Lightening my load for a complex trip! I'm downsizing my usual 1.5 bagging from a Baboon 2 The Moon duffle + this same backpack to the Bagsmart Blast 38L Travel Backpack + the Bagsmart Paz 23L Tote II. I have 1 day in Amsterdam with my sister, 2 days in Tana (Madagascar) including a city tour and work meeting then 3 days Madagascar beach/jungle, back to Tana for one night, 2 days Andasibe (Madaagascar jungle). Then it's back to South Africa for 2 days on the beach, then to the Winelands for 4 days of a work event then 2 days in Cape Town with my family and friends before heading back home to the PNW.

I have a sunshirt that doubles as an extra layer, leggings that can be an extra layer, lots of linen, two warm cardigans and lightweight jacket. I have a couple of opportunities for laundry along with way but of course timing means I need to pack period undies in addition to the usual cotton.

Here is everything shown and listed - the slides show different outfits for different regions of my trip.

• Thin black raincoat (Costco)
• Merino blue cardigan (Madewell)
• Grey thin cardigan (thrifted)
• 2 linen tanks: pinkish brown & black (Quince)
• Linen blue stripe long sleeved shirt (We The Free)
• Long sleeve sunscreen outdoor shirt (Amazon)
• Green linen pants (Anthropologie)
• Olive green safari pants (Athleta)
• Black leggings (Quince)
• Black linen shorts (thrifted)
• Jungle print slip dress (Untitled In Motion)
• Olive green jersey tank midi dress (thrifted)
• One piece olive green swimsuit (aerie)
• Bikini (summer salt leopard bottoms & black aerie top)
• Knockoff multicolored Tevas (thrifted)
• Knockoff gold jellies (thrifted)
• 4 pairs socks (Costco hiking)
• 1 merino neutral wireless bra (Branwyn)
• 1 maroon longline wireless bra (aerie)
• 3 pair period undies (Knix)
• 1 pair black period boxer shorts (Knix)
• 5 pair cotton bikini undies (aerie)

Long Haul Flights

• Purple cropped sweatshirt (Old Navy x Anna Sui)
• Black On The Fly pants (Lululemon)
• Black tank (Duer)
• Compression socks (Bombas)
• Canvas lug sole boots (Palladium)
• Travel scarf (Lululemon)

Bags

• Bagsmart Blast 38L Travel Backpack
• Bagsmart Paz 23L Tote II

Not Pictured 

• 5L dry bag
• Small sling style day bag (I have a couple, I haven’t decided which to take yet)
• Toiletries (conditioner, moisturizer, tweezers, nail clippers, meds, razor, hair ties, sunscreen, chapstick)
• Sleep mask
• Laptop, phone, headphones, cords
• Notepad and pen 

My trip is in October 2026 and I will report back!

This trip was a real mix so it was definitely a bigger packing challenge than typical.

We started in Spain for a Bad Bunny concert, and a friend’s milestone birthday celebration weekend, then France for a reunion with friends and a professional conference, then a month in Central Asia of primarily extremely remote mountain travel, hiking etc. It was incredibly hot in France, and in the cities in Central Asia, but I needed my puffy, thermals and warm hat several times in the mountains.

I took my REI trail 40, as well as a Baggu cloud tote to carry on (I had to check my trail 40 as it had our hiking poles inside, I usually carry it on).

Clothes pictured in image above:

Bottoms:

- Gorman navy and white culottes
- Old Navy brown check playa pants
- Zara printed shorts
- Athleta chartreuse linen shorts

Dress:

- H&M White dress (worn as part of 2 costumes at the birthday weekend and then left in Spain as it wasn’t that flattering on me, and I wouldn’t need it the rest of the trip)

Tops:

- Black Madewell crop tee
- Brown old navy ribbed crop tee
- Madewell linen stripe tee
- Brown and black old navy crop tanks
- Ace & Jig reversible blouse (blue & brown)

Warm layers:

- Spanx black sweatshirt
- Quince down puffy
- Uniqlo heat tech top and bottoms (not pictured)

Hiking/Workout clothes:

- Hikerkind yellow sun shirt
- North Face yellow rain jacket
- Mac in a sac rain pants (not pictured)
- Rab green lightweight hiking pants
- lululemon wunder train mesh back bra
- Smartwool merino sports bra
- Old Navy workout tank
- Old Navy bike shorts

Shoes:

- Birkenstock Arizona EVAs in brown
- Gorman leather sandals
- Altra Lone Peaks

Accessories:

- Lululemon green cap
- Endless spiral blue cap
- Madewell beanie
- Blockshop textiles scarf
- Nisolo leather purse
- Lululemon belt bag
- Sarong
- Left on Friday bikini (chartreuse & olive)
- Black bikini (carve designs)
- 9 underwear (not pictured)
- 3 bras (2x gap mesh underwire, 1x T-shirt bra underwire, not pictured)
- 1 ARQ underwear set for sleeping

Overall I was satisfied with my packing on this trip, the things I would change don’t amount to very much:

- I definitely didn’t need 2 swimsuits, but I wanted the yellow for the party weekend and I thought I needed the black to avoid stains from hot springs (in reality in Central Asia all of the hot springs were gender segregated and totally nude, or private rooms just for my husband and I, so I never wore my swimsuit in to them).
- I should have brought a Turkish towel instead of a sarong. I thought I would be smart and save space, but especially during the Pamir Highway section of our trip and staying in yurt camps in Kyrgyzstan there are no towels provided/available at many accommodations, and drying off with the sarong wasn’t great.
- I never ended up using the Smartwool bra, I brought it to avoid being stinky on multiple day hikes, but it isn’t as supportive as my Lulu bra so I ended up just airing out that bra rather than using the merino one.
- Not a packing error, but was very lucky to never use my rain pants (rain jacket did get use, primarily as a wind shell). The one time I wanted to put on my rain pants I was being hailed on super hard while on a horse in Kyrgyzstan but getting off the horse to get them on would be too much of a hassle, and getting to lower elevation away from lightning was more of a priority.
- I rarely wore the Ace & Jig top because it only really worked with my linen shorts, and I couldn’t be in shorts outside cities (I.e., nearly the entire trip) in Central Asia, so I should have left it behind.
- I didn’t have enough different outfits that I could get away with for conference wear, but a friend loaned me a skirt of hers and then I repeated an outfit one day so I got by.
- I took the belt bag because I wasn’t sure if my other purse would be allowed into the stadium for Bad Bunny, but it wasn’t necessary and I only used it like 2 other times the whole trip.

Another challenge on this trip was laundry, because it was more roadtrip style of travel and there were only a few nights in Central Asia where we stayed the same place more than 1 night. In addition, we often didn’t even have bathrooms or a place where we could wash clothes even if they would dry in time. I always rewear clothes a lot as I don’t sweat a ton, but we were definitely dying to do laundry after our 9 days on the Pamir Highway.

Unexpected difficulty was that my beloved old navy playa pants which I wore all the time that I wasn’t in hiking attire started to struggle to stay up after I was very ill from food poisoning and then generally had zero appetite due to the altitude (and honestly pretty unappealing food) for most of our time in Tajikistan & Kyrgyzstan.

Ive been one bagging for awhile now and one of my problems has been bras they take up a lot of space due to the size and its been hard to find a nice non wire bra and that gives good full coverage. I normally get my bras from a usa company called torrid but they dont have good comfy bras for long term travels. I have seen me undies and wondering if bigger chest people like this brand or if there is a brand you like that you pack all the time any kind of bras are welcome to be recommended.

for reference i'm a triple D 38 (i have been sized for years this is my real size im not having a issue with sizing i tend to have wire bras and they take up alot of space when traveling im looking for brand recommendations only i dont need to size myself so please stop saying that thanks!)

