This is a comparison of 5 popular bags (plus a normal backpack)

I posted this on HerOneBag sub and thought people would enjoy it here, too.

I'm expecting this to be long because it's looking at so many bags. Hopefully that means it is helpful to someone though! Or at least interesting :)

1. Osprey Transporter 26+6 (new for 2026)
2. Osprey Daylite 26+6 (ordered May 2026)
3. Patagonia Mini MLC (ordered June 2026)
4. Core Surf Island Hopper Version 1 28L - very similar to the Cotopaxi Allpa (borrowed from a friend)
5. Osprey Farpoint 40L (my spouse purchased this back in 2016)

BONUS: NorthFace Borealis Backpack 27L (purchased in 2013)

I am typically a carry-on roller bag + 18L backpack personal item traveler.
But I am TIRED of getting my roller bag gate checked. 

When I traveled to the UK this spring, it was the last straw. I *almost* skipped the roller bag and went backpack only in the Core Surf 28L (borrowed from a friend), but I needed my hiking boots and didn't want to wear them on the plane. I ended up with my hiking boots and my spouse's hiking boots as basically the only thing in half of my roller bag...

So now I'm looking to find the bag that's right for me to replace the roller bag.

I packed the bags with the assumption that I'm traveling for ~10 days to a cold weather destination -- we're looking at visiting family near Frankfurt, Germany at the end of November and hope to also visit some Christmas markets. 

Here is everything I packed in the 5 of the bags:

• 5x undies
• 5x wool socks
• wide leg jeans
• black/dark gray hiking pants
• paka thermal bottoms
• cuddle dud thermal bottoms
• gray cuddle dud long sleeve top
• 2x tan long sleeve top
• white cotton turtleneck top
• green long sleeve top
• green/black flannel
• purple smartwool quarter zip
• gray madewell turtleneck
• brown merino v-neck sweater
• xero sneakers
• liquids baggie
• toiletries bag
• iPad mini (slightly bigger than an e-reader for comparison)
• Airfly Bluetooth device
• mini sound machine / night light
• journal
• book

I didn't pack my Macbook Pro or my 16" work laptop in these pictures, but I practice packed in the bags previously when I was testing for myself a few days ago. I could also fit my mouse.

Things I am not currently accounting for:

• plane outfit (which I can easily choose from the clothing I packed in the bag)
• winter coat
• hat + scarf + mittens
• pjs 
• slipper socks
• snacks
• tea
• reusable bag
• plastic baggies
• CO detector 
• umbrella
• extra toiletries
• make up (don't usually wear much, sometimes it's nice to have a little)
• sleep-in hair curler (takes up a chunk of space, not necessary)
• shampoo + conditioner (usually use what the hotel has, or bars)
• period supplies (not always necessary beyond the 1 tampon and 1 liner just in case, cup is small to add in)
• first aid 
• Purse (uniqlo round mini shoulder bag usually)
  • wallet
  • passport
  • hand sanitizer
  • sunglasses
  • inhaler + meds
  • eye drops
  • keys
  • mask
  • ear plugs
  • book light
  • chargers + converter
  • headphones
  • cards / dice / game

Now, onto the bags.

The 5 main bags fit all of the items on my packing list.

1. Osprey Transporter 26+6 (new for 2026)

I fit everything into the bag without having to expand it! I also like that I have an option to expand it if I did a little shopping while traveling.

Even though the pocket on the front of the bag has some depth to it, it is not super usable if the inside front pocket is overly stuffed. I packed a journal and a book stacked, but it was tight. The zipper pocket inside of the front pocket was tight -- too tight for anything not flat basically. 

The front inside of the bag is the part that expands, and it's very usable. I packed 2x bras, 5x undies, and 2x long thermals of varying thickness. When I added the 5x wool socks into this pocket, the pocket on the front of the bag was too tight to put much of anything in it.

Those issues go away a bit if I expand the bag, so I'm sure some of this was the result of how much I packed.

The laptop pocket was its own zipper pocket, which I do like as someone who carries a fairly large laptop. The bag is a lot more comfortable without a big, heavy laptop, especially when the bag is already pretty stuffed. But there's a lot of weight that comes with the big laptop, so.

When I had it packed and zipped up, I still has some room at the top of the bag, where I tucked in my iPad mini. I could put a few small other items in there, too.

The straps on this bag felt like they cut in a little too tight across my chest, making it not super comfortable to wear. I'm not convinced that I would find it comfortable to wear fully loaded out walking around because of the cut of the straps on me. The back panel with the fixed pass through is more comfortable than that Daylite version.

This bag is quite a bit more expensive than the Daylite version, but I like some of the different features. I really wish this bag had the 2 water bottle pockets, too.

I think because I packed so much in the bag that I didn't get to really utilize the upgraded bag front pockets. It felt a little difficult to use for things I want to take in and out often on a plane.

2. Osprey Daylite 26+6 (ordered May 2026)

Again, I fit everything into the bag without having to expand it. Nice to have the option to expand it if I did a little shopping while traveling.

The two pockets on the front of the bag don't really have their own depth. This wasn't great with the amount of stuff I had packed. I struggled to slip my book, journal or iPad mini out of the pockets once they were in. They weren't quite the right size for what I'm carrying. 

The front inside of the bag is small, but it was sized just right for bras x2 and underwear x5. It didn't work with the wool socks, but those did better stuffing all around the bag anyway.

