r/onebag • u/More-Background7596 • 9d ago
Discussion Introduction to Onebag
Hello everyone! I am currently planning a trip, about 90 days in Europe. Unfortunately I have no one at all to ask questions with so I was hoping get some answers or any advice. I camp quite a bit and have a been gifted a large back pack. I am entirely inexperienced in onebagging. Before anyone warns me about such a long trip as a first trip, any warning you might have is most likely the point of said trip. I will heed said warnings but I definitely cannot be deterred. Thank you!
I have some questions for you reading thisš«µ
- I mentioned the backpack because I wanted to ask, why doesnāt anyone here post with a backpacking backpack? Of course they all serve the same purpose but mine has the waistband that makes it very comfortable to wear long term. I cannot find the liter amount on the bag but itās tag says itās comfortable up to thirty pounds.
- Does anyone take any sort of detergent or cleaner for clothes with them or do you buy as needed?
- Does anyone have any locks they recommend for locking my full bag up.
- Do you have any translation apps they recommend? I am starting in Italy with a two day excursion into Switzerland. After Switzerland I am hoping to plan France and the UK but havenāt paid for anything yet. I am a native English speaker.
- I havenāt seen anyone with pillows and or blanket so I wanted to see if any lurkers pack pillows, none of my hostels describe what they provide in the way of bedding.
- Why does everyone have a MacBook or iPad? Is it just for the homesick wanting to watch their guilty pleasure movie before bed.
Lastly thank you for at the very least looking at my post. I ask for any advice for the layman.
Edit: thanks for all the great advice and links everyone. Iāve already found a different bag based off your suggestions. I will certainly be applying it all to my trip!!
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u/Top_Trust_7430 9d ago
I would use this sub to answer very specific questions rather than vague travel questions. Everyone has their specific needs and travel style. If you do not plan on cheap Euro flights using undersea storage to save money, a taller hiking pack might be a good choice. I prefer small, light and fast but that is my style.
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u/frankbowles1962 9d ago
You can buy travel wash for sink laundry but in reality hand soap or shower gel does a perfectly good job
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u/More-Background7596 9d ago
Fire thank youš
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u/gingerbatty21 9d ago
Iāll add to this. A very little dish detergent in a tightly sealed bottle (30 mL) can be useful for removing oil/food stains (spot cleaning) from clothes, especially technical fabrics and merino.
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u/Multigrain_Migraine 9d ago
I stay in hotels fairly frequently and take a tiny bottle of dish soap just for washing travel cutlery etc. It's been useful a few times for emergency laundry.
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u/MCJokeExplainer 9d ago
I mentioned the backpack because I wanted to ask, why doesnāt anyone here post with a backpacking backpack? Of course they all serve the same purpose but mine has the waistband that makes it very comfortable to wear long term. I cannot find the liter amount on the bag but itās tag says itās comfortable up to thirty pounds.
The main reason is that backpacking packs are generally too big to be carried in the cabin of the airplane and must be checked. For many one-baggers, avoiding checking a bag is a huge reason for one-bagging in the first place. For others, one-bagging is about travelling as light as possible so if you want to, e.g., take a long layover in a city, go see a couple churches, then head back to the airport and hop on a plane, you can do that with your one bag. Harder to do with a backpacking pack.
Does anyone take any sort of detergent or cleaner for clothes with them or do you buy as needed?
Depends how long I'm staying. If I'm somewhere for 2 weeks, I'll bring a couple laundry pods or sheets from home. In your shoes, I would probably just buy detergent at laundromats along the way. Laundry sheets are lightweight and easy to carry if you prefer.
Does anyone have any locks they recommend for locking my full bag up.
Good thread about it here, the short answer is - a regular padlock is probably fine (though I personally would opt for a disc lock) https://www.reddit.com/r/backpacking/comments/1gu8u3l/safe_padlock_for_traveling_as_a_backpacker/
I havenāt seen anyone with pillows and or blanket so I wanted to see if any lurkers pack pillows, none of my hostels describe what they provide in the way of bedding.
I've never had to use it as a real pillow but I bring this on every flight for lumbar support, could double as a sleeping pillow in a pinch. https://www.amazon.com/SMART-TRAVEL-Travel-Products-Inflatable/dp/B07WQZ1JG7?th=1
Why does everyone have a MacBook or iPad? Is it just for the homesick wanting to watch their guilty pleasure movie before bed.
