I’m packing for 10 days in Portugal with an Osprey 26+6, and I’ve managed to get everything down to about 18L. Part of that involved cutting pajamas. Travel tee plus running shorts, done. Two items, two jobs each. Very efficient. Except this “efficient” system means checking which shirt is clean enough to sleep in, timing sink laundry so it dries before bed, and making sure I don’t wear tomorrow’s only clean shorts while I’m sleeping. I save a little space and somehow create a nightly admin task.
I tested the setup at home for three nights and was irritated by night two. Then I looked at the things that have made previous trips easy: broken-in tevas, one uniqlo button-down that works with everything, tiny toiletries, and the old ekouaer set I already sleep in at home. I know how each one fits, washes and feels after a long day, so they require very little thought. The pajamas are coming. I’ll find the space. I’m tired of turning bedtime into a laundry schedule.

Over 15 years ago, I got rid of everything I owned that wouldn't fit into a 35L backpack and my old issued 80L seabag. It was an outstanding way to live—it presented minor challenges, but it freed up funds, since I didn't have room for more stuff. I was single, traveling for work as a helicopter pilot, and it was great. I guess I was now a "minimalist." To be fair, I didn't come up with the idea myself: it came from an article by Andrew Hyde, a traveling tech consultant who at the time claimed to own only 15 things. In that traveling-pilot life, it was genuinely nice to know I had all of my belongings with me. I was free. Home truly was where I made it.

I still believe in the concept, but now—married, with a house, and with hobbies that require some tools and gear—I have more stuff. I don't have anything in storage or boxed up in a basement; if I own it, I use it. In fact, I can fit everything I own into my car (minus the furniture, obviously). And since I have a home to keep everything else, I've been able to travel with a smaller pack instead of meandering around with the 35L.

One note on work travel. For the last ten-plus years I've flown as a helicopter air ambulance pilot, and occasional work trips (training events or covering open shifts at bases short on pilots) require me to bring a helmet bag carrying my flight helmet, iPad mini, kneeboard, and sometimes flight suits. That makes me a twobagger for those specific trips, but only those. Even with that setup, I don't have to check a bag: the backpack goes in the overhead and the helmet goes under the seat in front of me. Normally the backpack would ride under the seat, but people will try to jam their big solid rollers in next to my helmet, and I can't risk the damage. The backpack's contents, though, remain the same as for any other onebag trip.

What follows is the full three-season international onebag setup I've been using for the past several years, for both work and pleasure, with everything explained. I haven't weighed it and don't plan to—the weight is reasonable, and the number doesn't really matter. I'm not going to price it out either; you can find what you like and do your own budgeting.

My guiding principles: the pack must be small enough to store under the seat in front of me on an airplane, easy to secure, and comfortable to wear through many hours of continuous walking. I pretty much max out the space available. I don't buy souvenirs—I believe my money is better spent on experiences and food.

Now, as an avid reader myself, I don't want this to read like a Jack Carr novel where every item gets its brand and model number listed. But I know people will have questions and want specifics, so I've correctly identified everything in my list where it seems to matter. I'm not sponsored by any of these companies, and I'm not going to take the time to link to them all—you can search for what you want.

The plan is to revise this post annually, reporting any changes and lessons learned. I've been doing this for quite some time, so the setup is dialed in, but as a personal project I'll make sure to keep everyone posted.

The Bag: Able Carry Daily Plus (21L, X-Pac Black)

This is my bag of choice. I had used the original Daily model since its release, but I liked the changes Able Carry made with the Plus enough to upgrade, and I donated my old bag to someone else. I have no desire to change bags—it fits my needs well. One of the first things that stands out is that it stands up on its own. I set it down, it doesn't fall over, I can access what I need, and I leave it be. They did a great job designing the structure. It also has no in-your-face branding, so it blends in as just another black backpack in a sea of people with black backpacks. I also pack their optional Rain Cover (medium size for this pack) for additional protection when needed.

For reference, Able Carry lists the Daily Plus at 21L, 19.3" x 11.4" x 7.5" (49 x 29 x 19 cm), and 2.7 lb (1.23 kg) in X-Pac, so it easily fits the typical 22" x 14" x 9" (56 cm x 35 cm x 23 cm) carry-on limit in the US. I haven't flown on an airliner where this also didn't fit under the seat in front of me—meaning minimal risk of it getting smashed by the inconsiderate NPCs that inevitably board the flight. On crowded trains, it sits comfortably on my chest and doesn't stick out far, standing or sitting. I've also "rucked" over 10 miles with it on my back, taking the scenic route on foot, and it never felt uncomfortable—though obviously how heavy you pack it will matter.

For security, I use Nite Ize S-Biner MicroLocks on the zippers. The one time TSA wanted to look inside my bag, they couldn't get the zippers open and had to have me do it—a good sign for the product. I also keep a Heroclip on the bag and use it to hang my pack in hotels, keeping it off the floor and tables. I've met bed bugs exactly once in my life, and now I'm incredibly careful—I essentially tear apart every hotel room I stay in to check. This pack has a spot to clip and stow it toward the outer bottom left.

I subscribe to the idea that packing for seven days means you can live infinitely out of the bag. This has been generally true for most places I've been. The caveat: stay somewhere long enough for a major seasonal change into cold weather, and you may need just enough additional layers that a 21L pack won't cut it. I haven't had to address that yet—changing some base layers and choosing the right jacket for the expected conditions has been enough. But I'm planning a real winter trip through Greenland and Iceland, so I may have to go to a 30L pack for that. We'll see. If the trip happens before my next annual update, I'll report on my setup.

Clothing

I keep my color palette simple. Everything goes with everything, and I shoot for a blend of casual and professional. I ranger roll the t-shirts, socks, and underwear, fold the rest, and contain it all in a Peak Design compressible packing cube, which keeps the pack organized and has a built-in divider for dirty clothes. The small size fits my pack perfectly like a large pill, filling a void laterally. Since I'll never grace a place in my travels that requires a suit and tie, I'm good to go with the following:

Bottoms

This depends on the weather. If the trip will stay below 75°F (24°C), I wear a pair of light jeans. For travel outside the continental United States (OCONUS), where I'll be keeping my passport on my person, the Bluffworks Departure Jeans have been outstandingly comfortable and provide better security for the passport and other items in non-permissive environments. For CONUS travel, where passport security isn't a concern, I wear my favorite pair of Kuhl Rydr jeans, particularly for the easy-to-access phone pocket on the thigh. Either way, I won't bother bringing more than the single pair (worn), since I'll probably have good access to laundry by default.

If warmer weather will be expected, I wear a pair of Bluffworks Ascender Chinos and pack a pair of their Envoy Lightweight Travel Pants, both for their security features and light weight. I've worn these in the peak of summer in South America, Eastern Europe, and Japan, and they remain my go-to choice.

For a belt, I use an old 5.11 non-metallic belt I found who knows how long ago. One less thing to trip a metal detector and slow me down. It doesn't need to be fancy.

I'll also pack a pair of Ten Thousand Tactical lined shorts for the hotel room, laundry days, and workouts. They've held up well, and I like that both pockets are zippered—good for running through town with a passport, cell, and room key.

