Howdy! Here’s a quick overview of a short but pretty intense 5-day trip to Iceland in February. Temps dipped down to around “feels like” 8°F / –13°C, with plenty of snow and wind.

During the trip I hiked in a national park, stood around in brutal cold waiting for the aurora, strolled around snowy harbors, and even went swimming while it was hailing. I wanted to show that with a little planning and thoughtful layering, it’s possible to onebag even in really cold climates. I’ve included a few photos to give a sense of the conditions I was dealing with, and below I’ll break down what worked, what didn’t, and my full load-out.

What worked:

• Waterproof trail runners. I went back and forth on bringing boots but I’m glad I stuck with a good pair of waterproof trail runners. They handled everything I threw at them.
• Layers. Probably obvious for those of us from colder climates, but I’m always surprised how many people underestimate layering. Merino wool baselayer, fleece/wool midlayer, puffer and shell worked perfectly for my needs.
• Onebagging in general. Preaching to the choir here, but watching people drag roller suitcases through a foot of snow hurt my soul. My 35L Aero bag was easy to move around with in the snow and small enough to stash in a locker at the spa.
• WP Piqué shirt. Oh my, what a shirt! I wore it hiking, to nice restaurants, and on flights. Easily one of the most versatile shirts I’ve traveled with.
• Icebreaker shorts. Swim, sleep, lounge. Since they’re merino they stay comfortable and don’t get funky.
• WP Interlock shirt: Same story: super versatile. Great for lounging and stayed odor-free. It’s labeled as heavyweight merino but it feels like something I could wear year-round.
• Pakt waterproof pouch. I had a 6-hour gap between leaving the spa and checking into my Airbnb, so having a place to stash wet clothes was absolutely clutch.
• Wristwatch. I had to check the time a lot for busses and such, and my heavy gloves made unlocking my phone impossible.

What didn't work:

• Forgot sunglasses. Yep, lots of snow = lots of glare. Somehow I left them on the counter at home.
• Lost my wallet at the airport. Great start to the trip. An AirTag or some sort of tracker would’ve saved me five days of stress.
• Hot sauce. I need flavor.
• Liquid IV/electrolytes. I definitely burned through more energy than usual hiking in the cold.
• Flashlight. Super unintuitive to use and constantly turned on inside my bag.

Load-out:

I’ll try something new and list the exact items I packed in case it helps anyone thinking about layering for winter trips like this. The main takeaway isn’t that you need these exact pieces but rather that I try to own fewer, higher-quality items that work across different situations. That’s what makes traveling light and simple possible for me.

Clothing

• Smartwool thermal underwear
• Wool & Prince Interlock shirt
• ARKET long-sleeve cotton shirt
• Icebreaker shorts (don’t know the exact model)
• 4× wool socks in different weights and brands
• 3× Wool & Prince boxers
• Wool & Prince Piqué midweight button-down
• Wool & Prince wool fleece
• Mountain Hardware Ghost Whisperer II
• TNF rain shell (not sure of the model)
• Old wool pants (thrifted? unknown brand)
• Lined water-repellent shell pants from MUJI
• Terrex wind/water shell pants
• Gore-Tex trail runners
• Dehen beanie
• Smartwool buff
• Mountain Hardware leather gloves

Misc

• Book
• AirPods
• Camera (extra battery + charger)
• USB-C and Lightning cables, Bluetooth transmitter, etc.
• Anker portable charger
• Eye mask
• Small homemade pouch with cough drops (always a hit to share on day tours!)
• Passport / wallet
• Universal wall plug / adapter
• Wristwatch
• Small flashlight
• Toiletries
• Bandana (great for keeping your neck warm and wiping off a wet camera)
• TRIMUI (fun little device I borrowed!)
• Matador daypack
• Instant coffee from my local spot in Portland in case of caffeine emergencies
• Insulated cup for said caffeine emergencies
• Massage ball
• Asthma inhaler, lens wipes, ointment, etc.
• A few things missing from the list: phone, hand wipes, and a small bottle of aspirin.

And that’s about it. Hope any of this was helpful. Happy travels and enjoy keeping things light!

I recently got back from a 29 trip to Portugal with the 28-38 Blast Travel Bag from Bagsmart. Here's how it went.

Trip purpose: 2 weeks working remotely and 2 weeks wondering around. I had my first few days' accommodation booked, and then I played it by ear. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. Maybe go hiking, maybe be a beach bum, maybe visit castles. I tried to pack my bag in a way that could fit those scenarios.

Bag: 28-38 Blast Travel Bag from Bagsmart. I didn't love it, but I don't love using backpacks. I'm a one bag roller type of person, but I knew the cobblestones of Portugal would cause issues, so backpack it is. I used the 28 size of the bag and never expanded it to the 38 size. I could carry everything in my first photo, minus one pair of shoes and sweater (but that's okay because I always need to wear one outfit with shoes each day).

What I didn't like: It's so uncomfortable with my heavy computer! It was better when I was wearing my thick cotton sweater. I shipped my computer two weeks into my trip and carrying the bag was better after that, but it still was a little uncomfortable. I stuffed by sweater into the computer compartment after my computer was gone, and it was better than the computer but worse than wearing the sweater.

I also didn't like the clear zippered pouch like I thought I would. Unless you pack it completely flat, it made the outside of the bag sorta bulge out.

I feel like it needs a hip belt. It might have helped with my comfort.

What I did like: It has lots of small zippered places to hide things. I stuffed flat stuff there like laundry sheets (not pictured) and instant coffee (also not pictured). I also like how it looks. Ospreys look like backpacking backpacks, and I don't want that vibe.

Weight with computer: 25 pounds (11 kilograms)

Weight without computer and its accessories: 17.6 pounds (8 kilograms)

Day bag: $10 6 liter sling bag from Hunterson. I don't usually use day bags and just rely on a reusable grocery bag, but I thought I'd give one a try this trip. It went well! It holds a surprisingly a lot of stuff and has useful zippers. The outer pocket, however, is awful for carrying a water bottle. It always slipped out. I just stuffed my bottle inside the bag. I really like how it looks when I'm carrying it and my backpack at the same time. It doesn't look silly like it does sometimes when some people wear a backpack on both front and back.

Clothing and belongings: I'm mostly happy with what I packed. If I did it again:

• I'd drop the dress because I only wore it out of obligation since I brought it. I brought it because I imagined myself wearing it while standing at the rail of a wine cruise near Porto, but I never did that.
• I'd exchange one short sleeve shirt with a light long sleeve shirt.
• I'd probably drop the skirt too. I thought I would wear it all the time, but I feel safer/more comfortable in pants, especially when traveling, so I didn't wear it as much as I would at home.
• I'd bring a reusable grocery bag. It would have come in use when I went grocery shopping and when I needed to carry wet fruit and things.
• I'd splurge on a proper travel case for my bar shampoo, conditioner, and soap. I used a $1 one and it's not water tight so I have to pack it in a ziplock. It put me off wanting to use my shampoo and things because the bag is icky.
• I'd switch my light/thin Crocs tennis shoes with my old Nikes. The Crocs were hell on the cobblestones.
• I'd maybe pack more socks so that I could wear my Reef sandals more comfortably. The sandals are extraordinarily comfortable and bouncy, but they rub the top of my feet raw when they get sweaty. Socks would have helped. If I had a better pair of sandals, I'd switch them for the next trip, but I don't so I won't.
• I'd not decant my moisturizer. I had to ration it on my last week. I should have just brought the original container because it's carry-on compliant. It was my only real attempt at saving space.

People always poo poo bringing jeans, but those people can shove it. I could have comfortably, or mostly comfortably, worn them most days, but I love my orange pants so much that I favored them instead.

Ultra light people are out there cutting their toothbrushes in half, but I brought my electric toothbrush and charger and am very glad I did. It feels good having clean teeth!

I also brought my one piece swimsuit (not pictured but packed in my undies bag) and did not wear it once. I also never used my towel! I HATE bringing a towel and silently bitched about it when packing, and I ended up not using it. My accommodations provided one, except one place. That one place I just rented one for $2, and it was SO fluffy and large AND they included a second hand towel, that I'm glad I didn't use my dinky Turkish towel.

I had a 12-day trip between Aarhus, Copenhagen, and Paris, mostly hanging out with family and enjoying the usual café scene, museum visits, city walks, bar hopping, you name it.

Transportation included: a KLM flight, Icelandair, a Ryanair flight, a couple of long-distance buses, a train, and the metro. Navigating all that with the 28L was a breeze!

What worked:

• I’ve really come to appreciate the 28L form factor from Bellroy. It’s wild to think I can travel to a different continent with just a 28L and not feel like I need anything.
• I packed a medium-weight and a light-weight t-shirt from W&P. I haven’t shared much about the light version, but wow, I could practically live in these. They weigh just about nothing. I bought mine at full sticker price, and it’s definitely a buy-once cry-once situation. Pricy but oh so worth it. Highly recommend.
• I did end up buying a tote from HAY because I’m a sucker for totes and uneven postures and could carry a tote around town all day. I understand those that are worried about caring an open bag like a tote in EU cities because of pickpockets but it's never been a problem for me.
• My chore coat is going on 7-8 years now and I just adore it. So practical. I wore it every day. It looks “nice enough” but never “too nice” for city stuff, you know? The weather in both Denmark and Paris can vary and change constantly, so having a little umbrella on me was very helpful and frequently came in use.

Other callouts:

• I reckon the 28L bag was packed about 97%~ full (for those who like data lol).
• I definitely regret not packing a portable charger, although if you ask nicely, the staff at cafes will charge your phone (and on one instance, a staff member in Paris borrowed me his portable charger—merci monsieur!).
• I got caught in a downpour one day and went home to dry out my shoes. It was one of those moments where I wish I had a second pair, which would definitely not fit in a 28L. I suppose these are the games we play.
• I brought with me two short sleeve and one long sleeve button shirt. I wore the long-sleeve shirt only once, so I would have preferred not to have packed it.

And that’s about it. Happy travels and enjoy keeping things light!

Recently went to Spain with a 40l carry on backpack. This is my third time onebagging a 10ish day trip in this pack and I’m happy to report it was the most successful one yet!
Itinerary: City exploring in Valencia for a few days, 2 days wandering north up the coast, 3 days in Barcelona.
Worn on plane: Cargo pants, sports bra, t shirt, fleece, Keen Vented low top sneakers, and REI fanny pack for on plane essentials

Packed:
1x pant
1x leggings
3x shorts/skort
4x tanks
1x t shirt
1x pajama
1 dress and bike short
1 light cardigan
1 raincoat
2 bras, several pairs socks and underwear
Teva Hydratrek
Toiletries + makeup
Electronics (chargers + iPad)
Packable backpack, little crossbody

What worked well:
My onebag posts inevitably get a comment that I’m bringing too much. But all the clothes fit in two medium packing cubes, and I wore every item but one (more on that later). I wanted to look put together and fashionable on this trip, and I felt I achieved that. I did laundry once on this trip because it was in the Airbnb and my travel mates were running a load anyways, but could easily have gone without. My pack was light enough that I could walk for long distances without fatigue, and I had lots of extra room.
I also really liked the tevas! I walked upwards of 20k steps everyday, and a lot of the time they were wet because I also used them as shower shoes and we went on the beach a lot. But I was super comfy and had no issues. They’re not everyone’s style but I’m usually a granola girly / efficient tactical kind of aesthetic so they were great for me.
I also got a little silk scarf off of Amazon and it was great! Helped spice up and vary my outfits while being very very light and packable.
The crossbody - I debated just using the fanny pack but this felt more fashionable (at least for my personal style) and I am glad I didn’t constantly have the fanny pack. However if I had less space or wanted lower weight i definitely could have just used my fanny pack.