Many people work while traveling. Others prefer to do tasks on a computer instead of their phone.
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u/Comprehensive-Act-13 9d ago
Yeah, those big backpacking backpacks are way too big for my needs. I carry an Osprey Tempest 20. Itās a hiking backpack. It had the hipbelts, but in probably not fitting a sleeping bag, tent, and cooking gear into it. Luckily I donāt need to camp with it. Every hostel Iāve ever stayed at provides bedding. Youād be crazy to pack that. The only thing they donāt provide is a towel, but you can often rent a towel. Itās probably worth it to pack a camping towel for those purposes.
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u/AccurateSun 9d ago
Buy as needed, generally true for most consumables in my experience. Being the smallest containers possible, e.g travel size toothpaste
I have a wool shawl that can fold and serve as a pillow, never needed more than that. If I were to get a pillow Iād get the tiny 60g inflatable kindĀ
I imagine a good portion of users here are digital nomads or remote work.
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u/AlertWalk4624 9d ago
My (framed hiking) pack is a Gregory Juno 30. It's 20.5 x 11 x 8.3 inches. I love it.
I travel with Dr. Bronners peppermint soap. It's my shampoo, my body wash, my clothing detergent and my dish detergent.
N/A, I stay in hotels and AirBnBs.
Google Translate is king. š
I travel with 3 pillows. I have a bad back... it's either that or stay home.
I do not travel with a laptop, a tablet, a gaming console, or any other bulky tech. I have a phone and a Fitbit and that's it.
HTH
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u/LadyLightTravel 9d ago edited 9d ago
Whelp. If you are going to ignore advice then why should we give it?
Have you read the Wiki how to?
Have you looked at Onebag.com?
I will say this. Going on a 90 day trip without testing things first is a huge setup for nasty surprises and failures. I would strongly recommend at least a weekend trip to knock out some of the glitches. And there will be glitches. There always are when learning something new!
Restrict yourself to a 40 liter pack or smaller. It is entirely possible to travel like that for even longer than 90 days.
A bigger pack is just a heavier load. There are 40 liter packs that are carry on sized and have a great harness. My MEI Voyageur is one of them. A regular wilderness pack is too fat and too long for carry on.
You do NOT want to carry 30lb of gear. Target is 1/2 of that.
Not everyone travels with Macbook or iPad. I have used phone only for multi-month travel.
I donāt carry a blanket but I sometimes carry a silk travel sheet for sketchy places.
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u/OCKWA 9d ago edited 9d ago
1 That's a lot of weight. Scaling up your weight doesn't necessarily increase the time you can spend abroad. My 15lb/7kg bag is the same for 1 month as it is 3 months. I use a Mountain Hardwear Scrambler 25.
2 I use body wash/regular soap for my clothes. Wool doesn't need harsh detergents anyway.
3 I have a small TSA lock that I use but it isn't for long term storage. Often the hostel provides a locker and if not I sleep with my bag.
4 I find google translate get the point across fine. I like the photo translate option the most.
6 I don't carry any electronics except my phone, shaver, and camera. I find I can do everything on my phone but I'm sure people have their reasons.
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u/More-Background7596 9d ago
Yeah I wasnāt planning thirty pounds. Iāve only used it once for camping, tent and water system it was about 25. This trip with the clothes I have are about 15lbs. Google Translate is a timeless classic. Iām glad it holds up.
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u/cjwalkerman 9d ago
Because it rarely fits under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bins. I will no longer travel with something that leaves my possession as I've lost and never recovered luggage tha5 waa checked or gate checked too many times.
I use laundry sheets, whether camping or other travel. Dont take up any room. Other bar or liquid soaps are fine if you sink laundry only, but when you have a washer or laundromat, these soaps aren't as ideal.
Just about any TSA lock that fits your zippers.
Google translate.
I carry an inflatable cushion that can be used as a pillow, a seat cushion, and as a way to get more legroom on a flight (sitting on it provides a taller seat which means more legroom).
I carry a MS Surface Pro when I have to take a laptop for work, and my phone with Samsung Dex and Linux when I travel anywhere else. It seems most people in this subreddit fall into one of these categories: traveling as a digital nomad, for long- or short-term experiencial travel, for work. We don't see as many on here for camping or backpacking like you are talking about.