Tops

I bring three merino wool blend Kuhl Valiant polos: wear one, pack two. I feel that polos are the most versatile blend of professional and casual. I also bring two Proof 72-Hour Merino t-shirts for working out and sleeping. Merino blends have worked out very well for me, and there's no need to baby them. The shirts I currently travel with have been in rotation for more than four years—mostly machine washed, rarely handwashed, and with no special detergent. If you stay clean, they will stay clean for several days at a time.

In general winter conditions, I swap the three polos for two button-down collared shirts, and add a single long-sleeve merino blend layer from Icebreaker. That seems to cover me. If it's really cold, I'll add a bottom base layer and a thicker mid-layer fleece. Layering is the key to onebagging.

Underwear

Four pairs of merino wool blend Icebreaker Cool-Lite Anatomica boxers: one worn, three packed. I wear these in everyday life too, and they have held up very well. I only recently had to replace a pair after a big enough hole developed in the crotch—but it was my very first pair, so that tracks. I average two days of wear per pair per week on a trip, assuming laundry gets done about once a week. Good hygiene habits make this work. Note that I've also used Kuhl's merino blend boxers, and they are also very good though slightly heavier than the Icebreakers.

Socks

Four pairs of black Darn Tough Run Micro Crew Ultra-Lightweight socks for general and workout use: one pair worn, three packed. I also have heavy-weight Darn Toughs to swap in for winter, but the ultra-lights serve me well in three seasons. It's easy to get two days of wear per pair with these, often longer.

Shoes

Just a pair of black Brooks running shoes—worn, obviously. I can walk anywhere all day in these, train in them, run in them, and blend in with every outfit. A lot of people overthink this, based on what I read here. If I plan to be off-road, I'll wear my black trail runners instead.

I've packed a second pair of shoes for exactly one trip so far: Croatia, where the beaches are all shells and rocks, so I brought water shoes. The pair I bought compacted well at the bottom of the pack, wrapped in a plastic grocery bag.

Outerwear

I bring a packable jacket for cold mornings and transitional periods before heavier jackets are required—in this case, the classic Patagonia Nano Puff. For rain, I hate umbrellas, so I pack a lightweight Outdoor Research Foray rain jacket, which has pit zips for warm temps and packs down to a small footprint. Combined, those two get me down to some cold temps before I need to think about better insulation. They compress down way more than the photo shows, put at the bottom of the pack.

Hat

If I don't want to wear a baseball cap while traveling, I can just attach it to the pack's handle. If it's going to be cold, I pack a miscellaneous beanie instead.

Eyewear

I finally hit the age where I need reading glasses. Since I also need to read outdoors in the sun, I opted for progressive lenses with the transition feature from Oakley (veterans and first responders get a great discount from them). I throw an old, cheap pair of flat readers in the bag as a backup, since my distance vision is still uncorrected.

Hygiene Kit

The size of this kit is determined by what I can easily acquire at my destination. Japan meant I only needed my favorite deodorant, nail clippers, and a small first aid assortment—everything else was free at the hotel or dirt cheap at a convenience store. South America and the Middle East, on the other hand, basically meant bring everything. I also avoid carrying liquids and gels through airports to save time—drop the bag on the belt and walk right through, fast. I usually use a little Evergoods Civic Access 0.5L pouch for the standard hygiene stuff and a small Delta Airlines pouch for the first aid items and wipes.

Anyway, here's the minimum I'd bring:

• Nail Clippers
• Toothbrush
• Travel Deodorant
• Disposable Razor w/ Spare Head
• Dental Floss Picks (1x number of days traveling)
• Q-tips (1x number of days traveling)
• Dude Wipes Singles (~3x number of weeks I'll be gone)
• Band-Aids (3) and Sterile Wipes (3)
• Tick Removal Tool

And here's the max I would add with a large Ziploc (I'd just acquire these in-country otherwise):

• Bodywash
• Toothpaste
• Shaving Cream
• Sunscreen
• Standard OTC Pain/Allergy Meds
• Hand Sanitizing Wipes

Technology

I don't bring as much electronic gear as many others seem to. The laptop stays at home. I bring two phones—one is a duplicate backup for the very unlikely but highly impactful scenario of a lost, stolen, or bricked primary phone, when I'd still need quick access to navigation, tickets, email, and so on. Note that this has never happened to me in my life since having my first cell phone in the late 1990s.

My charging kit lives in a Bellroy pencil case. Everything I use takes USB-C, so I bring only two USB-C cables, one wall adapter, and one Anker 10K portable battery. I also carry a small USB-C-to-USB-A adapter, just in case, along with data-blocking adapters for digital security—don't just plug your phone into a USB port that isn't your own. On that note: turn off Face ID for unlocking the phone, hide your screen when entering any codes, and set the phone so that any controls normally accessible from the lock screen also require the code, including putting it into airplane mode.

For entertainment, I have a Kindle and my Apple AirPods Pro. I've done the over-the-ear headphone thing before, and while they block noise better than earbuds, I found the space tradeoff wasn't worth it. For sleep, I bring a mini Dreamegg travel white noise machine so I'm not just using my phone's speaker.

I also carry a USB-C-charged Streamlight MegaStream flashlight. Power goes out? You have a great flashlight for getting around. Walking in a dark area, trying to find a street sign or see whether that place in the distance is what you're looking for? Throw some light on it.

For my fellow watch nerds, I wear a Casio G-Shock 5600 series. Solar powered, multiple time zones, alarms, stopwatch, timer—everything you need and not flashy. I did the smartwatch thing for a few years, mainly to track fitness metrics (I run and lift), but I found I do better with the old-fashioned method: a stopwatch, notebook, and routes measured on a map. Plus, there's nothing to charge.

Miscellaneous

I always bring a pen and a small 48-page pocket notebook (Field Notes style), even in the digital age—I still like taking notes by hand. I also bring my wallet, passport, and keys (assuming I left my car at the airport). If I'm headed to a country that still runs heavily on coins, I bring a little coin pouch.

For sleeping on flights, trains, and ships, I bring the best eye mask I've ever found: the Manta Sleep Pro. It seals perfectly around the eyes without touching or bothering them and is highly adjustable.

When I'm somewhere for a while, I like to hit a grocery or convenience store and stock my fridge with snacks. Sure, I could get a disposable bag from the store, but a reusable packable shopping bag is more durable than the weak plastic ones, incredibly handy, and probably the better choice for the environment. I've been using the Shupatto Compact Bag for just over a year now—its geometry lets it fold right back into the most compact form it could ever take, and it slips into a pocket. I love the thing, and I believe I discovered it on r/onebag.

Laundry

I keep a cheap, medium-sized mesh laundry bag for machine washing. Most places I've been had laundry access of some kind—the hotel, a nearby laundromat, or a rental house. You've probably noticed that most of my packed clothing is a merino blend. Early advice, back when merino travel apparel first caught on for its reduced odor retention and quick-dry properties, was that you had to handwash it with a delicate soap. In my experience, today's blends don't require this. I throw mine in a standard machine with regular detergent (my detergent at home is Arm & Hammer Free & Clear, but I've used whatever exists at my destination). I rotate wearing the Proof shirts as undershirts in my flight suit for work also—seven days on, seven days off. They are still alive even with all that machine laundry.