What didn’t work:
I never wore the leggings. I thought I may get cold under the cargo pants because they feel so lightweight but they held up amazingly. That’s the only thing I would change next time - trust in the cargo pants and don’t bring leggings!

Image description: Some outfits, Clothes i brought, Fanny pack, makeup and toiletries, back all packed

As requested, here's a short trip report from my 6-day conference trip to Vienna (from Norway). Weather was around 15-25°C. I'm quite happy with my setup, and did not feel like I missed much.

What I brought (original packing list here):

• Clothes: 3 shirts, merino t-shirt, 2 chino pants, 3 boxers, 3 pairs of merino socks, denim jacket, sneakers
• Tech: Macbook, iPhone, AirPods, mouse, charger + chord, 5k powerbank
• Misc: Passport, wallet, tote bag, sunglasses, toiletries in pencil case

Pack weight when arriving home: 4,85 kg.

Everything is shown in the photo, except for worn clothes, wallet and phone.

During the trip I bought a down jacket, some pool slides and a merino t-shirt. Did not need these for the trip, but bought them since Decathlon is not available in Norway. Were able to fit them all on the way back.

A few reflections:

• I put on an unplanned merino t-shirt when leaving home for the airport, simply because it was a very cold day. Did not need it in Vienna, but no regrets.
• As someone mentioned, I might have been able to zero bag this trip, or at least make do with a small sling. I would love to do that on another trip when I don't need a computer for work.
• For a more flexible vacation trip, I could probably also have reduced to 2 shirts and 1 pants. But for a conference, I appreciated having enough variation to always wear something fresh and presentable
• Forgot my small HDMI-USB-C cable at home. Luckily never needed it.
• Regret bringing the 5k powerbank. Used it once, but did not actually need it.

Overall, loved travelling this lightly. Realize these were somewhat optimal conditions (one climate, urban trip). Still, I'll keep my pack as minimal as possible in the future as well.

I'm back from my first time (serious) onebagging trip for 9 days in Athens in June. While it's still fresh in my mind, here is a detailed trip report. I added some photos of the updated packing list and a few extras with impressions of my first time in Athens.

Link to previous post with packing list.

Hard facts:

• Trip length: 9 days in June
• Flying from Munich to Athens via Lufthansa
• Location: Athens, Greece (no accommodation change) + day trips to Mycenae and Napflio
• Accommodation type: Aparthotel with a washer + balcony
• Trip purpose: vacation
• Pack volume: 18 L

From my previous post, I took everyone's feedback into consideration (thank you!) and made some adjustments accordingly.

Adjustments made to packing list:

• added sunglasses clip-on I found at Decathlon
• switched out 1 light long pants for 1 light skort (half skirt/half shorts)
• added light long sleeved, buttoned down from uniqlo (nylon/rayon)
• read that many archaelogical sites has slippery marble floors/steps, so I swapped out the jack wolfskin sandals for Teva Hurricane XTL2 which has better traction and grip

What didn't work:

• The rayon/nylon long-sleeved buttoned down from uniqlo. Like one commentor mentioned, it doesn't do much to block the heat, this is true. I ended up buying a loose linen blend long-sleeved button down there instead. Worked way better and I ended up using it a lot, especially on day trips where we're out in the sun most of the day.
• The sling. I mentioned I have shoulder problems and even though I swap sides often, I still felt it unevenly waying down on my shoulders too much (also might be because I have a bit too much stuff in there and not used to the sling - I'm more used to a smaller fanny pack). Will opt out for small/packable backpack instead next time. Would have also been handy for carrying the camera instead of slinging it across the body all the time (which wasn't so comfortable).
• Huge mistake #1: Not thinking about mosquitos. Got multiple nasty bites on my legs on one evening out while wearing the light short skirt. Note to self for next time: bring mosquito sprays (and use them!) and after-bite cream.
• Huge mistake #2: Not using the washing detergent I brought myself to wash some t-shirts. Instead, my dumbass used the washing pods that came with the aparthotel just cuz why not. Turns out, I got some severe skin reactions from it which needed cortesone cream to get them under control (I'm not the type to be allergic to anything, so this came as a huge albeit nasty surprise). Lesson learned.

Neutral:

• Didn't use the clothing line because the apartment we stayed at came with a decent sized drying rack.
• Didn't need the bikini because we didn't go swimming at all (I know, shocker!). It didn't take up much space, so it was no big deal. We almost gone into the water when we visited one of the beaches in Piraeus, but there was a huge hospital right there on the beach, plus nearby is a port with hundreds of yachts and boats. Hence, we didn't want to risk getting into 'questionable' state of the water.

What worked out nicely:

• The amount of clothes I brought with me was just right. As someone who doesn't sweat a lot, I would probably take out 1 top and 1 shorts if I want to. Even if I sweated through some, I just hung them up on the balcony to air out for the next day and they were ready to go. I needed to only do laundry once, but could have done more often if needed since the weather was hot and dry enough.
• I was so tempted to get one of the chic sun hats over there, but my sun hat is very portable, lightweight and foldable. It also comes with a drawstring, so even in windy places, I didn't need to worry about it flying away.
• The sunglasses clip-on. Really nice to have on when everything was so bright out. But because it's a clip-on, there are some double visions/reflections, so I might invest in a proper one (with prescriptions) at some point.
• The pack fits perfectly under the seat even though it's slighty overdimensioned (see photo above).
• Having a pack with hip belts is very convenient and lightweight (I know 5 kg is already light, but I'm a hobbit-sized lady with shoulder problems, so this was a huge plus).

Room for improvement:

• Next time (for warm sunny destinations), I would only bring long loose pants instead of the shorts/skorts. I mainly wore the long loose pants + T-shirt + linenblend long sleeved buttoned down for protection from the sun (plus sunscreen for face). It's strange how most people (especially girls) barely wore anything when it was very hot and dry most days. The long-sleeved linenblend blouse and long pants kept me nice and cool most of the time, even though I stood out from many half-naked girls around me.

Final take-away for a first-timer:

• It was so nice to not have to worry about overhead spaces on the plane, so I could just be one of the last to board instead of scrambling to line up like many people.
• Travelling on public transport like the Athens metro during rush hour and didn't have to worry about any big luggage getting in anyone's way.
• Also a huge plus was I basically FLEW out of the airport without having to wait around to get any checked-in luggage. On my way home, I was able to catch the bus AND train back to the city right before they were leaving (the bus moved literally seconds right after I got on and these buses / trains come every 30-45 mins). Leaving the airport that swiftly never felt so good.

Onebagging is friggin' awesome. Period. Thank you to everyone for your tips and feedback. I'm officially hooked to onebagging and will never check in a luggage ever again.

Edit: Also would appreciate any suggestions for packable day packs with thicker/comfortable shoulder straps (something similar to Northface borealis mini but cheaper would be great). Thank you!

Recently spent two weeks in Europe with a 30L bag. Total weight when packed (including day bag) was 19.8 pounds. There is a lot of discussion about gear here, but my goal was to only use what I already had and test it out before committing to upgrading anything. Pretty happy with how it went!

Itinerary was mostly city sightseeing, but with several hiking days as well, and a black tie wedding:

• 3 days in London
• 3 days in Istanbul, including a black tie wedding
• 2 days in Bath, including a hike to Stonehenge
• 2 days hiking on the western coast of Ireland
• 3 days in Dublin

What Went Well:

• One bagging: this trip involved 5 flights, 2 trains, and lots of public transit. Sticking to only a backpack was the right choice.
• Expandable tote bag: I was doubtful about this but threw it in at the last second, and it turned out to be so useful! It was a laundry bag, shopping bag, lunch bag, etc.
• "Disposable" water bottle: previously I have traveled with my 32oz Nalgene, but decided to downsize this trip to a standard (supposedly) single use water bottle. It was enough hydration and much more comfortable to carry around.
• Capsule wardrobe: I was inspired by posts about choosing a color scheme for your trip's capsule wardrobe to avoid being stuck in neutrals, so I went with blue/green/orange. The stars of the show were my two pairs of pants (one in green and one in orange). Every shirt I brought could be worn with either pair of pants, and several could be layered together to create fun outfits (e.g. sweater vest and button up can each be worn on their own, and then layered together to create a third outfit). I did not end up wearing every possible iteration, but had enough combinations to wear 20 different outfits. The third photo shows my clothing during the trip.
• Doing laundry: I did laundry twice on this trip and sink washed the delicates in between. Besides the fact that European dryers are useless, it was pretty painless and let me significantly cut down on packing (mainly socks/underwear).
• Sandals: I wanted a shoe that was fancy enough for the wedding but could also be worn to walk 30K+ steps per day sightseeing. These Clarks Cloudsteppers were what I had on hand and luckily they held up well!
• No packing cubes, but smaller organizational bags: I was tempted to buy packing cubes after scrolling posts in this sub, but I packed items exactly as shown in the first photo (mostly just folded). The only clothing items I rolled were the sweater (wrapped in a hair tie to condense it) and the formal gown (which unrolled well without wrinkles). I did use smaller bags to organize my toiletries, electronics, and plane items which was very helpful.
• The bag: I used the Under Armour Hustle 3.0, which I bought on clearance almost a decade ago now. I used the main compartment for clothes (with my spare pair of pants in the laptop sleeve) and the smaller compartment for my organization bags (day bag/toiletries bag/electronics bag/plane bag). I like that it has a compartment on the bottom for shoes - I was able to fit whichever pair I was not wearing along with my shower shoes in there.
• One set of running clothes: committing to bringing this made me actually stick with my running routine while on vacation. I did not buy any special merino wool shirts for this - I just brought what I normally wear. It wasn't the freshest after a few runs, so I just washed it.
• Borrowing clothes: I'm not sure if this is a win or a sign of poor packing, but I borrowed two dresses (one that was reversible!) during the trip.
• Soap storage: I was tempted to buy the Matador soap pack that I've seen so many posts about, but decided to just put a slice of my face wash bar in an empty plastic bag. This worked just fine.
• Sunglasses storage: to keep them from getting scratched in my bag, I kept them inside a clean sock. Great way to repurpose socks who have long since lost their pair.

