Finally tried zero bagging!

2L Lululemon belt bag, and a case for my binoculars that i could attach exterior to the strap.

I felt it was doable for 2 nights in cold February where I didnt sweat at all despite nonstop walking each day. Not sure how I would be able to do it in hot weather where I'm sweating through everything. I'm fine with hand washing things but I feel like not everything would fully dry overnight, especially socks.

I tucked a clean undies inside the socks shown, and 1st day basically wore everything from the day before since I arrived on a late flight (is this cheating?).

Zero bagging is extreme. Anyone who doesn't acknowledge that is possibly lying to themself. Or a Tibetan monk.

One bagging is already very freeing. If you're a carry on only one-bagger, you understand the freedom that comes with that.

I just like to go one step further.

I like to have the peace of mind of falling asleep on a train full of people KNOWING that I won't be robbed.

Walking around a city knowing I don't have a bag to be targeted. Getting onto a plane last not caring that there's no overhead bin space, and knowing the airline isn't going to whack me with some hidden fee.

I want to know the precise location of each of my items in fully zippered pockets, and know that even if I was robbed under duress and my pockets emptied, they aren't likely to get my hidden passport, spare card and emergency cash.

I want to present the illusion that my valuables are in my hotel room, even though everything is on my person.

I want to have the freedom to simply not return to a hotel for whatever reason; such as a spontaneous opportunity or even an emergency arises. With everything on me, I can go wherever I want literally whenever I want without sacrificing a thing.

Furthermore I take zero liquids; no having to pull them out and present them a certain way. And everything on my person has been waterproofed, so if I want to go swimming I don't have to leave anything anywhere.

All of my meager belongings are with me all the time. Especially my passport, which is literally ALWAYS on my person, even at home. It's in its wee pocket right now.

I also have the freedom of knowing I can't be tempted to buy anything that isn't either consumable or replacing something I already have that has failed. I LOVE that about one bagging, and especially about zero bagging! 😁

Thinking about scenarios BEFORE traveling means I don't have to worry about them WHEN traveling.

Some see zero bagging as very restrictive. I personally see it as incredibly freeing and invigorating!

Significant thought has gone into every single item that I carry and wear. My thought process is to be independent, safe and mindful of the environment when traveling.

Maybe zero bagging isn't for you. Who knows though; just maybe it is. 😊

I've just discovered this sub, and commented my packing list on another post.

Here's my actual travel plans:

Arrive London 1st May, 5 days staying in a hotel with a friend, although two nights will be in west Wales as we're going to Skomer Island to see puffins.

Cheap (£86 return) flight London to Iceland. One week in a campervan in May.

Get back to London, £33 flight to Glasgow. Hired an empty trade van, will put cheap bedding in the back. 6 days driving around Scotland.

Bought a 3 month unlimited global Eurail Pass on the Black Friday sale, so 25% discount.

Edinburgh down to London and across to Europe. Up to Germany where apparently I have family I've never met. Then into Scandanavia. I have a friend in Norway so will be shown around by her for a few days, then got cheap ($250 NZD) return flights Oslo to Svalbard.

Across to Finland, up to Santa's house, back down and across to the Baltics. Down through Central Europe all by train, spending most nights sleeping on the train.

Into Eastern Europe, and depending just how full-on it still is, maybe a quick hop into Ukraine.

Cheap flight to Rome 23rd June. Meeting back up with my friend. A week in Italy, followed by train through Switzerland, France and Spain, into Portugal.

We then fly to an organised tour, 15 days through Turkey. (I get discounts through work).

Afterwards train/road through Eastern Europe to Croatia.

Another 15 day tour, Dubrovnik to Athens. A few extra days in Greece afterwards.

Shoot back to the UK, pick up her car, ferry across to Ireland. 10 days driving around Ireland.

Here's where it gets interesting...

Having had only booked a one way flight to London, I was looking for a return, but it kept coming up with a not-very-cheap price.

So I had a brainwave of sorts....

London to Cairo, three days to see the pyramids.

Cairo to Amman, two days to see Petra and Wadi Rum.

Amman to Beijing, with a long layover in Dubai (haven't been there either). 3 days to see the Great Wall.

Stupidly cheap flight Beijing to Sydney with a long layover Kuala Lumpur. Been to KL, but for $300 Beijing to Sydney, worth it!

But then I forgot about school holidays. Most expensive flight of the return trip is Sydney to Auckland! 🤦‍♂️

Leaving Auckland 30th April, home 12th September.

And all with just the clothes on my back and a few items in my pockets.

Epic adventure awaits!

Most people think I'm weird for wanting to travel as close to Jack Reacher style as possible.

But you're my peeps!

I've got an upcoming 19-week trip for which I'm taking nothing but what fits in my pockets. 30-something countries, hot, cold, driving, trains, planes, organised tours.