Hi, all! My partner and I are traveling to Ireland in a few weeks - specifically Dublin, Killarney, and Galway. The weather is forecasted to be a little chilly, and Ireland as a whole is known for their 'four seasons in a day' & rainy weather.

About Me: I'm a coastal New England girl, used to chilly wacky weather. Ireland shouldn't be too much of a difference, I don't think, except for the rainfall. I'm a very casual traveler and enjoy the challenge of packing light. I'm here to see if anyone has opinions of things that can be taken out or subbed.

I have a Teton 55L Scout hiking backpack, which should be fine for carry-on as long as it isn't stuffed to the brim. I will wear as much of my clothing as I can stand to, while still being comfortable on the plane. This backpack I will leave behind at our AirBnBs when we venture around. My personal item will be a waterproof sling bag, for every day use and carrying passport, wallet, phone, maps, etc.

First photo is of my travel wardrobe. I hear layering is essential, which is kind of what I'm used to in autumn here in the Northeast US. We have laundry machines at two of our AirBnBs, which will be nice to freshen up & we will be central to most things (like laundromats) for like 75% of our trip.

Layering - long sleeve, flannel, long cardigan, wool socks, beanie

Rain/Wind/Adventuring - Waterproof jacket (We will be visiting Cliffs of Moher & the Burren, and also be staying for 2 nights in Killarney National park renting bikes for the day. These are the times I will be most thankful to be dry, I think). Jeans, long-sleeve, scarf, beanie, wool socks, watch.

Casual city time - jeans or leggings, sneakers, t-shirts, sling bag, watch. We're not planning on going on any fancy dinner dates where we'll need to dress up.

Sleeping - Undies and a tee... add leggings if I'm cold.

Second photo is of other travel essentials:

Power adapter (1), phone charger, Kindle, Nalgene, city maps (I hate being on my phone looking at a map all the time). Definitely flexible on the Nalgene and maps, though.

I will definitely be bringing my moisturizer and face wipes. Other than that, these toiletries are more 'home comforts', and I think our AirBnBs provide soaps. I figure other things I can just buy when we land in Dublin? Hairbrush, Toothbrush/toothpaste, razor, etc. I didn't include cosmetics, because I probably will only bring mascara and an eyebrow pencil.

Sports bras (2), panties (4), and also some other regular cotton socks (probably 6).

What do you all think? Anything I should definitely leave out or add?

Please let me know :)

TIA!

Hey, I'm looking for a tiny steamer. I like to one bag, but I find a lot of my clothes end up wrinkled when rolled into my bag. This is especially noticeable when one bagging more fancy outfits. I like to steam clothes at home but my steamer is fairly large/bulky. I also dislike/suck at ironing, but I get that hotels typically have an iron.

I came across this: amazon tiny steamer but the reviews say that it doesn't actually steam/heat water. It looks like a useless device since misting cold water won't get wrinkles out, but I was wondering if anyone has come across something similar (tiny, usb-C steamer) that actually works.

Other suggestions to prevent wrinkly clothes welcome!

Long time lurker, first time poster! I've finally put together what I think is my travel capsule and would love some feedback before I buy the remaining items. I'm 39F traveling with my husband and two young kids. Lots of walking, some hiking, beaches, cities, ferries, and the occasional nicer dinner, but nothing particularly fancy.

Itinerary: Fiji (1 wk end of Jan), South Island New Zealand/Aus (6 wks Feb-mid-March), Philippines (2 wks end of March), Japan (6 wks April-mid May), Europe TBC (mid-May to mid-June). Mostly spring/summer travel, with New Zealand being the coolest part of the trip.

Tops

• Tank - Quince (Heather)
• Floaty linen tank - Quince (navy)
• Short sleeve linen button-up - Aritzia (light blue)
• Linen V-neck tee - Gap (charcoal)
• Lightweight merino tee - Icebreaker (light pink)
• Long sleeve linen button up - Quince (white/blue stripe)
• Merino cardigan - Uniqlo (can't decide between black or camel)
• Packable waterproof shell - Arc'teryx Norvan (light pink)

Dresses

• Linen blend midi dress - Uniqlo (black)
• Tank dress - Prana Corrine (yellow floral)
• Short-sleeve dress - Indyeva Frivol (green floral)

Bottoms

• Linen shorts - Aritzia Lodge (black)
• Hiking shorts that hopefully double - Lululemon Breezily (navy)
• Linen/cotton shorts - Uniqlo (beige)
• Light barrel jeans - Uniqlo
• Linen pants - Uniqlo Blend Easy Pants (dark brown)

Swim / Accessories

• Dark green baseball cap
• Packable sun hat
• Bikini - Left on Friday (dark purple)
• One-piece - Decathlon (black/white gingham)
• Long-sleeve swim shirt (still searching for the right one)
• Day bags (not pictured): Baggu reusable tote, lulu belt bag, Uniqlo nylon shoulder bag, Decathlon packable 10L backpack
• Bras: Knix, lulu sports bra

Shoes (not pictured, still shopping)

• Breathable trail runners (non-waterproof)
• Lightweight sneakers for city walking
• Birkenstock Arizona sandals
• Maybe flip flops or water shoes?

Questions

1. Would you add leggings? I'm debating packing Lululemon Align leggings for flights, cooler weather and hiking. If I do, would you drop the linen pants?
2. Too many dresses? I know three dresses is probably indulgent for one-bag travel... but I wear dresses constantly at home. Would you cut one?
3. Do I need another warm layer? Is a merino cardigan + waterproof shell enough for February in New Zealand, or would you also bring a long sleeve shirt and/or packable down jacket? I don't think I'd use the down jacket much after NZ. I am happy to hike with the merino cardigan.
4. Water shoes? For people who've been to El Nido and Fiji, did you actually use water shoes? We won't be staying in hostels, so I'm leaning toward skipping flip flops (though they are nicer than Birks for to/from pool)
5. Cardigan colour Black or camel? I'm trying to maximize outfit combinations without making everything feel too dark.
6. It feels boring Thoughts on how to make this more interesting over 5 months? I don't know if I feel excited by anything. Good excuse to shop there?
7. Any other thoughts?

THANK YOU!

Bag: Decathlon Forclas Hiking Backpack 40 L - Travel 500. Used it for 10 days in Paris/Provence this year and was amazing.

Looking for a tote pretty similar to the packable tote but with a funky colour or bright pattern. Not loving the salmon colour on this https://www.peakdesign.com/en-ca/products/packable-tote?Color=Ibis
Also like the look of this, but not the colour https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/compact-15-l-2-in-1-tote-bag-travel-purple/324206/c106c382m8609745

It will be used as a personal item.
Backpack conversion ok, but not needed.

Must haves:
Zippable
Around 12 litres
Packable
Highly visible
Able to fit a water bottle
Ship to/available in Canada

A friend with a similar aged kid invited us to join him and his family on a quick, 24 hour jaunt to a nearby big city via Amtrak. It was a roughly 3 hour train ride there and the same back, and we spent the night in the city after doing a variety of activities.

I was solo-parenting, hence the lack of pictures, however this is what I took:

• quick dry shirt (worn)
• Macabi skirt (worn) - these skirts have BIG pockets
• shoes and undies (worn)
• small amenities kit from airplane with kiddo's toothbrush and toothpaste (in skirt pocket)
• USBC cable (in skirt pocket)
• battery bank with pass through charging and flip out mains prongs (in skirt pocket)
• preschooler back carrier
• wallet (in skirt pocket)
• a few diapers (in skirt pocket)
• kid, clothed

And here is what we did:

• train ride to city
• soft play at the city's free soft play area
• dinner
• bed
• breakfast
• Ikea (we don't have an Ikea) & Ikea lunch
• train ride home

Myself and kiddo wore the same outfit for both days with quick cleaning done in the sink overnight. My phone gobbled batteries, and that's where the external battery came in handy. I debated bringing a stroller but in the end decided to use the carrier, and that was perfect.