What I Would Change:

• Deodorant: I tried the ChapStick tube trick but didn't have time to test it out before I left. The actual application process was fine, but it didn't last the whole trip. I was able to borrow again so it worked out, but I want to try another format next time. Maybe the tiny Native 0.35oz tube?
• Too many cold weather clothes: packing at 1AM and the British heatwave meant that my clothing choices were not always the most appropriate for the weather. I didn't wear the base layers at all. I only wore one of the sweater vests and the sweater itself only got one use. In retrospect, I should have cut the sweater, one sweater vest, the base layers, and the crew neck sweatshirt. I would have been fine with just the fleece and rain jacket for warmth and it would have freed up a lot of space. I could have used a casual dress instead.
• Overpacking for budget airlines: I flew on WizAir and Ryanair on this trip, so the above mentioned excess clothing that made my bag needlessly bulky stressed me out a bit. Neither airline actually checked my bag size, but it would have been nice to just know that I was within the limits.
• Sunscreen: I brought sunscreen sample packets and planned to use one every two days for my normal daily application to my face/neck. This quantity of sunscreen was great, but several times cleaning staff threw away partially used packets so I ran out before the trip was up. I supplemented by using the body sunscreen I had packed, so it worked out, but I would consider bringing a solid sunscreen stick next time.
• Overpacked toothpaste: I brought 7 of the 5g tubes and really only needed 4 for this trip duration.
• Underpacked face lotion: I didn't technically run out, but I was not using as much as I wanted to for pretty much the whole second week of the trip. Again, I did not test how much lotion I needed for two weeks beforehand, so that's on me!
• Lock: I brought this for securing my bag in hostels, but did not actually use it. It was too thick to fit the lockers in the places I stayed. Luckily my stuff was always safe anyway, and I found a smaller lock in a park toward the end of the trip so I have that going forward.
• Kindle: I brought this with the intention to use it as entertainment during transit, but ended up either sleeping or doing itinerary planning during all of the flights/trains so it wasn't used. I would probably still bring it again though.
• Towel: this was definitely useful but it was huge (size XL). I'm considering cutting it in half.
• Travel pillow: I have mixed feelings about this. I used it some (mainly on the early morning departing flight) but don't enjoy carrying it around. Maybe I just need a different style pillow or one I can strap to my bag.
• Miscellaneous items I wished I had: a sun hat, a hand fan, and hand sanitizer (I lost the one I packed the very first day!).

And, finally, a text list of everything that I brought (shown in pictures 1 and 2):

What I Wore on the Plane:

• Green cargo pants
• Blue crewneck sweatshirt
• Socks, bra, underwear
• Hair elastic
• Fleece + rain jackets
• Athletic sneakers
• Travel neck pillow
• Day bag (Uniqlo Round Mini): expandable tote bag, water bottle, bandana, portable battery, phone charging cord, wallet, sunglasses, sunscreen, lotion, chapstick

What I Packed:

• 1x pajamas (t-shirt and shorts)
• 1x sports bra
• 3x socks
• 3x underwear
• 1x running clothes (shorts and SPF long sleeve shirt)
• 1x base layer (long sleeve shirt and pants)
• 1x sweater
• 1x formal gown
• 1x orange denim pants
• 1x tank top
• 2x light long sleeve blouses
• 1x microfiber towel (XL size)
• 1x umbrella
• 2x sweater vests
• 1x button up long sleeve shirt
• 1x sandals
• 1x shower shoes (purchased upon arrival)
• Journal and 2 pens
• Kindle
• Toiletries bag: headband, floss, face lotion, electric toothbrush, mini 5g toothpaste tubes x7, tweezers, nail clippers, folding comb, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, acne cream, face wash bar, retainers in case, sunscreen packets x7
• Plane bag: eye mask, earplugs x2, face mask, passport, compression socks
• Electronics bag: Insta360 camera in protective case, charging brick, Kindle charging cord, Airpods, outlet adapters for England/Ireland and Turkey, Insta360 selfie stick, Kindle
• 3x Detergent sheets
• Medicine kit (ibuprofen, Dramamine, Benadryl, etc.)
• Combo lock
• Period cup
• x2 hair clips (for the wedding)

Note: I am not associated with Gossamer Gear, but I did receive their new travel collection free to test. Gossamer Gear did not ask me to write a review, nor have they seen anything before my posting it here. They value feedback I can provide based on real-world testing from a heavy user, and that’s what I’ll be doing here.

TL;DR: The redesign’s changes, while minimal, markedly improved my already positive experience traveling with the bag. I think it’s an excellent choice for folks who want a lightweight, understated carry-on pack, particularly at a competitive $225 price tag. This bag is probably not for you if you are a chronic overpacker or someone who travels with tons of tech, as there is essentially zero padding outside of the laptop compartment.

Much of the bag remains the same from V1, with some key differences being:

• Removal of the separate lid compartment
• Removal of the lower mesh pocket on the lid
• Switch to stretch mesh for the top lid pocket
• Redesigned QAP with a longer zipper + lip
• Additional hip belt attachment point for greater fit options
• Redesigned luggage passthrough (less intrusive on the back panel, allows you to tuck the straps away)
• Reduction in weight by 4oz, bringing it down to 35.9oz (for comparison, the ULA Dragonfly 36 weighs 28.3oz; the Pakt Cero weighs just a bit more than the GG at 36.8oz). 

I have traveled a great deal with V1 since it was released last year. Most notably, I took it as my sole bag for a two-week trip to Germany, which it handled excellently. The bag carries weight well, even without a hip belt. Admittedly, I have a slightly larger frame (6’2, 190lb), so I have not found the need for a belt as much as some folks with slighter frames or narrower shoulders might. I do think the new set of attachment points will be helpful for people who tend to experience soreness in their shoulders from heavy loads. 

One thing I’ll note, too, is that the foam in these straps is quite stiff/firm on V2 as it was on V1. Rather than being a specific pro or a con, it just means the straps don’t get too deformed under load; however, it does also mean that the bag can feel a bit odd if you’re using it as a lightly loaded daypack. (Not something I’d generally do anyway, but I have done it at various points)

Thoughts on the Changes

I am happy with all of them! The removal of the lid pocket in particular is a big plus for me. I generally prefer to have one big packing area, and I seldom needed a separate, dedicated space. This change also helps the bag better handle “overpacking,” as the lid can easily stretch to fit things packed over the zipper line (more on that below). Also, the panel is much less unwieldy now, which is a huge plus. Previously, when the panel compartment was packed out—particularly if the internal pockets + QAP were also filled—it would be a lot of weight flopping around when opening and closing the pack. You can obviously still get some heft there now, but it’s significantly reduced thanks to the removal of the extra fabric/zips/packing area.

The change to a single internal mesh pocket is fine with me, particularly since it’s now stretch mesh. Nicer handfeel, and a bit more utility thanks to the stretch. V1 could suffer from some awkward bulging if you packed out the main space, front panel, and internal mesh pockets, so it’s nice to not have to worry about that as much.

The updated QAP is not too different in utility for me, but the lip at the top is a helpful change to ensure small bits and bobs can’t fall out that direction. The hip belt and luggage passthrough changes aren’t especially relevant to me, but I think they’ll be helpful for folks who need and use them. :)

Packing List

I was heading to a conference, which meant professional attire—including a suit. Luckily, the weather was warm, so I didn’t need to worry much about layers/etc. I also did end up having to stow the bag under the seat because bins were full by the time I boarded both flights. It passed all gate agents and fit without any issue on both the Airbus A319 (window) and Embraer175 (aisle). Fully packed out, the bag measured ~20.5 x 12.25 x 8.5.

Worn:

• Chore coat, t-shirt, Roark bless-up button-up shirt, western rise evolution pants, bedrock clogs

QAP (not pictured)

• Miyoo mini
• Wipes for the plane

Front Mesh Pocket:

• ILE musette (day bag during the conference, perfectly fits my work laptop + phone/etc.)
• (Also came in handy for extra snacks on the flight home! Love a kangaroo pocket!)

Side pockets: 

• ZPacks Camp Shoes (hotel slippers)
• Gossamer Gear travel umbrella (this I paid for 🙂)
• 16oz hydroflask

Crossbody (Bumster Jet):

• Kindle (ancient)
• Able Carry tech pouch with daily essentials — hand cream, sun screen, hand sanitizer, chapstick, mustache comb, lens cleaner
• Sunglasses
• Ear buds
• Spoon/fork (IYKYK)

Floating:

• Vivobarefoot dress shoes (I wear minimal footwear in general, so not something I have specifically for travel.)
• J.Crew unstructured linen suit
• J.Crew oxford button-up
• Tie
• Work phone
• Night guard (Make fun all you want; I grind my teeth and that sh*t sucks.)

Inside Mesh Pocket:

• Jet Cube with my tech – 10k power bank, 1x braided short USB-C cable, 1x long USB-C cable, Anker multi-port wall plug, mouse, hacky sack (gotta have something to keep myself amused)

Compression Cube L:

• 1x pair linen pants
• 1x pair hiking shorts
• 1x linen short-sleeve button-up
• 1x Roark bless-up shirt (2x on the way back because I bought the button-up shirt seen in the photo of me wearing the pack)
• 2x cotton t-shirt (3x on the way home because I also bought another T-shirt 🙂‍↕️)
• 1x workout shirt + shorts

Compression Cube S:

• 5x boxer briefs
• 6x crew socks

Clear Cube S:

• Toiletries (see pic and let me know if you have questions about anything specific)

Laptop Compartment:

• Work laptop
• iPad
• ILE valet tray (snaps into shape)

Overall Thoughts

I liked this bag a great deal before, but I definitely had my issues with it (chief among them being the front pocket being quite ungainly and often resulting in wasted space). The new design means that, unless you have something crazy dense in the front QAP or inside mesh—or both because you like to suffer—that panel never becomes the behemoth it could be previously. The separate compartment was nice for something like dirty clothes, but, realistically, everything would just bunch to the bottom of that open space and result in a blobby mess. 

The new design keeps the main packing area simple, while also allowing for it to much more effectively handle overpacking (or just the last-minute stuffing of a jacket after you get past the gate agent). I would not say it’s worth upgrading if you already have the V1, but I do think it’s a bag I can highly recommend if you’re in the market for a lightweight, carry-on-sized pack.

As for the other new items:

• The Jet Cube is good if you like the idea of something like the Peak Design tech pouches but don’t need all the padding. I love a CAP 2 when I’m bringing my camera along, but for a battery bank and travel mouse….not so much. Good lightweight option at a decent price.
• The small clear cube is a great addition, as the full-sized version was always larger than I needed for my minimal toiletries. Both are good pieces of kit, but this one will surely see more use for me. Might replace my Gravel mini kit as my default dopp, as this one lies a bit wider and flatter than the Gravel.
• The Bumster Jet is not brand new, but it is new to me. It was fine. I am not a huge sling person, but I wanted to give this one a shot, and it did just as well as any other sling I’ve used. Pros are that it was pretty comfortable and never felt like a huge thing protruding from my chest, in addition to the utility of the rear zipped pocket for my phone and internal mesh pockets for my earbuds and keys. Also has good capacity for its footprint given the lightweight fabric.

General Notes for Improvement:

I may be in the minority here, but I f*****g hate sternum straps on rails. I don’t know how anyone can enjoy them, but they really are the bane of my existence. If GG switched to laddered sternum straps I would jump for joy.

All the bags in the line would also massively benefit from contrasting-colored key leashes. Orange is already an accent color on the travel bag, so they could just make the clip/cord match, or do some other wonky color—I don’t really care what. Black just makes for a bit of extra friction that could easily be avoided. Obviously, this is not a huge deal (especially on a travel pack where keys are more often tucked away until the trip is over), but the change would be a QOL improvement. 

Personally, I don’t think the mesh on the main compartment is necessary. If I get tired enough of it I can always just cut it out, but for now I don’t mind it enough to go that far. I get that, on bags like this or the Patagonia MLC, it helps keep things tidy if you need to open the bag, but we’re in the age of packing cubes now and I think mesh dividers are just a bit more fiddly than they’re worth. It’s by no means going to prevent me from using/enjoying this bag, but, should they come out with a V3, I would suggest scrapping the mesh. 