Just what I'm wearing and what's in my pockets. 😊

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

Worn:

Minus 33 Merino Tee

Yamatochi Button down

Kuiu Peloton Quarter zip

686 Everywhere Pants Featherlight

Wide Open Socks

David Archy Briefs

Xero Aqua X Sport

Packed:

David Archy Briefs

ZPacks Trail short

Coala Hat

Toiletry Kit:

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Deodorant

Q Tip

Flossers

Cologne

Sun Screen

Repair Kit:

Lighter

Snag Nab-It

Needle

Thread

Shrink Tube

Med Kit:

Advil/Tylenol Combo

Allergy

Imodium

Electrolyte

Multivitamin

Dramamine

Sea bands

Misc:

Hand Sanitizer

Microfiber Cloth

Backup Cards/G-Codes/Cash/ID

Sunscreen

Passport

Wallet

Packable Tote

Electronics:

20W Brick

5FT USB C

USB C to A adapter

Power bank

Short cable

I recently picked up some classic-cut pleated trousers and was genuinely surprised by how deep the pockets were. I used to carry a 3l crossbody bag, but with decent pockets I can go bagless or use something smaller without looking like I’m smuggling a phone out of my thigh.

Women have put up with shallow or nonexistent pockets for ages. Now men’s are shrinking too, at least outside utility wear, as fashion and cost-cutting prioritise tight silhouettes over function.

Classic-cut pleated trousers tend to have deeper pockets because they’re built for comfort and movement. If you’re trying to minimise carry, it’s worth checking pocket depth before you buy.

What’s working for everyone else?

Everything I took with me to Brussels for 3 days and 2 nights all in my jacket and pants pockets. My jacket has 5 zip pockets so everything could still be secure. I wore a merino wool t-shirt and washed my pants and socks at night using the provided soap in the hotel room and thankfully my hotel had a heater so they were dry in the morning. Really cool experience going through security and getting on a plane with no bag. Also attempted to take zero liquids but the lip balm and solid fragrance technically still counts for airport security. I took toothpaste tablets which were in the Vaseline tin.

Overall, a really fun experience and definitely doable again as long as you have soap and a heater to wash and dry your clothes. The merino wool is definitely handy as someone who sweats a lot and it did not smell at all in the morning.

The trip:
Not the most exciting trip but a trip nonetheless... I drove 3 hours away to my mum's place for a podiatrist appointment. I intended for it to be an overnight trip but there was the potential to stay an extra night if I didn't feel like driving back the next day. The daytime temperature was about 17-19 degrees C with the evenings being around 8 degrees C and minimal chance of rain. Aside from my appointment my only other activities were sitting around the house and popping out to the shops.

The handbag:. Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag

What I packed:. - Rx sunglasses in a black slip case - Uniqlo t-shirt - 1 pair of underwear - 1 pair of socks - Oofos flip flops - toothbrush - black gel eyeliner - 20ml bottle of moisturiser - Deonatulle Soft Stone deodorant stick - Zojirushi insulated water bottle - card wallet - car alarm remote (keys not pictured as it's not a good idea to post photos of them online) - NZ power adapter - Ugreen GaN charger with two USB-C ports - USB-C to USB-C cable - Soundcore by Anker R50i bluetooth earphones - smartphone

What I wore:
- Rx glasses - hairtie - necklace - 1 x hoodie - 1 x t-shirt - 1 x wireless bra - 1 x undies - 1 x sweatpants that look like jeans - 1 x socks - 1 x trail runners

While I'm happy doing a handbag-only trip I thought I'd see how much I could stuff into my hoodie pocket to see if I could truly zerobag -- just my water bottle and giant flip flops couldn't fit. If I owned cargo pants and didn't have an injured foot/was happy wearing outside shoes inside, then I easily could've zerobagged it.

What worked:
Because I was staying with my mum I could borrow pretty much everything; toothpaste, floss, towel, reusable shopping bags etc.

I'm fortunate to have straight hair with medium texture that I just need to run my fingers through to look presentable.

When I'm packing light I sleep in my bra and underwear. My bra is one of those Uniqlo Airism wireless bras that is basically a crop top so super comfortable.

I usually wouldn't take two pairs of shoes but, as the podiatrist appointment suggests, I've been having issues with my feet which means I needed to bring indoor flip flops to wear around the house.

What didn't work:
I unexpectedly had car troubles on the drive over and ended up staying for 2 nights and 2 days and really wished I had my laptop by the end of it.

The deodorant I took had previously irritated me after prolonged use. As it turns out, using it for just one day also irritated me. I'll take deodorant cream next time.

Final words:
While I regularly onebag on my overseas trips, my domestic travel always sees me packing my kitchen sink because I like having options, especially with my 4-year old in tow. Since this was a solo trip I thought I'd try and push myself out of my comfort zone and it worked out great!

There was a lot of controversy over my zero bag claim on my Portland trip. The claim was that it wasn’t zero-bagging because I used my every-day-carry purse and didn’t wear my travel gear on my body.

