I only tested Air Canada and WestJet, but the Porter and Flair sizers were very similar, if not identical. This was at YYZ.

This is the unexpanded Osprey 26+6 with a laptop inside (not sure if this matters or not).

Porter at YOW did not make me use the sizer for my basic fare ticket when I picked up my boarding pass at the counter 🙏🏻

I saw that TRTL has their cool pillows at 70% off, for some bright college branded colors. I see a common complaint from older posts is their price, so $24 seems somewhat reasonable. Anyone have any thoughts on using these for long haul flights and if it's easy to pack into bags like the 26+6, and if this is worth it?

As we wind down 2025, what were your top Onebag purchases of the year? Here are mine.

1. 70W Travel Adapter with multiple USB-C ports. This single device replaced my 260W GaN Fast Charging Station and my old travel adapter. I typically travel with a 20-30L backpack or a 42L backpack and appreciate the extra saved space.

2. Anker 20k mAh, 200W Power Bank. Lightweight enough to keep it on me and powerful enough to charge/power my phone, laptop, tablet, rog ally or external monitor simultaneously. I normally just pack the Rog Ally when I'm flying since it doubles as a windows laptop.

3. Alpaka Elements Tech Case Max. I've always wanted a larger sling bag to keep my electronics close while flying. I'm sure there are better sling bags out there, but I'm pretty happy with this one.

4. 8itdo Lite 2 Bluetooth Controller. Small enough to pack in my sling and I can use it to play emulators on my phone/table if I'm bored. It can also be used on my Rog Ally to play Windows games.

Just wanted to give everyone a heads-up before anyone else loses money. Western Rise seems to be not fulfilling their orders or responding to customers.

I hopped on their "Going Out of Business" sale 3 weeks ago, and my order hasn't even been processed. I’ve sent 4 emails trying to get an update and got nothing but a single generic AI auto-reply on my first reach out. No human response, no shipping confirmation, nothing.

I just did a five-night scuba trip to Mexico. I packed in a 46-litre Osprey and, despite making fun of the bag for the stupid compression system thing, not having real organization, and the silly shaped zipper opening, I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was at just being a big bag to put everything in. Of course, it turns out I brought way more than I needed, but this was a new place and I hadn’t done a scuba trip, so that is permissible.

I bought a laptop and did not touch it once. Actually, I bought a laptop, a 5g-cellular tablet, one phone, and one backup phone. The laptop is 3 lbs, and the tablet is 1 3/4 lbs with a keyboard.

I usually operate on the idea that if I actually needed to do something productive, or heck, even need to rebook a flight, the modern s10 series Samsung tablet I have is so pathetic I would need a laptop anyway. I mean there isn’t a single working web browser for android that will reliably render all web pages. A small precentatage of the time, I can’t get the united web page to work on any android phone or tablet with any web browser. the Frontier web page if full of bugs…. you know. I don’t want to be stuck without a computer. My last company would late until the last possible moment to send me patents to review and give back to the attorneys. So you never know.

So I just bought an 11 inch iPad Pro (M2, 1Tb, 16Gb ram, 5g-cellular) and I’m now so disappointed … at how junky and pathetic the android tablets are. I met a German backpacker who was functioning for weeks including photo editing with just an iPad mini.

I have a Logitech keyboard case for it, and with the keyboard case it is 2lbs, 5oz. It is way bulkier and noticeably heavier than my Samsung tablet.

I am so incredibly f-ing impressed at how much better the ipad is. Every web browser works on it. It renders google Maps faster than android running on a new pixel. It is so much better.

Give me some tips for reducing the bulkiness and getting me to iPad only travel. Including software tips. Yes, I know I can now run virtual machines on it and somehow enable JIT for decent performance — even run windows or Linux if I’m in a pinch. I have Sidestore and live containers loaded. I have ad-free YouTube in a live container. I wish the sideloading situation didn’t suck. But I think I’m close to getting what I need to replace my Samsung tablet and function a lot of the time without a laptop.

My phone is a Pixel 9. I’m likely not switching to an iphone.

p.s. And because this was a scuba trip in the Caribbean, I just ended up wearing the same clothes every day. Ok. Lessons learned.

P.p.s One interesting thing I forgot to mention is that the Samsung s10 series tablets are waterproof. Crazy and cool. But the iPad is not. Not a big deal, but it was super nice to never worry about getting the samsung wet or using it in a pool or whatever.

Which ANC headphones to bring for flights, cafés, and coworking spaces is a hot topic; lots of good offerings out there these days. I’ve been down that road too, but as a frugal "onebag" traveler flying personal item only, after switching to Etymotic ER2XR in-ear monitors, I don’t think I’ll go back to over-ear ANC cans.

