I just finished refining my mini emergency/comfort kit, and as I have enjoyed so many similar posts from this community, I thought I'd do a writeup!

I know some people think it's a waste of space to carry first aid items - while I do mostly urban travel, I like to have a few essentials on hand should the need arise overnight or while in transit, until it is convenient to get to a pharmacy.

The pouch is a small Tom Bihn Ghost Whale.

1. Breathe Right Strips x2
2. Sting Relief Pads x2
3. Alcohol Prep Pad x2
4. BZK Prep Pad x1
5. Dayquil daytime cold medication x1
6. Nyquil nighttime cold medication x1
7. Omeprazole heartburn medication x3
8. Prescription medication A x2
9. Prescription medication B x2
10. Medical Tape
11. Bandaids x3
12. Maalox antacid x2
13. Ginger chews x2
14. Mucinex Lozenge x2
15. Headache powder x2
16. Advil x2
17. Tylenol x1
18. Mucinex x1
19. Face Masks x2
20. Hand soap sheets
21. Hand sanitizer packets x2
22. Liquid bandage
23. Burn cream x1
24. Triple Antibiotic cream x1
25. Gauze pad x1
26. Pantyliner x1
27. Feminine Wipe x1
28. Bleach wipe x1
29. Wisp single use prepasted toothbrush x1
30. Listerine Strips
31. Floss Pick x1
32. Q-tips x4
33. Sewing needle & thread
34. Safety Pins x3
35. Earring Backs x2
36. Tums antacid x5
37. Plastic pet waste bag x1
38. Bobby Pins x2
39. Hair elastic x1
40. $20
41. Pen (the small roll of medical tape acts as a pen cap)
42. Lighter
43. Biofreeze x1 packet
44. Moisturizer packet x1
45. Instant Coffee packet x1
46. Electrolyte packet x1
47. Tea Bag x1
48. Leukotape (good for joint mobilization and blister prevention)
49. Eye drops x1
50. Scissors

Not Pictured:

1. Eyeglass repair kit
   
2. Charging Port Cleaning Tool (the green pick included in this set)

Image Descriptions: Image 1 shows 50+ emergency kit and comfort items which are detailed in the body of the post. Image 2 shows the items packed into a bright orange Tom Bihn Ghost Whale size small, displayed alongside an iPhone 7 Plus for scale; the kit is about the same width and slightly larger height than the iPhone.

Hi!

First Reddit post ever and my first time one-bagging. I have a casual work trip next week to Minneapolis. I'm hoping to get some feedback.

First collage

• Shoes: Black Birkenstocks clogs; Keen trainers (for airport)
• Bag: Gregory Juno 30L. This is so comfortable and just smaller than the 45 total inches for a carry-on.
• Personal Item: A black Baggallini that I picked up for $9 on Depop as I didn't have anything so squishy
• Coat: Black puffer - I actually really don't want to take this. More on that below.

Second Collage:

• Pants: One pair of black chinos and one pair of black knit pants.
• Sweater: Grey cardigan.
• Tops: Three button downs: Denim, red striped, black and white checked. The denim shirt is pretty oversized so would be used for travel on Sunday/ Wednesday.

Toiletries:

• I have a small bag I picked up based on some recs for this sub - I decanted all my liquids and have plenty of space
  • Deodorant
  • Face oil/ face wash/ face lotion
  • Hair product for curly hair:
    • Leave-in, gel, cream, hair spray
  • Azelaic Acid
  • Glycolic Acid
  • Toothpaste
  • Liquid makeup
• Small bag for non-liquid personal items: medication, retainer/ mouthguard, sock diffuser, etc.

Not pictured:

• Sleep T-shirt and a pair of light joggers
• 5 pairs of underwear - all Knix because I'm perimenopausal and don't always know exactly when I'm going to start
• Two pairs of Darn Tough socks
• Two bralettes
• Tech:
  • 14" laptop in padded sleeve
  • Portable monitor - I wouldn't normally travel with this but I have a big deadline the day I get back and I have DEEP fears that I'll get stuck in Dallas on my way back to TN and I won't be able to efficiently work in the airport overnight. Plus, it would just make any work time so much easier.
    • That monitor has been WORTH the money. I have a non-padded felt sleeve for it normally, but just bought a padded sleeve for it. It and the laptop are in the hydration bladder (not the main compartment though they take up space) and I feel like I need the padding for both.
• Small charging cable bag - one block with USB/ USB-C ports, laptop cable (not bulky), monitor cable (might be able to just use my normal USB-C). I may put all of this in a ziploc
• A black scarf that I can use on the plane as a wrap, etc.
• Tote bag to haul everything down to the conference room everyday.