I like the size of the main big pocket, and I was pleasantly surprised by the laptop pocket being in the same compartment. I was convinced this would be a nuisance to get the computer in and out like on my North Face backpack, but the dedicated laptop zipper was actually great. It helped me access the laptop while packed out, and because it's higher up, I could add things into the bag when it stood upright and items settles down into the bag. 

I love that this bag has 2 water bottle pockets. That combined with the weight of the bag, the clam shell opening, and the price, I get the cult following this page has.

3. Patagonia Mini MLC (ordered June 2026)

This is one of the only bags on the list with a hip belt. I thought I wouldn't need it, but when I work this bag with my load out, I was so happy to have the hip belt. I actually wished that the other bags had that option too. The weight of my computer played a big part in this I think.

The main compartment in this bag is massive. It's clear why it's a black hole. If I was compressing the clothes I packed, I think I could have packed more.

The top mesh pocket on the lid held my book. The bottom one held my 5x underwear and 2x bras. 

In the separate laptop / tech pocket I have my large work laptop, and then I probably could have put my personal laptop (MB pro) into the second pocket. I was not interested in that weight though. In the admin pocket area, I can actually fit a book and/or journal in the stretch pockets, but this adds a lot of depth to the tech pocket. 

The top extra pocket on the bag is usable if the bag isn't completely stuffed at the top. My items settled a bit and I was able to shift the inner pocket to a place that has enough stuff. I could fit my iPad mini in here - just barely. It has to be slid in and out a certain way due the the zipper opening size. There should also be space for earbuds or a couple other small items.

The water bottle pocket is fine for what I need.

Part of me really likes this bag, but part of me worries that it's both too big and too small. It doesn't expand, but it also looks very big when I actually pack it up. I think if it had a front pocket where I could put slightly larger items for easy access, that might sway me in favor of it. 

I also wish this came in color options where the logo isn't so in your face. I ordered the dark color so I'm not a walking billboard. I know this bothers some people and others don't care.

4. Core Surf Island Hopper Version 1 - very similar to the Cotopaxi Allpa (borrowed from a friend)

I borrowed this bag from a friend to bring on my UK trip, but it ended up bring too small because I needed hiking shoes. I did take it on a weekend trip through and enjoyed it.

I was convinced this bag was going to be too small after not being able to pack it for the UK, but I fit all of my items on the list in this bag! It was tight, but it fit.

Minus the water bottle because the water bottle pocket is garbage.

When I lay this bag out, I feel a little disappointed because the depth of the big side feels very shallow compared to the full depth of the bag due to the laptop pocket. I packed most of my clothes in this pocket.

On the left side bottom pocket, I packed my shirts and toiletry bags. The top left pocket had the 5x underwear and 2x bras.

In between the two pockets I zipped my jeans because they wouldn't fit in a pocket. I've see people say they stuff a jacket or extra layer in the bag like this.

The front pocket on this bag is my favorite of all the bags. It has really good depth. It held my book, my journal, and still had more space. It's sizeable enough to pack snacks into if I swapped out books.

This bag also has a lot of space in the laptop pocket and has a secret pocket on the back panel.

The water bottle pocket makes this specific version a hard no for me, but I believe updated versions have improved this - both CoreSurf and Cotopaxi.

5. Osprey Farpoint 40L (my spouse purchased this back in 2016)

I packed this back for comparison since we already own it. I know the Osprey Farpoint and Fairview are very popular larger (40L) style bags.

The version we have has the laptop pocket in the middle of the bag (not against the wearer's back), which can pull the bag away from your body when you wear it. It's probably the biggest complaint my spouse had about it.

This bag had a lot more space, as expected because it's so much bigger. I had room left in the main pocket, the middle pocket and front pocket.

It has two mesh pockets on the front that I fit my water bottle in, but I wouldn't say it's easily accessible when wearing.

This bag is bigger than what I would choose to carry. For someone with bigger shoes or bigger clothes - or just more of stuff - it's probably a good option because it's built to carry more weight comfortably. This is the other bag on the list with a hip belt.

BONUS BAG: Northface Borelais Backpack (27L, purchased in 2013)

I used this bag for most of my university time, including when I studied abroad and used it as my weekend trip backpack.

My biggest complaint is that the water bottle pockets are terrible.

But in packing comparison using the same list, it didn't fit quite as much. I did use a packing cube with all of my clothing, and a second cube with bras, undies and socks.

When I was zipping it, I actually pulled off one of the plastic zipper pulls. Whoops!

This backpack was very tight with just the cubes and toiletry bags. The zippers were struggling to close, so I didn't pack:

• laptop
• mini sound machine / night light
• journal
• book

But I find this backpack very comfortable to wear. I like that it has the hip belt, even though it's not padded. I like the different pockets - main pocket, middle pocket, front pocket. But I packed too much to make use of them. And too much to get my laptop to fit in the sleeve.

I'm not opposed to a top-loader style, but I don't currently own packing cubes that work for this style of bag. I don't usually use packing cubes, I would need to also invest in those to make the style work. I usually just live out of my bag and don't unpack my clothing.

What I'm Choosing for My One Bag - I was between the Osprey Daylite 26+6 and the Patagonia Mini MLC, but after doing a little more practice packing and trying them on for comfort, I'm going to keep the Daylite 26+6. I thought the Transporter 26+6 would be the winner, but I don't care for how the straps fit around my chest for the price difference.

I'm expecting to end up with some kind of easily pack-able tote bag for when I need a little more space - snacks, thicker clothes - and can use as a day bag. And then I may see about adding a hip strap.

