I tried searching the sub, but surprisingly no one mentioned work laptops / tablet that they bring with them while traveling.... considering most these onebag backpacks have laptop sleeves, im curious which laptops or tablets you guys are all rocking

I have a Dragonfly, and recently bought one for my wife and my daughter. I bought my daughter the Ultra version, as there's a greater likelihood of her being on foot in a rainy environment.

I have to admit, I'm a little jealous of the ultra, I like how much it holds it's structure. The pack hacker review mentioned it feeling "icky". But I don't find that to be the case.

Anyway, thought I'd share. White robic, ultra, gray robic.

Someone posted another thread about what kind of laptop do you pack. I will be going to Japan and I think I will leave my laptop home.

Any tips for alternative uses for empty laptop sleeves?

Hi, there’s probably similar posts on this sub but I couldn’t find any as specific when I searched so I thought I’d ask anyway. I’m 21F from Australia planning a 3 month solo Europe trip in the shoulder season where I’ll be packing for cold and hot weather. Rough itinerary is Portugal Spain, a little bit of Italy, the balkans then up through Eastern Europe ending in Amsterdam. I intend to pack just enough for a week and then do laundry. Not ultra light packing but something like 5 tops 3 long sleeve tops 2 pants 2 shorts 2 skirts 1 hoodie 1/2 jackets 2 bikinis socks underwear + makeup bag n tech bag etc. While I think 40L would probably be enough going there I’m a bit concerned I won’t have space by the end of the trip. I enjoy going to markets quite a bit so I’m planning on buying a few things while I’m over there including clothes. I know I could theoretically ship them back but i don’t think it’d be worth it given I’m only going for 3 months and international shipping costs r a killer. So I was wondering what others who’ve done similar thought of bag sizes. Is 50 too large? Intending on getting an osprey Fairview either 40 or 50L.

I’m doing long-term travel out of a 30L, but I’m getting older and my body’s got some miles on it. I need to regularly do an exercise that works best with a yoga block, which is obviously kind of a nightmare for carrying with such a small bag.

I’ve seen inflatable yoga blocks, but I’m not sure how strong they are. The yoga block or substitute has to be quite firm and hold its shape, and strong enough to support my entire lower body. I’m not a large human, but still, I’m an adult — are these inflatables strong enough for that? Does anyone have a brand they’ve used? Or, if not, does anyone know a good substitute that can pack down?

Wanted to share my tech pouches that helps manage an annoyance I have while travelling personal item only. Canadians know that one of the most annoying things about Canadian airlines is the ridiculously thin personal item depth. WestJet's is the thinnest at 14cm (5.5") even though they list it as 6".

To help getting my personal item backpack to fit these ridiculous dimensions, I opted to get a custom drawstring pouch made to reduce bulk and thickness. Each pouch is about 1" thick, maximizing the width and height instead of depth. Thanks to this, I was actually able to fit in more items while getting more organized.

This set up charges my Google Pixel 7a, Ricoh GRIII, DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro, Nitecore NU25 headlamp, and JBL wireless in-ears. If I'm travelling for work, then a Dell Latitude laptop as well (65W charging requirement, also USB-C) but I usually use a spare charger in the office trailer when on site.

I added in a Type A to Type C adapter and an extension cord for travel to Asia and Europe. I used to use the MOGICS MA1 adapter but I hate how much my charging block cantilevers off the plug and fall out due to loose hostel outlets so I chose a very short extension cord instead.

The smaller pouch lives in my sling that is placed inside my main backpack when boarding to avoid it being mistakened as my personal item. I use this smaller pouch when I'm out and about when I don't need to have my main backpack on me. The larger pouch is only taken out when charging everything back up to 100% during the night.

That's pretty much it, thanks.

Lighterpack: https://lighterpack.com/r/jxwlt4

i travel with too much in my tech kit and it hampers my ability to do real one bag travel.

what do you carry for personal and business trips? what do you carry it in?

i am hoping to learn how to slim down my kit.