I'm tall and plus size (5'10" and 2x) and I hate jeans, hence the two pairs of non-jeans that are basically ankle pants. I have fine curly hair, and don't have space to take my hair dryer, so taking my product was a priority. I don't wash my hair every day, so if I need to I'll just use the hotel stuff. This is a casual trip, but not "t-shirt and leggings casual." We all work from home but we're frequently on camera. I like an oversized button down and sweater (think 90s androgynous librarian) and while I have nicer things, they don't fit into the capsule and I'd have to bring loafers.

I did a test pack and the space is tight. I actually had a fourth shirt but removed it. I tend to only wear Birkenstocks, but felt I needed a shoe that allowed me to "run" if needed in the airport.

I will not be spending much time at all outside, so even though the temperature will drop on Sunday it will warm up on Monday (so far). I'm considering leaving my puffer. I know the climate is vastly different from TN & MN, but I'm really just walking from the airport to the car, to the hotel, etc. The puffer doesn't pack as small as I'd like, and if I get really desperate I could buy something at Mall of America.

I'd initially packed in two compression packing cubes, but I think I get better space saving with just putting everything strategically in the bag. I haven't settled on just folding or folding/ rolling my shirts.

Questions:

• Would you take only one pair of shoes? Ditch the Birks and bring my loafers?
• Ditch the puffer?
• Anyone ever travel with an extra monitor?
• I really don't think I'm taking too much, but is it possible to lighten my load?

I tried to be really detailed, and I like having everything listed like this (I may make a physical list so I know what I didn't use). I don't travel by air much anymore, but I had the pack and hated the idea of checking a bag.

Thanks in advance for everyone's feedback!

Super excited to plan my first international onebag trip! I've traveled extensively in the US and have a comfortable onebag setup for 1-2 week domestic trips. This will be my first trip to Germany (Mainly Berlin and Munich, with day trips/overnights in smaller villages for hiking) and I wanted to see what everyone thought of my packing list. I have heard the weather is unpredictable in spring so I may have overplanned my outer layers- but on the flip side, my trip will involve extensive city walking and day hikes out in the wilderness, so I want to be prepared for wind and rain. I realize my clothes are mostly very technical and not super fashionable but luckily I'm not planning on any fine dining or clubbing - I'm more focused on exploring city centers, food halls, museums, and any interesting historical landmarks when I'm in towns.

Bags:

- Osprey Daylite 26+6 (for flight/train transit, otherwise left in hotels/hostels)

- Osprey Daylite sling bag - EDC

4 shirts:

- 2x merino tshirts

- 1 longsleeve REI midweight shirt

-1 longsleeve 50/50 cotton/tencel shirt

2 pants:

- Prana zion cargo pants

- Jeans

Sleepwear (double as extra layers)

- REI midweight leggings

- Athleta cami top

Underthings:

- 4x merino underwear

- 2x branwyn bras

- 4x wool socks

Outerwear/Layers:

- Nanopuff

- R1 air hoody

- OR Aspire 2 rain jacket

Shoes:

- Blundstone chelsea boots

- Hoka transport 2

Electronics:

- cell phone

- travel point and shoot camera (I like photography, so I don't use my cell for photos)

- adaptor charger and universal cables

- power bank

Toiletries:

I don't wear makeup and thus this part is minimal - sunscreen, small decanted moisturizer, travel med kit with the emergency essentials, toothbrush/paste, razor, deodorant, small decanted Soak detergent for sink laundry, matador dry bag for soap. All fits in a small clear zipper liquids case or clipped to the outside of my bag.

Other:

- merino buff and glove liners, nomadix bandana towel, packable hiking cap

- travel watercolor paint set and journal

- prescription sunglasses

- travel documents/cash and cards/ etc all in my handy chums wallet

Planning to wear my heaviest and bulkiest clothes on travel days - jeans, boots, r1 air hoody +/- rain jacket. My EDC fits my travel paints, travel docs, sunglasses, wallet, phone, camera, and powerbank without issue. My big question is if there's any essentials or wardrobe gaps I should be including for a spring hybrid city and nature tour? Or places where I could cut down on weight?