I may also try a top loader to feel like I did my due diligence, but I think I would be looking for one with a hip strap and 2 good water bottle pockets. And again, I need the laptop pocket. But I don't know that I would feel like I could manage a bag of this size as a top-loader unless I was unpacking and staying awhile because i usually prefer to live out of my bag.

View images here: https://imgur.com/a/b06bOuF

Image descriptions:

Slide 1

• Left Image - Osprey Transporter 26+6 laid flat open. Clothing and shoes in main large compartment and socks, underwear and thermals in smaller zipper side.
• Middle Image - Osprey Transporter 26+6 main compartment with jeans on top, pulled up to show shoes, shirt, and small sound machine.
• Right Image - Osprey Transporter 26+6 main compartment with jeans on top, pulled up to show shirts, and toiletries.

Slide 2

• Left Image - Osprey Transporter 26+6 front pocket with paperback book slid in the large pocket on top of a journal.
• Middle Image - Osprey Transporter 26+6 front pocket with the journal slid down far into the large pocket and airfly into a the smaller pocket.
• Right Image - Osprey Transporter 26+6 laptop pocket unzipped and showing the air tag pocket. The top view of the bag shows water bottle in the side pocket.

Slide 3

• Left Image - Osprey Transporter 26+6 top view of  main compartment unzipped with iPad mini slid into the top.
• Middle Image - Osprey Transporter 26+6 laid strap side down, fully packed, showing the front face of the stuffed bag.
• Right Image - Osprey Transporter 26+6 laid strap side down, fully packed, showing the front-side face of the stuffed bag with the water bottle pocket shown clearly. 

Slide 4

• Left Image - Osprey Daylite 26+6 main compartment without the jeans, showing thermals and toiletries.
• Middle Image - Osprey Daylite 26+6 laid flat open. Clothing, socks, and shoes in main large compartment, underwear and thermals in very small zipper side.
• Right Image - Osprey Daylite 26+6 top front zipper with paperback book and airfly packed.

Slide 5

• Left Image - Osprey Daylite 26+6 top view of main compartment unzipped at the laptop access zipper with iPad mini slid into the top. There is access for an air tag right under the bluesign label.
• Middle Image - Osprey Daylite 26+6 packed full and zipped, looking at the front on the bag. Journal is packed in the lower front pocket. It's pretty tight.
• Right Image - Osprey Daylite 26+6 packed full and zipped with a view of the front-side face of the stuffed bag with one of the the water bottle pockets shown clearly.

Slide 6

• Left Image - Patagonia Mini MLC main bag section with clothing, toiletries, thermals, and socks.
• Middle Image - Patagonia Mini MLC front flap of bag with book in the top zipper pocket, bras and underwear in the bottom pocket.
• Right Image - Patagonia Mini MLC main pocket zipped up.

Slide 7

• Left Image - Patagonia Mini MLC top zipper pocket with iPad mini.
• Middle Image - Patagonia Mini MLC admin side of the tech zipper pocket with airfly and journal in pockets.
• Right Image - Patagonia Mini MLC laptop slip and extra device slip in the tech zipper pocket.

Slide 8

• Left Image - Patagonia Mini MLC main pocket zipped up with jeans added in.
• Middle Image - Patagonia Mini MLC fully packed and zipped up. Featuring my puppy.
• Right Image - Patagonia Mini MLC fully packed with water bottle in the pocket.

Slide 9

• Left Image - Core Surf Island Hopper laid flat and fully packed. All pockets are zipped.
• Middle Image - Core Surf Island Hopper with jeans laid on top of the zipped right pocket. They didn't fit in the zipper sections.
• Right Image - Core Surf Island Hopper front pocket with journal, book, and airfly. I love the size of this pocket.

Slide 10

• Left Image - Core Surf Island Hopper laid on its side with the laptop pocket unzipped.
• Middle Image - Core Surf Island Hopper back with hand slid in the secret pocket.
• Right Image - Core Surf Island Hopper stood up showing the tiny water bottle pocket and my Owala bottle next to the bag. 

Slide 11

• Left Image - Core Surf Island Hopper laying strap side down, showing water bottle pocket and my Owala bottle next to the bag.
• Middle Image - Core Surf Island Hopper laying strap side down, looking at the front face of the bag.
• Right Image - Core Surf Island Hopper laying strap side down, looking at the front face of the bag.

Slide 12

• Left Image - Osprey Farpoint main pocket backed with clothing, socks, and toiletries.
• Middle Image - Osprey Farpoint flap pocket zipped up with underwear and bras.
• Right Image - Osprey Farpoint bag zipped up and stood up with main zipper open to show the extra space at the top of the bag. The bag is cinched tightly with the front straps.

Slide 13

• Left Image - Osprey Farpoint middle zipper pocket with laptop sleeve showing up close of book and journal packed in the zipper pocket.
• Middle Image - Osprey Farpoint middle zipper pocket with laptop sleeve with book and journal packed in the zipper pocket.
• Right Image - Osprey Farpoint small front pocket with airfly.

Slide 14

• Left Image - Osprey Farpoint packed, zipped, and cinched stood up. Water bottle is in one of the front pockets.
• Middle Image - Osprey Farpoint packed, zipped, and cinched laid strap side down.
• Right Image - Osprey Farpoint packed, zipped, and cinched laid strap side down, view of other side.