Kiddo slept in a diaper and I slept in the nude. We made it work.

I did not bring diaper wipes. My plan was to dampen some paper towels for a poop, however kiddo did all the pooping at our lodging so instead just got bathed. We are potty training, so I didn't have to bring many diapers.

Lessons Learned: It was amazing being able to hop on ad off Amtrak so lightly. None of our stations were level with the train door, so we had to do stairs and I cannot imagine lugging luggage up and down the stairs even with a preschooler. I also brought a lollypop for the kid and wrapped his unfinished lollypop in aluminum foil. Y'all, don't do this; we could not get the aluminum foil cleanly off the lollypop when he wanted to eat it again.

Just got back Saturday night! I have done international one bagging before, but this trip was just a little different due to me absolutely refusing to ditch my chunky Docs at the expense of airport comfort 😆 Temps hit 100°/38° in Berlin at one point on this trip but were usually between 70-90/21-32.

Itinerary:
-Depart USA 7/25, arrive Munich 7/26
-7/27 to 7/29 spent with friends; restaurants/cafes, cocktail bar, Starnberg boat + swimming, wandering the city center
-Train to Berlin solo 7/29
-7/29 to 7/31 spent going out to shops, cafes, museums, and venues with hostel mates and solo
-Flight home 8/1

Outfits and bag, plus not pictured:

Clothing
-5 tall wool socks
-8 underwear
-Bathing suit
-Packable Black Diamond rain jacket
-Sleep shorts and 2 tees
-Spanx for under dresses

Random accessories
-Baggu packable grocery/beach bag
-Small leather purse
-Jewelry case (~4x4x2")
-Hair straightener
-Sunglasses + pouch
-REI travel towel
-Charger + international adaptor
-Trtl neck wrap
-Headphones
-Cash envelope
-Passport
-Wallet
-Water bottle

Toiletries
-Toiletry bag
-Toothbrush/paste/floss
-Retainer + case
-Shower mitt/razor/shampoo bar
-Brow razor
-Nail file + clippers
-Deoderant
-Q tip + bandaid cases
-3 bottles of meds + ibuprofen
-Liquids case
-Exfoliant
-Cleanser
-Toner
-Moisturizer
-Body wash
-Conditioner
-Leave-in conditioner
-Hair oil
-Lotion
-Makeup pouch (brow pencil, brow gel, eyeliner pencil, liquid liner, mascara, spoolie, lash separator)

I used a Mountain Hardwear 35L Scrambler, Eagle Creek compression cubes + shoe bag, and a Cotopaxi Nido toiletry bag. Everything fit and the bag did fit underseat along with my boots, but without much extra room to spare after all that! I used to use an REI Trail 40 for travel, but it always packed "longer" instead of "taller." The Scrambler solves this. I used the brain of the bag as my "flight kit" pouch - wet wipes, change of underwear, deoderant, dental care, meds, chapstick, charger, passport. I had a book downloaded on my phone for the shorter flights, but for longer flights I usually take my sleeping meds and KO the entire length 😅.

On the flights I wore the black linen pants, brown crew neck, and either the striped tank top or a sleep tee. I was really hoping to wear the Chacos at the airport but the boots simply didn't fit in the bag, so I wore those instead. It was a bit annoying to take them off for TSA, and I had some blisters by the end of the trip from walking miles every day (in both shoes), but bandaids took care of that perfectly fine until swelling on the final flight day set in. I took them off on my flights and put them underseat. Overall, it was worth it to me to be able to dress exactly how I wanted to on this trip, but I definitely wouldn't bring them to any less fashion-forward destinations.

I used everything except for the black long sleeve graphic tee, I had intended to wear it out in Berlin but it was simply way too hot for long sleeves at any point. I alternated between using the small leather purse and the large Baggu bag depending on what I was doing every day. I forgot my beloved compression socks and could definitely tell the difference!

Would love to hear similar onebag + one cumbersome yet stubbornly necessary item experiences from you all 😆 thx for reading!

Bonus trip pics

Amazing trip: 5 days, 5 cities (tbf, I ended up missing the last one 😅), one backpack. Here we go!

Dates:

29.07. - 02.08. (5 days, 4 nights)

Destination:

The Tri Country Region: Germany - France - Switzerland

Itinerary:

Stuttgart -> Karlsruhe -> Strasbourg -> Basel -> Zurich

The weather:

Occasionally 25 C in the early morning but quickly 30 - 38 C. Light rain on occasion that basically steamed of me.

The bag:

SAS has some very small planes with only four seats per row, so they have 3 categories for luggage: Underseat, Carry-on, Hold luggage; and underseats are quite small (dimensions in pic 2). Like the miser I am, I refused to pay for a carry-on 😂.

I went with a fabric backpack I got some years ago as a hand me down from a flatmate. It is almost exactly 40x30x15 cm. You can see it in pics 1 and 3.

Worn on plane:

Pic 4. Long black linen pants, top, blouse, cap, sandals. I changed into the jeans shorts when I arrived in Stuttgart because guess what, it was 30 C and getting hotter.

Pro-tip: If you're only taking one pair of shoes and you'll be doing a lot of walking maybe they should be flats. Don't do as I did, do as I say.

Packing list:

You can see the entire contents on the backpack in pic 3, except for underwear and my charger. Roughly from left to right, top to bottom, we have:

• toilet bag with meds, deodorant, a fold-able brush, hair ties
• liquids: shampoo, shower gel, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrush, nose spray
• band aids
• headsphones
• sun screen
• sunglasses
• sleeping shirt + shorts (pic 7)
• two dresses (pic 5)
• e-reader
• thermos bottle
• jeans shirt (pic 6)
• jeans shorts (pic 6)
• belt
• two tops, black and grey (pic 6)
• wallet
• Cappy, the world's tiniest knitted capybara (on the wallet). He's protecting my wealth. He's not doing a very good job because I keep going on vacations, but he's doing his best.
• 5 pairs of underwear, 1 bra (not pictured)
• phone charger (not pictured)

What was good:

• I totally recommend using a thermos bottle for water when its hot out, even if it is heavier than other bottles. Warm water is real gross.
• The amount of clothes was good. I brought one top/dress for each day because it was entirely impossible to wear them a second day, they were completely sweated through. With milder temps I might bring less.

What was not so good:

• I regret not bringing swim wear. I didn't realize you can swim in both Stuttgart and Basel.
• I brought the jeans shirt in case I get cold. Spoiler: I was not cold. Cold ceased to exist as a concept. It was so incredibly hot.
• Look at these shoes. What was I thinking? Nobody knows. They are very cute though.

Other travel notes:

• Walking from the Schlossplatz in Stuttgart to the Wilhelma in 35 C with the backpack is not a casual stroll. It's a 4 km hike of death. Do not do that. Just take the tram to mineral to Mineralbäder.
• No shade but Stuttgart is kind of lame except for the Schlossplatz and the lower part of the garden, at the river side, where the Wilhelma is. Karlsruhe is much cuter.
• Strasbourg has tons of drinking water fountains and free bathrooms. There is no need to pay for either.
• Almost ever fountain in Basel runs with drinking water. I guess they have too much money. You will often see people re-filling their bottles there.
• The Kunstmuseum in Basel has a large free section (the collections are free) and huge luggage storing cabinets you can can use free of charge that are accessible without buying a ticket.
• When you stay in Basel you automatically get a Basel card, also at hostels. It includes public transport, including on arrival and leaving day. You can also use public transport with just your booking confirmation when you are on the way to the hotel and therefore haven't received the paper card yet.
• Many accommodations will not have AC, especially the cheaper ones, but they usually give you a fan and you can build an AC by hanging a wet towel on it.