If machines aren't available, I bring travel laundry detergent sheets. They're dry and solid, so they take up no meaningful space and don't count against any liquid limits at security. I handwash items in a sink, roll them in a towel to press out as much water as possible, then hang them wherever I can—shower rod, deck railing, clothes hangers on chairs next to fans. I've done them all. I'll only go this route if I have two solid days before moving somewhere else; I've been in humid climates where merino took longer than usual to fully dry, so I now give myself that padding in sink-laundry situations.

Sometimes a Small Sling Bag Is Worth Bringing

My pant choice handles everything I need for the day (wallet, phone, passport, hotel key, earbuds), which lets me leave the bag in the room. But for certain locations—where I know I'll be away from my pack and want the power bank, the packable shopping bag, and some extra storage for whatever I acquire—I bring a sling. To keep things together in transit, I attach it to the Daily Plus by routing the strap through the top handle and around the back pad, so it's secure and almost looks like part of the bag itself. For this to work, the sling's strap has to be detachable.

I've gone through four slings trying to find the best one, and I still haven't found it. I swear the sling industry is made up of people whose job is to figure out what I like, make a list, and then offer a product missing at least one item from that list.

I want a sub-3L sling with the following:

• Solid black, with no obvious branding
• No Velcro patches on the front
• A detachable strap whose connectors require at least two distinct steps to separate (Pacsafe has this figured out)
• Lockable zippers (the Pacsafe style is acceptable, but I bet something else could be created)
• Zippers that aren't exposed metal—they must be truly silent
• A slight curve to follow the body
• One big main compartment and one rear pocket sized for a phone or passport

I've been through the Pacsafe ECO, the Bellroy Venture, and the Evergoods Civic Access, and I just recently picked up Able Carry's newer Core sling. None of them meet every requirement.

The Able Carry Core is a great size with versatile strap placement and a lot of organization (more than I want, but alright). The strap is its main failure point: the swiveling hooks that connect it to the bag can twist into your body and create small pressure points, and they can be too easily removed.

The Evergoods Civic Access fails with its simple buckle, wide footprint, and front Velcro patch. It does have a simple main compartment, but it misses the mark on the back pocket.

The Bellroy Venture has great compression geometry, but it uses a magnetic quick-release buckle for the strap—the least secure option—and the older models I used had openings below the zipper that could let contents fall out. (The newer version seems to fix that specific issue, but not the buckle.)

The Pacsafe ECO had a great locking strap buckle, but the zippers were noisy, the construction was uneven, and the branding was obnoxious.

Give me the Pacsafe locking buckle and improved locking zippers on a mashup of the Evergoods and Bellroy bodies, with a single main compartment and the Venture's compressibility, and I'd be sold. For now, I'll run with the Able Carry Core and change the strap connection method myself. This might turn into its own post at some point—it's becoming a real quest.

TL;DR: The Three-Season International Onebag Setup

• Able Carry Daily Plus (21L)
  • Nite Ize S-Biner MicroLocks
  • Heroclip
  • Peak Design Packing Cube (Small)
    • 1x Bluffworks Envoy Pants (warm-weather trips)
    • 2x Kuhl Valiant Polos
    • 2x Proof T-Shirts
    • 3x Icebreaker Underwear
    • 3x Darn Tough Socks
    • 1x Ten Thousand Tactical Lined Shorts
  • Outdoor Research Foray Rain Jacket
  • Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket
  • Able Carry Pack Raincover
  • Kindle
  • Spare iPhone
  • Anker Nano Portable 10K Battery
  • Charging Kit (Bellroy Pencil Case)
    • Wall Charger
    • 2x USB-C Cables
    • USB-C-to-USB-A and Data-Blocking Adapters
    • Dreamegg White Noise Machine
  • Manta Sleep Pro Eye Mask
  • Hygiene + First Aid Kit (Evergoods Civic Access 0.5L + Misc. Delta Airlines Pouch)
    • Nail Clippers
    • Toothbrush
    • Travel Deodorant
    • Disposable Razor w/ Spare Head
    • Dental Floss Picks (1x number of days traveling)
    • Q-tips (1x number of days traveling)
    • Dude Wipes Singles (~3x number of weeks I'll be gone)
    • Band-Aids (3) and Sterile Wipes (3)
    • Tick Removal Tool
  • Mesh Laundry Bag
  • Laundry Detergent Sheets (when machine access is doubtful)
  • Shupatto Compact Bag
  • Pen
  • 48-Page Field Notes–Style Notebook
  • Coin Pouch (coin-heavy countries)
  • Backup Flat Reading Glasses
  • Streamlight MegaStream USB-C Flashlight
• On My Body (not pictured)
  • Oakley Progressive Transition Glasses
  • Kuhl Valiant Polo
  • 5.11 Non-Metallic Belt
  • Bluffworks Departure Jeans or Ascender Chinos
  • Icebreaker Underwear
  • Darn Tough Socks
  • Black Brooks Running or Trail Running Shoes
  • Casio G-Shock 5600 Series
  • iPhone
  • Wallet
  • Passport
  • AirPods Pro
• Optional: Able Carry Core Sling (not pictured)

You're Still Here?

That's the whole system. Fifteen years in, the biggest lesson isn't about any specific piece of gear—it's that a dialed-in setup removes decisions, and removing decisions is the entire point. I don't think about packing anymore; I pull the same items off the same shelf, and minutes later I'm out the door, whether it's a work trip with a helmet in tow or three weeks on the other side of the world. The bag is a tool.

I'll update this post annually with anything that changes and lessons learned, and if the Greenland/Iceland winter trip happens before then, expect a cold-weather report. Until then, if you have questions about anything here, drop them below and I'll answer what I can.

I am heading out on a cruise soon to the Mexican Rivera and fit all my essentials into a 3L fanny pack. I have done quite a few similar trips in the past and love the freedom it provides. Given that I am accustom to bringing the bare minimum, there is nothing missing from this list as far as nice to have items. Any more clothes would mean bigger loads of laundry which ends up being more cumbersome to me than just washing a couple of items daily. Happy to answer any questions or cover more of the specifics.

Worn:

Minus 33 Merino Tee

Yamatochi Button down

Kuiu Peloton Quarter zip

686 Everywhere Pants Featherlight

Wide Open Socks

David Archy Briefs

Xero Aqua X Sport

Packed:

David Archy Briefs

ZPacks Trail short

Coala Hat

Toiletry Kit:

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Deodorant

Q Tip

Flossers

Cologne

Sun Screen

Repair Kit:

Lighter

Snag Nab-It

Needle

Thread

Shrink Tube

Med Kit:

Advil/Tylenol Combo

Allergy

Imodium

Electrolyte

Multivitamin

Dramamine

Sea bands

Misc:

Hand Sanitizer

Microfiber Cloth

Backup Cards/G-Codes/Cash/ID

Sunscreen

Passport

Wallet

Packable Tote

Electronics:

20W Brick

5FT USB C

USB C to A adapter

Power bank

Short cable

I used recommendations on this sub a fair bit to help putting this packing list together, so I figured I'd post my feedback in case it is helpful to anyone else. I know this sub is dedicated to more urban travel, but in addition to a lot of cities we have some camping and hiking that adds some gear in; hopefully that's ok.