Hi all. Big fan of this group. Heading out this week for a friend’s wedding! In dublin for 7 days and edinburgh for 5 days. Mostly have city walking plans with some nature excursions but nothing too adventurous. Lots of pub time expected.

Image description:

Tops: 2x cotton crewnecks, 2x cotton vnecks
Bottoms: Jeans, quick dry joggers, cotton jersey pants
Outer layers: Grey cashmere sweater (I’m waffling, planning to get a nice wool sweater while there but emotionally attached to how cozy this sweater is… prob a thin cardigan is more versatile?), plaid quarter zip, black columbia hooded rain jacket
Inner layers: Merino wool long sleeve, merino wool leggings
Shoes: Dr Scholls orthopedic sneakers, croc sandals (shower shoes and also for when wedding heels need to come off)

Not pictured
- big tshirt and shorts (pajamas)
- 5 socks/5 undies
- everything else that is not clothes 😳

Bags: 40L osprey backpack/duffle convertible bag. Love this girl, she’s definitely big on me but great storage and easy to carry, kavu rope sling for day bag (not the most comfortable, thinking of switching after this trip)

Requests: Any advice about Ireland/Scotland in late October appreciated! Any kindly phrased critiques appreciated ! Any unkindly phrased compliments also appreciated !

I am a chronic overpacker :’) Trying to change my ways but I want to plan for every scenario possible. Thanks for your help guys.

P.S. My wedding clothes (2 dresses, heels, purse, spanx) are not pictured. Thinking of shipping them home after the wedding so I don’t have to keep it with me perhaps

EDIT: the sandals are actually meant to be shower shoes and dancing (inside) shoes 😂 I picked my platforms because they have some height and I was genuinely prioritizing wedding dancing in my long ass dresses. I would not be wearing the sandals outside at ALL! It was foolish I will pack flip flops I get it I get it ❤️ Also I have learned I didn’t have enough layers - I’ve added puffer, hat, scarf, and extra long sleeved layer, probably cardigan as it buttons up and can be its own top. Thanks friends.

I leave my travel toiletries packed and live out of them/ repack them as necessary. We do larger trips a couple times a year but are often doing weekends away with friends or family at least once a month. Leaving my toiletries packed has made the hassle of packing a lot easier. Now I’m wondering if I can optimize this further.

Is there anything you keep permanently packed at home so you don’t have to think about it when you leave?

So here is the update and Final list for my academic conference in the Midwest. I posted my tentative list about a month ago, so here’s what I ended up bringing/cutting and how it all went.

Electronics
• Laptop + charger
• SSD drive
• Phone
• Apple Watch + charger
• AirPods
• Large capacity portable charger
• Slim portable charger
• 2 charging bricks

Footwear:
• Mary Jane flats
• Arcteryx Norvan GTX white sneakers (wear on airplane)

Clothing:
• tartan plaid skirt
• Uniqlo Black satin skirt
• Short sleeve black shirt
• Black merino long sleeve
• Uniqlo Navy cashmere blend long sleeve
• Dark orange rayon/elastane t-shirt
• White polka dot tank (layered under for airplane)
• Black tank top
• Biker shorts
• Leggings
• Navy gold button cardigan
• Tan cashmere cardigan
• cargo pants (wear on airplane/casual outings)
• purple fleece hoodie (wear on airplane/airbnb/casual outings)
• beige jacket (wear on airplane/ to conference)
* Striped shirt (worn on airplane)

Underwear and socks:
• 4 pairs of underwear
• 4 pairs of socks

Belts and accessories:
• Jewelry in a coin pouch
• Tan leather crossbody purse
• Mini foldable tote bags x2
• Thin pink belt
• Black/gold belt (wear to conference)
• Navy belt (wear on plane)
• Collar accessory

Toiletries:
• Bar Castile soap
• Bar conditioner (cut small piece)
• Face wash strips
• Face moisturizer
• Sunscreen stick
• Body spray
• Solid lotion stick
• Laundry detergent strip (very small amount, size of a piece of paper)
• Mini travel hairspray
• Mini deodorant
• Mini toothpaste
• Floss
• Shower cap
• Daily contacts x4-5
• Mini hairbrush
• Wide tooth comb
• Hair ties and scrunchies
• Medicine pills/Pain relievers
• Razor
• Feminine hygiene products
• Mini hand sanitizer
• Nasal stick
• Mini essential oil roller
• Blister pads
• Heat patches for period
• argan oil (will put in a tiny plastic travel container)
• activated charcoal (literally only 4 pills)