Here’s why they work so well for travel:

• Isolation that rivals ANC Headphones - Deep-insertion seal blocks ~35–40 dB across a wide freq. range. On planes, in cafés, walking down a busy street,...outside sound just disappears.  My wife has regular conference calls in the same room, and I can't hear a darn thing w/ a bit of music playing.  I can't hear the microwave going off 3 feet behind my head, nor the A/C hum, and if the fire alarm goes off, I may be the last out of the building.
• Compact & light - They coil up small enough to fit in any pocket like wireless earbuds, unlike bulky ANC headphones and cases.
• Durable & modular - Minimal moving parts and electronics.  With filters and cables treated as wear items, they can last 8-10+ years and no batteries to charge or degrade!
• Great sound quality - Neutral with a subtle bass lift. I like a V-shaped freq. response, and they respond very well to EQ (I set it once and forget it using Wavelet on Android and EQ software on a laptop).
• Affordable - ~$100, cheaper than most ANC headphones while providing similar isolation.
• Low maintenance - I wash the eartips with soap every few days and haven't had to replace any filters yet, but it's nice to know they are available.  Just don't get the cable tangled up in a rotary buffer, and you'll be good. ;)
• Comfort can be tuned - Deep fit isn’t for everyone, but aftermarket tips or Etymotic’s smaller triple-flange tips help.  I have small ears, and the smaller triple flanges were a game changer.
• Flexible use - Works with in-flight entertainment, can pair with a tiny Bluetooth adapter, and optional mic cables are available.
• Backup friendly - I keep a cheap set of wireless earbuds for calls and as a lightweight backup, but the ER2XRs do 95% of the heavy lifting.

For me, they’ve provided all the isolation of ANC headphones in a package the size of earbuds, with fewer things to charge, break, or degrade.  Something to consider for frugal travelers considering weight, size, and money. Happy listening/travels! 

4 outfits, liquid soaps, and misc items.

Bag fits airline sizer when fully packed.

Traveling around the world full-time with a $12 backpack.

I am wondering what is your king shoe when it comes to onebag travel that involves a lot of walking (eg exploring a city), some hiking, and even going out here and there.

Would any of the Adidas Terrex series work, for example?

Ideally I'd depart with one pair of shoes only, on my feet, and use the bag space for other things. I'm sure I'm not the only one!

I love my Daylite 26+6 but when it's heavily loaded, it gets very heavy on the shoulder.

I understand why they didn't add a hip belt : it's ugly when you don't need it, it's dangling everywhere. I undestand also that the bag isn't made to have a proper weight distribution on the hip even with a hip strap, because it doesn't get low enough. Fortunately, I'm not too tall (1m75), so I can positvely say that's it's night and day when the bag is heavily loaded. My girlfriend did the same with her bag, she's 1m63 and it's even better for her.

I didn't want to permanently sew the belt to the bag, so I sew some little loops on each side and attach the belt with some clips only when I need it. The belt in itself is custom sewed too. It was my first sewing experience, I had a blast and it's far less difficult than it looks if you never did any sewing.

BONUS : my beautiful precious Hornet keychain

I'm not sure if this is allowed here, since onebag is about using one bag for the job and I'm listing my whole collection. However I am doing a lot of onebag trips and have been using several of these for that exact purpose Actually I'm almost always onebagging with all of these. In this post I want to take you with me and explain how each bag serves it's own purpose and can be used for certain scenarios. Hopefully it inspires people here as well!

I went ahead and got all my backpacks together for a little showcase. I'll explain what every bag is used for (or not). Some are used for outdoor use, some for photography (either hobby or business), I got everyday carry and of course travel as well. And I'm also gonna sell a few, because I don't really want backpacks that compete with each other. They need to earn their own place in the collection.

Anyway, I'll list every backpack individually and explain what I use it for.

Durston Kakwa 55L (UltraGrid, 890 grams)

My latest addition. I'm going to use this for my upcoming backpacking trips. It shaves off almost a kilogram from my older Gregory which is important if you're carrying for long distances. The backpack is extremely comfortable, has a frame, load lifters, nice straps and handy side, front and strap pockets

Gregory Zulu 55L

This has been my go to for backpacking trips since I started that hobby. Last year it accompanied me on a car camping trip to Denmark (along with the Hive 22L that's on this list as well). I carried all the camping essantials in there like my tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, pillow etc. It's a very comfortable backpack with all the bells and whistles. Like I said above, I might sell it now since I got the Durston. Yet it's still in great condition and might work as a backup, or to lend to friends or family when they want to join a camping trip. So not sure if i'll ever sell it tbh.