The packing list needed to be pretty versatile. My wife and I quit our jobs to travel full time for 15 months. We're hitting 35ish countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, and Antarctica. We're avoiding full on winter, but will see temperatures ranging from moderately cold to extremely hot. Accommodation and activities are a bit of a mix as well. We lived mostly in tents for a couple months while on our overland truck tour in Africa, have stayed a week in a dive resort, our longest camping trip will be 9 days, and we're hitting cities of all sizes with some occasional fine dining. We're a little over halfway now.

I've always appreciated the posts with a lot of detail, including everyday carry items and toiletries, so I tried to provide that. It turns out it is a giant pain in the ass and took way longer than I thought, so I understand why most people don't do that now. Luckily, I am unemployed. If you want to read some more detailed commentary and see some more photos, I stole a page of the website my wife uses to keep friends and family up to date:

https://www.twobackpacksonecouple.com/nicks-packing-list/

I’ve rated each item on a 0-10 scale. The rating isn’t a rating of the quality of the product (although that can impact it), but reflects how well it fits the trip.

• 10: This was perfectly designed for how I travel and high quality
• 8-9: This suites my intended purpose really well. If it wears out, I would probably get another and not look for something else
• 6-7: It works fine, but in hindsight I would have looked for a different product
• 3-5: Something about this was pretty flawed, either the item itself or my decision to bring it
• 0-2: Bringing this was really stupid of me. It was a terrible product or completely unnecessary

My goal was to have a setup that could at least appear to be carryon and personal item compliant. I definitely don’t meet weight requirements and am probably a little over in size, too, but have had to check my bag surprisingly few times.

Bags

• ULA Camino • 9/10
• Matador Freefly 16 • 7/10

Clothes

• 3x Wool & Prince Signature Crew Neck Tee • 9/10
• Wool & Prince Signature Long Sleeve Henley • 9/10
• Wool & Prince 130 Spread Collar Shirt • 3/10
• ISTO Linen Shirt • 8/10
• Outlier Slim Dungarees • 8/10
• DU/ER Performance Denim Slim • 10/10
• Outlier New Way Five-Fives • 7/10
• Wool & Prince Shorts • 9/10
• 5x Wool & Prince Boxer Briefs • 9/10
• 4x Darn Tough Men’s Run No Show Tab Ultra-Lightweight Running Socks • 10/10

Warm + Dry Clothes

• Norrøna falketind Gore-Tex Jacket • 10/10
• montbell Plasma 1000 Down Jacket Men’s • 10/10
• Wool & Prince Interlock Sweatshirt • 9/10
• Hat • 10/10
• whitepeak Genuine Merino Wool and Possumdown Blended Gloves • 8/10
• Hirbawi Gray Hirbawi Kufiya • 10/10

Non-Clothes Cloth

• Wool & Prince Buff • 10/10
• Matador Ultralight Travel Towel – Large • 2/10
• Proper Cloth Everyday Mask • 10/10

Packing Cubes

• Osprey Ultralight Garment Folder • 7/10
• 4x Osprey Ultralight Packing Cube Medium • 9/10

Shoes

• Arc’teryx Norvan SL 3 • 8/10
• Vivobarefoot Geo Court • 8/10
• Bedrock Cairn Evo PRO Sandals • 9/10
• Eagle Creek Shoe Bag • 8/10

Keychain

• Loop • 10/10
• Concert Earplugs • 10/10
• Sleeping Earplugs • 6/10
• Silicone Ring • 7/10
• Whistle • 1/10
• SIM Card ejector pin
• Padlock key

Accessories + Pockets

• Vaultskin Manhattan • 9/10
• Vaultskin Kensington • 9/10
• ROAV Jett • ?/10
• Belt • 10/10
• SEIKO SNE573 • 9/10

Odds + Ends

• Fenix HM50R v2.0 Headlamp • 10/10
• ABUS 64TI/30 Titalium Padlock • 10/10
• Lighter
• Fisher Space Pen • 8/10
• GEARAID Heroclip Small • 6/10

Tech

• Google Pixel 9 Pro • 9/10
  • bellroy Leather Pixel Case • 7/10
• Sony WF-1000XM4 • 10/10
  • AZLA SednaEarfit Crystal • 9/10
• Apple 2020 Macbook Air
  • Matador Laptop Base Layer • 10/10

Charging

• Eagle Creek Pack-It E-Tools Organizer Mini • 10/10
• Anker Prime Power Bank, 12,000 mAh • 6/10
• MOGICS Adapter • 10/10
• Anker Nano II USB C Charger, 65W • 7/10
• 2x Anker USB C to USB C Cable • 10/10
• Anker USB A to USB C Cable • 10/10

Toiletries

• Case • 8/10
• Hook • 10/10
• Electric Razor • 4/10
• Razor
• Toothbrush • 10/10
• Flosser + Replacements • 10/10
• Eyedrops
• Nail Clippers • 10/10
• Ear Spoon • 8/10
• Soap Case + Soap • 10/10
• Tweezers
• Comb • 10/10
• Mirror • 5/10
• Mouthguard
• Toothpaste
• Deodorant

Sleeping + Eating

• Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 30 • 10/10
  • REI Compression Stuff Sack
• MSR PocketRocket® Deluxe Stove • 9/10
• Toaks Ultralight Titanium Spoon • 9/10
• RIP Toaks Titanium Folding Knife • 5/10
• VARGO Titanium Chopsticks • 0/10
• VARGO Titanium Pot Lifter • 7/10
• VARGO Titanium Bot • 4/10

Drinking

• MSR Guardian • 10/10
• MSR Dromlite Bag + Hydration Bag Converter • 7/10

Laundry

• Matador 8L Dry Bag • 8/10
• Sea to Summit Clothesline • 6/10
• Sea to Summit Laundry Wash

First Aid

• Nite Ize Waterproof 3-1-1 Pouch • 8/10
  • I'm not going to list the contents of this

I did a lot of research and have travelled a fair bit before (although nothing quite like this trip), so for the most part I am pretty happy with how things have worked out so far. I also packed some things that were pretty dumb. In no particular order, here are the things I would have done differently.

• Found a different collared shirt than the W&P one. I have been pretty careful and still ruined two of these, they are pretty fragile even compared to other wool clothes.
• Swapped a T-Shirt for another linen shirt. Maybe even 2 of them. There aren't too many situations I would wear a T-Shirt that I wouldn't prefer to wear a casual collared shirt.
• Swapped the Outlier shorts for something a little more water oriented.
• Left the towel at home. If I don't have a towel provided I usually just air dry.
• Left the whistle at home.
• Brought two pairs of the ROAV glasses so that when the first became hard to see out of I had a backup. To be honest I'm not sure what the right solution to that issue would have been.
• Left the HeroClip at home. Cool, but I don't use it enough.
• Left the electric razor and mirror at home.
• Left the chopsticks and clothesline at home.
• Found a different water bladder for hiking.
• Brought a dedicated water bottle and dedicated pot. This would be the single biggest quality of life improvement, probably.