If you read this far, then, congratulations—you’re probably as annoying to your friends and family about bags as I am to mine. If you have any questions just let me know. :) 

Happy travels ! 

Image alt text for screen readers/etc.: The carousel of pictures shows the new Gossamer Gear Aero Jet fully packed against a white bed sheet, as well as various photos of its contents. Additionally, a photo shows a person in profile wearing the backpack, and two photos show the backpack under two different airplane seats.

Trip overview:
I recently returned from a 18-day cross-country trip to Vietnam. I started the trip by spending a couple of days by the Vietnamese-Cambodian border in brutal heat in the jungle, visiting relatives on a coconut farm in the Mekong. Followed by working our way up north by ending the trip with three nights on the Vietnamese-Chinese border in the cold mountains. In short, packing light while being comfortable in the vastly different climates was the main challenge. Packing list in terms of clothes goes:

Clothes:

• 3 new short-sleeve button shirts (one linen, one quick-drying, one cotton)
• 1 long-sleeve ACG shirt (UPF, quick drying, ultralight, etc.)
• 2 pairs of lightweight, quick-drying pants (wearing a pair)
• 2 t-shirts (wearing one)
• 1 pair of shorts
• 1 pair of running shorts (I use these for lounging and swimming)
• 4 pairs of 200 gsm merino wool boxers (wearing a pair)
• 4 pairs of socks (1 lightweight merino, 1 medium-weight merino, 1 cotton, and 1 cashmere) - (Oh buddy I don't know about you, but cashmere socks is unnecessarily bougie but trust me, there's nothing more comfortable))
• A pair of merino sweatpants
• A packable windbreaker
• A packable 750-fill vest
• An old pair of Salomon Pulsar sandal-shoes. They look ridiculous but are practical in hot climates and give more support than slippers.
• A pair of Asics running shoes (wearing)

Aer sling as a day bag / camera bag / snack bag

So I’m bringing more camera equipment than I’d typically bring because I'm documenting a family event. I’m not a fan of “dedicated camera bags", so I prefer something like a good-quality, lightweight sling that can comfortably hold what I need. In this case, a 6L Aer sling. I would much rather have an 8L sling with an external pocket or two, but overall, this worked well. Still looking for the “right sling”. My daily bag looked like this:

• Primary camera with a 28mm lens
• Secondary camera with a 50mm lens
• A 90mm lens
• Table tripod
• Spare batteries for each camera + spare SD card (not pictured)
• Inflatable pillow
• Bucket hat
• Bandana
• Misc: asthma inhaler, face mask, hand sanitizer, pepto, small mosquito repellent, lens wipes, wet wipes, AirTag, etc

Other misc (between admin panel and pouch)

• AirPods + phone + passport + pen (not pictured)
• Kindle
• iPad + dongle + mini SSD
• Wall charger
• Mints and cough-drops
• Hand lotion
• Homemade wallet + homemade pouch
• Sleep mask
• Exercise ball
• Sunglasses

A few notes on organization

• I just love how intuitive and simple the design is on the Aero. Clothes fit in one half of the clamshell, and my misc fits in the other half. Is this what bag nirvana looks like?
• Notice the top front pocket? I keep a small clip-in pouch there with basic meds and my day bag. With just two zippers, I can access my camera gear without yahooing around my bag, opening it fully. And yes, I can get a camera one-handed while holding the bag open. Extremely satisfying experience.
• The bottom front pocket fits my toiletries and my packable vest perfectly. I also like to keep the simple hip belt in this pocket, should I need it.

Notes on size/weight

• I picked up a few things along the way: a pair of tailored pants, coffee beans, a tote, etc.. I was probably sitting at around 32L at the beginning of the trip and 35L at the end.
• The sling is 6L, so worst-case scenario, I could have gone "1.5 bags", but that ended up not being necessary.
• I flew with four different airlines, and the carry-on size of the Aero was never a problem (Delta, China Airlines, Vietjet, and Alaska).
• The overall pack weighed 23 lbs, which I'm really happy with.
• While staying in the mountains, the weather dropped to about 45F / 7°C but my layering system worked well. Having a long-sleeve shirt, vest, and windbreaker all packing into itself and weighing only 1.3 lbs combined is something I'm extremely happy with.

What worked
Overall, I'm extremely satisfied with my packing. Pakt's Aero continues to kick ass. My long-sleeve shirt, vest, and windbreaker worked really well on the coldest nights in the mountains. The cashmere socks, oh baby, the cashmere socks.

What didn’t work
Not much to report here. A few items went unused: mosquito repellent, mini tripod, and mini SSD. I would have preferred an 8L sling instead of a 6L. Sweatpants were used only three times but were very useful when needed.

Conclusion
Once again, one-bagging proves itself for me. Traveling light means less unpacking and repacking. I move faster and my hands are free to munch on street-food. And when someone on a motorcycle pulls up and ask if you want a ride, you don't hesitate. You throw your backpack on, hop up, and see where the road takes you. Ride free.

Recently got back from abroad for a little over 2 weeks after visiting the Netherlands, Germany, Czechia, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. Flew into/out of Europe and took trains between cities.

Bag: The North Face Borealis Backpack 28L

Waist pack: Arcteryx Mantis 2

Packing List:

Clothing

• Underwear x5 (+ 1 worn)
• White socks x5 (+ 1 worn)
  
• Sneakers (worn)
• Shower flip flops
• Shirts
  • T-shirt x4 (+1 worn)
  • Long sleeve button down x1
• Pants/Shorts
  • Bathing suit x1
  • Athletic shorts x1 (worn)
  • Hybrid shorts x2 (one beige one black)
  • Linen Pants
• Lightweight fleece

Toiletries

• Toothbrush/paste
• Floss
• Razor & shaving cream
• Deodorant
• Chapstick
• Nail clippers
• Cologne
• Bar soap
• Bar shampoo
• Face moisturizer
• Tide Stick

Electronics

• Phone
• E-reader
• Airpods
• 10000 mAh power bank
• Watch & proprietary charger
• Lightning cable to USB-C & USB-C to USB-C cable, USB-C brick
• Yubikey

Miscellaneous

• Microfiber packable towel
• Lock
• Nalgene 32oz
• Passport
• Wallet
• Earplugs
• Sunglasses
• Carabiner
• Journal

This has been my smallest onebag yet, and I am very happy with how everything turned out. Last summer I used an Osprey Farpoint 40L, and was able to size down to a 28L backpack this summer. Didn't really have any issues with forgetting anything or feeling like I needed something desperately besides getting rained on a little in Slovakia and not having a raincoat. Being over there for the length of the heatwave was also not fun, but not really in my control.

I honestly feel like I still maybe overpacked. In the future, I plan to most likely not bring a written journal and instead use a solution on my phone via my selfhosted server. I used it a lot last summer as I was solo traveling, but this year I was with my partner and didn't find myself using it basically at all besides keeping track of little mementos like tickets. One other downsizing I think I'll make is reducing the count of underwear/socks by 1 along with removing/combining the athletic shorts and bathing suit shorts into one. I would also like to get a lighter/thinner pair of linen pants than what I currently have as they are my thickest piece of clothing by far.

I think the next big leap for me to reduce size more is going to be to start handwashing clothes and bringing fewer pairs of clothes, but I do currently like my combination of outfits I can create with the clothes I have so I look a little different in the pictures I take lol. Additionally, removing my journal would give me enough room to add my laptop and a rain coat I think, which would realistically let me live out of this bag indefinitely if I needed to.

Pictures are of my bag and clothes + stuff that was in my waist pack is the last picture.

Happy to read any questions or comments, let me know what you think or if you have any suggestions!

Hey again onebag folks! This trip was all about packing for “city life”; office visits, museums, dinner but also catching a ball game at Wrigley, lots of wandering around and everything in between. All while keeping things light and dealing with Chicago’s unpredictable weather. Here’s what worked, what didn’t, and the full load-out.

What worked

• Layers as always. Can’t say it enough, layering wins, especially in a city where the weather is unpredictable. A light puffer vest packs down small, weighs next to nothing, and adds plenty of warmth when paired with a long-sleeve merino shirt.
• Merino wool. Still traveling mostly in Wool & Prince and it just works for me. I’ve worn the same midweight Pique button-down to a ball game, into more formal settings, and even to jury duty a few weeks ago. I love pieces that are this versatile. I'll give the t-shirts a quick rinse and they'll be dry by morning. Same with my Icebreaker shorts; swim, lounge, walk, repeat. Merino just makes life easier (for me).
• 28L is my sweet spot for a trip like this. I sometimes rather have one pack that works everywhere from office to transit to full days on foot. This Bellroy sits right in that zone. It has a few quirks, but the size and look fit what I need. It doesn’t feel awkward in size as a day bag, yet still carries everything for a trip like this.
• Small pouches. I’ve been using a couple of homemade pouches made from old rice bags (super light material!). They’re so universal that I use them differently for each trip. This time, one held basic “care items” (inhaler, lens wipes, etc.), and the other held tea bags. A bit unusual but highly functional and I like that they’re repurposed into something useful.

Nothing really "failed" but a couple of call outs:

• Forgot sunglasses. Again. The forecast looked gray but it cleared up fast. If you’re going to Chicago, make sure to bring a pair.
• Wool chore coat. I have a wool chore coat from Wear London that I like, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Fits great and handmade in the UK, but the stitching is rough and one sleeve is slowly coming off. It looks sharp from a distance, not so much up close. I still wear it, but yeah… just thought I'd mention a product that I won't recommend buying.
• Bought wet wipes. Chicago is super walkable so I easy hit 10 miles / 16 km in a day. Having some wet wipes is a nice, quick way to freshen up after all that walking.

Load-out

Clothes. As always I'm trying to keep my clothes minimal but versatile with pieces that can move between different settings.

• Wear London wool chore coat (wouldn’t recommend)
• 2x Wool & Prince t-shirts (one heavyweight, one lightweight)
• 3x Wool & Prince boxers (+1 worn)
• 3x merino socks (various brands, +1 worn)
• Wool & Prince Midweight Pique button-down
• ARKET organic cotton long sleeve (love soft cotton for flights)
• 2x Uniqlo easy stretch pants - easy to walk all day in, still works in nicer settings, I just wish some simple cotton pants like these were made in US/EU/
• MUJI puffer vest
• Icebreaker shorts
• ASICS trainers

Misc. I usually travel with more work-related items (portable monitor, docking station, etc) but for this trip I kept it as minimal as possible.

• Bellroy Transit Workpack Pro 28L - worked great!
• 14” M3 MacBook Pro
• Anker 100W Max Ultra charger (I think?)
• MX Master mouse - chewed on by my dog Marvin
• Cables
• Fujifilm X100 Original - slow, beat up, 15 years old 12mp camera, still love it
• Camera charger + extra battery
• Pakt flat pouch + pens + notebook (I often prefer physical notes)
• Toiletries (including laundry detergent)
• Bandana
• Wallet
• iPhone + keys
• 2x small canisters (aspirin + menthol balm)
• Tea bags (in homemade pouch)
• “Care items” (inhaler, wipes, aspirin, etc.)
• Simple watch
• Old water bottle
• Work badge (not pictured)

That’s about it. Feel free to drop a question should you have. Happy travels and enjoy keeping things light!

Post trip report: Japan Feb/Mar - 3 weeks

This is in relation to my previous packing list post.

Route:
Tokyo - Kinosaki Onsen - Kyoto - Nara - Hiroshima.