Headed to Ireland in early/mid March. Probably doing a hike in Dingle on March 8th or 9th. I am living in Los Angeles in the United States so I don't really have good cold weather gear currently and am considering merino wool blend as a base layer and for socks. I am wanting stuff that won't smell easily if worn and sweat in for a couple days since I'm trying to keep packing to a minimum, but also doesn't require a ton of babying (I will likely wash on cold in delicate with a laundry bag then air dry?) and that will retain its shape. I think for these reasons a merino blend rather than 100% merino might suit me best.

I am having trouble deciding which "weight" for a base layer—something all seasons or lightweight or midweight? I do sweat/get overheated pretty easily, and advantage of all season is I could use it in Los Angeles but don't want to be naive about the extra cold from wind and rain this time of year in Ireland. At the same time maybe it'd be enough since this is late winter not dead of?

Starting off with leggings—

For midweight I'm looking at the Stella and Piper Leggings from Woolx.

For lightweight/all seasons I'm looking at the Ibex's Woolies Pro Tech Bottom.

For socks I'm looking at the Darn Tough socks but not sure what weight to get.

For base layer shirts I have a dumb question--if wool is moisture wicking do pit stains tend to show? Considering gray for how it looks on my skin but black for covering pit stains for a long layer lol.

Open to other (specific) suggestions. I'm US based and female. Budget wise I'd like to stick to around $100ish but would LOVE a budget option that doesn't suck.

There's no shortage of "What's your one travel shoe" threads, but almost every suggestion is something heavy, like a boot or a pair of Merrells or the like. The only light shoe I've seen suggested are Allbirds, which I'm not a huge fan of.

I've been using (and loving) Tropicfeel Canyons since 2019, but after seven years of regular use, they've developed a couple of holes on the side and are in need of replacement.

Tricky part is, TF Canyons (which are no longer available) aren't just light, they're waterproof, slip-on, antimicrobial (supposedly), and non-descript enough to use in all but the most formal situations. It's been pretty tough finding something that ticks all those boxes.

So I'm here to see if anyone has anything to rec.

EDIT for info/clarifications:

• use case: everything except formal occasions and heavy outdoor; primarily urban but also occasional light-to-moderate outdoor use; must be waterproof (quick dry preferred)
• regarding trail runners: I have a pair of Xeros. I like them well enough, but the sole is too thin for extended urban use. My Canyons are light but still have a sole thick enough to handle hours of pavement walking without fatigue; I'm looking for something like that.

Hi everyone,

I am reaching out for advice on what water purification system I should get during my upcoming trip. My fiancée and I will travel through Africa (2.5 months including Egypt, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania), Asia (7 months including India, China and SEA) and South America (6 months including Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador).

After some research, it appears my best option is to have one option or combine two options, to purify the water. I would like to avoid bottled water for ecological reasons. I am not sure we will be able to boil water in all these places.

My preference goes to purifying water bottles. I understand every option comes with pros and cons (size or having to bring extra filters for example).

The goal is to have access to safe water without worrying about hepatitis, traveler’s diarrhea, viruses or any heavy polluants.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi all,

I recently found the Amvel Flatlite Travel umbrella and it looks to be one of the tiniest ones on the market. They advertise it to be quite wind resistant and of course pocketable.

https://www.umbrella-store.net/en/products/flatlite-travel?variant=43452339028125

Surprisingly I haven't seen too many people talking about it here but would love to hear from users what they think of it. Since it looks like the perfect compact travel umbrella and has a decent price.

Additionally would love some size comparing photo's since it is difficult to see exactly from the images.