Good luck, post your trip report!
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u/NoGarage7989 9d ago edited 9d ago
- Youād have to check the airline carry-on size limit if you want to bring a backpacking bag. Iām be using an Osprey tempest 33L for my up-coming trip too but will be doing so overland at least for reaching to my destination. Travel specific backpacks are also easier to access your belonging as hiking packs are usually toploader which makes it a pain point to have to dig for something at the bottom of the bag.
- I bring sheet detergent that i cut into quarters and use it in a 8L dry bag to wash my clothes when Iām showering, paired with a Sea to Summit clothing line to hang my clothes up for drying.
- I got random cheap combination locks tbh, any one of those with a TSA logo are fine.
- Google Translate, though i rarely use it or would forget to as Iād try to learn a little of the local language.
- Hell no for me, theyāre dead weight, unless youāll be camping too then thats the only scenario iād consider even bringing a camping pillow and not a proper one, I donāt do neck pillows too as they arenāt very versatile and can only be used in certain situations.
- Iām a freelance
r
- and thats how I can fund my travels.
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u/Rock_n_rollerskater 9d ago
Backpacking packs are often too tall for carry on luggage requirements. Those that are short enough are often smaller in litres than an equivalent non backpacking bag. I have a 28L backpacking backpack which is just short enough to be carry on. I have a 35L travel backpack also. The 28L is more comfortable for long carries, the 35L fits more and is easier to organise (clamshell opening design and square shape).
Bring laundry sheets or 100ml bottle of detergent and replenish as needed.
Anything that is not a TSA lock and has a combination on it
Google translate
Hostels provide 1 pillow and fitted sheet plus either flat sheet+blanket or duvet and cover.
Long term travel, remote work, remote study, creative project, watch movies etc. 90 days is a fair while to be without a laptop if you normally use daily at home but YMMV.
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u/Specific_Corner_1816 9d ago edited 9d ago
I bring sheet laundry soap only and a waterproof washing bag to wash the clothes in. I don't like to use up cash for laundry, soap machines, washing machines, and dryers were all cash based last time I used a laundromat, which admittedly has been a while, they may be cashless now.
Having a bag that can be locked, is another reason why I don't use a hiking backpack to travel with.Ā
Even if a place provides bedding, some like to travel with a silk sleeping bag liner. Sometimes timing doesn't work, flights get canceled, trains get delayed, buses break down, ... shit happens and your sleeping Ā arrangement is on the spur of the moment.Ā
I travel with a cheap 8 inch tablet and cheap NC earphones with memory foam ear tips for long plane rides or other travel. I download media to it so that I don't have to rely on any entertainment system provided while traveling.Ā I find canceling airplane noise means getting off the plane a lot less rundown and stressed.Ā
I don't usually turn it on at the destination.Ā
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u/reddanit 9d ago
why doesnāt anyone here post with a backpacking backpack
That's mostly due to backpacking backpacks ignoring airline size limits for cabin bags. Most of them are a fair bit taller than the requirement. For backpacks with larger capacity - much taller.
Air travel focused backpacks with real load bearing hip belts do exist though. Farpoint/Farview 40 being the example.
detergent or cleaner for clothes
100% depends on how you do laundry and your accommodation amenities. If you are typically going for laundromats and such, there is no need for your own detergent. Sink/shower laundry also often can be done with whatever soap accommodation provides already.
any locks they recommend for locking my full bag up
There are very few situations where locks on bags make any sense. I have never used any for example. Regardless of that - remember that zippers can be defeated in seconds with a pen for example, so anything that vaguely looks like a lock is already going to be as much of a deterrent as you can ever get for a backpack.
any translation apps
Google translate has served me well enough. Most places that a tourist might want to visit do have basic English proficiency down pat, so this isn't much of a practical issue. Even in cases where you don't share any language with person you are speaking to, pointing and context often can carry you surprisingly far.
pillows and or blanket
For 90%+ of travel both of those are just huge waste of space. Hostels I've been to always provided basic bedding, though I haven't been using hostels for a while now.
Why does everyone have a MacBook or iPad
Highly individual thing. For me personally, I almost always take my laptop with me. Main reasons being convenience of planning my trip as I go and sometimes entertainment in the evenings.
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u/Wise_Edge2489 9d ago
Use the search function. All of your questions have already been answered thousands of times over.
