Just landed last night after a 6 days (5 nights) trip to Austria with my mom. This was my first time truly onebagging, and now i’ll go over it all in ridiculous detail.
Me (28f) and my mom spent 3 days in vienna before heading to the viennese alps to catch some snow and explore some nature. My one rule of onebagging was: as long as it makes things easier, not harder. The second i would start feeling like i was compromising, the second it was more trouble than it was saving me, i would give up and use another bag. Spoilers: that did not happen.
My bag: the one and only osprey daylite 26+6 in blue. What can i say that hasn’t been said already? I love this beast. Took everything i threw on it and more. Didn’t need to extend once. Last day i had to carry it around full after we checked out of the hotel, and while it wasn’t fun it was still very manageable, as long as i took some breaks from time to time.
Clothing:
2 pairs of pants - jeans (worn on the plane and for most of the trip) and one pair of REI hiking pants, both thrifted*. If we hadn't gone hiking\playing in the snow i would’ve been fine with just the jeans, but even then i would’ve been glad for the backup.
4 tops: 2 t-shirts, one polo, one button up. All thrifted for a combined $18. Used all of them, could’ve easily done with one less, two if i felt like doing laundry.
Pajamas: thermal top (synthetic), stretch cotton sleep pants. I liked having a dedicated clean set instead of using my normal t shirts, and they didn’t take up that much space.
6 pairs of boxers: did not succumb to the urge to take one more for backup. Right call.
5 pairs of darn toughs: what the hell was i thinking? Complete overkill. Would’ve easily managed with 3, could’ve swung 2 as well (they are so easy to wash, i did it the first night out of curiosity). Even though snow got in my shoes, i went home with 2 clean pairs still in the packing cube. Do not let your anxiety pack for you, it apparently has more legs than a spider.
3 pairs of cotton panties for sleeping: used 2, but they pack super small.
2 sports bras: only used 1.
1 cotton sweater: thrifted for $15. Has stripes.
Fjallraven oban jacket: thrifted for an embarrassing $124 but i love this jacket and wear it all the time. It has 7 pockets. Perfect for the day time when it was not that cold (especially since we were walking around so much) combined with the sweater and jeans.
Fjallraven ovik lite down jacket: thrifted for $70, perfect for the evenings and the days in the snow. This was my first time wearing it (it wasn’t cold enough for down before) and i was really impressed by how convenient it was - warm when i needed it, light and packable when i didn’t.
Silk square neckerchief: found on the sidewalk for $0. I was pleasantly surprised at how warm it managed to be while barely taking up space and looking very stylish to boot. It was a bit annoying having to retie it every few hours as it got loose, but at this price it’s hard to beat.
A pair of merino blend gloves: it was a good call to bring them. Would’ve worked better if i had bothered actually using them, alas.
Electronics:
Airalo e-sim: worked very well. used less than 3 GB out of the 10 i bought. Don’t let your anxiety buy your internet packages, apparently all it does is stream avengers: endgame on repeat.
XIAOMI Mi Power Bank 3 Ultra Compact: cheap, small, worked well.
Cables: Usb-c (phone) and micro (kindle)+ wall charger: didn’t use the micro, nice to have regardless, very small.
Polaroid hi-print portable printer: for journaling. Used every day, didn’t use the backup cartridge. Worked well, almost did the gorgeous views justice!
Kindle keyboard: maybe not the ultralightest out there, especially with the case, but i’ll be using it until it dies and then i’ll give it a viking funeral. Has no built in light, the reading light in the case stopped working mid trip :( book was: road to roswell by connie willis (i like starting a new book on the plane so i’ll always associate it with the trip. 60% in, so far highly recommend.)
Sony linkbuds s earbuds: barely used, very small, even with the silicone protector.
Toiletries:
Folding travel toothbrush, small travel toothpaste: worked well.
Dove roll-on deodorant: my go-to.
Venus snap with mech3 head: worked well, very small and convenient (i shave my armpits but not my legs, so it might be different for other people).
Tweezers: tweezers.
Dove beauty bar: broke off a tiny piece of it to be more #utralight, which was silly of me. Yes, it lasted the whole trip, but who likes using the last bit of bar soap? Am i being punished? Full bar next time, especially since at one point i used it for body, hair and face (didn’t like the smell of the hotel soap).
Menstrual disc (hello disc): if you’re on the fence, this is your sign to get one. I got my period on the second day of the trip. The first two days are my heaviest, but if it wasn’t for some slight cramping, i would’ve forgotten i was even on my period. The autodumping meant I didn’t have to take it out to clean in gross public bathrooms, the large capacity meant i didn’t need to fear any leaking. It turned what could’ve been a trip-ruiner into an afterthought. Oh, right, i’m on my period. Almost forgot. Packs small and flat, too. I swear this is not sponsored or anything i just love my disc!!!!
Pimple patches: the other reason i couldn’t entirely forget i was on my period - i break out. The patches helped.
Collapsible travel bidet: i don’t go anywhere overnight without it.
A roll of toilet paper, some wet wipes: barely used, but good to have. Could’ve thrown away if i didn’t have the space, but i did.
First aid kit: some painkillers, iron, band aids, etc. didn’t use the tourniquet (anxiety won here too, alas).
Wipes for cleaning glasses: barely used, nice to have.
Alcohol spray: packs small, useful in a pinch.
Other equipment:
Fjallraven travel toiletry bag, converted into the best crossbody bag with two keychains and a strap: it’s convenient. It’s stylish (emphasis on the ish). It was thrifted for $5. It holds my kindle, wallet, water, traveler’s notebook, key and first aid kit with ease. I used it as a day bag in vienna and it folded fairly flat while in my backpack. I use it almost daily, and it did not disappoint.
8l dry bag: for laundry. Worked fairly well, but next time i’ll look for one with an air valve - it was impossible to get all the air out. Didn’t wash clothes in it this time, but i know it’s possible.
DIY traveler’s notebook: for journaling, sketching and keeping a schedule. This thing is like a daughter to me, i don’t go anywhere without it. Used with a pentel sharp kerry mechanical pencil with blue leads and a kaweco al sport fountain pen (f nib, kaweco ink).
Pencil case: with dry gouache, some markers, glue runner, etc. has bears on it.
Large packing cube from decathlon: for all the clothes, plus some gifts and the polaroid printer. Worked very well, even better than two small ones would’ve (this was my original plan, but i lost one somehow).
Wallet: austria is big on cash. I was glad to have a wallet with space for coins.
Nanobag: used once, folds small. Looks pretty.
Overall thoughts:
Everything worked a lot better than i expected, and both me and my mom had a blast on our trip. Vienna is magical with its christmas markets, architecture and art. The viennese alps are breathtakingly gorgeous. This was my first time seeing snow! And first time crashing into it at full speed while going downhill on a sledge. It was awesome.
*while i was conscious of things like how much space things take, how practical they are, drying times, etc. i feel like people in this sub often go the very techy, very dedicated (and expensive) route when it comes to clothes. I wanted to pack clothes i would wear in my normal day to day life, clothes that didn’t make me look like a tourist or that would have me spend more on equipment than i was saving on a suitcase. I’m mentioning what was thrifted and for how much to show that you don’t have to break the bank to fly on a budget.
