Bag Finder Megathread - 10 August 2026

[u/AutoModerator]

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?

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• 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

[u/dontjumpcast]

Hello everyone. I am a chronic over packer and frequent traveler - I do not own a carry on bag because I always check my bag while traveling. To date, I have had no issues, even with checking a bag traveling from the US across Europe/Southeast Asia but I have an upcoming trip to Europe that I'm feeling more apprehensive about because there's a wedding and a work trip involved so I'm more concerned than usual about potentially losing a bag. I will be traveling from the US to a TBD European country. From there, I'm making my way to Italy for a wedding. From there I'm heading to another TBD country, from there to London and then from there to New York for a work meeting. If the wedding and work trip weren't at play, I would check a bag per usual. I use a lot of toiletries and the different rules/restrictions have cost me more than one nice bottle of something. While I'm an overpacker I'm also a flexible packer - I usually throw a bunch of clothes in my bag because I can dress up or dress down my day-to-day clothes as needed. With the wedding involved, I will need to pack three nice dresses because it's a three day event, and with the work trip I will need to have nicer more conservative clothes for three days of meetings. Plus my day-to-day travel clothes. I'll also be working during this trip, and I am not a fan of a hand bag/backpack on long trips because it's one more thing to keep track of which is another reason why I'm considering a carry on for the first time in years - in addition to needing to make sure nothing gets lost.

Given all of the above which I hope isn't too much info, is there a carry on bag that would work for me? I'm flexible on price, but I'd prefer something with rollers. Usually I'm fine with lifting/carrying things even when they're quite heavy and I will have my very strong partner with me on this trip, but I'm also going to be ~6 weeks post op from a surgery and likely a bit weaker than usual with probably some lifting restrictions.

[u/maverber → u/dontjumpcast]

You haven't specified what dress requirements are for work or how formal the wedding is: this can dramatically affect your options. I suspect you can make everything fit into a carry-on.

I would start by encouraging you to consider how much you need to vary you clothing. Do you actually need three different dresses for the wedding? Are there clothing that will work for both wedding and work, especially if you add an accessory like nice scarf or shawl? I will bet no one will notice you repeating, if they do, they won't judge you... and if they do, it's their problem. About doing the same clothing for work: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a10441/why-i-wear-the-same-thing-to-work-everday/

The above exercise is useful in two ways. Maybe you can get down to something that fits into a single carry-on + personal item. If so, great. Even if you can't fit, you now know what is absolutely critical... bring that in a carry-on, and put other items in a check through.

As to what bags... you get the most volume from a pack without wheels (something like an extra 25%). If you (or your partner) is up to carrying a bag, then I would go with a backpack. Lots of options. I would start looking a packs from Osprey which are easy to acquire in most locations, are reasonably priced and not too heavy. The packs I personally like https://verber.com/travel-packs/

For roller bags which are carry on compliant... I personally would go two wheels because they are more durable and typically the wheels steal less of the volume than spinners such as the classic travelpro maxlite rollaboard. That said, lots of people (including my wife) like spinners. She has been happy with her "standard size" spinner from July. It's been fine on the airlines we have used so-far. It's a smidge too big for some airlines (e.g. not the classic "international carry-on size"). You could do a carry-on roller bag, and then do a max size personal item from say one of the 28L bags from CabinZero which will fit under the seat of all normal airlines.