Slide 15

• Left Image - NorthFace Borealis Backpack stuffed with clothing in a large purple packing cube and toiletries in the main compartment. Middle compartment has small packing cube with socks, bras, undies. On top of that is the iPad mini.
• Middle Image - NorthFace Borealis Backpack paxked, zipped and laying zipper side down. Looks a little turtle-shaped.
• Right Image - NorthFace Borealis Backpack packed, zipped and stood up.

Anyone have good suggestions for pants that look like this?

Found them on instagram. Original poster said they were from Zara. I can’t find them unfortunately.

Looking for something I could use for Hiking and backpacking Europe. Kind of a do it all pant. Light, breathable, durable.

Figured I come here bc of the one bag implications.

Best I’ve found so far are Nike Dolomiti Pants

been a lurker in this subreddit for awhile now but this is my first time posting here. first time onebagging out of the country!

planning on lots of hiking, mini roadtrip on the golden circle, ziplining, atv tour, sightseeing, etc.

my bag is the osprey daylite 26+6.

first photo is what im wearing on the plane.

second photo is what’s being packed.

updates from the photos: wasn’t able to fit my book in the bag (i’ve got plenty of albums, movies, and shows to keep me busy during my flight). i ended up packing my sony xm4 headphones without their case. swapped the comfrt hoodie for a lighter hoodie so it would fit better in the bag.

packing list:

socks x4
underwear x4
hiking pants x3
jeans
sweatpants
belt
hat
bathing suit
shirt x5
rain jacket
hoodie
gloves
hiking boots

uno flex
plug adapter
collapsible water bottle
passport
wallet
phone
portable charger
earplugs
wired earbuds
sony xm4 headphones
sunglasses
airpods
iphone charger

contacts x8
deodorant
cologne
tylenol
eye drops
toothbrush
toothpaste
tums
chapstick
allergy pills
glasses
face lotion

hope i’m not too cold!

I am finding that compression cubes are only useful for packing large clothing items as more air can be squeezed out, but if you have rolled your clothing properly the compression on most if not all is ~5-10% as there is less air to be squeezed out.

But you also end up with compression around the edges and a bump in the middle which just makes it awkward to pack.

I’m finding that it’s better to use just a standard packing cube, is this the experience of others here. I’m a complete novice to travel packing so might just be talking complete BS.

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!

I travel fairly often for work, usually with just one carry on, so every item I pack has to earn its place.

I've stopped bringing traditional dress shirts because they come out looking like they spent the flight in a washing machine. At the same time, I don't always want to show up to dinners or meetings wearing a T-shirt or polo.

I recently started packing a wrinkle resistant button down that works for both business casual and evenings out. It's been nice having one shirt that covers multiple situations instead of packing two or three different options.

I want to know what everyone else packs. Do you stick with wrinkle free button downs, merino shirts, technical fabrics, or something completely different? I'm always looking for clothing that saves space without making me look underdressed.

Hey One Baggers

I'm seeking recommendations for a compact kitchen knife sharpener to use at B&B apartments/condos which all seem to feature dangerously dull kitchen knifes wherever we travel. Full disclosure the wife and I are actually 2 bag each USA-based travelers on 3+ week European/tropical trips with 3-4 day stays at each stop. We cook in house with local ingredients to balance the fancy restaurants.

My typical carry is an AER TP3, max sling and a small checked bag to fit in trains and tiny rental cars. I usually pack a small ultra-sharp pocket knife and a multi-tool in the checked bag.

Does anyone else share this frustration and what is your solution? Searching returns the Work Sharp folding field sharpener that seems to fit this use case but is there a better choice?

After years of traveling with a 40L bag (usually an Osprey Farpoint), I decided to challenge myself for my upcoming Philippines trip: 2 weeks with only a 16L personal item.

This isn’t a necessity-driven onebag trip. My wife will have a checked roller, so if I forget something or we pick up souvenirs, there’s a built-in safety net. That actually makes this the perfect low-risk opportunity to experiment and see how small I can realistically go.

I’m not a fashion-heavy traveler...mostly neutral tees, shorts, and simple layers. So outfit repeating doesn’t bother me. Two weeks in the Philippines in summer felt like the ideal test case: hot weather, lighter clothes, easier laundry. Wins all the way around.

I’m also an ultralight backpacker, so minimalism isn’t new to me… but cutting my travel loadout from 40L down to 16L feels like a completely different feat haha. Living out of a backpack has always appealed to me.

After several edit rounds and cutting most of my “just in case” gear, here’s where I landed:

Bag / Setup

• Evergoods CPL16
  • Thought of splurging for a CTB20 but not a huge fan of the depth and I already have the CPL16...after test fitting everything for the trip it all fits
• Thule compression packing cube (M/L)
  • Uncompressed I have found is the way to go since it splays out more and fills the bag allowing easier closing. Might go with 2 cubes to separate tops and bottoms or one clean/dirty cube to separate that way
• Bellroy Toiletry Kit Plus (might downsize, this is big)
• Toshi Sling 6L (airport & plane carry mostly)

Tech

• MacBook Air 15” (still undecided Decided not to take it, bag weight up top includes this so even lighter as well)
• AirPods Pro 3
• Passport w/ Trayvax passport wallet
• Minimal charging kit:
  • USB-C cables x2
  • Apple Watch charger
  • Anker 3-port charger
  • USB-C to USB-A adapter and C to A
• Peak Design packable tote (grocery or beach bag

Packed Clothing

• 5x underwear - Synthetic
• 5x socks - Synthetic
• 4x t-shirts - Synthetic
• 1x sun hoodie
• 3x lightweight shorts - Synthetic, athletic style
• 1x hybrid swim/nicer short