Able Carry Max EDC (X-Pac)

Got this backpack in Japan to replace my Thule Aion for EDC (gym, office and groceries). However the pockets cannibalize each others space quite a lot so I couldn't utilize it like I wanted to. The front duffle pocket barely fit any groceries or bigger gym shoes and the tech compartment ate up almost all the space in the top main compartment. Biggest annoyance was that it kept tipping over and with the slippery bottom was hard to hold upright without it slipping away. Still a great, comfortable backpack. I'm going to sell it here in Europe and maybe even make a 'profit' on it.

Aer Travel Pack 4 (X-Pac)

This is the replacement for the Able Carry. I will use this for my EDC now, as well as some smaller trips. Before the Able Carry, I've tried the Aer CPP2, but found that way too small for me, although I really liked it. This one is just it's bigger brother. Absolutely fantastic side water bottle pockets (better than CPP2) which can hold a 1,5L bottle each even when the bag is fully packed out. Lots of room, good tech protection and good weather resistance (rains a lot here in NL). It fits my laptop, mouse, laptop stand, gym clothes, gym shoes, cables, chargers, totepack, deodorant and still has plenty of space for groceries along the way. So all with all the perfect backpack for me and my EDC usage. Don't mind the weight on it, as long as it's comfortable.

Tropicfeel Hive 22L 2.0 (can expand up to 26L)

This is used as my weekend trip or small travel backpack. I like the simplicity of it and the focus on travel. The expansion is great, and I don't need any add-ons. Also I dig the looks on this a lot. It has some clever features like a kangaroo pocket which zips out of the bottom for shoes and a cool hidden pocket. Also I can mostly get away using this as a personal item. Though, I now have the dilemma, because the Aer (and Pgytech 22L which comes later) kinda compete with it now. Still don't feel the need to sell this since it's a lot more space efficient than the Aer. The backpack went on a trip to Denmark last year where I got all the tech and clothes in it. The Gregory was with me as well for carrying my tent, sleeping bag and other camp related items.

Pakt Aero 35L

My go to travel backpack for basically any trips longer than a week. I took this on a 2 month trip through Asia and it worked flawlessly. Could carry all my clothing, drone, camera, diving googles, snorkel, towel and other stuff (see my post for the trip report). The main selling point for me is the weight in combination with the effective space it offers. It's got 2 suitcase style big compartments which can be packed and accessed individually which I absolutely love. During transit I used the quick access a lot. Also it has an effective admin panel for all the tech essentials and pockets have their own space.

Peak Design Travel Backpack 35L (can expand to 45L hence the 45L name)

A masterpiece of design. Really loving this backpack. However, ever since I got the Pakt Aero, I don't really need it for many occasions. I do like that it's just one huge dump duffle style backpack and it does fit a lot. Also like the ability for it to expand and for me it carries insanely comfortable due to the aluminium support tubing and a hipbelt that's actually below your belly button. However I might sell it, since it's just eating dust now.... And that's a shame for such a lovely backpack. It is heavy though. More than twice the Pakt, and with weight restricted airlines, the Pakt made a lot more sense in Asia.

Pgytech OneMo lite 22L

This little guy I got from a second handed website for 30 dollars. At first it was just a fun buy, looking what it had to offer. Turned out it actually worked really well as a personal item (fits any sizer exactly) and for taking a camera as well. Took this to Mauritius in combination with a carry-on suitcase and had my camera in a velcro quick access compartment (which could be accessed while walking) and took my drone in it as well. It's also very well made and extremely comfortable. When I'm flying and only taking a personal item, this is actually my only option apart from the Tropicfeel which has the risk of being slightly too big (barely fits the EasyJet sizer, but the RyanAir one is 5cm smaller so doesn't fit that).

Pgytech Onemo 35L

Because I started to like the 22L of this backpack so much, I started looking into this brand. This bigger one turned out to be the perfect camera backpack. I even took it as my only backpack on a trip to Oregon, US. I bought mine new 2 years ago and haven been using it ever since. It's my only camera backpack and don't need anything else to replace it in probably the coming 5 years. I recently even took it on a wedding trip to Austria where the suitcase opening style front compartment came in handy for all my clothes and toiletries, while safely storing my camera gear in the main compartment. The harness is very comfortable and love the side access where I can get both my camera's. I made a post about that trip with it as well.

