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onebag

One Bag

  • Trip report

    I recently travelled to East Asia for two weeks. I wanted to share a couple things I learned.

    Things I packed that I didn't use:

    • dress pants/trouser, instead I wore my button-down shirt with khakis.
    • shorts, I just don't wear shorts, even on a warm sunny day. I wore lose-fitting long pants instead

    Things I was glad I packed:

    • two wallets. I had a passport wallet with large bills and a backup credit card. This usually stayed safe in my one-bag in the hotel room. I also had a slim wallet for a credit card, a transit card, a hotel room key and local cash.
    • swimsuit. I brought a speedo and a small micro-fibre towel (that I didn't need) and Swedish-style goggles. I only swam once, but it was nice that I could. I forgot my swimcap, which is required in Asia.
    • first aid kit. I had polysporin, hydracortizone, vaseline, bandages, Advil, tylenol and an antihistamine, all of which I used. I also had gauze, antiseptic wipes, antibacterial medication and rehydration salts, none of which I used, but which didn't take much space.
    • travel router. Once I connected to hotel wifi, all the family's devices worked as though they were at home (because I gave it the same name as our home network). It even had a VPN, which felt safer and sometimes bypassed site blocking.
    • international multi-plug with USB ports. Great for charging up to five devices, in any country.

    Things I wished I had:

    • SIM tool. Buying a cheap data-only SIM card is awesome. Having a SIM tool becomes important. A paperclip could work, but I didn't have one, either.
    • shoulder bag. I used a small backpack as a daybag and I looked like a tourist. (That, and being white in touristy spots.)

    What made people mad:

    • My extended family got so mad about my carry-on sized, backpack-shaped one-bag. They were mad it didn't have wheels and a handle, mad that I was carrying it on my back, and mad that I didn't pack more stuff. Maybe it made them feel stupid? Especially when I could manage my own bags and help with theirs. It's so irrational.
    • I was mad when someone threw away my disposable water bottle. And when I left my first aid kit in my one-bag instead of keeping it in my daybag. So much, that I made a list of things I wanted to bring with me in my daybag every day.

    Day bag:

    • jacket, hat, sunglasses
    • wallet, with enough cash for the day and a transit card
    • first aid kit, feminine hygiene
    • hand sanitizer
    • tissues
    • water bottle
    • phone charger / power bank
    • guide book and map, but these are both on my phone

    Thoughts? Questions?

    2
  • seeking a recomendation

    I'm not sure where to post this so I'm hoping onebag can help. I'm a band director and I carry large music scores (up to 12 x 18) and I'm looking for a bag that I can use to transport them back and forth from work. Ideally it would be less than $200 Canadian. Closest thing I've seen was the timbuk2 alcatraz backback but you can't get that in Canada...

    Thanks!

    4
  • Space-saving tips?

    I packed my Farpoint 40 for two weeks in Alaska. It was more full than I would like. In order to fit my dress shoes, I put three pairs of socks (rolled) in each shoe.

    What do you do to save space?

    1
  • Pack light

    “Take a very small travel bag, a guidebook, a pair of sandals, standard hygiene items and relevant medicines, disposable earplugs, a few changes of simple clothes, one relatively nice outfit, a flashlight, sunglasses, your smartphone, a daypack and sturdy walking shoes. Anything else can be purchased along the way.” Rolf Potts, Vagabonding, p. 209

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  • Rick Steves on traveling with a single carry-on bag

    Rick Steves has been taking American tour groups through Europe for years (decades?). He only allows one bag that is carry on size, and he describes his reasoning.

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  • One bag packing list

    You don’t need to pack everything on the list, but don’t pack anything that isn’t on the list.

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  • Welcome

    I originally learned about one bag travel at onebag.com, by Doug Dyment. It's a great resource. I probably found that website after reading Vagabonding by Rolf Potts. I highly recommend it. Then I bought an Osprey Farpoint 40 and although I don't travel as much as I'd like, when I do I try to restrict myself to just that bag and maybe a personal item.

    I love seeing other people's packing lists, hearing about travel, what worked and what didn't, and even seeing knolling spreads. Happy travels!

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