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OneBag: The Art and Science of Travelling Light

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Re: OneBag: The Art and Science of Travelling Light

#11

Post by zerkten »

ericpauley wrote: post #3
tombrm wrote: post #2

how did this make it to the homepage? :O

I routinely travel with a single small bag and disagree with the primary claim of this site: that a packing list is needed to travel light. Sure, it is useful in other ways such as not forgetting things. But to me packing light is as easy as not bringing things I don’t need. You could just ask yourself if you really need something every time you pack it. If this question wouldn’t work, I can’t see how applying the sa…

If you are anxious about traveling, then you are likely to over prepare for every scenario you think you might encounter. It is difficult for someone in this situation to do what you suggest because the asking whether something is really needed will result in "yes" because it is there to solve a situation they have anxiety about.

Without a coping mechanism for the anxiety, it is difficult to change the packing behavior. Having a friend review items with you is going to be much more effective because they can have that back and forth about whether the situation is likely or not. This situation is something people discover with their partners when they travel for the first time. Initially, it is tolerated, but as the relationship progresses it becomes more of a challenge either through travel constraints, or requirements for joint packing.

Re: OneBag: The Art and Science of Travelling Light

#13

Post by larrywright »

zerkten wrote: post #11
ericpauley wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I routinely travel with a single small bag and disagree with the primary claim of this site: that a packing list is needed to travel light. Sure, it is useful in other ways such as not forgetting things. But to me packing light is as easy as not bringing things I don’t need. You could just ask yourself if you really need something every time you pack it. If this question wouldn’t work, I can’t see how applying the sa…

If you are anxious about traveling, then you are likely to over prepare for every scenario you think you might encounter. It is difficult for someone in this situation to do what you suggest because the asking whether something is really needed will result in "yes" because it is there to solve a situation they have anxiety about. Without a coping mechanism for the anxiety, it is difficult to change the packing behavi…

I’ll second this. Packing with a checklist means I pack less and have way less anxiety. Highly recommended.

Re: OneBag: The Art and Science of Travelling Light

#14

Post by samschooler »

My current setup is a Cotopaxi Nazca 28L [0], which I think is the ultimate bag for traveling light. It comes in just over (by about half to 1 inch) most airlines' personal item size, but since it is soft, it can, if needed be pushed into their testers. I've never had this happen though of around ~100 flights over 12 months of continuous travel. At this point, I don't pay for a carry on, and if I have to pay the $99 at a gate, its been worth it to not over the previous N flights.

The bag is clam shell and on one side I have a single packing cube with all of my base and mid layers, then tech in the upper section of one side of the clam shell. The other side is my jacket + rain coat + quick dry towel + sleeping bag/sheets if I'm bringing that. If anyone is interested I can write a full packing list. But with this setup I've traveled. 3 x 4 month trips without issue in hot and cold climates in the same trip.

[0]: https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/travel/travel-backpac...

Re: OneBag: The Art and Science of Travelling Light

#16

Post by fellowniusmonk »

I used to travel every week as a consultant. I did this for about 2 years.

The goruck GR1 26L bag is easily the best one bag travel bag imo.

I'm 6ft tall 200 pounds and I can fit a week and a half of clothes in the bag depending on the weather.

After I left my consultant job I took a couple months and just traveled around Europe with it. Trains, planes, etc.

The open flat design is critical for good packing.

The bag still looks the same as when I bought it. I've had it and traveled with it extensively for ~5 years. It's a buy it for life product.

Re: OneBag: The Art and Science of Travelling Light

#18

Post by mikestew »

zerkten wrote: post #11
ericpauley wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I routinely travel with a single small bag and disagree with the primary claim of this site: that a packing list is needed to travel light. Sure, it is useful in other ways such as not forgetting things. But to me packing light is as easy as not bringing things I don’t need. You could just ask yourself if you really need something every time you pack it. If this question wouldn’t work, I can’t see how applying the sa…

If you are anxious about traveling, then you are likely to over prepare for every scenario you think you might encounter. It is difficult for someone in this situation to do what you suggest because the asking whether something is really needed will result in "yes" because it is there to solve a situation they have anxiety about. Without a coping mechanism for the anxiety, it is difficult to change the packing behavi…

If you are anxious about traveling, then you are likely to over prepare for every scenario you think you might encounter.

That was the conclusion I came to on a motorcycle trip to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, which travels down the 400-some miles of the gravel haul road. Everything I had, and everything I needed, fit within the two saddlebags, the duffel strapped to where the passenger seat used to be, or the tank bag. No shit bungied to seat backs and saddlebags, just a nice, clean look. Were I out for two weeks or two years, didn't matter, I could live off that bike indefinitely with what I had.

And then there were the Jed Clampetts[0] of the motorcycle world, with stuff strapped everywhere, and little bags strapped to the frame, spare tires hanging off the back. I saw more of those than I did those that IMO did a more reasonable job of packing. Having spoken with a few around the campfire, my experience says that the hard-core experienced riders pack about like I do (editor's note: mikestew is NOT a hard-core rider, though he is experienced). Newer folk don't know they're not going to need it on that 2 year old BMW, so they pack it just in case the ABS module does go out.

I think life experience is a factor, though I'm a bit scant on anecdata for that one. Ever go backpacking? More than once? You might be a light packer. Most adventurous thing you've ever done is stay in a Motel 6 instead of a resort hotel? You might be attached to those two carryons and 125 litre checked bag.

In conclusion, yeah, "just pack less" doesn't work for a lot of folks. That might change later, or it might not. But in the meantime, a checklist constructed in conjunction with another traveller can set the constraints necessary to keep the imagination running wild with what might be needed.

[0] http://cdn.speednik.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2016/10...

Re: OneBag: The Art and Science of Travelling Light

#19

Post by qnsi »

samschooler wrote: post #10

Reddit has an active community of Onebaggers. https://reddit.com/r/onebag . They have often great advice, although admittedly expensive taste.

I guess this subreddit's wiki gives a good overview of what onebagging is:

Anyone can one-bag travel, whether with expensive gear or their everyday kit. The secret: pack light, don’t pack your fears, take only what you need for about a week, and do laundry along the way. Plan the laundry into your trip. For some people this means booking an airbnb with a washer, and for others it could mean only bringing quick-drying clothing to make sink washing easier, and for some it might mean washing clothes in the shower. Once your clothing is down to a week’s worth, pare down your toiletries and your electronics to only what you absolutely need to take with you. Now everything you’re bringing should fit in a backpack or a small duffle/suitcase. If it doesn’t, pare everything down again. A good goal is to shoot for a 25L-35L bag.

Onebagging is a trade-off between the convenience of living like you do everyday, and the convenience of being mobile, traveling light, and fully experiencing the environment you are traveling in. A big saving is often electronics: do you really need huge headphones, that gaming device, or even a laptop? Remember, people almost certainly live wherever you’re traveling to. If you absolutely need something, it’ll be available when you get there. You may even have an adventure getting it!

Re: OneBag: The Art and Science of Travelling Light

#20

Post by futureshock »

I’ll offer up my one bag take that’s very much against the mainstream of one bag aficionados. I love traveling light, but think the carefully curated list of expensive branded items are counterproductive. I’d much rather the bag and everything in it to be functional, ugly anonymous and replaceable. If the bag gets stolen, I should be able to walk into the nearest mall and replace everything that was in it without a second thought or single shed tear. And rather than plan for every eventuality, I would much rather buy a cheap thing on the spot and donate it as I am leaving if it can’t carry it home.
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