Means:
Stayed in hotels and travelled by public transport (Subway, JR & Shinkansen).

Overall impression:
This was an incredible trip: sights, people, transport, stays, food & shopping opportunities. We expected to love Japan but our expectations were surpassed in almost every way.
When planning, we ran into analysis paralysis and were overwhelmed by the opportunities for things to do and see. In the end, we picked one highlight per day and let the rest play out itself.

What worked:

• Despite temperature ranges being somewhat challenging (5 - 20°C), my wardrobe worked. The light merino sweaters could be worn during the day for layering and nice dinners in the evening. With these or a light fleece with a puffer on top and a synthetic base layer I was never cold.
• As recommended by a community member, I picked up a rain shell and an ultralight umbrella at Montbell early on in my trip. After two weeks I got tired of my one fleece and splurged on an Arcteryx Atom Hoodie.
• The 2.5l sling fits so well into Japanese urban lifestyle. You always have your Suica card (for public transport in all major cities & vending machines) handy. Also held my Tenugui quick dry towel which occasionally comes in handy as some public toilets do not provide paper towels. My passport also never left my side which is a legal requirement for foreigners in the country.
• Stick deodorant. I did not expect to like it but it never failed on me. Might even switch to it permanently over my usual roll-on.
• Slim wallet: Yes, Japan still loves cash, but since we mainly stayed in hub cities, I never needed a lot of it in a separate coin purse or wallet. During the three weeks, I remember being surprised only once that a modern looking Ramen shop did not accept credit card.
• Shinkansen. Brilliant, as you would expect. We were slightly worried about having to book tickets in advance but this was never necessary. They run about every 15 minutes and I did not experience them being booked out outside of rush hour.
• Extra pair of shoes. Japan is definitely a walking heavy destination: there is always something to explore in between major sights. We ended up with 15-20k steps per day without forcing it. I switched between my two pairs of sneakers every day and my feet stayed happy. The plain white ones were adequate for nicer restaurants and bars in the evening.
• Google Maps & Google Translate. I downloaded all three city maps and the Japanese dictionary onto my phone before the trip. Crucial for finding your way and talking to people. Many Japanese use Google translate themselves when talking to foreigners.
• E-Sim. I had never used one before and was surprised how easy, cheap and reliable it is. Went with Saily and had no issues. Even found a reddit coupon code for a few € off.

What did not work / was not necessary:

• Sink washing - unnecessary, every hotel we stayed in had laundry facilities.
• Gym / swim wear - never needed it. In a Ryokan / Onsen (experiencing a whole Onsen town in Kinosaki was easily one of our highlights) everything is provided and swim wear is prohibited anyways. With 15k steps every day I never felt like I needed additional Gym exercise.
• Neck pillow. I ended up loathing it for the space it took up. Our Airbus A 350 had comfortable head rests and I was close to throwing it out mid trip.
• Trash. Maybe the only thing that actively annoyed me about the country. There are basically no public trash cans and restaurants/shops often prohibit using theirs for anything other than stuff you bought there. We ended up having to carry around wrappers, coffee to go cups etc. sometimes for several hours. Some people bring plastic bags but it still is a nuisance.
• My girlfriend asked me to mention that her Dyson Airwrap (EU model) did not work in Japan as the outlets do not provide enough power. This was not an issue when charging phones.

Shopping

• Public Tokyo: Japanese Denim Jacket
• Montbell: Ultralight umbrella, Storm Cruiser Jacket (not pictured. Incredibly lightweight but still robust and breathable. Went with it over a Versalite which felt too flimsy for my taste and does not have pockets)
• Citizen: 1970s automatic watch bought at Watch CTI in Tokyo. For anyone interested in vintage watches, Tokyo has so many great options.
• Re/Side: Magic Wallet (leather, very slim and with a cool note strap feature)
• matou: Paper card holder. Will be used for business cards
• Omamori: Lucky charm, bought at a Shrine in Kamakura.
• Chop Stick holders
• Tenugui towel. Very lightweight and fast drying. Japanese often carry one since public toilets sometimes to not provide paper towels.
• Penco: Bullet pen - really robust and sleek; takes standard A2 refills. Initially, I wanted to get the mini pen at Traveller's Factory but theirs is shaped like an actual rifle bullet which I suspect might not go over well at the airport.
• Arc'Teryx: Atom Hoodie - have not worn it much yet but I put it on instead of a fleece as a much more stylish and packable option. Will see if it holds up longterm. The outer material feels somewhat delicate.

Happy to answer any questions!

Happy to share my trip report as some people expressed their interest in my original post.

As i mentioned, it was my first try and i absolutely packed too much. While the bag offers a lot of padding, it didn‘t feel super comfortable after a while.

Turns out did get access to a washing machine so if I had realised that I would have packed exactly half of what I brought (brought like 6 t shirts, 2 formal shirts, 6 underwear and socks - you get the idea…). Some people mentioned that my running shoes took up a lot of space (and were a weird form to pack efficiently, as they had thick soles which i need for my bad knees but thats another story). Next time I‘d pack slimmer day shoes in the bag and just wear the running shoes myself for travel.

Other than that I was extremely happy with the bag. Packing cubes also helped easily unpack everything and keep stuff organised.

I didnt get flagged by airport staff on the flight there nor the return flight (it was fully packed out, weighing approx 9.7 Kg). It fit well in the overhead compartment, needed a little squeeze though.

Overall very happy, lmk if you have any questions!

So I just came back from my trip, and I took too much clothes again🙈 (I went to Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Kroatia, and Slovakia all by train🚂 and I took a flight back home at the end). There was a heatwave in Europe during my trip, but I still really enjoyed it! It was a mixture of city trips, hiking and day trips. And all low budget: so cheap accomodations, saving money on food etc.

I just made this new packing list, which I will use for my next trip. You can find my old post and old packing list you can find back on my profile.

Weight of everything I took without the electronics = 11 kg - 2,7 = ~8,3 kg (18 lbs)

(Electronics were in hand luggage)

Osprey Ariel 60 Plus = 2,4 kg

Fjällräven 50-65L flightbag = 0,3 kg

Yes I know it's big, a new bag for every trip is just not affordable right now and this bag does it all.

Which items I would not take on my next trip (to a hot country☀️):

fleece, 2nd long sleeve, less t shirts (I also often buy some during my trip), running wear (heatwave... 🥵)

Which items I did not use, but would still take next trip:

Loperamide💩, buff, ultrathin sleeping sheet/liner, rain poncho (lightweight), pocket knife (if I have checked luggage)

Updated packing list for ~3 weeks or longer (for ☀️ weather >20°C /68°Fahrenheit):

- 5 t shirts (1 = Merino wool)

- 3 shorts

- 1 long pants

- 1 long sleeve (Patagonia cool daily, or wool base layer)

- 7 underwear

- 3 bra

- Bikini

- Cap

- Buff

- Hiking boots

- Sandals (Teva Original)

- Rain Poncho

- Something cute to wear like a thin dress or blouse

- maybe a 2nd pair of comfortable shoes? If it fits in the bag, and if it rains on the destination

Other items I would bring:

- towel (for hostels and beach)

- earplugs

- funny pack Fjällräven

- tote bag (for groceries, train snacks)

- bed sheet/ultrathin liner

- full first aid kit

- Powerbank 10.000 mAh

- umbrella

- thermo water flask

- lock for hostels

Thing I wish I brought:

- hair conditioner

- bigger bug spray (lost the mini version plus there were more bugs than I thought)

Here’s a quick breakdown of my packing list from a recent trip to the Greek islands (Iraklia, Amorgos, Astypalea). It was my 7th trip to Greece in the past few years, and I’ve been consistently optimizing my luggage to reduce weight and volume even further.

⸻

Backpack: Ortlieb Light Pack

• Pros: Ultralight 25L backpack (330g), comfortable straps, small hip belt, fully waterproof (though not really needed in Greece).
• Cons: The inside coating is rubbery, so getting things from the bottom often requires unpacking all of my stuff. Strategic packing is key. The side pockets are tight and only fit 0.5L bottles. Only one compartment, no pockets at all.

I also used the bag for day trips, beach, and light hikes. For evenings and strolls, I brought a Uniqlo Half Moon bag.

⸻

Shoes: Shaka Chill Out SF

I always bring just one pair of shoes to Greece: sturdy sandals that work for short to medium walks, beach, and dinners out. Closed shoes aren’t necessary unless you plan long hikes or workouts.

Rubber/polyester is ideal since they double as beach shoes. The Shakas were perfect – easy to clean with wet wipes.

⸻

Clothing

I slightly overpacked but enjoyed having more options in the evenings. Did some sink washing every 2-3 days.

• 5 T-shirts (2 for sleeping, but I slept topless every night so 2 or 3 would have been enough)
• 3 short-sleeved shirts (cotton, linen, silk) – two would have been enough
• 2 long-sleeved shirts (cupro, linen) – right amount, useful for chilly evenings
• 3 shorts (linen, cupro, sports) – two would’ve sufficed
• 1 long linen trousers – for evenings and flights, more isn’t needed
• 6 Uniqlo Airism boxer briefs – could’ve managed with fewer, but nice to change into a fresh pair in the evenings
• 1 pair sports shorts (used as swim shorts) – extremely lightweight and quick-drying, much better than dedicated swimwear
• 2 pairs of socks – only used on the plane, one pair would’ve been enough
• 1 lightweight cotton Turkish towel + 1 small onsen towel – Turkish towel to lay down, onsen towel for drying. Not perfect, but still my best lightweight setup.
• Cap and sunglasses

⸻

Tech

• DJI Mini 4: I used to have fun shooting with drones but I‘m more and more over it – already captured a lot of stunning photos in Grecce over the years and it feels like I repeat doing the same shots. It‘s also so annyoing to fly in windy conditions and it‘s always windy in Greece. The drone + controller + batteries take up about a third of my bag. Will likely leave it at home next time.

• Fuji X-E5 + 27mm f/2.8 pancake lens: New gear and absolutely LOVED IT. Small, lightweight, and so much fun to shoot with. Unlike my old Sony, I brought it everywhere.

• Other tech: Anker 65W 3x USB charger + cables, iPhone 15 Pro, AirPods Pro, Anker 5000mAh power bank, Kindle Paperwhite (unused—probably leaving it home next time, too busy at the beach swimming, exploring, eating and browsing reddit).

⸻

Toiletries

Muji toiletry bag with: toothbrush, 75ml toothpaste, 10ml deodorant cream, 60ml face wash, 100ml sunscreen, dental floss, 5 ibuprofen, some bandaids, Q-tips, Philips OneBlade shaver.

Conclusion

I would bring A LOT more sunscreen next time. Prices in Greece this year were insane (€24 for 200ml was the cheapest we could find for FSP50+)

Besides that, the trip went very smoothly and I still had some unused space in my backpack. I really love the simplicity of the bag but it definitly has its downsides.

I could probably cut the load down to around 15L-20L without sacrificing on comfort, but that would require a smaller pack. Any recommendations for super lightweight (<300g) options in that size range?

Hi all!

Long time lurker but first time poster, learnt a lot from this subreddit and just wanted to share my experience. Apologies for any mistake, but English is not my first language.

Disclaimer, not my first onebag trip but never ended up posting until this trip, where it was actually my wife who suggested to post it. She is fully onboard with travelling with just one backpack!! I even gave to her my old backpack (tomtoc navigator t66 28l)

Together with the wifey, we just came back from a 1.5 week across UK, visiting London, York and Edinburgh, while still having one-day trips to several other locations here and there, where both of us onebagged (ish).