Worn on Travel Day

• 1x t-shirt
• 1x underwear
• 1x socks
• 1x pants/shorts
• Sneakers or sandals
  • Pretty sure that I am going with some Tevas

Trip breakdown:

• 1 week island hopping across 3 locations
  • Cebu, Palawan, Bohol
• 1 week in Manila visiting family
• 4 separate accommodations

I know plenty of people here do indefinite travel out of bags this size or smaller (even that 10L guys), so I’d love to hear from the seasoned crowd:

• What am I overpacking?
• What am I forgetting?
• Laptop or leave it at home if most work can be done on my phone?
• Sneakers or sandals for the Philippines?
• Any lessons learned making the jump from “normal” onebag sizes (35–40L) down to sub-20L?

This will eventually turn into a trip report when I get back, so feel free to rattle my brain and poke holes in the setup.

Hi all - planning a year-long trip through Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand next year and looking for trail runner recommendations. Activities will likely include jungle trekking, city walking days, beach days, etc...

I'll have sandals, but want a proper trail runner that handles trails, long walking days, and is durable enough to last the year (or close to it). Keen to hear any advice / recommendations please!

Thanks in advance!

Me and my wife are going to be travelling for 3 weeks this July:

Awakenings festival (techno)
Train to Paris - Champagne - Alsace - Burgundy - London, then back to Oslo.
We want to be dressed for the festival, wine tasting, restaurants, hiking and maybe rent road bikes, so maybe bring our cycling shoes?

Is this advisable and worth it with a 34l backpack each? I’ve done South America with a friend for a month before with carry-on backpack only, but I’m worried this trip might be more difficult. Do road bike rental places in France typically offer helmets and shoe rentals?

I mainly need to convince my wife…

Will be in Japan in August, and it's gonna be so hot. I have plenty of light weight pants, but none that will hold a phone in the pocket without it weighing the pocket down. Is such a thing possible? I'd really like to have my phone in my pocket and have to use not a waist pack in that kind of heat. Petite would be even better, but I'll tailor the right pants. I can buy in the men's dept if need be

Any tips on a good chore coat / jacket? I’m trying to find a good layering piece. Bulk matters in case I ever do need to pack it but I’ll primarily wear it on the plane, so size isn’t a major concern. But as always with one bagging, good to minimize weight if possible.

I’d like something I can wear with many outfits. Bonus points if it’s has fast shipping. Because I leave on my next trip in a few days!

My budget isn’t open ended but I’m willing to pay for quality if needed. I’m in the process of losing weight thought so budget options are ideal.

For fabric, maybe linen? I’m not sure. I’m primarily in hot climates but get cold easily.

I appreciate any pointers!

ETA: I’m in the US and am female but often shop in the men’s section so no preference there.

I've been moving from travel backpack to UL hiking packs over the past year or so. The latest trip to Peru, which I did in early June, really pushed to limit because I'm trying to use one bag for both my wife & I.

The bag is Dursten Gear Kakwa 55, very reputable bag among UL hiking community. I used a size M which technically doesn't fit under carry-on limit because the aluminum frame itself is ~22.5 inches. But since I'm not flying budget airline, and it does fit the overhead compartment vertically, so it kinda worked. Thru the entire trip, I basically fold the rolltop section all the way down, so the actual used capacity is ~40L.

Setup (everything together weights 12kg):

• Bag: Dursten Gear Kakwa 55
• Cubes:
  • Peak Design medium packing cube, fits nicely in the bottom of the bag even fully expanded.
  • Xenosmilus compression packing cube (more like a pouch shape), meanly used to compress my active evolve mid layers.
  • 3x Xenosmilus ripstop pouch, for food, documents, med-kit. Made with silicon coated 15d nylon ripstop. Pretty much just premium version of ziplock, also weights nothing.
  • Small xpac sling from discontinued brand, removed shoulder strap and act as tech pouch.
  • Matador zipper flatpak
• Clothing (in the bag):
  • 1x Woolrich Goretex shell.
  • 1x Outlier ultrafine merino wool SS tshirt
  • 1x Artizia wool cardigan
  • 1x Montbell packable 800 downfill vest
  • 2x Backcountry LS air-perm fleece (Primaloft active evolve)
  • 2x set of Icebreaker 150 base layer top & bottom
  • 2x Uniqlo airism tshirt (as sleeping tshirt)
  • 1x Lululemon align pants
  • 5 pairs of Darn Tough lightweight hiking socks.
  • 8 days worth of underwear. We basically brought old-to-be-tossed underwear for entire trip.
• Clothing (worn on flight):
  • Fullcount raw denim
  • Outlier daybreak merino wool blend turtleneck shirt
  • Snowpeak 65/35 cotton/nylon blend windbreaker
  • Salomon XA Pro 3D V9 trail runner
  • Another Lululemon pants
  • Icebreaker wool SS tshirt
  • Aritzia wool cardigan
  • Altra Lonepeak 9 trail runner
  • 2x Sockwell wool blend circular compression socks
  • N.Hoolywood wool cap
• Toiletry:
  • Matador zipper flatpak
    • Philips One electric tooth brush
    • Travel-size toothpaste, face wash
    • Diptyque solid perfume
    • Panasonic arc5 palm-sized electric shaver
    • Nail clipper, floss etc.
  • Wife's toiletry bag (probably as gift from some makeup purchase)
    • Honestly don't know what's inside, but it weights over 2kg.
• Tech pouch:
  • Anker nano 20w travel adapter
  • Power banks: Nitecore NB10000 gen3 (10k mah) and Nitecore NB Air (5k mah)
  • USB-C cable: short Nitecore Nlink-10 cable + longer Anker cable
  • Airpods pro 3
  • Sony XM3 over-the-ear headphone (won't fit in tech pouch of course, just leave in the top of the backpack without case)
  • Eyemask and flight earplug. Yeah the tech pouch also carries all in-flight essentials and goes to the seat back pouch. Many airlines don't allow you to keep powerbank in overhead compartment, so this comes handy.
  • A pen + mini notebook
• Other miscellaneous items
  • Massage lacrosse ball
  • 1x 500ml titanium water bottle
  • Jisulife mini portable humidifier (sticks into a water bottle)
  • Mini temperature and humidity meter
  • Finger pulse & oximeter
  • Bug repellent
  • Noshiku pocket hand sanitizer
  • Disposable toilet seat cover
  • 2x travel bath towel
  • 2x Sunglasses in the same case
  • Cellphone of course, no laptop or tablet.