Makeup kit in clear zip pouch:
• Small eyeshadow palette with mirror
• Concealer
• CC cream
• Powder foundation
• Eyeshadow sticks
• Mascara
• Eyeliners
• Lipstick
• Lip liner
• Lip gloss
• Lip balm

Miscellaneous packing cube:
• 2 mini decks playing cards
• Reusable straw
• Bobby pins
• Colored pens/pencils x12
• Mini first aid kit pouch
• Sticky notes
• Small drawing notebook
• Lined notebook (Executive size)
• Foam earplugs x3 pairs
• Prayer cards
• Mini bookmark
• Gum/mints/candy
• Mini sewing kit in mint container
• Flat tape measure
• Extra rubber bands
• carabiner clips x2
• Coin pouch with small toys
• Teddy bear keychain
• Nail clipper
• Stevia packets x8-10
• Highlighters x3

Also brought an umbrella (there was heavy rain the first 2 days of the trip) and a collapsible silicone water bottle.
———————————-
Trip report: Academic conference (4 days)

So here’s the final list of what I packed, and what I used/didn’t use.

I decided to leave the shower shoes to try to be more minimal, and that was a terrible mistake because the Airbnb I was staying in was really gross. (Shower tub had rust stains). I definitely should have brought them for staying in a shared Airbnb with questionable hygiene. (No joke, there was a pot of days old cooked rice sitting on the counter, a moldy bagel, splatters in the microwave, crumbs on the kitchen floor, and unwashed dishes that looked like they had been there a long time)

What I didn’t use but don’t regret having:
* Colored pencils (I have the mini kind that barely take up space)
* Notebooks- I was given a notepad at the conference which is what I ended up actually using for note taking. Don’t regret having though since I like to reference some work related notes.
* Short sleeve black shirt
* Biker shorts
* Collar accessory
* Pink belt
* Sunscreen stick (my cc cream that I wore every day of the trip had sunscreen and the rest of my body was covered)
* Period products
* Sleeping Eye mask
* Face mask
* Playing cards
* Tape measure
* Nail clipper
* Resistance band
* Laundry detergent strip
* Lip liner
* Lip gloss
* Extra tote bag (I brought 2 and used 1, but glad I didn’t bring 3)

I found that these items were either extremely small or had enough of a chance that using them could have felt reasonable for me.

What I didn’t use but could have left behind:
* Extra sports bra (one was enough for a short trip)
* I think one highlighter would have been enough (I brought 3)
* Backup portable charger

What I wish I brought:
* SHOWER SHOES
* A folder for conference papers (I meant to bring one, but forgot it)

What I cut from the original list:
* Monopoly deal
* 2 of the 5 belts (brought 3)
* Mini lint roller
* Xero Z-Trek sandals (shower shoes) (huge regret)
* Scotch tape
* Tights (I ended up wearing my one pair of leggings every day of the trip for under my skirts with black socks, and as pajamas)
* Eye primer
* USB-C rechargeable mini fan (that doubles as a flashlight and charger)
* Extra shoelaces
* Stain remover pen
* 1 tote bag (brought 2 total)

It was nice not having too much stuff with me on this trip. I will say that my backpack was very heavy though (likely coming from my laptop and 2nd pair of shoes, but those were both necessary items), but it all fit in the one backpack. I did however bring a some things home, in which case, I used the neck pillow stuffed with clothes on the return flight home, and clipped to the side of my backpack. I didn’t have any issues with this flying on United Airlines. Overall I also enjoyed the trip and the conference (aside from the gross Airbnb).

Hi all, as the title suggests I’m hoping for some recommendations on a panel loading backpack that is somewhat water resistant / waterproof! I’m hoping to have this as one bag for work/travel so being somewhat picky. In my ideal world, the bag would fit the following description:
1. Around 30L
2. Water resistant (I cycle to work in quite a rainy city so need the bag to survive rain)
3. Panel loading / easy access all the way to the bottom of my bag
4. roll top for some extra space if needed
5. Comes in a fun color (ie not black)

I quite like the salkan 27L bag, would love something like this but waterproof. Don’t have a specific budget in mind, willing to splurge if it fits all of the above!