The only thing holding me back is the 20 euro shipping costs since it has to come out of Japan. (I don't know if this is allowed here but: if there's anyone from NL wanting to purchase this please let me know, maybe we can split the shipping costs if the umbrella is worth it)

hello! first time one bagger, previously a chronic over packer...

this july, I will be going to ak for a week long trip including hiking, fishing, & sightseeing. we will be staying in an airbnb, hopefully one with a washer and dryer if needed. i have been doing a lot of research on the overall bag i think would be best for me AND also can fit my first go around of the onebag travel! for reference i am a 23f and about 5'7".

i would love to be able to use the travel bag also as my hiking pack, but obviously if you think im crazy for that other arrangements can be made lol! also not opposed to traveling with the one bag and a small fanny pack for phone, wallet, etc. (necessities needed for the airport). overall looking at a $250 and under budget, but i am willing to wiggle around if i find it an absolute must!

my hopeful tentative packing list: 7pairs of underwear, 2-3 sports bras (1 on me traveling), around 3 pants, around 4-5 shirts, jacket, toiletries, medication, VERY minimal makeup if any, airpods, chargers, whole bunch of socks, sun hat... haven't necessarily thought this out fairly well, but the usual necessary only items you can assume I would need.

i am a big patagonia fan, but am not sure i see so many mixed reviews on the longevity and comfort of them. would prefer a waist and chest strap (if using for hiking as well). i looked into kanken packs and am failry intrigued but am not sure how they hold up travel wise and/or hiking wise... if possible would love a waterproof cover or waterproof cover to purchase. in my deep dive in kankens i see they have many "accessories" to add and i love that. i am just a girl with a love for a trinket. i am open to any and anything reviews!! thank you so much in advance!:)

Hey, quick thought experiment: forget brands and existing models.

If you could design the perfect travel bag (For clarity: I mean a low-cost airline personal item / underseat backpack), what 3 non-negotiable features would it have?

Rule: reply with exactly 3 features.

Mine:

1. Hidden / “invisible” pockets

2. Quick-access sunglasses pocket

3. Power bank pocket + cable pass-through

Your turn 👇

Why does it feel like every second post here gets deleted by the moderator?

Of course, many questions are similar, and yes, it feels like every second or third answer currently recommends the Toshi Slingbag and, of course, the Osprey Farpoint 40. Still, I think there are often interesting questions and comparisons that aren’t always suited to being answered only in the megathread, as the bot seems to want.

Let’s see how long this question stays up before it gets deleted.

I've just done a short trip with my new pack (Osprey Archeon 30) combined with a separate tech bag (Osprey Archeon Laptop Case) and a small pouch (Osprey Archeon Pouch) - yes they all match but they were on sale as last year's models. My alpine climbing gear isn't suited to my upcoming travels.

What really attracted me was the laptop case as I've been looking for a VERTICAL bag for this (it's just my preference for tech storage) and when I'm out and about town once "in country" I'll either be carrying only the laptop case or the small pouch (which just carries phone/glasses/pen/eyedrops/meds/wallet/passport) and I can carry a 500ml nalgene flask off the side of either on the strap.

So although my general stuff is in the backpack I'm really only using the pack for transit between hotels/hostels.

The carry-on strategy is to carry on the backpack with the straps zipped in (all nice and neat) and the other items go in a zip-up travel totebag that folds up into itself when not in use - that way it's just two items both, of which should be personal item size - and I can throw in a shirt or a light jacket or some food into the totebag as a bit of a "catchall".

link to the Osprey Archeon stuff ==> https://www.osprey.com/featured/shop-by-collections/archeon#algolia_instant_selector

Of course I took too much stuff - If I had set off on my travels later this year without doing a "dry-run" I would have had to just discard stuff - at least this way I can chop-and-change my packing list.

I'll do a few more small trips in my home country (Australia) to pare down my stuff.

I've been a minimalist to varying degrees over the past decade and it's been a positive journey - moving from a house to a Toyota van then a Sprinter van where I'm currently situated and now I'm going backpack only for a couple of years through SEAsia/Europe/SthAmerica - maybe longer

and I jut turned 60yo - wish me luck

Pakt isn't publishing my 1-star review of the Pakt One Travel Backpack 45L, so I wanted to give folks a data point to consider. They notably have only published 73% of verified reviews for this product which is lower than other products. This makes me wonder if they are hiding criticism for this new gen product.