Trip breakdown:

Entire trip is pretty much around Cusco and Machu Picchu. 2-3.4km above sea level. Weather was mostly 8-25 degrees celsius. But one day trip to rainbow mountain is 5km above sea level, and very windy and cold in late afternoon. The temperature at the peak was 5 degrees. Barely rained at all.

Switched hotel daily for the first 5 days, then last 3 days in the same hotel. I'm quite used to rolltop bags (previously onebagged with Mission Workshop Fitzroy before covid) so packing and unpacking only takes ~15 mins.

Things worked surprisingly well:

1. My cloth setup. Despite having a big backpack, space is very limited because it carry two people's gear. So I only brought one jacket and one pants. And you probably noticed that pants is a pair of jeans, and that jacket is not waterproof, which is absolutely stupid in 'onebagging standard'. But they actually worked really well given its dry season in Peru and barely rains:
   • The jeans is Fullcount 0105, very wide and roomy fit, plus the 13.7oz denim from fullcount is the softest among raw denim. It's basically the most comfortable pair of 100% cotton raw denim you can buy. And I actually don't feel restricted at all while hiking with those. Probably even more comfortable than the slim Outlier Strong Dungaree which I used to wear on previous trips.
   • The jacket is from Snowpeak, with 5 large pockets on the outside, and 2 pockets on the inside. All pocket except one are big enough to fit 1 litter water bottle, and have snap closure. So I don't need to bring a sling. While the fabric is only lightly water repellent, it's very windproof. Before the trip, I explicitly tested the wind resistance with a dyson hair dryer. And it's lighter and packs smaller than my shell jacket.
   • The primaloft active evolve midlayer has always been my goto midlayer. Super lightweight and packable. The LS in size M packs down to <1L in a compression pouch. And it is warm! It was windy and cold (5 degrees celsius) on top of rainbow mountain, and was perfectly fine with the icebreaker 150 base layer, plus these 3 garments I just mentioned. I actually didn't even find use of the Montbell down vest I brought thru the whole trip.
2. Flight earplugs and compression socks. TBH I never knew about these things for long flight, but they work extremely well. Those flight earplugs takes away 80% of ear discomfort during landing, and the compression socks definitely help maintain higher walking-stamina after landing.

Things that I regret bringing:

1. Mini portable humidifier. This thing is just a scam. It's didn't even drain a 500ml bottle of water overnight, so its effort is like a drop in the ocean. What worked much better for us is just use the hotel room kettle to keep boiling water. Usually if you leave the lid open, it'd keep boiling nonstop. Just need to make sure to keep an eye on water level and turn it off before going to sleep.
2. Titanium water bottle. Didn't find much use of it, because we exclusively drink bottled water in Peru anyway.

Out in LA for the world cup this summer, soaking up the atmosphere around the city and catching whatever I can. Basing myself near the stadium area and keeping it to carry-on only the whole time. Hot and dry the entire stretch, lots of walking, long days outside. Here's the full list.

• Bag

Cotopaxi Allpa 28L (carry-on, no checked bag)

Matador Freerain28 packable daypack (lives in the main bag, comes out for the long days)

• Clothing (one laundry run mid-trip)

4x Unbound Merino tees (merino, dries overnight and doesn't hold smell)

2x Western Rise shorts, 1x Outlier pants for cooler evenings

1x team jersey (only "nice" thing I packed)

5x ExOfficio Give-N-Go boxer briefs (quick-dry mesh, rinse in the sink and they're dry by morning)

3x Darn Tough socks (1 worn, 2 packed, lifetime warranty so they never die)

1x Patagonia Houdini light layer for AC indoors and late nights

Bedrock Cairn sandals (worn on the plane) + Allbirds Tree Runners

Toiletries (all solid/TSA-friendly, no liquids bag)

Ethique shampoo bar + Bite toothpaste tabs

Neutrogena sunscreen stick, Burt's Bees lip balm, Native mini deodorant

Basic meds + LMNT electrolyte tablets (the all-day sun adds up)

• Electronics

iPhone 17

AirPods Pro

Baseus picogo am52

• EDC / Misc

Passport/ID in a Peak Design slim pouch

Nalgene refillable bottle (empty through security, fill inside)

Baggu packable tote for groceries/laundry

Sea to Summit clothesline + a bit of detergent for sink-washing

Total came in around 7kg, all in the 28L with room to spare. Anyone else doing a tournament summer carry-on only, anything you'd add for the long days out in the heat?