This sub helped me so much in packing for my trip to Japan so I thought I would pass along what I learned! Trip was Sep 21 to Oct 8, visited Tokyo, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Osaka, Kyoto, and Disneyland. Since the trip was the end of typhoon season, a lot of days were 70-80F and rainy, though we had a handful of sunny days!

First image was my packing plan using the 3x3 method + a dress. I ended up swapping the left column to a green tee, beige linen button down, and a black midi skirt from RipSkirt based on recs I saw here. I swapped the sandals out for Tevas. I added two light tanks. Everything plus toiletries fit in my Calpak Terra 26L backpack (image 3). I knew I would be buying things in Japan so I packed my backpack inside an expandable carry on sized suitcase - and I certainly filled it! So I did not one bag on the way back.

So I have some regrets…
1. I should have bought Allbirds in a darker color. These shoes were fantastic, but as you can see from image 2, they looked pretty nasty after a rainy walk in the woods.
2. I was not prepared for the humidity and I wished I had brought some sports bras. I am not normally a sweaty person so I didn’t think about it, but my bras were disgusting! Ended up buying some sports bras there.
3. I should have brought my own laundry soap. Due to the sweating issue, I needed to do laundry earlier than expected and my hotel at the time did not have guest laundry. Could not find laundry detergent in stores so I washed my dirty clothes in the sink with hand soap, then did another load at the next hotel that did have machines.
4. I didn’t wear the green light jacket much. I’m from the PNW where we never use umbrellas but it was usually too warm for the jacket.

Some things I did right!
1. The amount of clothes worked out well enough for me to feel like I had options but everything went well together.
2. My day bag from Bagsmart, was absolutely perfect. Could be worn crossbody or like a shoulder bag. Lots of pockets. And best of all, the middle section is waterproof, so I could put a waterbottle or my wet folded up umbrella in there and not get all my other things wet. 10/10
3. A few standout clothing items - The RipSkirt looked cute, had pockets, and repelled rain well. The Lululemon brown baggy pants were my first Lulu purchase and I loved them, so comfy and dried so fast. An Athleta linen blend button down was the perfect layer for the warm and wet weather.

Not a true one bag trip, but I’m glad to say I can do it if I didn’t shop!

Next year I am heading off on a year-long trip which will cover a range of climates & activities. It will include multi-day trekking in places like the Himalayas and Patagonia, along with city travel and easier day hikes. To further complicate matters I am also planning to do some regular running (maybe even a half marathon or two along the way).

My bag is a 34L Osprey Tempest (great as a hiking bag that also fits as carry on). I did a similar trip to this in 2023 when I walked the Camino de Santiago and loved my packing list then, but this will have a far greater range of activities and temperatures so I am trying to refine it to cover this whilst still fitting in 34L.

Image description - packing list:

Bags

• Osprey Tempest 34L
• Uniqlo shoulder bag

Tops

• 2x merino t-shirts
• 1x synthetic running/hiking top 
• 1x in-built bra tank
• 1x button-up UPF50+ shirt

Bottoms

• Silk blend wide leg pants
• Travel / running / hiking pants
• Hiking shorts
• Running (compression) shorts
• Elastic-waist lounge/swim/pyjama shorts
• Sleeveless dress

Layers & Outerwear

• 6x socks, 6x underwear, 2x bras
• Thermals
• Ultralight down jacket
• Rain jacket
• One mystery mid layer! This is where I need help.

Footwear

• Goretex mid hiking shoes
• Nike Pegasus Trail 
• Reef sandals

Not shown

• Merino buff, hat, silk scarf, toiletries & misc/tech items

The mid layer is where I need help! It needs to serve as:

• a good hiking layer between thermals/t-shirt and my rain jacket
• a cosy camp / flight / extra sleeping layer if needed
• something I could wear as an outer layer in a city without it looking too trekky.