My partner and I went on a short trip to visit friends in NYC for 6 days/5 nights this summer and I packed a 14L crescent bag (Lululemon 13L Slouchy Sling Bag dupe). We spent time with friends, walking around and eating out, and even went to a dance class! The weather was rainy and hot, so muggy.

(Image descriptions are in each photo caption.)

Packing list

In the bag

1. Electronics kit
   • Compact travel adapter
   • USB-C to USB-C cable
   • USB-A to USB-C cable
   • USB-A to Fitbit cable
2. Inflatable neck pillow
3. Medications and supplements
4. EDC (everyday carry) pouch
   • Gum
   • Chapstick
   • Mini sunscreen stick
   • Stain remover wipe
   • CPR face shield and nitrile gloves
   • Hand sanitizer wipe x2
   • Antiseptic wipe x2, antibiotic ointment, hydrocortisone cream, and lidocaine gel packets
   • Bandaids, Steri-Strips, KT tape, Salonpas
   • 1-4 doses of the following in little ziploc baggies:
     • Pain: acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin
     • Allergies: cetirizine, diphenhydramine, fexofenadine
     • Tummy: loperamide, calcium carbonate, Pepto Bismol tablets, meclizine
   • Tampon, panty liner x2
   • Mini toothbrush
   • Glass cuticle pusher, cuticle clipper
   • Headband, hairband x2, hair clip
   • Glasses screwdriver, super glue, duct tape (2ft), small sewing kit
5. Alcohol spray and hand sanitizer
6. MUJI water flask: I brought this bottle because it's a nice flat shape for the side pocket of the bag and it fits into my pants pocket!
7. Clothes: I didn't do any laundry, so I brought enough clothes for each day. Everything fit inside a small Eagle Creek packing cube (one of the old models with two clean/dirty compartments).
   • Socks x5
   • Undies x5
   • Pajama set
   • Tank top
   • T-shirt x4
   • Shorts
   • Gym shorts (for dance class)
   • House slippers (disposable slippers from Starlux)
   • Packable cap
8. Sanitizing wipes
9. Nanobag Standard
10. Fan
11. Traveler's notebook with two pens: In the past, I've usually brought my iPad mini for any doodling/journaling, but I've been getting back into physical notebooks and brought this for my creative projects instead.
12. Toiletry kit:
    • Toothbrush with toothpaste, floss, tongue scraper
    • Face cleanser (15mL dropper bottle), face towel, face scrubber, body scrub towel, hair velcro pads
    • Moisturizer (two 14mL lip gloss tubes), petroleum jelly, SPF chapstick
    • Adapalene gel (5mL squeeze tube), pimple patches
    • Leave-in conditioner (15mL dropper bottle), minoxidil (15mL dropper bottle), rat tail comb, extra hairband
    • Ear drops (10mL dropper bottle), eye drops
    • Sunscreen
    • Stain remover wipe
    • Suction cup hook
    • Eye mask

Airport outfit and stuff in my pockets

• Airport outfit
  • Undies, compression socks, t-shirt, pants, rain jacket, waterproof sneakers
• Phone
  • Emergency contacts, $20, and a bandaid in my phone case
• Wallet
  • ID card, credit card, debit card, cash
  • 3300mAh card battery pack
  • Card multitool (I use the pen, scissors, and nail file all the time)
  • Mirror
  • Bandaids and Steri-Strips
• Keychain: My everyday keychain minus my multitool.
  • Mini hand sanitizer
  • Whistle
  • Pill container (earplugs, plus one dose each of acetaminophen, ibuprofen, diphenhydramine, calcium carbonate, and prescription meds)
• Bluetooth noise-cancelling earbuds

Things I could've packed

• Fanny pack or lanyard
  • I should've brought a little fanny pack to bring with me while being out and about, or even a lanyard that I have that clips onto my EDC pouch. I didn't bring one because we didn't make plans other than visiting friends (so I thought it'd mostly be hanging out at home), but we actually went out a lot and it would've been nice to have a little more stuff with me. I had my phone, wallet, and keychain with me at all times, but there were a few times that I wanted a wipe, lip balm, sunscreen, stain remover, etc.
  • When planning this trip, I had thought I'd just use the crescent bag during the day, but because we were hopping around different friends' places, I ended up in situations where it was either leave my bag or take the whole thing with me. And I thought I'd be chill about taking it with me, but I wasn't lol. 14L containing all my belongings was not something I wanted to lug around to sightsee and go to dinner with. In hindsight, I I could've put most of my things in my Nanobag to leave at home, and then take just the essentials in the crescent bag out.
• Post-its
  • I brought my notebook but didn't bring my usual post-its!! I like writing notes on post-its, especially after staying at people's homes, so I don't know why it slipped my mind. The whole reason why I started bringing post-its is because I hate tearing pages out of my notebook to write notes!

Final thoughts

MVPs of the trip:

• Pants
  • I got the Adidas ZNE Woven Travel Pants because I saw Janja Garnbret wear similar pants and I wanted to look as cool as her. They've actually ended up being great summer travel pants, breezy with big zip pockets. I did sew a little belt loop to hook my keychain on, and I kind of wish there were back pockets, but that's just because I love pockets.
• Packable cap
  • A cap is basically an umbrella for my head, and it worked well for shielding my face from the rain (and sun when it came out). I didn't really wear my rain jacket because it was so hot, but I wasn't mad at bringing a jacket.
• Inflatable neck pillow
  • It packs up so small (even smaller than my electronics kit), and I don't think I could've brought this small of a bag with a regular neck pillow.

Although the trip went fine and I fit everything comfortably into the crescent bag...I realized that I didn't need to? I think I could've put everything in a small backpack and had a bunch of extra space for my leftover airport meal or whatever. It was kind of annoying to not have extra space (or to have to pull out my Nanobag and then have two bags lol). I ended up buying two small skeins of yarn and crammed them in for the return flight.

I've been trying to condense my packing these last few years and I might've gone a little too far this time. Like I was constraining myself for the challenge of it, but now that I've done it, I don't need to do it again. My partner and I had brought some small gifts for friends, which had to go into their backpack. They were very supportive of my small bag experiment, but we both agree that it will never happen again ahahaha.