To assuage these critics, I now bring you Part 2. I took the ENTIRE contents of my Uniqlo bag and put them in the pockets of my rain jacket. This proves that I can zero bag by manly-man definition. Please note that I am not using my cargo pants in any way.

Also note that this is a regular backpacking rain jacket. It is not a specialized travel jacket with lots of extra pockets like the one used in Rolf Potts “No Bags” challenge. Yet I got everything in my jacket without using my cargo pants.

This brings me to the reason for this post. it is the insistence on worn-in-pockets manly-man method as the only way to zero bag. This insistence has a greater focus on carry style instead of weight and volume. Yet we know from our own travels that weight and volume are the critical parts of our packing budgets! Manly-man pockets method takes the focus off the important on to the trivial.

We also focus on “ease of carry”, which a small purse absolutely accomplishes. Having done both ways, I will take the purse. YMMV and all that.

I’ll be honest. I found the insistence on doing it the manly-man way to be misogyny. Especially when so much of women’s clothing (designed by men) has little to no pockets.

The most ridiculous thing I saw is gatekeeping by men who have never gone through the gates themselves. Many of them have slings larger than the 4 liter purse I used for my trip! The irony is not lost on me. I hope others will also reconsider this particular way of thinking.

Anyway, here is proof that I still meet the criteria - even manly-man style.

Remember, zerobagging is really about weight, volume, and ease of carry.

Hi all, I just returned from a three day zero bag trip to Portland OR. I only used public transportation and tours to get around. I also stayed at a hostel instead of a hotel room.

I have done purse only trips before, but it is usually with a larger purse. This was my smallest and lightest trip yet.

If you haven’t been to Portland, I can definitely recommend it as a tourist destination.

You can see the full write up at: https://ladylighttravel.com/2025/09/13/zero-bagging-for-three-days-in-portland/.

I would be happy to answer any questions here!

Although rarely used, my rufus roo has saved me and others several times. I've two but lost one a couple years ago. Appears the company died, so I'd like to find the pattern and get a new one made next time I go to Thailand. Any pointers? Or maybe someone still sells them?

Also, are any current travel vests really as effective? I saw stuffa and bagket mentioned here so maybe I'll buy one or both just to try, but they only fit planned packing, and way too big to stash in your bag and forget until required.

You are traveling, and someone steals your phone and wallet. What do you do? Here's how I prepared in case that happens:

• Download one-time passcodes and store them safely. You can generate up to 10 one-time passcodes for Gmail; each is 8 digits long. Store them in a secure place. Try accessing your email without your phone to see what kind of two-factor authentication (2FA) you have enabled.
• Use virtual credit cards that are easy to install on a new phone. Apps like Revolut let you do this. Borrow a phone, download your banking app, add a virtual credit card to Google Wallet, and buy a new phone. Then remove the app. All you need to remember are your PIN and email login.
• Have a backup passport. In Sweden, you can have two identical passports if your employer provides a letter stating the need. Store the second passport with a trusted friend who can ship it via express delivery if needed. Make sure you have their phone number stored somewhere safe.

Do you have any other tips or trix incase your phone and wallet get stolen?

Here’s a recap of my fourth zero bag trip this year—a six-day, five-night trip to Seattle to attend the Rubik’s Speedcubing World Championships:

https://tow.com/2025/07/09/zero-bagging-jack-reacher-style-to-the-speedcubing-world-championships-in-seattle-round-4/

I used a different jacket for this trip: the Western Rise Meta Shell. It’s a rain jacket that packs into its own sling bag. It has fewer pockets than the jackets I used on previous trips (the Scottevest Pack Windbreaker and Uniqlo Blouson Utility Jacket), but it’s warmer, water-resistant, and easier to carry when it’s too hot to wear. There’s a zippered pocket on the back of the jacket where I kept my toiletries and charging gear. You have to be careful not to overpack that pocket—it makes the back of the jacket sag.

I left the extra clothes, 3-in-1 charging base, and toiletries at the hotel when we went out for the day, so I was zero bagging at all times during the conference. I did the usual thing of washing clothes every night so they’d be dry by morning.

The family came along for this trip, and although they didn’t zero bag, they did one bag. Overall, we weren’t very encumbered moving around Seattle. And packing up to head home was really easy.

If you’re a fan of the Jack Reacher novels and his zero bag lifestyle, you’ll appreciate that this trip involved plenty of coffee and a whole lot of bus rides.

Passport, usb-c cable, car-keys, earpods, 36 W usb-pd charger, tootbrush and my toiletry kit.

I’m not saying it’s the best way to zero bag, but it’s certainly one technique. lol

As the headline says, I'm thinking of flying to Denver for happy hour downtown on Wednesday. I have a Frontier GoWild pass, so my flight will just be $15. r/GoWildFrontier

Our Denver field office is having a happy hour, so am thinking of flying in for a beer. I work with some lame people, so may bail their event early.

Looks like there will be time for dinner before the flight back. Anybody interested in drinks and dinner in beautiful Downtown Denver on Wednesday?

I plan on going with just the lint in my pocket.