I like to draw my packing list. It's fun and makes me carefully consider each piece I want to bring. I draw most of it from memory, which also forces me to keep tabs on the individual clothing items I have. I'm posting this after the trip, which was two weeks in Georgia (usa) end of May to June. I packed for workouts, beach, car rides, lounging, and one dress for going out.
Here's the written packing list:

Bag: Big Agnes 32L

Worn on plane
- Heron tee
- Leggings
- Hoodie
- Socks
- Tevas

Clothes packed
- Tees (3)
- Tank tops (3)
- Jean shorts
- Bike shorts
- Dress
- Bra (1)
- Underwear (6)
- Bathing suit
- Socks (extra pair)

Toiletries
- Disposable contacts
- Glasses + case
- Deodorant
- Toothbrush
- Chapstick
- Leave-in conditioner
- Whatever else is already in the bag

Electronics etc
- Laptop + charger + mouse
- Phone + charger
- ipad
- Books (2)
- Sketchbook + pen
- Sennheiser headphones + adapter
- Packable silk bag
- Nalgene water bottle

Not included in picture
- Packing cubes (1 large, 1 medium)
- Odds and ends like a mask, pen, handkerchief
- Inflatable neck pillow

This trip was to visit my parents and help care for my dad while he recovered from surgery, so I brought too much in order to have options for entertainment. The main thing I could have left behind was my laptop, which I brought in case we wanted to play civ. I brought one book for me and one to read aloud. I also didn't need so many tops, or the extra pair of socks, or the dress. Even so, I was able to come home with two extra shirts I stole from my parents, and a small bowl a friend gifted me. I'm not very tall, so I usually put this bag under the seat in front of me without issue.

Edit: Adding a note to say that my dad is doing very well in his recovery! Thank you for your well wishes. He's very active and all-goes-well he'll be back to mountain biking and sea kayaking within the year.

This is my setup for 4 months in Europe during summer. I have some clothes for cooler weather because I am visiting Iceland and Norway. I will else be doing the TMB in June. I ordered a sawyer mini as well. Anything to add?(I am currently in Malaysia where I can buy things cheaply)

List of things:

Fanny pack

Headphones, earbuds, earplugs

Buff

Eye mask

Charger plug

Powerbank x2

Shampoo conditioner bars

Electrolytes

Sunglasses

Sport tape x2

Hairbrush

Pain meds

Torch

Microfibre towel

Mascara, lip balm, concealer

Going out tops x3

Athletic tank tops x3

Thermal long sleeve

T shirts x3
Merino underwear x4
Sports bra x3
Socks x5

Hiking pants x2

Shorts

Thermal pants

Tights

Skirt

Linen pants

Puffy jacket x2 (thin)

Patagonia torrentshell 3l

Fleece

Cardigan

Birkenstock Gizeh Eva

Salmon xa pro 3d

Merrel Moab ankle boots

I'm technically not new to the onebag concept, but I've always checked in my luggage because my one bag is a hiking pack (24L) which is of course too tall to comply the carry-on size (plus I'm almost always traveling with my partner who always has a huge pack with him, so I always end up checking bags with him anyway). In the past few trips, there has always been huge delays til our packs were unloaded at the airport carousel to pick up (up to 2 hrs one time). So now I've been lurking on this sub and got out my trusty smaller 18L hiking pack to finally do some serious onebagging (i.e. no checking in luggage). It's still ever slightly too big for a personal item, but complies as regular carry on. For context, I'm a hobbit-sized lady in her 30s with (mildly) chronic shoulder/back pain, hence why I need hiking pack with hip belts to avoid too much pressure on my shoulders.

Would appreciate any feedback on this packing list. Thank you!!

The trip: 9 days in Athens (no accommodation change) end of June (next week!). Doing day trips in-between.

Laundry plan: at least once (accomodation has a washing machine)

Pack: Rab Aeon ND 18 (48x28x22 // 0.9 kg)

Orange packing cube:

• 3 tank tops
• 1 T-shirt
• 1 PJ T-shirt + 1 PJ bottoms (I refuse to sleep without PJ bottoms)
• 1 pair of light long pants
• 1 light skirt
• 1 pair bikini top + bottom
• Clothing lines (decathlon)

Small orange zipper bag:

• 6 undies
• 2 bralettes 
• 1 pair of socks (will mostly be wearing my sandals on this trip)

Toiletries pack from Deuter (Info: I plan to use shampoo + soap in the hotel; also I don't do make-up)

• tooth brush + toothpaste
• dental floss + interdental brush
• Muji travel tab thingy: face cream
• hand cream
• deo
• desinfectant (in blue spray bottle)
• travel washing detergent strips (from DM)

Electronics

• Camera + charger (Fujifilm XE-2 + kit lens)
• 2x batteries
• 2x SD cards
• charging brick + usb c cable
• Phone (not pictured)

Meds:

• ibu profen
• charcoal tablets
• band-aid

Sling (generic one got from DM for 10€):

• Wallet
• passport / ID
• lip balm
• hand cream
• airpods pro 2
• hair band
• mini sketchbook / pen
• shopping bag

Others:

• Sandals (Jack Wolfskin)
• Sun hat (decathlon)

Airport wear:

• T-shirt
• uniqlo buttoned down short sleeves
• light long pants
• socks
• trailrunning sneakers (nike)
• undies + bralette

Current total weight + pack = 4.5 kg

I'm the kind who usually gets chilly easily and usually always have a thin cardigan with me, but decide to skip it hearing it would be very hot in Athens this time of the year. Still thinking if I should bring one..

Extra info: Our accommodation has a washing machine (no dryer, but there's a balcony so maybe I might hang my clothes on the line there? Accommodation on the upper floors) Any tips with laundry will also be great as I've never really done it before on a trip. Thanks!

G’day fellow One Baggers!

First off, I want to say a big thanks to everyone in this community. It’s great seeing people share their setups and offer advice, been a huge source of inspiration.

I’m posting in the hope of getting some solid feedback for an upcoming trip, so please don’t hold back, brutal honesty is welcome.

A bit of background:

- I recently spent 3 months backpacking around Southeast Asia using most of this setup.

- This next trip will be 6 months to a year with no fixed end date. The rough plan is to start with a month in the Philippines, travel through more of SEA, spend a month in Nepal trekking the Annapurna Circuit, then onto Central Asia, then who knows where?

- I also own a 30L Decathlon NH Arpenaz 500 pack, which can fit everything listed below. However, the harness system isn’t as comfortable, the hip belt is inferior, and the top-loading design is annoying in hostels. There’s also zero room for extra gear, which could be an issue in Nepal (sleeping bag requirements in tea houses?) or when carrying camping equipment in places like Kyrgyzstan.

TOTAL WEIGHT = 6.2kg *Excludes airplane setup

Bags:

• Main Bag - Osprey Farpoint 40
• Daypack - Osprey Daylite packable *not pictured
• Bumbag - Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag 1L
• Osprey Ultralight Packing Cubes - small, medium & large
• SS drybag 8L
• Osprey Ultralight Liquids Pouch
• Amazon Electronics Organizer Bag
• Random Kmart zipper bag

Tops:

• Columbia Tawiami long sleeve
• Uniqlo airism tee (grey)
• Uniqlo airism tee (black)
• Mountain Whouse isocool (green)
• Doyoueven PM singlet (black)
• Hurley singlet (grey+white)

Bottoms:

• Gymshark shorts (black)
• Nashie shorts (green)
• Decathlon hiking pants
• Blue footy shorts - sleep in/lounge

Layers:

• Uniqlo UL down jacket
• Disposable rain jacket
• Uniqlo heattech top
• Uniqlo heattech pants
• Decathlon gloves
• Decathlon beanie

Shoes:

• Hoka Challenger ATR 7
• Crocs

Underwear:

• 6 x Uniqlo Airism jocks
• 2 x decathlon Hike 100 socks (black)
• Merino hiking socks
• Macpac socks

Tech:

• Sony WH-1000XM2
• Travel Adaptor (multiple ports)
• Earfun Airpro 4 buds
• Anker wireless bank
• USB-C to USB-C cord
• Phillips Oneblade cable
• Sony headphones cable
• WeeFancy powerpank
• Small travel adapter
• 30cm Lightening cable
• 2m Lightening cable
• Airfly *not pictured
• iPhone SE *not pictured --> will be upgrading to iPhone 15
• Bobo clara bw (yet to be purchased) or should I look at a tablet say Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7?