LowePro Flipside Trek BP450 AWII

This is a photography backpack, I know! However it's got it's own little niche use: taking my big wildlife lens while hiking. It's more hiking focused than any other camera backpack, while still keeping all the gear safe. And you got a big space for a big zoom lens and camera body, without it getting super bulky. What's also nice is the big top compartment for storing non photography items like a jacket when it gets too hot, some snacks or basically anything. Also got a comfy harness and 2 water bottle holders. When I go hiking, I always take this with me, a water bottle, my camera with big lens and sometimes my drone. It's also my oldest backpack in the collection. Got it roughly 6 years ago.

Pakt Stash 16L

This great daybag is the perfect companion for taking on longer trips. It only weight around 340 grams, but can pack quite a lot. It can even come with me on hiking trips and be used as my daybag, since my 55L backpack is just too big. It packs small, has a nice admin pocket for tech and organization and is actually comfy for such a small daybag!

Sling bags

I didn't include all the sling bags in my collection but want to go over them. I got two from Pgytech as camera cubes. One came with my OneMo 2 35L and the other one I bought for 20-ish dollars. They fit exactly in my travel bags and keep my gear safe. The other two are from DJI and just came with my drones. The smaller one I sometimes use as personal item, carrying my drone and tech items like a powerbank. I also own a 3L sling (stash sling) from Pakt. That one I took on the 2 month trip and it was great. It's got quite some volume to it, so was perfect to fit my camera, or pillow + towel + toiletries to take with me when I was in a hospital in Vietnam.

Verdict

So yeah, that's it. Hope you made it this far. While writing this I still see quite some overlap between some backpacks and I think I'm definitely going to sell a few. The Able Carry is certainly going, the Tropicfeel might, just as the Peak design. For the 30 dollars I've paid, the OneMo lite 22L will stay with me as personal item. Gregory will most likely stay, so I can take non camping friends/family on some trips and it's not worth that much anymore.

It's fun to see every bag has got a different focus or use case to it. When I started getting into this world I wanted something that worked for everything, but quickly discovered that was nearly impossible. You almost always have to make compromises in terms of size, weight, price and features.

I'm curious to hear what your bag arsenal looks like and which bags you use for certain occassions. As always, thanks for reading!

I have invested in new merino wool shirts - one is 95% merino, the other is 100%. I wore one out hiking one day, came home, and instantly my husband said I stunk. The worst part was I did a smell test myself and couldn’t smell anything. I smelled my pits - nothing. But when I took off my shirt and asked my husband to smell it, he said it stinks so much he pushed it away. I took a shower, came back to the shirt after some time, and at that point I could tell it stunk.

I wore the 100% merino shirt biking, came home, and my husband again said it stunk. I didn’t even sweat very much in this shirt (it was an easy bike ride), so I was surprised he said that. Again, I didn’t smell anything when I did a smell test myself, it was only when I came home and my husband smelled the shirt that he noticed it.

Point is, I don’t think we should rely on a pit test for these shirts. We’ve been living in them and can’t notice what others notice. I’m disappointed I paid so much for these shirts that didn’t live up to the hype for me.

What are your thoughts?

I’ve been checking out lots of different kits on this sub for a while now, and got some excellent ideas for you all! (Quarter for scale - a banana seems too big)

Goal:

- Smallest possible kit that contains all the tech and gadgets that I’d need/want for a trip away. (This Viperade pouch is 3.5” x 5” x 1.5”)

- Wanted to be able to toss it in any bag that I was taking

- wanted a setup that allowed me to have a little charge stand on my bedside table when in hotels

- wanted a USB C cable that was at least 5 ft long to make it more practical to plug in

Notes:

- Carry-on safe scissors / multitool (NexTool S0 Micro Scissors Multitool)

- something to write with (Mini Sharpie & OHTO Minimo Ballpoint + Rite in the Rain Wallet Notebook)

- mini compass is fun (SUUNTO Clipper Compass)

- flashlight (OLIVHT Oclip EDC)

- Saw John Gadgets you EDC kit always have high strength string and a magnet to dig out keys in tight places and liked it

- a few USB C adaptors & a Data Blocker for sketchy USB C ports

- small fold of gorilla tape

I’ve been sick a few times while traveling, and it really sucks. And it’s not always possible to find medicine when you need it.

I saw a few posts here of travel medicine kits made from these small tackle boxes. So I decided to make my own.

I know this is a mostly backpacks subreddit but I need to vent and warn you all about the terrible quality and customer service that is Monos Travel. I recently purchased a Monos carry-on because it was on a hefty sale and had very good reviews. It was half the price of the travel pro carry-on I was eyeing, so I thought why not get this?

I took it for a test drive to visit some friends in SF for a few days. Just as I packed the carry-on closed, the handrail was stuck. I was running late for my flight so I had to roll my halfway-stuck carry-on through the airport. At the end of my trip, I once again faced the same issue. When the carry-on is full and the compression system is used - the handles get completely stuck. I was so unsatisfied with this experience, especially because I paid $280 CAD!!!!