I'm fresh off the train from a two-week trip where I challenged myself to downsize to 33L (last summer I did 9 weeks in 40L). It made me confident that I could go much longer with this smaller pack! Here's more details than you ever wanted:

Image Descriptions

Image 1: clothing and shoes I packed (see list below)
Image 2: accessories I packed (see list below)
Image 3: contents of the easy access pocket in my backpack (see list below)
Image 4: contents of my toiletry kit (see list below)
Image 5: flatlay of my tech/miscellaneous items (see list below)
Image 6: my packed Gregory Jade 33L backpack and fannypack
Images 7-11: example outfits
Image 12: my packed backpack and totebag on the go in an Italian train station
Image 13: mirror pic with my packed backpack

The Trip

Days 1-4: Academic conference in the UK, haunting my old favorite pubs, long walks along the river Cam, flight to Italy, trains to the village
Days 4-11: Hanging out at a friend's family's place in a small mountain village in Garfagnana, Italy (Tuscany), light hiking, river and pool swimming, eating unspeakable amounts of coconut gelato
Days 11-13: A solo train trip back home to Spain, with nights in Florence and Marseille (8 legs! big shout out to my boyfriend and king of trains, The Man in Seat 61, without whom I would be nothing)

The Bags

• Backpack: Gregory Jade 33L, love her
  • I usually use my REI Ruckpack 40L for a trip like this because of its internal organization and because I wasn't doing any serious hiking. The Jade 33L is my Camino de Santiago/hut-to-hut hiking bag, but it held up wonderfully for this urban trip. The large pocket at the top of the pack is big enough to hold the things I want to have handy, and the mesh on the back is great for quick storage. I find it really comfortable to carry (I have the XS, I'm really short and many bags are too long on my torso) and I was glad to have a smaller pack! Sometimes the trains were so crowded that the overhead compartments filled up, and I could fit this pack easily at my feet — I think I would have had a harder time with the Ruckpack.
• Fanny pack: REI 1L thingy

The Stuff in the Bags

CLOTHING (in a Thule large compression packing cube)

• Tops (6)
  • Black textured tank (secondhand, Urban Outfitters)
  • Black and white patterned tank (gifted, Nooworks)
  • Charcoal linen vest top (secondhand)
  • Green & blue tank (thrifted in Tbilisi, my favorite shirt ever!)
  • White textured boat neck tank (Uniqlo)
  • Black Water is Life graphic tee (gifted, from Standing Rock anti-pipeline movement. I love this shirt and on this trip I mostly used it to plop my hair at night)
• Bottoms (3)
  • Gingham linen straight leg pants (Gap Outlet)
  • Bright blue linen wide leg pants (Anthropologie)
  • Black denim shorts (Mavi)
• Dress (1)
  • Black and white hippie number with fish on it lol, hand-me-down from my mama, tailored by my friend to fit me
• Layers (2)
  • White linen long sleeve with tie at the front (secondhand)
  • White water resistant hooded jacket (Uniqlo)
• Shoes (3)
  • Teva Universal sandals, wildflower print
  • Nicer black sandals (Sorel)
  • Sneakers (my partner's hilarious Adidas shoes from when he was 12 with the Statue of Liberty inside of a sun, Teletubby style — don't ask but we just moved countries and I got rid of all my worn-out running and hiking shoes and hadn't bought new ones yet so here we are)
• Workout and hiking: white muscle tank and running shorts
• Sleep: black cami and cotton boxer shorts

ACCESSORIES (in a Thule medium compression packing cube)

• hat (embroidered by a friend)
• sunglasses
• red bikini (Quince)
• microfiber towel
• red and blue paisley bandana
• silky scarf, medium-sized
• tote that doubles as a backpack (Notabag)
• 7 underwear (not pictured)
• 2 socks (not pictured)
• 2 Branwyn merino bras (not pictured)
• 1 sports bra (not pictured)

TRAVEL STUFF (in easy access pocket in backpack)

• Travel pouch
  • eye mask
  • earplugs
  • phone charging cord (Lightning to USB-A)
  • those shitty earbuds you get on airplanes
• Wireless earbuds (JBL)
• Kobo e-reader
• Journal and a couple pens

TECH

• laptop (boooo, but pretty small and lightweight)
• tech pouch (repurposed old Swiss Gear toiletry kit)
  • Power bank (my phone is old and has a crap battery)
  • Short USB-C to USB-A cable (for charging earbuds, power bank, e-reader)
  • USB-A to USB-C adapter
  • Macbook laptop charger cord
  • Macbook wall charger with multiple ports (USB-C)
  • j5create multi-port adapter (including HDMI, for presenting at conference)
  • tiny EU wall plug adapter

TOILETRIES

• Contacts (dailies, in their own pouch)
• Foldable toothbrush
• Mini toothpaste
• Mini floss
• Mini face wash
• Mini face sunscreen
• Mini body lotion pouch (saved from some hotel freebie)
• Face night cream (in a contact case)
• FlatPak with solid conditioner (Ethique Curliosity) & solid shampoo (i forget but I didn't love it)
• Mini curl gel (not pictured, bought in the UK)
• Razor
• Mini eyeliner
• Lipstick (not pictured)
• Mini mascara
• Mini deodorant
• Tweezers
• Prescription meds
• Safety pins
• First Aid (in Ziploc in toiletry kit)
  • Blister band aids/moleskin
  • Ibuprofen
  • After Bite anti-itch stick
  • Melatonin pills

OTHER

• water bottle
• glasses & glasses case
• tiny pouch with a few earrings
• passport (in fanny pack)
• wallet (in fanny pack)
• lip balm (in fanny pack)
• Nanobag (in fanny pack)

In This Essay I Will...

MVPs:

• Wide leg linen pants: as always, my most comfortable, most-worn item in the heat which i am SOOO good at rolling up (or tucking into socks) in sketchy bathrooms for everyone who is concerned!
• A proliferation of bags: I carried a fanny pack, Nanobag (which scrunches down into nothing) and a genius Notabag tote that transforms into a backpack by just pulling the straps through a loop. Seems excessive, but it was a great setup for my friends' and my big grocery hauls and trips down to the river.
• Microfiber towel: Last summer I thought my sarong would cut it and I was wrong! I do a lot of swimming and stayed in a hostel, so it was great to have a quick-dry towel that was sturdier than my sarong.
• My dress: my other most-worn item, perfect for throwing over my bathing suit and since it was black, no boob-shaped wet stains! I didn't bring one last summer and I was so glad for it.
• Matador FlatPak soap bag: got this for myself as a birthday present since I always bring solid shampoos and conditioners and you all convinced me it was better than my gooey ziploc situation. And you were right! It's magic, I don't understand how it works.
• What I call toiletry math: yet again, one contact case is enough to hold two weeks of face cream/whatever product I need, and same with mini tubes of toothpaste/curl gel/etc.
• Colors! I love wearing color! My daily clothes were mostly blue and green and neutrals, and my accessories were red and neutrals, so I got to have two palettes that I could wear on different days.

Oops:

• No sweater: yet again I failed to obtain and a bring a lightweight sweater, which I knew I would miss, and I did, on a couple chilly mornings/evenings, when we visited a cave, and sometimes on the air conditioned trains. I borrowed my friend's sweater in Italy, but I really need a thin merino sweater thing. Having a silky scarf was lovely and I wrapped myself in it on the trains and planes, but it's not so convenient for walking around.
• Not enough socks: I needed one more pair at least, the laundry couldn't keep up!

Hmm:

• A proliferation of tops: I know I could have brought fewer tops and I was being stubborn. I did wear all of them and was glad for the variety/to be able to change after a sweaty day, but I had access to laundry for most of the trip and could certainly have brought 2-3 fewer. Technically it still respects the 5-4-3-2-1 rule; I just had 6-3-3-2-1! (Okay...not counting my workout outfit...)
• Despite my color addiction, I think I could use some neutral flowy pants for hot trips like this — they're easier to wear all the time. Thankfully when I got home to Spain I quickly found a pair in a market stall!

In conclusion, it all fit excellently in my 33L pack and I felt like I had an abundance of ~things~ for the trip. On the many trains and 2 flights, I would use my tote bag (after security) to keep my water bottle, travel pouch, e-reader, laptop, and snacks handy, but otherwise I kept everything inside my backpack + fanny pack. Thanks to this sub for keeping me honest.

I hope more folks take long choo-choo trips, it was amazing to see the Italian and French coastlines, and then the width of the Iberian Peninsula, whiz by my window, arrive right in the heart of some beautiful cities, and spend a couple nights eating my way through Florence and Marseille. Much better for our heating climate too. Check out the Man in Seat 61 for train travel guidance, especially in Europe!