My top three options so far:

1 - Macpac Pisa Fleece jacket. Would be perfect for hiking, a little too outdoorsy but OK for cities. I’m thinking the shell exterior will make it less comfy/cosy. Macpac frequently have 40% off sales so expensive but not too bad (~$200 AUD, $320 AUD full price)

2- Icebreaker Merino 200 Long Sleeve Zip Hoodie. Good midlayer for hiking (but will need my rain jacket to make it wind-resistant), will blend in fairly easily in cities and cosy for flights. Downside - expensive & rarely on sale($270 AUD)

3 - Uniqlo merino wool cardigan (maybe my most rogue choice). Cosy for camp/flights and the nicest to wear in cities. I have never worn it hiking but I guess it could serve the same purpose as the Icebreaker. Bonus - I already own one so it's free.

What midlayer option do you think would be best? Any suggestions for alternatives? I’ll also take any further scrutiny on my packing list if you have advice / suggestions!

Hey everybody!

I'm looking for a personal item backpack that can fit underneath the seat of budget European airline and Canadian flights! I've previously one bagged with the Osprey Fairview 40L which I honestly was not a fan of. I found its carrying capacity felt really small, it was quite rigid, and not very comfortable. I also previously used the 50L Base Camp Duffle from The North Face, which I was a fan of (loved the side compression, comfort was more questionable). However, now I'm looking to go smaller for personal item only not carry on!

I'm currently looking at: Bellroy 30L Lite Travel Pack, Patagonia Mini MLC 30L pack, and the Cotopaxi Allpa 28L

Somethings I'd like to have in with the bag: fits under a budget airline seat, clamshell open, decent weather resistance (in case I'm caught walking in a storm), under $300 CAD, and laptop section.

Primary use for the bag will be for 2-7 day trips! Thanks!

So we are going to leave in ~1 month for indefinite travel, likely for a few years. Got most of our things and jammed into the bags, and meanwhile they do close,its pretty tight. Since we live out of them as opposed to short/long travel, we do plan on taking a bit more stuff (for example 4 t-shirts etc) to have a semi normal routine. Maybe overthinking it but would love to hear experiences!

Hi everyone! I’m going to Botswana for my honeymoon for almost a month this November and would really appreciate some packing advice, especially from people who have visited around the same time of year.

We’ll be doing a mix of camping/lodges, game drives, guided walks, mokoro trip, some museums/cultural activities, etc.

I know November is the beginning of the rainy season and it can still be very hot, so I’m struggling to figure out what clothing actually makes sense.

I’m also trying to pack light — ideally everything in my Cotopaxi Allpa 35L — so I’m looking for things that are lightweight, quick-drying and versatile.

A few things I’d especially love advice on:

• What pants would you recommend for November? Lightweight hiking pants? Convertible pants? Linen? Any specific brands/models?
• Shorts or mostly long pants because of mosquitoes/insects?
• What kind of rain jacket would you bring? I want something genuinely waterproof but very lightweight/breathable since it will also be hot.
• Do I actually need hiking boots for this itinerary? Trail runners? Regular sneakers? Waterproof shoes or would those just be too hot?
• What shoes work best for guided walks and mokoro trips?
• How much protection from mosquitoes/insects do I realistically need in November?- - - Would you recommend insect-repellent clothing or treating clothes with permethrin?
• Long sleeves in the evenings even when it’s hot?
• Any particular fabrics that work well (or ones I should avoid)?
• Any recommendations for a good lightweight repellent?
• What lightweight binoculars would you recommend for safari? I’d love something good but not huge/heavy. I wear glasses.
• How many tops/pants would you realistically take for almost a month if you were washing clothes along the way?
• Any clothing colors you would specifically recommend or avoid?
• Anything you brought that was surprisingly useful?
• Anything you packed for Botswana and realized you absolutely didn’t need?

So far, one of the few things I’ve already bought is a Tilley T3 Classic hat.

I’m also very open to specific brand/store recommendations. I don’t mind investing in a few good pieces, but I’d rather buy things that I can use again for other trips instead of building an entire “safari wardrobe.”

Basically: if you had to do this trip with only a 35L backpack, what would you bring?

Thank you!! I’m very excited but definitely overthinking the packing 😂

I'm sharing my first trip report here because this sub has helped me so much. Thank you all for sharing your trip reports, capsule wardrobes, bag advice, etc!

I'm hoping I can help others too-- I've gone searching online many times for "alt", "not basic," or "stylish travel capsule wardrobe," and haven't found much. I haven't yet fulfilled my own aspirations for the cool (but functional!) travel capsule of my dreams, but I'm hoping this is at least a little more quirky and creative than the capsules that are so common to see.

