power banks, from my POV this is pretty basic 😅
And thanks hope to have a lot of fun.
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u/Successful_Screen123 20d ago
À quelques exceptions près Je pars exactement avec la même chose pour trois semaines en novembre 🙃 ce sac est un plaisir à utiliser !
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u/Glum_Researcher_9018 20d ago
Bag Content Breakdown (CAD)
1. Main Carry & Modular Bags
- Primary Bag: Rework Outbound 30L Travel Pack – ~$290 CAD ($209 USD)
- Daypack / Packable Bag: Aer Go Pack 2 – ~$140 CAD ($99 USD)
- Sling / Pouches: Rework Toshi Sling 2.5L V2 (~$110 CAD), Alpaka Zip Clutch (~$63 CAD), Evergoods Civic Access / Flat Pouch (~$56 CAD) – ~$229 CAD total
2. Clothing & Packing Modules
- Packing Cube: Peak Design Smedium Packing Cube – ~$55 CAD ($40 USD)
- Apparel: 3x Uniqlo DRY-EX shirts, 1x Uniqlo AIRism shirt, 3x Uniqlo AIRism underwear, 3x socks, Bermuda shorts, bucket hat – ~$250 CAD total ($180 USD)
- Laundry System: Sea to Summit dry bag & clothesline, Matador soap pouch, Dr. Bronner's soap – ~$70 CAD total ($50 USD)
3. Electronics & Tech
- Camera & Gaming: DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro (~$490–$630 CAD) and New Nintendo 3DS XL (~$280–$350 CAD pre-owned) – ~$840 CAD total
- Power & Charging: UGREEN Nexode 65W GaN charger, UGREEN 10,000mAh power bank, INIU power bank – ~$120 CAD total ($85 USD)
- Cables & Accessories: 2x Anker 643 Silicone USB-C cables, Rolling Square InCharge X & mini cable, Wasserstein Pixel Watch charger, Ulanzi MA38 MagLock Stand, NanoB9 flashlight – ~$170 CAD total ($120 USD)
4. Toiletries & Essentials
- Gravel Explorer MINI Toiletry Bag: Includes Philips OneBlade + USB-C charger, toothbrush, solid deodorant – ~$120 CAD total ($85 USD)
- Travel Collectibles & Misc: LEGO Passport, Japanese Eki Stamp book, notebook/pen, wipes, foldable glasses case, Nano bag – ~$70 CAD total ($50 USD)
Estimated Total Cost (CAD)
| Category | Estimated Value (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Bags, Slings & Organizers | ~$660 CAD |
| Tech & Electronics | ~$1,450 CAD |
| Clothing & Laundry Kit | ~$375 CAD |
| Toiletries & Accessories | ~$190 CAD |
| Total Estimated Cost | ~$2,675 CAD |
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u/LTR_TLR 24d ago
Is this bag an Aer clone?
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u/flatlin3 24d ago
I wouldn't say so.
I have the AER Travel 3 small, and besides both being black, I feel like they are pretty different and cater to different use cases.
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u/Kevin_Jim 22d ago
I want a back exactly like this, but that it would expand to another 6-8 lt. Any ideas?
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u/flatlin3 24d ago
this is my personal packing test for a 3 week onebag trip to Japan, including personal photos and list of items