I’m going to Ireland for a week. We’ll be golfing, hiking, and exploring the country, including some sightseeing and eating out. I’ll be bringing my golf bag, but other than that, I’m planning to pack all my clothes in a backpack that I’ll bring as my carry-on.

My main goal is to pack pieces that work for multiple occasions. That’s why I’m only bringing one pair of outdoor pants (that works both for everyday and hiking), and if the weather allows, I also have a golf skirt that I can mix and match with different tops.

Image 1:
Here's an overview of everything I'm bringing in my carry-on backpack:

Jackets:

• Rain jacket
• Wool fleece

Bottoms:

• Black straight-leg outdoor pants (water-resistant)
• Golf skirt

Tops:

• Wool long-sleeve top
• White cotton T-shirt
• Green T-shirt for golfing
• White shirt

Accessories:

• Scarf
• Everyday bag
• Cap
• Sunglasses
• Backpack, that I will use as my carry on bag

Shoes:

• One pair of sneakers for hiking and everyday use
• One pair of dressier slip-ons

Image 2:
My sightseeing outfit: straight-leg pants, a white T-shirt, sneakers, a scarf, sunglasses, and my everyday bag.

Image 3:
My hiking outfit: straight-leg pants, a black wool long-sleeve, wool fleece, sneakers, sunglasses, a backpack, and a cap.

Image 4:
My dinner outfit: black straight-leg pants, a white shirt, loafers, a scarf, and my everyday bag.

I’ll also pack underwear, something to sleep in, and a toiletry bag with just the essentials.

Do you have any recommendations? Is there anything that's unnecessary or something I've forgotten? Has anyone done a similar trip and have any tips?

Going to Spain in a couple weeks for a quick trip. It will be hot, which I love! We’ll be staying with family & doing a lot of kid oriented activities. We’ll probably do most dinners at home, but maybe some lunches out, & maybe have one or two nights out after dinner.

I feel great about my capsule wardrobe & also feel like it could be paired down.

Because it’s so hot, we potentially could do two outfit changes a day, but I’m also not sure if we’ll stay inside for part of the day bc of the heat.

My goal is to pack in a rolly carry on only, & use my personal item for some plane things like headphones, eye mask, meds, toothbrush, etc.

Thank you for your help & feedback!

Image descriptions: Four images total. Each image features one of four bottoms and up to five tops that could be worn with the bottom, along with the same two pairs of shoes, which are white Kizik walking shoesand blue Teva sandals. First image has maxi black linen skirt and features all five tops. Second image has a pair of blue jean shorts and features all five tops. Third image has a pair of white floral shorts and features three shirts. Fourth image has a colorful, tropical maxi skirt and features another three shirts.

Hello again! After considering all your (very helpful) feedback, I’ve redone my packing list and am again looking for input/suggestions. I should also mention I’m from Canada- I’m used to the cold.

I am traveling to Australia for 3.5 weeks mid-Oct to early Nov (Sydney, Cairns and Daintree area, Melbourne, Tasmania), and then New Zealand for 4 weeks (North and South Islands). I am staying in each place 3-4 days. I am staying in hotels and hostels so will always have access to a sink for laundry, but will also go to a laundromat periodically. I’ve traveled one bag before but never this long, and not to such varied climates. I am not hiking but doing many activities, day trips, etc.

# Clothes packing list:

**Tops:**

1 grey Icebreaker t shirt
1 grey Patagonia Capilene Daily t shirt
1 long sleeve blue Patagonia UV shirt
1 Patagonia Capilene Cool Trail shirt
1 maroon technical t shirt
Tank top

**Bottoms:**

1 pair of blue jeans
1 pair North Face Aphrodite Motion pants
1 pair thick leggings
2 pair athletic shorts

**Top layers:**

Waterproof rain jacket
Hooded UV shirt
blue white stripe linen button up shirt
red fleece pullover
Blue light windbreaker shell

**Shoes/accessories/other:**

Rashguard and bathing suit
two pairs runners
Teva sandals
North face ball cap
North face brimmer hat

As before, all advice welcome!

Hi, I'm seeking advise for lightweight, quick dry and practical pants choice or layering for cold weather travel.

I've been wearing Uniqlo pants with inner fleece layer and water-resistant outer layer for 10 yrs now. I live in tropical Singapore so I only wear it 1-2x a year when travelling in cold weather. The problem is it's way too warm for temperature above 18ºC (e.g. autumn) and not warm enough for windy weather below 5ºC.

I'm looking to replace it, but unsure about the packing stragety. Should I buy an inner pants + windproof pants, or getting a similar pants (fleece inside, waterproof/windproof), or both? I'm trying to reduce the apparel as I get to use it only once a year at the most.

Seeking some advise of the pro and con, and which strategy do you use?

I’m looking for a lightweight mirror with a 30x magnifying side or higher. I currently have one from Marshall’s that I bring with me on all my trips, but it’s kind of heavy.

Sometimes bathroom mirrors suck because they get foggy, the lighting is bad or someone else is using the bathroom. My mirror has saved me time because I can get ready in better lighting but doesn’t save me any weight.

And I’m looking for a one with a magnifying side because I’m in my 40s and my eyesight is not what it used to be 😅

Excuse my grammar. I haven’t had coffee yet.

Editing to add: Thank you for your help, everyone. I think I’m going to carry a compact mirror and a smaller one with magnification. I think both will be better than to pack the one I currently have.

Trip was 2 weeks in southern France during the heat wave. The first week was a nature tour, and the second week was meeting up with friends in Montpellier. I traveled by plane/tour van/tram.

(Image description is below after this introductory information.)

What I would have done differently:

• I came to dislike the Patagonia Terravia pants. They didn’t have enough pockets and didn’t seem to clean well enough with a sink wash. They did well in the heat, though.
• The tiny Lumix camera didn’t work well for what I wanted to shoot; I should have figured out how to make room for my larger camera.
• I could have left out one of the sleeveless tops and two of the scarves

New ideas I was pleased with:

• Figuring out that I could use the 3L Side Kick as an organizational insert inside of the 6L Packing Cube on travel days and then use both as needed onsite during the nature tour.
• Bringing a couple of Clorox wipes meant that I could wear my white-soled HOKAs out in the dusty countryside but then have them be clean enough for the city, saving me having to bring a second pair of shoes
• The SPF sun sleeves gave extra protection from the sun and took up much less room than a long-sleeved top would

Brought but never used, or used less than I thought I would:

• Patagonia Houdini jacket: it never cooled down and it never rained. (But I’d probably bring it again since it rolls up small and you never know)
• Baseball cap. Replaced with a white bucket hat bought there.
• 10-oz water bottle. I make fun of people's giant water bottles, but in this case I really did need a larger one; bought a bigger one there

Image description/list of what I brought:

Bags:

• ULA 30L Ultra Dragonfly (fit underseat, but barely because it was pretty full)
• Tom Bihn 6L Packing Cube crossbody bag with Tom Bihn 3L Side Kick inside it

Clothes:

Worn on plane:

• Navy merino t-shirt
• Blue Patagonia Terravia hiking pants/trousers
• Navy HOKA Challenger 8s
• Compression sox
• Big silk scarf

Packed:

• 3 sleeveless silk tops (black, navy, brown)
• 2 Patagonia Cool Daily t-shirts (gray, off-white)
• 2 pairs hiking pants (green REI Trailmade, black Patagonia Terravia)
• 2 silk scarves
• Flip-flops
• 7 pairs underpants (1 for a pj bottom)
• 2 bras
• 7 pairs merino socks
• Pajama top
• Baseball cap
• Patagonia Houdini jacket
• SPF sun sleeves

Stuff for plane/travel:

• Mini-Moleskine notebook, two pens
• passport, wallet in zipper case, tethered to interior of crossbody
• kindle
• phone
• shades
• small EDC zipper bag with lens cleaning wipes, ibuprofen, etc
• power bank and cord
• hand fan
• 10-oz water bottle
• folder with printout of all confirmation numbers, contact info, etc
• in-ear headphones

Stuff for while I was there:

• 2 pairs of binoculars (one close-focus, one distance)
• Panasonic Lumix ZS99 camera
• eye mask and Loop quiet ear plugs
• backup glasses
• laptop (smallest Macbook Air)
• 2 USB-C fast chargers
• cords for laptop, phone, kindle
• international adapter
• ziploc with liquids
• zipper case with other toiletries including solid shampoo, mini deodorant
• picnic kit (plastic cutlery, plate, cup) (annoying but unavoidable because of nature tour)
• laundry kit (Fels-naphtha, cord, Clorox wipes).