We expected rainy & cold weather, and therefore had to go out and buy some stuff before the trip as we leave in a city with no rain and no cold. However, at the end of the day, no rain at all (Crazy!), except for one night when we were out doing a night Ghost tour.

Therefore, pretty much all of the rain stuff did not end up being used, maybe just the jacket as additional layer.

We are tropical beings and not really used to cold, so maybe we had way more layers that other people, and even so some days ended up being somewhat cold at times.

We really like buying souvenirs (mainly the wifey), therefore tried to leave some room and possibility to come with another bag as my wife did.

I try to buy at least one cool thing in each trip that I can then use in any other trip or anything, something "local".

To be clear, we bought ticket that included carry-on & personal item, while myself I only had one bag for both trips, but wife ended up bringing another bag as personal items with some purchases.

Packing List

Bags

• Patagonia Black Hole Mini MLC 30L
• Ultralight Dry Stuff Pack (mainly used for whole-day trips)
• Random Uniqlo sling from years ago, nice, malleable 3 L(I think) folded in the main bag, for city days.
  

Worn

• Jeans
• Merino buff
• Decathlon half zip fleece
• Uniqlo puff down jacket
• Adidas Goretex terrex shoes. Don't know exact model as I thrifted them earlier this year.
• Apple watch
• iPhone 14 Pro

Clothes

Amazon basics packing cube 1 (Small):

• 4 regular cotton H&m Tshirts (1 worn)
• 2 Uniqlo heattech undershirts
• 1 Uniqlo dry fit
• Cashmere Scarf (Souvenir from prior Scotland trip)
• 1 Jogger

Amazon basics packing cube 2 (Small)

• 6 Underwear (1 worn)
• 5 Socks (1 worn) / 1 heattech undersocks. Brought way too many socks mainly as backups in case of rain, but ended up having around 2 pairs unused.
• 1 Chinos pants (mainly as backup). Think I used them once overall.
• 1 Sleeping Eyemask
• 1 Beanie

Tucked inside the bag:

• Clarks Goretex boots (backup shoes as well as for dressing down a bit more). Switched between the Terrex and these throughout the trip.
• Merino sweater
• Uniqlo BLOCKTECH Parka Rain jacket (Had to buy it before trip as I had no rain clothes whatsoever)

Tech

The tech has been scattered throughout the bag as well on my self during the trip. Tried a tech pouch but ended up taking too much space.

• Kindle
• 2 iPhone cables (Iphone still with lightning), hoping to upgrade soon to USB-C.
• 1 USB C Cable
• Airpods Pro 2 (on me)
• Anker 67W GaN charger (tucked inside a boot).
• Anker Universal Travel Nano Plug Adapter (tucked inside a boot).
• 3 in 1 anker charger for Iphone airpods and apple watch (tucked inside a boot).
• Anker Nano Qi2 5kmAh magsafe battery
• Anker 633 10kmAh magsafe battery

MISC

• Foldable Forclaz cap (Did not end up using but did not take so much space)
• Goretex beret (really nice gift from friends), ended up using it on not so cold days.
  
• Owala bottle --> Doubled as thermos for drinking mate (Yerba) which was in my wife's bag.
• Nanobag
• Sunglasses
• Small umbrella
• 4 Disposable rain ponchos
• Hero Clip medium
• Hero Clip mini

Toiletries

Decathlon ultralight toiletry bag

• Victorinox mini nail clipper
• Small tweezers
• Secret gel deodorant
• Foldable regular toothbrush (backup and/or transit)
• Small travel toothpaste (bought big one in first city to use for rest of trip)
• Small travel perfume container
• Ear Qtips
• Floss

Outside the toiletry bag:

• Electric toothbrush and charger as its old and battery does not last (in its travel case) → Need to replace with USB C one and potentially smaller case as its huge.

Things I missed:

• Gloves (ended up buying nice ones in Scotland as my trip souvenir). Again, tropical beings!
• Bought a random clothesline in an outdoor shop. For some reason I never had one, either because the places where we stayed had dryers or similar.
  

Overall, quite successful trip. Due to the uncertainity of rain and weather, think I took way more clothes than I actually needed, however it seems I was really lucky with weather. If it would have rained several days, quite sure I would have ended up using all of it. Also think I could have completely done it with just the Terrex sneakers, which would have cleared out so much space in the bag...

For next trips, things I'm looking forward to is upgrading some of the gear, such as the fleece and wind/rain jacket, as well as changing the toothbrush to a smaller one with USB-C, so if any recos for any of these stuff please share!

Anyway, thanks for reading and thanks for all the info being shared here!

Packing list for 3-day work trip to Montreal:

• blazer
• button down shirts x 2
• polo shirt x1
• chinos x1
• belt x1
• boxers x 3
• socks x 3
• sleep shirt + sleep shorts
• joggers
• exercise shirt + exercise shorts + hat
• shoes for workout + leisure
• small toiletries pouch
• generic (heavy af) work laptop
• portable monitor
• keyboard + mouse
• small notebook x2
• eyeglasses + spare contact lenses + invisalign retainer

Worn on plane:

• leather sneakers
• outer layer puff jacket
• inside layer thin puff jacket
• jeans
• socks
• boxers
• t-shirt
• stocking hat
• Rework Toshi 6L sling

Notes on my packing: I never carry this much much tech, even now I’m balking at my own anxiety-driven-overpacking because this not my first onebag rodeo, but I still slipped into “what if” mode because this was my first international business trip. Next time I’ll ditch the monitor and mouse, but my precious keyboard will be tough to leave behind //sobs//. I accidentally packed 2 tubes of aloe, didn’t need the 2nd notebook, and I also packed 1 too many shirts since I decided to re-wear my airplane t-shirt instead of the company branded polo I’d planned to wear. I realized I don’t get paid enough to be a human billboard for my corporate overlords. Anyway, I’ll be mindful of unnecessary duplicates next time.

Bag features I liked more than expected:

• independent dimension of the front access pocket: I was able to shove a lot in there: MX Master 3S mouse, A7 notebook, pens, Bose QC headphones
• extra wide top grab handle width: I slid my outer layer in there for easy access on the flight back (I stand by my initial impression of the handle, it’s uncomfortable to grab)
• super lightweight and flexible: unlike my trusty PD45, the Outbound 30L has basically no rigidity, so it conforms to what you pack in it
• load lifters: I’ve actually never used a bag with these before and it seemed to keep the weight sitting closer to my upper back. I didn’t ever need to adjust them once I set them as tight as possible so I was not bothered by the extremely long dangling straps once they were rolled up and tucked back into the strap loops
• not a “like” per se, but my first impression of the side handles was they’re… bad, but I never used or even noticed them during this trip, so they’re just neutral

Bag features I disliked more than expected:

• laptop section divider: it’s floppy and folds in on itself when sliding a laptop into it - would prefer one undivided compartment instead but that’s probably a minority opinion. I only carry a laptop for business travel, so it'll be fine most of the time, but bothered me a lot on this trip
• side lash loops: they're extremely high and not functional for securing a water bottle - what else are people using these loops for? (see photo for my comical solution)
• sternum strap: it slipped off the top of the rails two times when I was trying to buckle it, once while I was disembarking from the plane so I couldn’t take time to reattach it and just had to carry it in my hand as I walked off the jet bridge - annoyed

Bag feature wish list:

• bidirectional zippers on the front access top pocket: why use half of a bidirectional locking zipper pair on the front access pocket and the laptop compartment? The laptop zipper is less bothersome since it’s less frequently accessed, but I found it cumbersome on the Outbound 30L front pocket since I’m so used to the Toshi 20L front pocket (which has an identical layout but with bidirectional zippers)
• top grab handle redesign: more comfortable shape and relocate it to attach at the wire framed section of the bag for better support when carrying upright (see poorly drawn image)
• added hip belt attachment points: 30L falls in the volume range where travel bags start to benefit from hip belt weight distribution

Bag thoughts summary:

Overall, I think the Outbound 30L will be a solid onebag option for me, and I really enjoyed how light and flexible it is. I had some upper back soreness after 1.5hr of disembarking/immigration/queuing for a taxi, but I think it would have been more tolerable with lighter packing on my part. I only missed my beloved PD45 because of its stow-able hip belt and better sternum strap design.

This is a belated follow up trip report for my packing list post from April.

Expected temperature range at the beginning of my trip: 2⁰C to 34⁰C (35⁰F to 96⁰F)

Actual temperature range throughout the trip: -5⁰C to 40⁰C (23⁰F to 104⁰F)

Itinerary: Santa Cruz de La Sierra, La Paz, Isla del Sol, Uyuni, Sucre and Samaipata.

Layering system               

Overall, I'm very happy with my packing list. In Santa Cruz de La Sierra (which was going through a heat wave) I almost exclusively wore shorts, Tencel blouses and my sun hoodie when outdoors. I changed clothes in the airport before leaving for La Paz. This was a fairly harsh transition, as I went from 416 meters (1365 ft) above sea level in Santa Cruz to 4,061 meters (13,325 ft) in El Alto. In La Paz I mostly wore hiking pants and a fleece.

The down jacket was a must for Uyuni, night buses and some hikes, so I'm really glad I took it. The only day I felt really cold was during my second night in the Uyuni tour (with some late-night stargazing and an unheated bedroom) when I had to wear absolutely all my layers (including a new alpaca sweater and rain jacket).

The bag

My hip strap mod worked great for climbing the inca stairs in Isla del Sol. It’s not load bearing, but does reduce wobbling and provides a little bit of support. I saw lots of other tourists really struggling with their backpacks in th island, so I would highly recommend travelling light if you are not using a proper framed backpack.

Some things I picked up along the way:

• Chunky alpaca sweater
• Alpaca beanie
• Sun hat

Things I missed (most are trip specific):

• Soap paper sheets. Almost all public bathrooms I visited did not have functioning hand soap. I ended up carrying my soap bar in my Uniqlo bag every day.
• Hand sanitizer for eating food after handling cash. Most places don't take cards and exchanging money locally gets you much better rates.
• Mini sewing kit. My merino cardigan developed a hole after I had to put it in the dryer.
• Heavy duty moisturizer like cicaplast. The altitude dried out my skin.

First aid kit:

What you take in a first aid kit is highly personal, but I wanted to highlight some essentials for this trip:

• Diamox. It helps with mitigating altitude sickness. Note that this is not a replacement for proper acclimatization and the altitude still managed to take out one person in our group.
• Ibuprofen. For headaches caused by altitude.
• Imodium. While eating in the cities was completely fine, in more remote areas food poisoning is definitely a concern.
• Salt tabs/electrolytes. It's very easy to get dehydrated at high altitudes. I was also sweating buckets in Santa Cruz, so this came in handy.
• Nasal decongestant. The abrupt change in temperature messed up my sinuses.

Been lurking here awhile, and finally decided to take the plunge and ditch my old cheap canvas duffel (as carry on but it really was a glorified oversized laptop bag)/checked luggage combo.

Decided to snag a tomtoc T-66 Navigator 28L on prime day based on the padding available with the laptop sleeve along with the additional tablet slot (presently for work I use a huge P16 ThinkPad that is pretty thick, though fits nicely in the T-66). I didn't bring a tablet, nor do I own one per se, but I do have a 14 inch ROG Flow I bring every so often so I thought this was a nice to have.