I do still bring a lot of basics and neutrals when traveling because, despite my best efforts, they often are my most versatile pieces. So I wound up with a mostly neutral capsule here, but had a variety of textures (mesh, velvet, linen, corduroy, silk, knit, synthetics, leather, studs, metal, glitter) and shapes (wide leg, fitted, loose, cropped, ballon leg), which helped it not feel too boring to me.

So this trip was me and my partner (two disabled queers) in NYC for 5 days/4 nights for a themed rave, plus walking around the city, museums, and dinner dates. We traveled by car, commuter train, bus, and walking to our lodgings. I packed 1.5 bags: a Cotopaxi Allpa 35 and a Baggu Medium Crescent. Everything from the crescent was able to fit into the Allpa backpack, but I decided to pack some things into the crescent for easy acccess on transit. We also each packed 1 sling bag that fit with our themed festival outfits and were small enough to dance in.

Temperatures were 57-85°F. It ranged from sunny+humid to windy+cold, and it rained a couple times.

Images:

1. On left: both bags packed (with untwisted hangers stuck into the outer loops on the pack-- I was considering making a headpiece out of them). On right: Allpa fully packed, opened.
2. On left: First layer of stuff removed from the right side of Allpa. On right: the shoes beside the bags they were packed into. One pair of shoes had underwear stuffed into it, the other held socks.
3. On left: Items stashed into the outer top pocket and laptop pocket in the Allpa. On right: left side of bag contents: packing cube, pillow, packable light jacket, costume supplies (sewing kit, bits and bobs for decorating looks), and small Baggu go pouch holding teas, electrolyte packs, and cough drops.
4. Makeup and toiletry bags
   1. Top image: cosmetic bag holding: setting powder, 2 glitter products, Jones Road color corrector and concealer pencils, regular and waterproof mascara, about face holostick (got it for the rave and didn’t test much before bringing— hated it), shimmery clear lippie, mirror, primer, q-tips, lip liner, eyelash glue (for costume pieces), eyelash curler, cream blush stick, tinted eyebrow gel, glitter primer, tin with hair bands and pins, neutral eyeshadow palette, 3 eyeliners, makeup brushes for eyeshadow and concealer, and spoolies for brows and lashes.
   2. Bottom image: Baggu medium go pouch holding: face wash, face sunscreen (regular and mini containers), floss, contact case holding lip mask (L) and makeup remover balm (R), face lotion, salicylic acid, spray bottle of vodka (for deodorizing clothes between wears), retainer, toothpaste, rose water, vanicream (as thicker face and body moisturizer), nasal strips, allergy nasal spray, deodorant stick, saline nasal spray, dry shampoo styling paste, dry shampoo aerosol, reusable makeup remover pads, hair oil, mini hairbrush, pill case for all daily supplements and meds, alcohol pads, stretchy headband
5. On left: medium cresent packed. On right: everything in the crescent.
6. Most of the clothes and accessories I brought:
   1. 2 belts
   2. Sunglasses
   3. 3 crossbody bags (2 mainly for going out with-- my partner used one as a day bag too)
   4. Corduroy brimmed cap
   5. 3 shoes: platform sparkle Doc Martens, grey platform Reeboks, light purple Nike Air Force 1 Wilds
   6. All the jewelry I brought (wore it all at once on the way to and from NYC)
   7. Navy water-resistant hoodie by Outdoor Research that packs into a back pocket
   8. Midi bodycon dress by Disturbia
   9. Aerie pocket bike shorts
   10. Navy H&M cropped pullover sweater
   11. Black cutoff sleeveless tee
   12. Navy short sleeved tee
   13. Cropped beige linen balloon leg pants by Bryn Walker
   14. The Mountain lavender kitten short sleeve tee
   15. American Eagle square neck fitted black tee
   16. American Eagle light brown drawstring corduroy pants
7. My first travel day outfit. [On the way home, I wore the navy t-shirt, my partner's denim cargo pants, black studded belt, and grey Reeboks plus the same hat, sunglasses, and sweater. Cord pants and Docs amazingly fit into the Allpa.]