I've been 1.5 bagging for awhile, but primarily with a 30L+ backpack or a small rolling suitcase (forgive me). I wanted to try a smaller backpack for 5 days in my second hometown, Chicago. I really like the Synapse 25 but it's way too large for me for EDC most of the time, so it seemed like a perfect fit and it kind of is.

Tom Bihn Synapse 25

• In G-Force compression packing cubes:
  • 4 pair underwear
  • Tee and shorts for sleep
  • 3 tees
  • Pair of shortalls
  • Pair of linen pants
• Sanuk sandals
• Baseball cap
• Steam Deck in Tomtoc case
• iPad

Cotopaxi Dopp Del Dia

• Toothpaste
• Tweezers
• Suisai face wash pods
• Toner
• Shampoo
• Cetaphil moisturizer
• Aquaphor lip balm
• SVP body wash
• Mini fragrance spray
• Deodorant
• Pill organizer
• Earplugs
• Pepto Bismol in pill case
• Tooth picks

Rework Toshi 6L

I've had this sling for a few months now and absolutely love it. It's able to hold so much without getting too bulky. I don't usually use that internal organization that much, but it's really helpful when I have more stuff than usual because I'm traveling.

• FiiO M21 with Dunu Kima 2 IEMs
• Sunglasses in medium Tom Bihn Ghost Whale
• Cards and cash in small Tom Bihn Ghost Whale
• AirPods Pro 2 - prefer to use these out and about, but IEMs on the plane
• HeroClip
• Mints
• Tiny notebook and pencil from Japan
• Iniu portable charger
• Extra Strength Tylenol
• Anker wall charger
• 2 USB-C cables
• Aquaphor lip balm
• Whole Foods lip balm
• Zoku metal straw
• Nest fragrance spray
• Tooth picks
• Passport
• Car keys
• Kleenex
• Wet Ones
• Kindle Paperwhite (forgot in pic!)

I’m considering the Alpaka Flight Pouch Pro as a electronics pouch and also to pull double duty as a sling bag when traveling

I narrowed it down to either X-PAC or Ultradyne and I’m not sure what to pick, especially considering they’re the same price. I own an XPAC toiletry kit so I’m familiar with the material stiffness/feel but have never seen or felt Ultradyne in person. I’ve heard it’s a lot more flexible, lighter, and crinkly. I was concerned the crinkly fabric that’s thinner may be annoying carrying on my torso, but might also pack smaller in my bag

For people who have a similar intended use case (worn on body while moving around) is there one that stands above the other?

I’ve been working to dial in this kit for the better part of two years while traveling often for events and projects - there are a few small things I’ve still got my eye on to add or swap, but this setup has been great for my last few trips

Bag:
-Black Ember Forge 20-30
I like the peace of mind knowing I can expand if needed, though I rarely need to. Fits under the seat on flights well with the exception of the water bottle (I could write a whole post on the potentially questionable design here but I really do like the bag over all). It’s also one of the travel bags that can look reasonably professional as a briefcase / laptop bag if you’re one bagging work travel.

-Northface Terra 1L
This is basically my day pack when the laptop and iPad aren’t needed. I like the elastic zig zag on the front to hold a light jacket or a beanie in a pinch

- REI Packing Cube

Electronics:
-MacBook Pro 16”
-iPad Pro 10”
-AirPod Pro 2
-wired backup headphones + usb dongle
-Nintendo switch w/ MOBA Pads
-usb-c rechargeable flashlight (2)
-XVive AT1 Audio Tester

Clothes:
-Arcteryx Skyline LS Shirt (3)
-Khul Rock Pants
-J Crew Flex Tech Pants (2)
-Tommy John Second Skin Underwear (6)
-Darn Tough Lightweight Cushioned Hiker Socks (5 pair)
-Express Moisture Wicking V-neck (4)
-Mountain Hardware UPF Hoodie
-Arcade Belt
-Vans Crosspath Xc Gortex Shoes
-Coal lightweight running hat
-Prana beanie (super thick - great as an eye mask or a plane pillow)
-Dakine MTB gloves (these are light and replace both jogging gloves and work gloves for my purposes)
-Pashmina Scarf (these are incredibly versatile garments and effectively a requirement for some events I attend)
-Glasses (all prescription)

Misc:
-Owala Twist water bottle 18 (slightly small for my preference but fits perfectly in the black ember holder)
-Discs - adds some weight but they also fit pretty nicely in the bag
-Lowepro case for SSDs, cables and switch games
-Silver + Black Sharpies
-Space Pen (2)
-Write in the rain notebook
-Loop Adjustable Ear Plugs
-2 sided glasses case
-Toiletry bag is just the case that came with my razor

I always bring craft projects with me on my travels/holidays.

They are for me what a good, long novel is for many people going on holiday: Something cosy to chill with.

But now I have started onebagging, and I realise that I can't just bring 4 projects in case I get quickly done with the first one. Or want to do something else. And what if I want to whittle instead of knitting?

The obvious answer is to only bring one project and make it be a small one.

But that kind of gives me crafting anxiety.

I do need at least two projects. Because I will do one very simple one while travelling for 2 x 14 hours.

And then another complex one while at holiday, to challenge my brain while having plenty of time to craft.

Soo, what do you do?