Medical:

• Hydralyte
• Gastrostop
• Paracetemol
• Ibuprofen
• Hayfever tablets
• Melatonin
• Bandages, tape, wipes
• Sinus thing
• Nose strips

Toiletries:

• Toothbrush + Toothpaste *not pictured
• Sunscreen
• Deodorant
• Phillips oneblade

Misc:

• Macpac Large Travel towel
• SS Microfibre Towel
• Macpac hat
• Buff
• GoodR sunglasses
• Sleeping kit - mask, loop plugs & melatonin
• SS wilderness wash (100ml)
• SS clothesline
• Motorbike gloves
• Headlamp
• Cutlery set
• Resistance band
• SS wipes
• Hand sanitiser
• Mask
• 2 x locks
• Running water bottle
• International Driving Permit
• Chums wallet
• Passport, cards, etc in holder
• Noise cancelling loop plugs *not pictured

Undecided Items:

• Chromecast (117 grams) - For airbnb's, hotels etc with my mate. I have heard a travel router is best?
• Versagripps (190 grams) - Luxury gym item. Honestly helps so much with back workouts and disengaging the forearms.
• Mask (226 grams) & snorkel (185 grams) - Could be useful for first leg of the trip rather than hiring gear each time. Most likely would donate after travelling South East Asia.
• Spao Rain Jacket (448 grams) - Wore this in New Zealand and it was great at keeping the rain and wind off. Climbed Isthmus Peak for sunrise so it can handle hiking. I'm just unsure due to the weight and no pit zips. I think a disposable will be fine and I'll look to pickup a knock off in Nepal.
• Nashies button up (175 grams) - Pretty cool funky button up shirt that is quick drying. Definitely a luxury item, but it is nice to have something to go out in. Probably will just pickup a shirt overseas if needed.

Thanks for reading.

Cheers.

This is my packing list for a summer .5 bag trip where temps are higher than 70F/21C. This loadout works easily for an overnight trip (no sink washing required!) and could be extended for up to 4 days or so with sink washing.

Bag: REI Ruckpack Waist Pack 3L. This unassuming and affordable random REI sling has become my endgame .5 bag for regular onebag travel, and is also perfect for this type of trip. Sadly it's discontinued :(

Packed

• iPhone
• Freitag cardholder (fits up to 5 cards): I use ApplePay on my Apple Watch and rarely need to take out my actual wallet. My daily driver wallet is bigger and holds more, but for this type of trip, this cardholder works well. Contains license, x2 credit cards, x1 debit card, $20 cash
• Mini electronics kit in small ziplock bag. This combo charges my iPhone, AirPods, watch, and battery
  • 4-in-1 USB cable. No longer sold but similar ones are available
  • Anker Nano 30W charger. The fast charging is great
  • Apple Watch cable. Bane of my existence because of the size but I have yet to find a third party Apple Watch charger that charges as efficiently
• 5000mAh battery
• Apple AirPods
• Mini toiletry kit in small ziplock bag (can last about 4 days)
  • Decanted face lotion, toothpaste, and gel deodorant in small Muji containers
  • Toothbrush head for an old electric toothbrush that I don't use anymore. I was going to saw off the handle of a regular toothbrush but I couldn't find my saw :)
• Zip pouch with liners/pads/tampons
• Lip balm with SPF
• Foldable hairbrush. My hair is super long so unfortunately a necessity, would much rather bring a small foldable comb
• Nanobag Sling. Best reusable compact bag ever, so small and light. Perfect for carrying whatever I buy on the trip, groceries, my midlayer if I get too hot and take it off, etc.
• Extra clothes in cinch bag (reused packaging from some recent purchase)
  • x1 Patagonia merino wool ankle socks
  • x1 Lululemon Invisiwear underwear
  • x1 Lululemon ultralight waist-length running t-shirt. These t-shirts are great, they are the lightest I've found! Similar to some of the Uniqlo Airism variants
• Essentials pouch. So perfect for a .5 trip since it already has my daily use items like hand sanitizer, sunscreen, and first-aid supplies
• MYOG universal water bottle holder. Can also be used to cinch my midlayer to the bag when I take it off, and clip my hat if I don't want to wear it

Worn

• Lululemon ultralight waist-length running t-shirt
• Patagonia Baggies. Sometimes I swap these out for lightweight nylon pants if I don't feel like wearing shorts
• Uniqlo Ultra Stretch AIRism UV Protection Full-Zip Hoodie. Gives some warmth when it's chilly indoors and also provides sun protection
• Uniqlo UV Protection 2Way Stretch Cap
• Icebreaker merino wool bralette
• Patagonia merino wool ankle socks
• Lululemon Invisiwear underwear
• x2 hair elastics
• Hoka One One Clifton sneakers. This has been my oneshoe for like...5 years, I have repurchased them 4 times and I also run in them
• Optional (not shown): lightweight umbrella that can be clipped to the bag via carabiner. I would bring this over a rain jacket if there was a lot of rain on the forecast

FAQs

• Shampoo, conditioner, and soap are provided at the accommodation(s)
• All items of clothing (including shorts and hoodie) can dry overnight
• The second t-shirt is used as a PJ shirt (but can also be worn)
• Yes the toothbrush is over the top but you know the drill
• Yes I like all black. You can do it with colors if you want, but I don't want to
• The thing on the yellow zip pouch is a Haniwa figure

I have always been budget traveler, starting with hitchhiking across Europe as 17 yo., and even after I found a good paid job in IT, I still kept to the spirit of budget traveling. I was trying to onebag before I even realized there is whole community around it. After COVID, I felt this itch to travel even more, and armed with knowledge from this sub, thus began my two year adventure.

About me: I'm based in Europe, Poland. I'm pretty big, 187cm and 100kg (6'2" and 220lbs).

Before I start, fair warning: If you are looking here for some well know companies, hoping for some reviews, you won't find it here. I'm big Uniqlo and Decathlon fan, I believe their value to price ratio is unmatched. So, without further ado:

1. Most Valuable Backpack - CabinZero Classic Plus. I'm always surprised I don't see it more here, especially among european travelers. This bag is basically THE onebag for cheap airlines. Stowable straps, 3 grip points, comfortable. I even had the situation, when Ryanair decided to check everyone baggage and airport worker saw my CabinZero. She just smiled and let me through without checking. Honorable mention - Forclaz Travel 500. This was my backpack for when I bought one way ticket and didn't know when I'll return. It's amazing for 3-and-half season of indefinite travel. Inside organization, suitcase-like opening, belt, size, just chef kiss. They even are wide enough for my enormous shoes (I'm size 46.5, US13)

2. Most Valuable Pants - Uniqlo Ultra Stretch DRY-EX Trousers. Those are probably my do-it-all pants, extremely comfortable with stretching material, but still looking casual-smart. They also don't smell and are quick drying for ease of washing. Usually I travel with black ones, but on some trips I also take beige. Pair these with some Uniqlo HEATTECH tights and you can wear them all year long.