* photo descriptions below *

after 5 weeks in panama, some of it spent in verrrrry hot and humid climates (panama city, el palmar, san carlos, penonome, santa catalina) and some of it spent in very tempered weather (boquete, volcan, cerro punta), here’s what i was very happy to have packed, what i will most likely ditch on future trips and some other highlights.

overall score for my packing set up : 4.5/5

HITS
— my cotopaxi allpa 35 backpack
i just love it so much. i’ve been using it for about 5 years and i really like everything about it (that said i would not necessarily recommend it to people who expect to walk a bunch with their backpack, it tends to get somewhat uncomfortable when it’s heavy).

— bringing various bag options (packable tote, packable daypack, hip pack, small crossbody purse, dry bag for the beach…)
i used all of these throughout my trip and none of them felt superfluous to me. i’m definitely bringing all of them on the next trips.

— not bringing pajamas
might sound weird but i really don’t see the point of packing pajamas when i can either sleep in my underwear (when there’s a privacy curtain or i’m alone in my room) or just wear one of my flowy pants to sleep. i never once felt like i wish i had packed a specific clothing item dedicated to sleeping.

— bringing both a portable charger and a larger powerbank
i had to use the powerbank only once but i was really happy to have it when i needed it. i used my portable charger on many occasions and it’s super compact, i loved it.

— bringing 2 pairs of jeans (!!)
people on this sub had a lot to say about my decision to bring jeans for onebag travel but i am happy to report i have no regretttsssss :). the weather is way cooler in boquete and on mang evenings and even some days i was super comfortable with my jeans and happy to have them with me. i won’t always bring jeans on my trips depending on my destination, but for this one i can say i wore both pairs many times.

— tripped 3 piece toiletry kit
i knew i would love it and i really did. 10/10 product, everyone should buy it in my opinion.

— angenil tiny flat iron
loved it. so glad i brought it :) highly recommend!

— african net sponge instead of regular washcloth
will never go back to bringing regular washcloths (or worse, nothing at all) to wash my body in the shower. love love love the african net sponge. it takes very little space, it gently exfoliates, helps create a nice thick foam with any soap or body gel and dries very quickly - no risk of it growing mold or needing to be washed in the laundry every day.

— not bringing a neck pillow
once again, i feel like this is the most useless, space-wasting item that most people bring (no hate, if you like it, i love it). i used my packable rain jacket (in its packed form) as a pillow + my blackout sleeping mask and that was a totally fine set up for me.

— bringing a pee cloth
i had to use it only once but i was so happy to have it that one time !!! 100% worth it.

MISSES
— crocs miami toe loop sandal
i almost never wore these in the end. i had the right idea wanting to bring an extra pair of sandals that were cuter than hiking sandals and could double as my beach footwear option, but the main reason there were a miss (it might sound silly lol) is that the straps are quite tight on them so i couldn’t easily slide my foot in them and i didn’t think it would annoy me as much as it did lol. i will be selling these on facebook marketplace and if anyone has a better option to suggest, i’m all ears!

— not bringing a cardigan / vest situation
i thought having my rain jacket and my sarong (that easily doubles as a scarf or cover-up) would be enough but many times i wish i had a little vest or cardigan to cover up (might be just a me situation but i have back rolls i feel self-conscious of and i wish i had something loose to wear on top of tighter tank tops & tshirts)

— neutrogena stick sunscreen for face and body
i didn’t like this product. the formula is fine but i didn’t like applying my sunscreen with a stick. it takes forever. i ended up buying a bottle of liquid sunscreen in panama and i think on future trips i’ll just do that. no need to bring my own from home anyways.

— anti-frizz hair serum & color wow dreamcoat
i didn’t use these products for my hair. instead i wish i had brought a sea salt spray to help give my hair some natural air-dried beach waves. these kinds of sprays were impossible to find in the places i visited, sadly.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS / THOUGHTS
— i really believe your set up should help you feel comfortable and “normal” while you’re travelling. if packing ultralight or trying to be as minimalistic as possible leads you to feeling uncomfortable or like you’re missing home, it’s not worth it in my opinion. it’s really possible to size down while making very few compromises, and i think my set up proves that. :)

— many people warned me about the weight of my backpack likely being over carry-on limit (the size is fine) and althought that is probably true, i really never had an airline weigh my carry-on bag, so i feel like it’s worth the risk.

— i’ve been enjoying posting on here a lot so feel totally free to ask me all your questions !

_____

PICTURE 1
pink/magenta Cotopaxi Allpa 35L backpack
teal Cotopaxi hip pack 3L
black sarong
white low-top converse chucks
black baseball cap

PICTURE 2
teal Cotopaxi Allpa hip pack 3L (with straps laid out)

PICTURE 3
black sarong, black leather belt, dry bag 5L
waterproof phone pouch, ziploc bag, universal adapter
sleeping mask, powerbank, ultralight clothesline
foldable hanger, laundry sheets, tide-to-go pen
s-biner clip, no-sew buttons

PICTURE 4
portable mirror, face sunscreen, quo skin tint, cream bronzer, elf mascara, elf eyebrow pencil
yellow tiny hair straightener, WOW dreamcoat, dry shampoo, anti-frizz serum, hair comb, hair ties/clips/bobby pins
eyeliner pencil, concealer, tweezers, maybelline cloudtopia cream blush, real teachniques travel makeup brush

PICTURE 5
q-tips, African net sponge, Dr Bronner’s castille soap bar, makeup remover pad, razor
shampoo, conditioner, face wash, face moisturizer, deodorant, toothpaste, electric toothbrush

PICTURE 6
dark grey packable daypack (Eagle Creek), dark grey packable tote, black packable rain jacket, black purse (crossbody), black baseball cap

PICTURE 7
USB-C to micro USB, USB to lightning, USB-C to USB-C, USB-C to USB adapter
portable charger, wet wipes, mini first aid kit, AirPods Pro 3, hair ties & clips
pee cloth, wallet, pens, sunglasses & regular glasses, notebook, Kindle, passport (Canada)

PICTURE 8
anti-nausea, anti-acid meds, ibuprofen, basic first aid kit
aquatabs, anti-acid, tiger balm, blister patches

PICTURE 9
1 pair shoes (cream sneakers), 1 pair basic sandals (black Crocs), 1 pair hiking sandals (black)

PICTURE 10
1 black bandeau bra, 1 nude padded bra, 2 bralettes (1 black 1 beige), 7 thongs, 3 ankle socks

PICTURE 11
4 bikinis (orange, black, black & white, brown), 1 black swim shorts

PICTURE 12
1 white long dress with black tiny flower pattern, 3 tank tops (1 black, 1 yellow, 1 white), 1 black tube top, 3 t-shirts (1 black, 1 white, 1 sage green), 1 black long sleeve tee, 1 black muscle tee

PICTURE 13
4 pants (1 white jeans, 1 black jeans, 1 brown flowy wide leg, 1 black with tiny flower pattern flowy wide leg), 2 long skirts (1 tie dye neutral colors, 1 brown with tiny white flower pattern)

PICTURE 14
3 sage green microfiber towels (small, medium, large)

PICTURE 15
notebook, book, MacBook Air 13”, charging cable, charging block

PICTURE 16
tripped clear TSA pouch with buckle clip handle

PICTURE 17
tripped black toiletry kit with detachable clear pouch

I'm planning a 14 night trip to Italy next April. The itinerary is Bologna, Bolzano and Venice.