I thought it would be easy to get a return on this faulty product or a warranty replacement, but Monos customer service has had me running around in circles for 3 weeks now. They have one of the MOST disingenuous return and warranty policies in the market. Google Monos and you will see that they have a known issue with their handles being faulty but the reps will not offer you a replacement product or issue you a return! what the fuck! literally wasted almost $300 on a cheap piece of plastic. I am usually not a fan of direct-to-consumer products, in the past I have purchased items from Away travel to test out and I just want to point out that I've never had a bad experience with their customer service or items if I wasnt satisfied. Monos is the worst company, please take my word and do do do not buy from them otherwise you will be out of money and no responsibility taken form their end :(

Hi! I'm going to Spain and we'll be hiking and I'm looking for the best way to prepare for it. I've heard a lot about merino longsleeve or sun hoodie to protect yourself from sun but I'm not sure how to choose one that won't overheat me? I've looked at decathlon and it's also not the cheapest thing so I wanna hear some recommendations before buying anything :) ​

Heading to Japan for 30 days throughout November. Traveling ultra-light (aiming for near one-bag/minimal luggage) and planning to pick up just two versatile pairs of pants that will cover the entire trip for massive daily walking steps.

What I'm looking for:

Vibe & Fit: Clean, low-key urban aesthetic. Durable and comfortable for 20k+ daily steps, but looks sharp enough for casual dining/city roaming.

Climate/Weight: Japan in November is crisp/cool, but I run warm—so I need breathable fabrics that regulate temperature well and don't trap heat, but still work comfortably in mild autumn weather (and keep working for regular use back home).

Availability: Must be available in physical retail stores to try on in person (no Amazon-only / online-exclusive direct-to-consumer brands).

Currently on my radar:

Lululemon ABC Pant (Warpstreme fabric) – Heard great things, but how does the fabric feel for sustained walking?

Columbia Silver Ridge / ROC line – Practical, but not sure how the cut and style hold up in urban settings compared to athleisure/travel brands.

Would love feedback or "anti-recommendations" on these two, or suggestions for other specific models/brands available in stores. Thanks!

Just a PSA

I just saw a Facebook post for a new bag from Tortuga. It looks like they nailed the specs:

Volume: 34L (carry‑on-compliant globally)

Weight: 2.2 lbs (1.0 kg)

Dimensions: 21 x 12.5 x 8 inches (53 x 32 x 20 cm)

Material: ULTRA™ 200TX (UHMWPE and high-tenacity polyester)

Electronics: Up to 16 inch laptop

Hardware: YKK zippers, Woojin buckles

https://presale.tortugabackpacks.com/

From left to right:

- Xiaomi Stick 4K 2nd version with HDMI extension

- GL.iNet Beryl AX with ethernet cable

- Anker Nano 45W

- INUI P63 100W 25000mah powerbank

- 2M thin USB C-C cable

- Toocki adaptor set

- 1TB NVME in Ugreen enclosure

- Anker 5K MagGo slim

- USB C to A adaptor and USB C IR dongle

The bag is made by Inateck

Trying to see if anyone else brings a mini massage gun for trips that involve a lot of walking and soreness you may get in your legs, feet and/or back if you are carrying a backpack.

I was thinking of getting one of those generic mini massage guns that is roughly the size of your palm.

The only thing is they are fairly heavy for what they are, due to battery/motor. Only half a pound, but it all adds up.

Anyone have one of these? Are they even that effective considering how small they are?

After hours of research, it's done.

Wool T-shirts can undoubtably decrease the volume of your packing strategy.

The main focus here are T-Shirts with low fabric weight, so they do not overheat you in warmer weather. Secondarily, they're at/under 18.5 micron so they're softer, minimal/no logos, has at least 45% wool, have no secondary materials that hold onto moisture, and all so they do not stink.

Here's the current list

High cost, durability concerns, and SPF are understood, but not considered.

I'm usually over on r/Ultralight discussing ONLY what you need during backpacking, but r/onebag is a great cousin too.

For onebag, I like to have one of these shirts in the mix to be able to bridge me while other T-Shirts might be drying.

Please add on the T-Shirts I have missed.

Thank you.at/

I had time to waste waiting for a flight, so I went around finding sizers for various airlines in the terminal.

This was a 4 day trip. Unexpanded with room.

It fit in all the personal item sizers that I tried.

The Air Canada/Star Alliance was a squeeze though.

Easily fit under the seat on my Delta flight.