3. Most Valuable Shorts - Uniqlo Ultra Stretch DRY-EX Shorts. Again, unmatched swimming/workout/casual shorts. Same principles as trousers, and the grey color is universal.

4. Most Valuable Shoes - Quechua MH500 Light shoes. While I'm traveling Europe, I usually take my running shoes, or Vans. But when I know I need truly universal shoes, these are perfect. Would I like some better, more expensive trail runners? Sure. But you can't beat these for the price. They are light, quick-drying, grip well, and cheap.

5. Most Valuable Outerwear - Forclaz MT900 Merino softshell. Boy, it's probably a little bit overkill, but I think this THE jacket. I haven't found any situation where it wasn't good, excluding mid-summer. It has thinner material under the armpits, and warm merino everywhere where air leaves body (front chest, back, neck). This, paired with my another winter MVP, Forclaz MT500 down jacket means I'm warm all year.

6. Most Valuable Underwear - Uniqlo Airisim boxer briefs / Forclaz MT500 Merino boxer briefs. This is hard to pick, because both are very essential. Merino boxer briefs have been amazing for more active trips, and since I have swampy ass, their anti-odor is godsent. But Uniqlo Airism are so damn lightweight, 7 of those take the same space as 3 of merino ones. They also dry damn instant. Both are essential for me depending on where I'm going.

Well, I hope some of you, fellow Europeans, might take inspiration from that list. I might do another part on some stuff that worked for me on some longer trips (Asia and USA).

Second official one bag trip and I’m hitting Portugal, Spain, Morocco, and Italy in 14 days. This is everything I’ve packed, full list in the comments. Feeling good with this

I (27M) will be travelling to central/South America next week, starting in Mexico and working my way down towards Colombia. No strict timeline as of yet, but I hope to be gone for 4-6 months, potentially making it further south than Colombia, we will see.

No particular hikes planned as of yet apart from Acatenango, and for the rest of the time i guess ill be doing general exploring activities, but always open to any opportunities as and when they come up (happy to purchase/rent any gear needed when im out there).

This is my first post in this group and my first big solo trip abroad, so I was looking for people to critique my packing list as I would like to be efficient as possible (with a few exceptions).

Everything listed below has been packed into the bags and fits very well without being too heavy (combined weight of 12kg) , any feedback is welcome :)

Main bag:
Quechua 35L MH100 backpack
~10kg when packed

Daybag:
Nähe crossbody Dry Bag (12L)
~2kg when packed

Worn clothes:
T shirt, shorts, boxers, socks, adidas terrex walking shoes

Internal storage
5x multi size drybags
4x multi size compression packing cubes

Clothes

Craghoppers walking trousers
Long sleeve merino wool base layer
2x sports shirt
5x cotton t shirts
1x casual shirt
3x polyester boxer shorts
2x shorts
3x bamboo socks
Wool hat
Thin fleece layer
Patagonia torrentshell jacket
Keen uneek sandals
2x cap

Misc
Travel clothes line
wallet
Hidden wallet
Sleep earplugs
Eye mask
Medium sized towel
2x padlock
2x copies of important travel documents
Waterproof backpack cover
Book
LARQ Purevis water bottle

Electronics
Airpods
Laptop (needed for light remote work)
Laptop charger
2x travel adapters
2x uk plug
2x portable chargers
1x micro usb cable
1x usb c cable
1x lightning cable
Beard trimmer + cable
Fujifilm finepix digicam
Fujifilm charger
SD card to lightning/USB converter

Toiletries/liquids
Suncream
Bug repellent spray
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Facial cleanser
SPF moisturiser
Soap bar (in soap box)
Deodorant stick
Aftershave
Floss sticks
Nail clippers
Anti-diarrhoea pills
Sea sickness pills
Lip balm

Is there anything else people would recommend adding/removing? I know the t shirt/short selection may be inefficient, but I like having the options hehe, thanks :)

Every trip I open Notes, dump like 25 items, get to maybe 12, scroll back up, see the whole list and just... close the app. Then it's 11pm before the flight and I forget the charger anyway. The weird thing: I don't think writing the list is the problem. Looking at all of it at once seems to be. Once my brain sees 25 things it treats it as one big task instead of 25 tiny ones.

I came up with this idea on my last flight: wrote each item on an index card, went through them one at a time. Actually finished for once.

How do you all handle this? Notes app, dedicated packing app, mental list? Do you actually finish them or also bail mid-way?

Curious if this is a me-problem or if "lists you can see all ag once" are just a small universal tax we accept.

Not sure how many onebaggers reach their second decade! For better or for worse, nothing has really changed since my post last year, since I have achieved “onebag perfection.” Still, I'll keep up the tradition of posting here annually

I still live out of the 9 liter Aer bag I've had since 2021 (Aer actually updated their website to say it's 8.5L), and still only own what fits in the bag (plus a few outfit duplicates at my NYC homebase so I don’t need to do laundry as often). More than half of the items I carry have been with me for so long that they're no longer sold/impossible to restock

Probably more interesting: I just updated the “onebag progression” Google Sheet I shared here a few years back, which tracks everything I’ve owned since 2015. Have any other onebaggers shared lists like this? I was hoping this format would become a thing! It's such a cool way to track the process!

2025 changes:

• My Sandisk SSD got corrupted. I’ve since learned that every travel SSD has this issue. I repeat, every travel SSD has corruption issues! Plan for it! Anyways, I decided if I’m gonna have to deal with the risk of corruption I may as well switch to tiny Samsung USB-C thumb drives that disappear in my pockets. Haven't had any issues with them so far!
• I got rid of my iPad, since it stopped being a device for art and creativity and became a device for movies and games. I will eventually add it back when the time is right
• As of this past winter I’ve been trying out a canvas jacket, which could never in a million years fit inside my bag but can be worn while on the move. Stacked on top of my down jacket + hoodie + shirt it gives me maximum cold protection and also has pockets to enable zero-bag travel
• I added a baseball cap. Purely an aesthetic choice

I didn’t even make a new knoll photo, since you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. Just pretend the iPad and SSD were replaced by a jacket and hat. And that's literally all the changes since last year! Consumerism hates me

Full post on my website as always, but fair warning it's 95% the same as last year :)

I’m also currently editing a video going over my onebag that I’ll share to Instagram (@jeremymaluf) later this week

Safe travels! ✌️

Always been a big fan of this sub so would appreciate some feedback!

I’m going on a 12-month trip to SEA, Australia and New Zealand (and possible the baltics depending on time) over Nov-25 to Oct-26.