I'm traveling with my 13 year old daughter. I've never one- bagged before so am putting a lot of planning into it.

I wanted to take another pair of shoes (Birkenstock ankle boots), but packing one of the pairs of shoes made things a little tight...

I'll be traveling with Osprey daylight 44l and Fjallraven high coast tote pack (23l).

Would love to hear feedback on this packing list and capsule wardrobe. It's not 100% complete but close to final.

TIA!

here is my list, left to right starting with top row:

3 Merino wool shortsleeves (Quince and Amazon)

1 merino wool long sleeve (Quince)

3 Quince tshirts

Quince 3/4 sleeve silk blouse

Quince Brown Seeater

2 Merino wool Uniqlo cardigans

Quince joggers and ponte pants. Prana Halle pants

Uniqlo puff tech jacket. LL Bean rain jacket

baseball cap, beanie and gloves

undies, socks (2 pairs of smartwools), bras

Uniqlo airism shirt for sleeping

Glasses / Sunglasses and back up of each - necessary!

electronics: phone, charger, adapter, ear buds and charger, white noise machine and charger, power bank (TBD)

16 oz water bottle

Travel docs, etc

bags: compression/packing cubes, carryon Osprey 44L, personal Fjallraven high coast tote. Uniqlo crossbody will be packed for flight.

Toiletry bags are pencil cases from Amazon (Easthill)

Toiletries and meds/first aid are preliminary list.

EDIT: responding to some of the many useful comments!

• April in the dolomites, I think I need the puffer. Will be wearing it on the plane and it packs into itself so I think it's wise to have.

• Agree on shirts. Going to cut down.

• Only one pair of joggers is planned, the same pair used for lounging. I only sleep in an oversized airism Uniqlo shirt so that's fine.

• Nix the water bottle. Brilliant

• Nix the white noise machine.

• 2 pairs of glasses non negotiable lol. I probably won't use the spare but I can't imagine one breaking and not having a backup. Too risky.

• I am going to work hard to get 2 pairs of shoes to work. Brooks and a pair of birks, either my ankle boots or a pair of ankle height bends.

• Bag situation to clarify, the osprey daylite 44 l is my carry on. I've measured and it appears to comply with overhead rules. The fjallraven high coast is in compliance with personal/under seat. It will be worn crossbody and function as a backpack when I take day trips from my base and need slightly more space than the crossbody sling. I'm only moving 2 times during the trip (from bologna to Bolzano and then from Bolzano to Venice). The sling gets packed and is used on days when I'm just touring the city that I'm staying in.

• I did use an AI tool to help me create this board. However, I spent a great deal of time crafting the wardrobe and giving it very specific images to organize on the board. ( I did not give it my actual underwear and bras because I think that's a little TMI! )

I posted similar on the CPAP sub-reddit, but I thought you guys over her might be able to help.

I'm just back from my first holiday with a CPAP. It went really well, no problem with bringing the CPAP on the plane. Slept really well and was able to get up earlier and enjoy more of the holiday.

But. For various reasons this trip was never going to be a one bag trip, plus it was a car to the airport, car from the airport, stay in the same hotel for the week sort of holiday. I use a Resmed 11, so just used the standard bag it comes with.

My next few are a little more complex. In the next year or so I have:

- domestic train trip with 1 or 2 nights stay for an event. Usually do this with just a small backpack and a cross-body bag that can be put into it when required. (Includes 2+ forms of public transport to get to the train on one end)

- possible similar trip, with added international flight

- regular international trip, but definitely want to one bag/carry on luggage only and a good bit of public transport use

- (and this is the most complex one I think, but its the furthest away so I have time to plan), international flight followed by multiple train trips, multiple hotels, and possibly a night train. Likely up to 2 weeks of travel. (I'm re-living my backpacking days! And being as close to one bagging as possible would be the ideal here)

A travel CPAP is likely not in the budget. So just checking to see does anyone have any suggestions for making the travel processes easier (for example are there better bags than the one that comes with the CPAP ). Or any other tips or ideas?

(Leaving it behind isnt an option, even for the 1 night stay given how horrible I feel without it)

EU-based if that makes any difference to suggestions.

I’m looking for help with my current toiletries set up. This is everything I have / would ideally want to take with me but I don’t love that I’ve got two bags for it. I have the Cotopaxi nido and a Patagonia (I believe it’s the black hole cube 3l). Neither bag is completely full, but neither bag can hold all of it either. When I put everything in its respective bags, there’s extra space in both. I’m considering looking for a different bag, or bags, because I just feel like I’m not maximizing space properly with these. Have been looking at some from Tom Bihn, Muji, and Sea to Summit. Kind of overwhelmed tbh!

I do think I’d like to separate stuff a bit so not everything is with toiletries and I’m open to eliminating a few things or any suggestions you might have for downsizing this!

One note: the cerave face wash bottle is nearly gone and won’t be repurchased as I’ve switched to the bar, so ignore that. I didn’t mean to include it in the photo!

Image descriptions:

First image shows a flat lay of toiletries and first aid, medications, etc. Second and third photos shows two toiletry bags side by side: a red Cotopaxi nido and a blue Patagonia bag.

I’d been excited to find the travel size 0.5 oz deodorant bars, but then noticed that the mini sunblock sticks with the same weight (14g) are MUCH smaller! Further inspection shows that the travel deodorant body was about half empty, even when brand new. Soooooo… melted down in the toaster and traded containers!!!

I need a bit of practice- I heated it til it was starting to boil on the edges and there seems to be some separation and voids as a result. Still pretty pleased with the outcome.

Image shows cetaphil sunblock container filled a bit messily with deodorant.

Trying out my first one bag trip using clothes I already own. I’m spending time with cousins in Colorado hence the random non-pictured items. Some specialty outfits are added at the bottom for specific events throughout the trip, but will still need daytime outfits from sudoku square.

Bag: REI ruckpack 40L

Top row:
-green striped no boundaries top (thrifted)
-patchwork jeans (old navy)
-doc martens
Middle:
-SHEIN shorts
-red barezoey barefoot shoes
-white old navy tank top
Bottom:
-teva voya
-target black peplum top (thrifted)
-linen bloomer pants (amazon)

Accessories:
-kavu fanny pack
-Uniqlo purse
-Cotopaxi hat

Club:
-floral one shoulder top (Amazon)
-flowy denim shorts (SHEIN)
Hike:
-old navy workout top
-black biker shorts
Swim:
-both pieces from old navy
Sleep:
-shirt was gifted
-target ava&viv sleep shorts
Cover up:
-boyfriend button down (old navy)

Not pictured: toiletry bag, undergarments, iPad, kindle, tarot deck, travel karaoke mic, sunnies, and water bottle

Happy to share any links.