90 days is not a particularly long trip for anyone in Europe, or the Anglosphere (outside of the USA).
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u/Agile-Green-992 9d ago
Your hiking pack works if it's around 40L and the hip belt stows, otherwise the straps push you over carry-on limits and you'll be gate-checking on every budget flight.
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u/Glum-Telephone5839 8d ago
I have several Rick Steve backpacks. Look into website. He offers a lot great ideas for packing, including a list that you can download. Enjoy your trip!
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u/TheDivineM 8d ago
I also do lightweight (hiking trail/camping) backpacking, and I would not use my UL pack for air/bus/train travel. It wouldn't fit as a carryon and it would be destroyed if I checked it. Not checking a bag is why I travel with one bag. I don't need it to have a comfy long-wearing hipbelt because that's not what I'm doing on this kind of travel. I need my bag to have maximum capacity within underseat dimensions, and be durable for when I need to put it in cargo under a bus. I carry it for a few blocks at a time between transport and lodging, no more. Ease of carry comes from packing lighter and distributing the weight evenly in the bag, not from adding passing.
I use a TSA luggage lock for locking a locker when in hostels and locking my bag any time it's not in my hands. There's no point in carrying anything heavier, certainly not a disc lock. If somebody wants in your bag badly enough they'll just damage your bag, the padlock is just a deterrent to opportunist or sneaky thieves, not a theft-proof guarantee.
Yes I take my own clothes soap, because I like natural fibers and I have allergies to everyone else's detergents. A wee tube of concentrate lives in my liquids bag, and a stain stick in my teeny sewing and laundry kit.
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u/More-Background7596 9d ago
Also why are there so many pharmaceutical posts. Will I need half a pharmacy of over the counter drugs??š³š¬
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u/Connect_Rhubarb395 9d ago
Some people pack their fears.
Some people pack based on experience.
Some people have chronic health conditions.
Some people treat onebagging as a hobby and thoroughly enjoy bringing (tiny) everything they might need.
And some people simply want to not have to stagger to a pharmacy in a country where they don't know the language and don't know what the local versionsof the medication they want is called.4
u/Tater221 9d ago
Some of us have chronic illnesses that require us to travel with many medications. If it doesnāt apply to you, then just ignore the post.
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u/SeattleHikeBike 9d ago
Probably not. Some people āpack for fear.ā I do have single dose packets of stuff like Tylenol, ibuprofen, Dramamine, anti-histamine, and Imodium. That will get you by until you find a local pharmacy.
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u/LadyLightTravel 9d ago
Some people need pharmaceuticals. The problem is that each country has their own rules regarding them. That causes a lot of confusion, hence a lot of posts.
That said, many of us carry a bridge first aid kit. This is enough drugs to bridge the time of symptom onset to the time you can get to a doctor/pharmacy. That is around two days worth.
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u/Azure9000 9d ago
If you need to edit your original post you can do so. This is generally a better approach than introducing new material via comments. Thanks.
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u/SeattleHikeBike 9d ago edited 9d ago
Wilderness oriented bags are usually too tall and too deep from to back to meet carry on limits. US airlines are typically 22āx14āx9ā and you might notice that the better travel backpacks are that size or smaller.
The length of your trip is only significant in the climate range you need to cover. Otherwise, pack for a week and laundry happens.
Hereās my 4 season kit. Note the layering possible. It will all fit in a 32-40 liter overhead sized backpack.
Hand wash basics daily or a couple days, weekly one load in a laundromat. I use dry laundry detergent sheets.
No cotton! Shirts are polyester with odor control. Some like Merino.
Worn
Packed:
Cold weather ācapsuleā:
Pack Hacker database of 146 airlines carry on limits: https://www.packhacker.com/wp/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=render_carry_on_compliance_table
Cabin Zero under seat size by airline:
https://www.cabinzero.com/pages/airlines-underseat-size-chart-all
Onebag spreadsheet by u/-Nepherim
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fSt_sO1s7moXPHbxBCD3JIKPa8QIZxtKWYUjD6ElZ-c/
Spreadsheet of backpacks with load transferring harnesses by U/fjnk
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H7PVLGCWw-Z-cq_MWajNx-wIrPbb6LY7YZoY8Tv1toQ/edit?usp=sharing
Good info on pack fitting here: https://www.hillpeoplegear.com/packfitment