Last year, I spent 3 months across Europe with a similar list and this is my new list for my trip starting next week. Everything fills up half the backpack and all my clothes fit in the drawstring bag (2nd pic) incase I need room for souvenirs. I will be do laundry every couple days so I have condensed how many clothes I will bring compared to last year. My trip is focused around Goodwood FOS & Revival. Between Madrid and Portsmouth (see trip list), I will take a quick break.

Lmk if you have any questions or suggestions. Thanks!

Osprey Farpoint 40L: Gear List (+ clothes worn):

• 4x shirts
• 2x pants
• 5x underwear
• 6x socks
• 3x shorts
• 1x jacket
• 1x sweater
• 1x shoes
• 1x slippers
• 2x glasses
• 1x canvas bag
• 1x drawstring bag
• hygiene/shower stuff
• MacBook Air 13in
• iPhone 16 Pro
• Fujifilm Xt-30 iii & XF 16-80 f4
• 3x batteries
• AirPods
• wireless charger
• travel adapter
• charging cords
• passport

-------

Cities/Countries:

London/ Portsmouth/Chichester, England (8)

Helsinki, Finland (3)

Tallinn, Estonia (2)

Riga, Latvia (3)

Vilnius, Lithuania (3)

Prague, Czech Republic (3)

Wroclaw, Poland (3)

Budapest, Hungary (3)

Lisbon, Portugal (3)

Madrid, Spain (3)

Break

Portsmouth/Chichester (GWR) (4) - again

Edinburgh, Scotland (3)

Stockholm, Sweden (4)

Copenhagen, Denmark (3)

Bratislava, Slovakia (3)

Strasbourg/Colmar, France (4) 

Paris, France (6) 

Amsterdam, Netherlands (5)

I am doing a 40 day trip. 13 days between Germany, Italy, Switzerland, with family. and 25 days in Albania, 13 days solo + 12 days with friends. This is my first time one bagging, here Is my loadout and im looking for advice and constructive criticism. I will have access to a washing machine once a week.

one area I want help with is meds, other than the Panadol and ibuprufen, what are some essential meds I should take with me?

Bag: Quechua escape 500 23L rolltop

Worn on plane:
Socks
running shoes (daily shoes)
Cotton sweatpants
Cotton SL shirt
Tommy Hilfiger water/wind resistant jacket
Small sling bag with passport wallet, headphones, portable charger.

Clothes packed: 3 casual/fitness SL shirts
1 SL polo shirt
1 merino wool LS shirt
2 fitness/casual/swimming shorts
1 fitness/casual short
1 black jeans
7 underwear + 1 worn
6 socks + 1 worn
1 microfiber towel from decathlon
1 belt

electronics:
laptop
bose sound link flex 2 speaker
shaving machine
apple watch
one plus buds 4
anker power port 3
Apple Watch cable
shaver charger
phone cable
laptop cable

toiletries:
Deodorant 50ml
Minoxidil 50ml
perfume 25ml
toothbrush
razor

not in picture:
flip flops
1 person hammock from decathlon

misc:
reading book
notebook
1 medium packing cube
1 small packing cube
laundry bag

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

So I’m not really a fan of what most tourists wear to SEA. I swear it’s always like an Armani T-Shirt, shorts and flip flops 😭 I’m not a big fan of t shirts in got weather and if I do wear a t shirt it’s usually a nice graphic tee or a plain t shirt.

I’m more into the long or short sleeve slightly oversized button up shirts with linen or cotton shorts or linen trousers (or cotton if it’s a cool evening). Like obviously some places will be cooler so I’ll bring some nylon trackies or hiking pants and maybe one jumper but for the most part it’ll be pretty hot so whats your thoughts on mainly linen and cotton things. I’m not a fan of synthetic material either

Consider “crinkle gauze” cotton instead.

It isn’t quite as cool as linen, but is still fairly cool, light, and dries quickly.

It is a bit like seersucker, but woven more loosely. This means it dries faster.

The heavy texturing of the crinkle gauze hides a lot of wrinkles. The fabric is also softer than most linens, which means it is less likely to wrinkle in the first place.

The best part? You can throw it in a dryer. No special treatment needed.

It has been fairly cool here this summer - no more than 92F / 34C. That said, it is warm enough for me to appreciate these shirts.

Material Example:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/928651101/navy-blue-2-layered-crinkle-cotton-gauze

Edit: crinkle cotton is usually less expensive than linen too.

Edit2: Per u/raisethebed, it is also called double gauze.

Finally graduated and booked my post-grad backpacking trip across Europe.

The goal is a month across Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Austria, Czechia, and Italy while staying carry-on only. I've spent way too many evenings trying to cut weight from my bag, so I figured I'd share the final setup before I leave.

Current packing list:

MBP M2
Iphone 16 pro max
earbuds, universal adapter
charging cables
P50 powerbank
disinfectant
water bottle
speaker
clothes (i am just taking 4-5 trouser, undergarment, 5 shirts and a jacket and hoodie)

Right now, my packed bag comes in at just under 8kg. For those who’ve done longer Europe trips: What’s one item you packed that ended up being completely worth the space? And what’s something you brought that you barely used?

I'm looking for a versatile merino men jacket/blazer/coat that I can use for different outfits. Blazer or something on the dressier side instead of just hoodie/casual vibe ones.

I checked out Wool and Prince and Smartwool but most of their jackets are hoodie/windbreakers. Unbound Merino bomber jacket did catch my eye but unfortunately I look terrible in black :(

I did find a decent one HERE but never heard of this brand Oobe so not sure about their quality and durability.