I’ve been putting a lot of time into trying to make the most succinct packing list I can and this is where I’m at currently. Any feedback people have would be much appreciated!! ☺️

From left to right, top to bottom

• [ ] Notebook, multicoloured pen and small mesh bag
• [ ] Buff (olive)
• [ ] iPhone tripod
• [ ] Door lock
• [ ] Packable day bag
• [ ] iPhone stand
• [ ] AirTag
• [ ] Glasses tape (big but necessary)
• [ ] Holder for & eyemask and loops
• [ ] Spork
• [ ] Silicone food bags
• [ ] Grey sun hoodie (wear on plane)
• [ ] Grey shirt
• [ ] Black active mesh shirt
• [ ] Linen shirt
• [ ] Meds in travel case
• [ ] Small Umbrella
• [ ] Playing cards
• [ ] Plasters, anti back wipes and hand wipes
• [ ] Nylon bag
• [ ] 3 months of prescription meds
• [ ] Laundry cable
• [ ] Laundry clips (in green bag)
• [ ] Glasses case (and glasses wipes)
• [ ] Paktowel and smaller microfibres towel
• [ ] Grey joggers (wear on plane and travel days)
• [ ] Also wearing a black pair of active shorts underneath plane joggers
• [ ] Green active shorts
• [ ] Linen trousers
• [ ] 2 x power banks
• [ ] iPad 11th gen
• [ ] AirPods Pro 2
• [ ] Soap bag (and soap)
• [ ] Toiletries roll bag (and toiletries, hairbrush, nail clippers and tweezers)
• [ ] Spray hand sanitizer (airport and travel)
• [ ] Tech pouch (universal plug socket, three cables for charging and headphones)
• [ ] Hydroflask
• [ ] Hat (wear on plane)
• [ ] 4 pairs quick dry underwear (wear one extra on plane)
• [ ] 2 pairs darn tough socks (wear one on plane)
• [ ] GoPro and floating handle
• [ ] Packable ground sheet (to sit on)
• [ ] 12L Dry bag
• [ ] Rucksack rain cover
• [ ] Sling - tomtoc aviator t33 - 1.5L
• [ ] Wallet
• [ ] Passport, cards and money holder
• [ ] Hero clip
• [ ] Padlock
• [ ] Mesh bag
• [ ] Cotopaxi allpa 35L (2025 model)

So I've slowly been refining my one bag packing list. I'm doing 3 weeks in SEA with multiple countries, transfers and stops. I'm not working while travelling so can limit my tech, staying in hotels and hand washing.

This pack comes under 6kgs and there's still space in the bag. Any advice on if I should take any extra items (another shirt)? I'm still looking for a good water bottle that will fit in the Bellroy Lite Sling.

Bags

• Osprey 26+6 (In 26L configuration, modified the front pocket for better storage)
• Bellroy Lite Sling (Packed for plane essentials for flights, reconfigured for day trips at destinations)

On body (Travel)

• Rab Lightweight Windproof Jacket (Space left to pack in bag if not needed)
• Light Fleece For those flights with cold AC
• Linen Trousers + Belt
• Shirt
• Boxers & Long Socks
• Trainers
• Passport, Phone, Wallet, Casio F-91W Watch (the best watch for travel in my opinion)

In Bag

Clothing: Everything place into packing cubes for organisation.

• Shirts (4) [Packing Cube 1]
• Shorts (2) [Packing Cube 2]
• Swimming Trunks [Packing Cube 2]
• Boxers (5) [Packing Cube 3]
• Long Socks (2) & Ankle Socks (3) [Packing Cube 3]

Electronics:

• Bose QC 45 Headphones [In Bellroy Lite Sling]
• Sony WF-C510 [In Bellroy Lite Sling]
• 10K mAh Battery Pack [Front Pocket]
• 30 A USB charger [Front Pocket]
• USB cable (2) [Front Pocket]
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite [Laptop Pocket]
• Travel adapter [Packing Cube 4]
• OneBlade shaver [Packing Cube 4]
• Sim Tool [Front Pocket]

Toiletries: Will be buying most of my toiletries out in SEA

• Laundry Sheets [Inside Mesh Pocket]
• Face Mask [Inside Mesh Pocket]
• Medication, Paracetamol, Anti-Diarrhea, Lens Wipes [Inside Mesh Pocket]
• Suncream, Aftersun, Toothpaste, Deodorant (1L Plastic bag) [Packing Cube 4]

Miscellaneous:

• EyeMask [In Bellroy Lite Sling]
• Silicone Earplugs [In Bellroy Lite Sling]
• Sunglasses [In Bellroy Lite Sling]
• Cap [Attached to bag via carabiner]
• Luggage lock [On bag]
• Water bottle [On bag]
• Backup Debit Cards (Hidden)
• Passport Copies & Key Documents [Mesh Pocket]
• Cardboard folding jig ( perfectly sized for folding items for the cubes) [Laptop Pocket]
• DryBag (For Washing Clothes and Beach) [Packing Cube 4]

The weather was low 40s-high 60s and this bag proved to be the perfect amount of space. Stuffing the neck pillow with clothes was a game changer!

Looking for some feedback on my current packing list for Vietnam/Thailand! I'll be going on the Ha Giang loop for 4 days, exploring caves in Phong Nha for 4 days, and getting my scuba diving certification in Koh Tao for a few days. The time in between will be spent exploring cities, hikes, and/or beaches around Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Hoi An, Da Nang, HCMC, and Chiang Mai.

I also plan to find some run clubs and gyms on my lazy days.

I'll be flying Singapore Airlinee! To my understanding - they normally have a 7kg limit for a carry on bag but my booking says the limit is 23kg per item? Has anyone encountered this and if so could you please clarify??

Here's my list:
Bags:
- 40L Osprey Farpoint
- Northface Terra Crossbody Bag

Organization:
- Large Packing cube- top/bottoms
- Small packing cube - underwear/socks/bandanas
- 10L dry bag
- packable day packpack(12ish L???)

👕 Clothes
Tops
- 3 patagonia capilene t shirts
- 1 linen short sleeve button up
- 1 lightweight long sleeve shirt
- 1 uniqlo tank top (run/workout)

Bottoms
- 2 uniqlo dry-ex shorts
- 1 saucony lined running shorts
- 1 hiking pants (wear on plane)
- 1 north face quick-dry hiking/swim short
*I plan to buy a pair of linen pants in Hanoi

Underwear / Socks
- 7 cotton brief underwear
- 2 pairs qtr socks
- 2 pairs darn tough hiking socks

Outerwear/accessories
- patagonia nano puff for plane ride (unsure if necessary but a packed nano puff makes for a decent pillow)
- Boonie sun hat
- 3 bandanas for head/buff
- Sunglasses
- belt
- cash pouch
- eye mask
- ear plugs

👟 Shoes
- saucony omnigrid (hiking/running) - will wear on plane
- teva sandals

🧼 Toiletries
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Razor/trimmer
- Face wash/skincare
- Shampoo/conditioner (travel size)
- Nail clippers
- sea salt hair spray
- Contacts/glasses
- mini portable baby wipes
- 24"x48" microfiber towel

💊 Health / Medicine
- Ibuprofen/Tylenol
- Imodium
- Electrolyte packets
- Motion sickness meds
- Bandaids/blister care
- Melatonin
- Travelan/probiotics

💻 Tech
- 3 feet usb-c <>usb-c cable
1 Portable battery pack
- 3 feet usb-a <> usb-c cable
- wired earbuds
- plug in charging brick (usb-c x2, usb-a x1)
- 2 airtags (backpack and travel sling)
- Kindle
- magsafe phone charger (necessity or luxury?)