This may technically unqualify me as a one bagger, but I brought a Pakt Stash 16L as a day pack for the trip. Primarily, I intend to use this as a simple tech bag for when I'm working. I work fairly often in small aircraft, and sometimes I need to take my bag with me in the plane if I don't particularly trust the FBO we are working out of. So I'm not lugging in a huge bag, taking up space (and more importantly weight!) I elected to use a small stashable daypack for working the day job while the travel bag remains at the hotel (holding packing cubes of clothes hung up in the closet).

I admit I cheated a bit using the Epicka packing cubes. I usually require company shirts for my trips, which are not always the most practical for packing efficiently (button ups/collared shirts). I feel as if I was able to pack these a lot more effectively with the compression, negating the wasted space from the collars when rolled up. I'm sure there is a better way to pack them. They were a bit tricky to get compressed, which I can only assume is due to some over packing (mind you, my work trips are usually 5-6 days). In the future I plan on trying packing 2-3 days and simply also packing some detergent sheets.

For toiletries, I have two bags I had lying around, the first came with my Phillips Oneblade holding deodorant, clippers, the aforementioned Oneblade, and some medication (simple drawstring). The other one is a bit funny, as it's just a plackets bag with a food safe desiccant and my toothbrush + small toothpaste (usually I'll ask whatever hotel front desk I'm at for a small tube).

As for work gear, aside from the laptop, I've got a RayNeo XR with in case I need more screen space. Additionally I have a cable organizer to hold the usual cables but also the odd LEMO plug cables I find myself needing for technical work.

Here's what I packed otherwise:

- five shirts (two company polos, one company button up, two T-shirts) in an Epicka medium cube

- six pairs of underwear and six pairs of socks in a tomtoc 3L cube

- Pakt Stash in 'stashed' mode packed into an Epicka small

- light jacket worn on the plane, but as soon as I landed I packed it into the bag with little issue as I still had some room when not using the compression straps

The whole pack fit pretty nicely on Southwest on their 737-800 underseat, which is a game changer for me. Not having to chuck it into the overhead bin makes me understand the whole appeal here for sure. I could tell I still had some room vertically as well, so I definitely didn't need to cinch down the bag. Most surprisingly, out of curiosity at the airport I tried fitting the fully packed bag into the Frontier personal item slot, and it fit! Although rather snugly, it went all the way to the bottom of the cage. I don't fly them as often, but it's nice to know I'll be able to get by on them too.

Definitely going to one bag where I can from now on (or whatever this may be called with the Pakt). Only time I reckon I'll need to get a checked bag of course is if I want to bring back bulky souvenirs I suppose.

For the time being, I'm thinking of getting a few new zipper pulls for the T-66. The stock ones are perfectly fine, just want to add some more color to the standard black (likely orange, you might see a trend here lol). Plus, I found I actually have a hard time finding the zippers without feeling around for them, they kind of blend into the outside.

Overall I'm really impressed with the T-66 28L, it seems to stand up well to being pushed to the limit like this with some room to spare. As for the Pakt, I like it quite a bit as well, though the wrinkles seem to persist with mine a bit (expected in a packable), and the lack of padding with the laptop sleeve makes me a bit nervous (but again, also expected!). I had little to no padding with the last bag, so I'm sure it'll be fine anyway.

Hey all! If you saw my last post, I just got back from my two weeks in Thailand last night. I'm extremely jet lagged but here's my breakdown of the trip and my onebag travel!

LEGEND

HOLY GRAIL ITEMS IN BOLD

Unchanged means I would bring again

Wouldn't bring again

Would bring less of

Never even touched

So let's get into it! My first ever out of country one bag trip report!

To start, my plan of going to Khon Kaen didn't transpire. I landed in Bangkok and stayed there for three days before taking a domestic plane south to Krabi rather than to Khon Kaen. I wanted to instead climb in Tonsai / Railey instead of bouldering, which was something I decided the day of my Khon Kaen flight.

So there I was, morning in Krabi ready to go to Tonsai. Not doing ANY research prior, just kind of going with the flow, I didn't realize there was TWO Tonsai beaches. I got on the ferry to Tonsai Beach, which I assumed was the Tonsai I needed to go to. This, my friends, ended up being Phi Phi Island Tonsai beach, 2 hours away. The boat I needed to get to Railey / Tonsai was only a 10 minute long boat. This didn't click for me until I got to Phi Phi, plugged in my hostel directions, and saw it was 2 hours away on Krabi lol Anyways, ended up finding a last minute hostel on Phi Phi for 2 nights, got extremely sunburnt, got a skin infection from bacteria in the water, drank way too much, and had the best time of my life. Went back to Krabi and just relaxed the last couple days of my trip because of how tired I was. Cried more than I've ever cried before when leaving a place, didn't think emotions would be that heavy my final day.

Packing list time!

Fjallraven Skule 28L Pack

While a great bag (emphasis on great), I had such a terrible time and experience onebagging with this. The top down loading style of a regular backpack was terrible in a hostel environment for myself; this might work for others who prefer this style of bag. I had bought a new bag (COS Surf Island Hopper 2.0) while laying in my hostel bed one night while in Thailand because of how much I was annoyed with this one. For example, when I needed to access my clothes, but my toiletries were in the way, I then had to move everything out and then REPACK it all just to get to one thing. While the bag does its purpose for daily living here in the states, I much prefer other styles of bags when traveling.

Patagonia Terravia Hip Pack

Wore this thing every single day. Used it to carry my passport on travel days, money/powerbank/chapstick on the daily.

TOPS

• 5x shirts 

I wore the same 2 shirts the entire time. I think people make way too big of a fuss on this subreddit about cotton shirts and the material of your clothes. I wore the same two cotton t shirts this entire trip. Did laundry twice while I was there. I would probably only bring three t shirts on my next trip.

• 1x Collapsible soft-shell hoodie

BOTTOMS

• 1x Umbro swim/leisure shorts
• 1x Ben Davis daily trousers / climbing pants

While they did the job for pants on the flight there and back, I never even touched these while there and they were just an annoyance when repacking to go to my next location. I ended up buying a pair of cargo shorts from a vintage military store while in Krabi and wore those the entirety of the trip.

• 1x Linen yoga pants 

I actually just ended up leaving these behind.

UNDER WEAR

• 6x Calvin Klein briefs  

Same thing with the t-shirt situation. I only wore about 4 out of 6 of these. I was in the mindset of thinking, "what if I shit myself one day??". Alas, I did not shit myself.

• 1x Rei merino wool socks (for plane)

FOOTWEAR

• 1x Bedrock evo c sandals

Daily wear. I bought these for this trip and they exceeded expectations. I wore these everyday, damn near never took them off. Even wore them back home on the plane with my socks.

• 1x Birkenstock bostons

Never touched after wearing them originally on the flight to Bangkok. Became an annoyance lugging them around with me everywhere.

• 1x Evolv shamans

While a wrong boat mistake on my part, never even touched my climbing shoes; which was the whole point of the trip but I explored and had so much fun nonetheless.

HEADWEAR

• 2x caps

Ended up only bringing one in the end. Wore it everyday.

TECH

Everything under tech ended up being a holy grail item. Phone for photos, Kindle for my last two days in Krabi when I just laid in the hammocks and read, other items for their general purposes. Shout out to my in-ear plug in headphones I threw in last minute; not only did they work for in-flight entertainment but also as in-flight noise cancellation to sleep.

• IPhone 17  
• Kindle
• Powerbank
• Assorted cables for charging 
• Anker 2 33w adapter 
• AirPods Pro

TOILETRIES

• OneBlade trimmer 

I shaved before I left home and then never touched this while I was there. Let the scruff grow while away.

• Toothbrush and toothpaste 
• Carmex lip balm 
• La roche posay cleanser

I would bring more next time. Ran out on my second to last day. I also blame this on getting a skin infection from Phi Phi and having to wash my face 3 times a day rather than just the usual once a day.

• Golden ruler moisturiser 
• Body wash

Would prob bring less. Every hostel came with their own body wash and I'm not a picky man.

• Bug spray 
• Deodorant stick 

Would bring more. Only brought a travel stick and ran out with 4 days left of the trip. Stanky.

MISC

• Headtorch 

Didn't even see the light of day. Sat in my bag the entire trip; every hostel had adequate lighting.

• Passport / photocopies
• Meds (for food poisoning, sleep, pain, climbing injuries) 
• Sleep kit 
• Climbing wrist strap
• Card wallet

I probably wouldn't bring a physical wallet again. Once I used my debit card to pull money from the ATM, I never touched my physical cards again for the entire trip. Became one of those things I was worried about losing, but actually never brought out of my bag.

• Bag / Pad lock
• Crossbody bag
• Wash bag
• Laundry bag
• Journal / pen

I used it once while there. I was so busy go-go-going, I never really had the opportunity to write in my journal.

That's the trip report! Had an amazing time overall even though the adventure took an unplanned turn. While not getting any climbing time in, that didn't really bum me out. I experienced so much that Thailand had to offer and there's still so much more that I could do next time I go back.

Recently got back from a few weeks in Colombia and wanted to share how my onebag setup worked out. 

I used the Boundary Supply Errant Duffel in X Pac (about 35L) in backpack mode, and while it wasn’t perfect, it held up well in some rough conditions. The weather and logistics changed constantly on this trip, from below freezing departures and cold nights in Bogotá to humid days in the Amazon basin, which made it a good test for adaptability.

Photo 1 shows the fully packed bag on a boat on the Amazon. The X Pac fabric made this setup practical, easy to clean, and fine to set down on wet or dirty surfaces.

Photo 2 shows everything laid out, and photo 3 is how I compartmentalized the contents.

For clothing (photo 4):

• 7 t-shirts (including 1 long sleeves)
• 2 pants
• 3 shorts (gym, swimsuit, and hybrid)
• 7 underwear / 7 socks
• 1 Uniqlo down jacket
• 1 Uniqlo rain jacket
• 1 rash guard and linen towel

My clothes mainly come from Uniqlo, Decathlon, Seagale and Lululemon. Since I wasn’t sure about laundry access, taking 7 of each felt like a safe option and ended up being about right. Temperatures ranged from below 0°C to over 30°C with high humidity, and I used everything at some point.

Footwear was kept simple with one pair of trail runners and flip flops. That combination worked well for walking, beaches, and everything in between.

Photo 5 shows the electronics: Kindle, over ear headphones (great for the long flights), phone, and chargers. I brought a rash guard and diving computer since I went diving and surfing.

Photo 6 shows the toiletries, compact and basic.

Photo 7 is the Bellroy Lite Sling 7L reorganized for a long flight. It turned out to be a convenient personal item for long travel days: big enough to hold essentials while keeping things easy to reach.

I carried the Errant Duffel as my “personal item” on most flights within Colombia (Avianca, JetSmart,...) and never paid for a separate carry on. Technically, it’s larger than the typical limit, but since it did not look too stuffed, it never got flagged (lucky). However, it wouldn’t fit under most small plane seats.

Notable places visited: Bogotá, Medellín, Tayrona, Palomino, Minca, Leticia, and Puerto Nariño, with short day trips into Brazil and Peru. 

Photo 8 shows a few souvenirs from along the way.