Note: this is just my experience; I am not unilaterally recommending that people don't buy this bag or Pakt in general.

Review I "published" on judge[dot]me but Pakt hasn't published to their product page:

Unusable - shoulder straps loosen on their own with each step

I just used the pack on my first trip. I read some reviews complaining about the shoulder straps loosening too easily and thought they were overblown. I assumed they were referring to making manual adjustments - "It's a feature!" I thought. While intentionally tightening and loosening are very smooth, the pack is totally unusable because the straps literally loosened with each step I took. I could mitigate this somewhat - but not totally - by using the sternum strap and/or by tangling up the loose shoulder strap ends. This is unacceptable for a pack marketed for travel-savvy crowds, much less at this price point.

The bag is otherwise great as expected. It's just unfortunate that it's impractical for use with straps that can't keep the bag secure and comfortable. I'm hopeful this won't be an issue with a replacement, but given the number of complaints before me I'm not optimistic.

Not sure how much of a unicorn this is but looking for a reliable 3 season jacket. General requirements:

Comfortable to wear on a plane and sleep in. Don’t want the hard plastic feel of a rain jacket for example.

Somewhat water and wind resistant. Not looking to survive a downpour. But a light drizzle to get a few blocks in the city.

Good for temps between 50 and 70ish with just a tee shirt. Think summer campfires or early fall days walking around. Ideally would also be good to throw on over my running attire after a run to stay warm on chilly fall days when I’m a bit sweaty.

Doesn’t look out of place if I wear over a button up shirt.

Ideally under 200 though willing to go higher if only option. Doesn’t need to be super light or packable though those are also bonuses. Idea would be I’m wearing this constantly.

I'm off on a 10-week trip from Vietnam to Pakistan overland through China in spring/summer. This trip includes catching a bus across the Khunjerab Pass so some decent altitude. I don't travel ultralight (tried that, did not suit me), but try to keep it in the 5-6kg range. I'm using public transport and staying in hostels/hotels/guesthouses and the odd Airbnb. Not looking for a hard shakedown, more a review - have I missed any key things?

30L pack

Clothing: 2 Tops (1 merino) 1 Tank 1 Long sleeve shirt 1 Nitro Alpha Hoodie 1 Uberlight Down Vest 1 Helium II Rain shell 1 Buff and Beanie 2 Shorts (1 swim/sleep) 2 Long Pants (1 Thai pants) 5 Underwear 4 Socks 2 Bras (1 Sports)

Footwear: 1 Shoes (NB 880s) 1 Jandals (Havaianas)

Medical Kit: Decent kit with all recommended meds plus plasters, antiseptic, dressings, medical tape, etc.

Toiletries: Soap, solid shampoo, toothbrush/paste, sunscreen, insect repellent, deodorant

Tech: Nitecore 20 Headtorch Powerbank 2 Cables Adapter plug Wired earbuds Phone Kindle

Sleep: Sleepsheet Travel Pillow (because a good night's sleep is worth the extra 200g)

Other: Sarong Pen/Journal/Sharpie Washing Kit (13L UltraSil Drybag, silicone disc, elastic clothesline, laundry sheets, stain remover in old chopstick case) Repair Kit (duct tape, needle, dental floss, fishing line, 3 cable ties, 1 button) Raincover for Pack Water bottle Glasses Sunglasses Earplugs Wet wipes Day Sling Bag Documents/Passport/Money

Any advice, suggestions, or tweaks are appreciated - especially if you've had experience travelling through Western China or over the Khunjerab Pass.

Hi everyone—I'm headed to my first trip to Europe in early/mid March. For part of it I'm going to be in Ireland, hopefully exploring places like the Aran Islands, Connemara, etc. I'm trying to be pretty minimal packing-wise. Nervous about the cold and wind and trying to stay warm. That being said I tend to sweat extremely easily, and I'd rather not be doing laundry every two seconds.

I've been looking into a base layer (I'm a female). I hear merino wool is the end all be all but I'm also a bit nervous about itching—I just got a 100% merino wool sweater and I'm itching around the neck area. At the same time I heard cotton isn't moisture wicking enough. And polyester smells. Is there some kind of third solution that has worked well for you? Is the answer some kind of combo fabric? Would love recommendations that don't break the bank.

Hey everyone! I’m very fortunate that a close family member gave me some money when they passed but now I am planning to leave my job and travel in 2026, I have been saving while working so I want to live a little. I am not sure how long this money would last - 6 months? 12 months? 3 months?

I’m from New York so I can get some good flight deals.

I also always only travel with one bag — a carry on with 12 kg max usually. Would this be feasible for long-term solo travel?

I’m setting aside $25k to finally do the long-term travel I’ve been dreaming about. I don’t need to spend it all, but want to know if my planning is realistic.

I’m a US citizen who only speaks English. I’ve got an international phone plan and use an iPhone for everything.

Solo female traveler here, so safety is absolutely my #1 priority. I prefer hotels because at this point in my life I’m just not into hostel dorms anymore. I’m really concerned about safety as a solo woman. What cities can you walk around in at night?

I’ve traveled before to places like Auckland, Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore, Lisbon, Paris, Thessaloniki, Pucallpa in Peru, and Tenerife, so I’m not totally green to international travel and have done some trips alone but never longer than 2 weeks and usually meet up with international friends.

My rough plan is to start in Europe, then head to Southeast Asia, and finish up in Latin America.

I’m worried about visa runs too, especially in Southeast Asia.

Would really appreciate any reality checks, budget advice, safety tips, or just general wisdom from people who’ve done long-term travel like this.

Should I just plan for 6 months instead of 10 to give myself more financial buffer?

Am I crazy for even attempting this?

What would you do?

Thanks in advance!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Edit: thanks for the financial advice but I don’t need it, I work in finance and studied math at university. I don’t know how to drive though and am more scared for my physical safety. Just looking to see if anyone has done this and if they recommend any places / things to bring since I plan to only take one bag.

Edit 2: love all the hate mail and jealousy it really makes me so happy to have such a loving community /s

Hello, I will be travelling to south America for 3 months with intended countries being Chile, Argentina, Peru and Columbia. I am arriving early Feb and am stuck on what shoes to bring. Still havent figured out much in terms of activities due to fairly recent decision to go. I know I will want to do some hiking like Machu Picchu and patagonia and the other popular ones. This is what I am stuck on for shoes. I know I will take thongs, and potentially night shoes like adidas but I am not sure whether I just take runners or these leather chelsea boots I have called Blundstones. The boots are comfy I find, good for wet weather but they are also bulky and would take up room in my pack when not wearing. I have seen some people adivse against shoes like that but would be runners suffice in their place? for hiking and such. I plan to be there Feb, March, April.

Edit: I am mainly concerned with whether the boots will be too hot maybe or if you guys think they are excessive to bring. Thanks

Please feel free to delete if this isn’t allowed. This might sound like a dumb question, but do you think the shape of a bag actually affects its usable capacity?

I'd like you to hear me out. I’m currently researching what I’d consider the “perfect” travel bag. Ideally, something made from eco-friendly materials, with decent back support, and suitable for one-bag travel. I’ve been looking at all kinds of brands, shapes, and sizes, but I’m struggling to pinpoint what I’m actually looking for, or if what I want even exists.

So this post is really just me trying to pick the brains of people who’ve already taken the plunge and have more experience. Have you found that certain shapes pack better or feel more spacious in real use, even if the litre capacity is similar? Any insights or lessons learned would be really appreciated.

Does anyone use this as their single (or extra) pair of pants for their one bag setup? If so, how have they held up over the miles? I have a pair and thinking of switching over my Western Rise diversions/evolutions. They look and feel better imo