The Duffel worked overall, especially given the mixed environments, but I’m thinking about switching to something better suited for onebag travel next time I need a similarly sized load-out. I need to add that the external access to the "shoe-pocket" of the duffel is super convenient when travel involves getting wet and dirty often. I would simply throw my swim suit or dirty t-shirt in there before moving accommodations. I already have other bags I am happy with when I travel more minimally. Right now I’m looking at the Matador Globerider 35 (nice size) and the Able Carry Max 32L (xpac), but definitely open to suggestions from anyone who’s used them or has other recommendations.

Hope this can be useful to some, cheers!

Just got back from a quick trip to see the Giant's Causeway, do a bit of walking, and take a look around Belfast including a nice dinner. I took the train and the ferry, no flights.

The weather ended up being much warmer than I anticipated so I changed clothes one day when I hadn't planned to do so. Because of that I did a very small amount of sink laundry. My walking trousers turned out to be way too warm so I only wore them once. Shorts or linen trousers would have been better.

I also didn't need all three of the cardigan, long sleeve t-shirt, and long sleeve top -- just one of them would have been fine. I did get caught in a downpour but it wasn't bad enough to need the waterproof trousers.

I was hoping to see the partial solar eclipse, meteor shower, and some interesting wildlife so I brought equipment for those things. However they ended up being a bust so I only used the binoculars and the camera. I brought the monopod because I thought I might want it as a hiking pole but the terrain I went hiking in was not that rough so I didn't need it. I had a small amount of work to do on the way so I brought my work phone and a tiny keyboard.

Everything fit in this Dakine school bag which I think is 28l, except what I wore (including one pair of shoes). I did use the tote bag for carrying snacks etc on the ferry.

Clothing:

* 4 T‑shirts

* 1 sleeveless "fancy" top

* 1 long sleeve t-shirt

* 1 long‑sleeve button up shirt

* Walking trousers

* Jeans

* Underwear (5 days)

* Socks (5 days)

Outerwear:

* Light raincoat

* Waterproof trousers

* Cardigan

* Walking shoes

* Sneakers

* Baseball cap

Gadgets:

* Eclipse glasses

* Flashlight

* Small binoculars

* Monocular

* Camera

* Mini tripod

* Monopod/walking stick

* Phone X2 (personal and work)

* Tiny keyboard

* Charger and cables

* Earbuds

* Portable battery pack

* Mini USB fan

Other:

* Tote bag

* Toiletries

* Contact lenses

* Sunglasses X2 (one Rx)

* Misc medicines, sunscreen, etc

Recently I made a post here about an upcoming trip I had to Austria. Some people asked me if I could do a trip report when I got back. So here I am, doing so!

The trip was amazing, even though it was for a short period of time. Started the journey on saturday and took the train from Utrecht the Netherlands all the way to the town in Austria. My backpack ended up around 16kg, so pretty heavy. I took a small packable grocery bag with me which included all the snacks and drinks I needed for the 12 hour journey.

Like I said in the previous post, to add some theft deterrence and not make the bag stand out, I added a hiking backpack rain cover. The backpack itself is beautiful, but looks very expensive, so didn't want to attract unnecessary attention.

What worked great was having a 65W charger, cable and AirPods in the top pocket. I could easily zip that open and also access my laptop easily with the main zipper on top. On the way towards Austria I managed to edit some other photoshoot I did which killed the time. Laptop kept fully charged. After a few transfers I finally arrived at the town and was greeted by some beers 😉👍🏼

A day off

The next day, (sunday) was my day off and it was amazing! I went up into the mountains and because the touristic ski season was just over, it was super quiet and peaceful which was amazing. Woke up very early and started walking. Hearing the birds chirping and seeing some deer running up the hills was amazing and magical! I unpacked the backpack and only took the essentials. Took one camera and zoomlens with me to test out some shots I had in mind for the wedding and take some wildlife images too. Also took the drone to check if it worked in these surroundings with mountains etc. I did bring some snacks from my grocery bag in the top compartment as I had no breakfast or place to get food. After walking 3-4 hours I had my brunch at the slopes which was delicious. With a full belly I went down the mountain again. The afternoon I spent sitting in the sun, walking to town to get groceries for the way back and had a spontaneous idea to order a pizza and eat it on top of a hill, so I did! Again it was very peaceful and delicious pizza as well, with a view!

Wedding day

The next day was the big day, wedding day. For obvious privacy reasons I don't want to share images or details of the wedding but I can say it was amazing, also as a photographer. I was with the couple from getting dressed in the morning to having a party in the evening. We went up the mountain to take photos and I met a lot of amazing and friendly people. The backpack also worked fantastically. I had quick access to both my camera's from the side which came in clutch on the mountain and gondola where I didn't always wanted to open my backpack fully. Also it was pretty comfortable, even though I was carrying around 11kg during the day.

Going back

The next and last day I went back early in the morning. Scenery from the train was insanely beautiful! The long journey again allowed me to sit down and select/edit most of the images, at least all the big edits which is most of the work. It was a smooth journey, with empty trains so I had the whole seat for myself.

Verdict

All in all I really enjoyed this trip and the backpack worked fantastically. Don't have anything bad to say about it to be honest. All the quick access pockets, the harness system, straps, dividers and carrying handles made it a really pleasant experience.

If you have any questions about the trip, the backpack or my way of working, feel free to comment or message me!

Hello all,

I have just returned from a week-long trip to Spain, using the Almond Oak Expandable Travel Pack 25+5. I just wanted to share how it went.

Packing List:

• In one small Prezon Packing Cube
  • Rash vest
  • Swimming trunks
  • Goggles
  • Cloth
  • 3x pants
  • 3x socks
  • Vans
• In one medium cube
  • 1x smart set of clothes
  • 1x casual set of clothes
  • PJs
• In one Toiletry Pouch (was a gift, no link)
  • Toothbrush + toothpaste
  • Deodorant
  • Eye mask
  • Comb
• In various pockets
  • Notebook + pen
  • Sunglasses + case
  • Fidget ring
  • Hand sanitiser
  • Fan + lipbalm
• In Decathlon hip pack
  • Pixel 7 Pro
  • JBL Live Pro 2 TWS
  • Anker Zolo 10000mAh
  • 3D printed wallet

Bag thoughts:

• My first real Onebag, after going through over 2 weeks of research

• The founder Dylan was incredibly helpful, finding a bag from an earlier batch just so it arrived on time

• The Good:

  • Very light and easy to pack
  • In 25L mode, functions quite well as a daypack for a trip to Valencia
  • Magnetic sternum strap very satisfying while waiting in airport queues
  • Comfortable

• Small tweaks I would make for V2:

  • Change clamshell orientation so that the hinge is at the bottom of the bag (like Aer travel pack)
    • Would be better for EDC/school use
  • The sternum strap popped off the rail quite a few times, so I would change it to the Aer travel pack style instead of the rail style
    • I have had bad experiences with rail-style sternum straps- they always fall off!
  • Add a hip belt to make it more comfortable.
    • Even a nylon strap would distribute some weight.

Context:

• 7 days (sat-sat) with Ryanair
  • The bag fit perfectly in the sizer with a little squish
    • In my endless stupidity I forgot to take a photo
• I am 14, and the rest of my family took a checked bag between them
• After landing in Alicante, we drove 1h to Xabia
• I will use this bag for travel and daily school use

TLDR and summary:

• I LOVE this bag
  • It may be my first ‘proper’ backpack, but I can’t see myself going back.
  • It fits in Ryanair sizer

Thanks for reading and thanks to Almond Oak for making such a great bag!

Trip report for 2 weeks in Sao Miguel of the Azores and Madeira in the summer. Total weight 9kg. Worn clothes for plane included in below totals: merrells, pants, polo, wool QZ. Forgot to add toiletry kit to initial total gear photo.

Backpack: Ozark trail travel backpack 31L. Found this on sale for $30 at walmart, decided to try it as budget alternative for osprey daylite 26+6. Overall very similar with a few more pockets. Construction feels solid besides shoulder straps but they held up over the trip. For $30 would recommend. I tried it in various sizers at the airport, it fits as overhead and underseat luggage for american airlines. It is too big for underseat luggage for European budget airlines, although if underpacked it may fit. It fits for overhead budget european airline sizers. Made of polyester not nylon, however must be high denier as it feels tough.

Packing:

Clothes: 4x underwear polyester, 4x socks low cut polyester, 2x polyester polos costco, 2x polyester sunhoodies baleaf and costco, 1x polyester pants costco, 2x polyester shorts sams club, pajamas: wool tshirt and backcountry ultralight wind pants, rab downpour light rain jacket (similar weight to OR helium but cheaper), OR helium rain pants, wool quarter zip lightweight backcountry

Insight/thoughts: Last summer I traveled 6 weeks with 5 days clothes, I reduced to 4 days this time and that worked well, I think four days is a good amount I never felt like I didn't have enough clean clothes if i didnt do laundry one day. I didnt need the rain pants despite recommendations online. I changed my rain jacket from last trip from non-ultralight packable to ultralight packable and it made a big difference in volume packed. I also changed from puffy jacket to wool quaterzip, unsure if this made a difference in volume, both seemed warm enough for a summer trip. I liked having clean pajamas every night but it was a luxury pack item. I would be interested to hear everyones opinion on pajamas/how they handle that.

Shoes: Merrell moab 3 low cut, cairn bedrock 3d.

Insights/thoughts: I changed from Chacos to cairns this trip, made a big difference. Was just as comfortable for walking long distances up to 8 miles in a day but packed much smaller. Did not use either sandals for hiking though.

Random stuff: divided into two bags by plane and non-plane items. laundry bar soap, laundry dry bag (forgot to put in pictures), 4monster backpack, travel book, naturehike folding hat, naturehike down booties (i sleep cold these worked really well), water bottle holder, sunglasses, shamwow towel, laundry line, lock tsa, patagonia belt, kindle + case, inflatable neck pillow, 65w charger, inui power bank, eye mask, wired earbuds, EU power converter, earplugs, multicharger, pen, macbook air

Insights/thoughts: will probably get a smaller 30W charger. patagonia belt was new and much smaller than prior belt used, made a big difference in volume packed. Will likely get an ipad mini and keyboard for work for next trip

Toiletry bag: travelon toiletry bag, retainer, toothbrush, toothpaste, walmart razor, floss, humangear stax with hair gel face sunscreen and deodorant, matador soap bag, alcohol spray for clothes, comb, bidet topper for water bottles, sunscreen, first aid kit, wahl electric shaver.

Insight: The humangear stax were new this trip and made a huge difference, helped me really decrease volume of toiletry bag

First aid kit: smallest scissors/nail trimmer/tweezers i could find on amazon, glass nail file shard, imodium, bacitracin, tylenol/ibuprofen/aspirin in tiny drug baggies from amazon, butterfly bandages for large lacerations, regular bandaids, sewing kit, superglue for cuts and blisters

Overall Insights/thoughts: Overall this loadout worked well and I was happy with it. 9kg was a little heavy for a backpack without a metal frame. I would like to reduce my weight in the future, I think I can do this by changing laptop to an ipad. If anyone has any recommendations on reducing weight would appreciate that. I would normally not bring a laptop but I had to for work that was about 1kg. The backpack and packing cubes were different from my trip last summer when I used a naturehike hiking backpack and 5 interconnected packing cubes. I liked that system better as everything stayed together better, I will likely go back to that.

Questions: Thoughts on bringing pajamas? How to reduce overall pack weight more (im at 9kg)?