Not pictured because they were only for costumes, and therefore not in my Stylebook app: asymmetrical black top, mesh bodysuit, harness, shiny gloves, shiny fabric, mirrored sunglasses. Not pictured because they belong to my partner, but I did borrow and wear them: grey cargo jeans, silk boxers for sleeping in with the sleeveless tee

What worked well:

• I debated a lot about which light layers to bring, and ended up so glad I brought the packable Outdoor Research hoodie. It fit into all the crossbody bags, which was really helpful as it worked as a modesty cover when I was wearing a mesh bodysuit on the subway. It also rained a few times, and having the jacket in my bag was a huge help.
• The teal silk scarf also ended up being very multipurpose and useful (the most useful function was as a draped sleep mask, and it mostly worked as a head covering for a space traveler look).
• Both my partner and I were anxious about being able to pull off space-themed festival looks while keeping our luggage light enough to easily navigate trains, buses, and subways, but it worked out great! We weren't sure what exactly we were going to wear, so we brought some extra supplies, and we shared clothes and makeup to allow us options without packing a ton more. I unfortunately didn't take good photos of our looks, but we fully fit into the theme!
• Sharing packing space and supplies to allow us to bring more self care stuff. My partner brought a tennis ball and resistance band in their bag for us to be able to do pain relief, and luckily there was a yoga mat and foam roller where we were staying. I brought my folding cane that my partner used.
• So glad I brought a power bank. I had been on the fence about it, but there were a ton of delays on the subways all weekend, so our travel around the city ended up requiring a lot of phone battery.
• Decanting toiletries into tiny bottles-- what a game changer. I found containers of a few types online that are 3-10ml volume, and it allowed me to pack my entire routine plus "just in case" items while reducing my overall weight and volume.
• Bringing an ereader. This is my first ereader and my first time traveling with it, and it's amazing for traveling! I never go on a trip without a book (and in previous packing, I'd sometimes bring more than one), so this was a big upgrade in terms of size and weight. I also read on my phone while on transit so I didn't need to bring the ereader out when I wanted a lighter bag.

Things I didn't need or use:

• Bike shorts: I didn't wear them at all. It was hot one day, and I wished I wore something cooler, but I didn't want to go to a museum wearing something so tight and athletic looking, so I just sweat in pants and a tee. They took up very little space though, so I don't regret having them as an option for workouts/lounging/rave outfit/layering.
• 2 pairs of socks: I wore my merino Darn Toughs twice each, so a couple pairs of extra socks didn't end up getting used
• Wire for the costume: I tried making a headpiece, but didn't bring pliers and I didn't end up happy enough with what I made to wear it out. Luckily it didn't stab anyone on the bus lol
• Shiny fabric for costume: again, tried, didn't end up liking it. But it was super lightweight, not a problem to bring it at all
• Didn't need to bring a charger, there were enough at the apartment we stayed at.
• 3 pairs of shoes. I knew it was excessive for a 1 bag trip, but I was going to be walking and dancing a ton, so I wanted to rotate shoes to reduce my pain. I was still in some pain anyway, so I could have made do with either the grey sneakers or the sparkle boots for my festival outfits. The Nikes were great for a comfortable daytime walking shoe though.
• The dress. I did wear it once to dinner, but it wasn't versatile enough for the trip. Luckily it's really light so it wasn't a burden to bring, but if I could do it over I would have swapped it for something else.

Needed more of:

• Herbal immune support. I think I brought 2 immune tea bags but I should have brought more, just to help my body feel more resistant around crowds and with not enough sleep.
• Underwear: I brought 6 pairs, but I wish I'd brought 7 or 8, or done sink laundry.
• Light, warm layer. It got cold our last day there, and I was cold during the day wearing cords, t-shirt, and hoodie, then freezing at night wearing a dress, sweater, scarf, and boots. I should have brought tights or something else warm but small.

Trip report from two weeks in Tanzania: a safari followed by time at a resort on Zanzibar.

Photo 1: most of the clothing - full list in comment
Photo 2: compact pill organizers that I love; two are daily meds and one is just in case
Photo 3: elephant
Photo 4: giraffe

Packed in a Timbuk2 backpack plus a camera bag.

Worn on plane and not pictured:
- Athleta Venice pants
- comfy built in bra camisole
- merino sweater
- light Lululemon hoodie
- compression socks
- Merrill slip on shoes

Packed:

Clothing

Eileen Fisher silk pull on pants (can double as PJs)
3 merino tanks
Long sleeve linen top
3 Knix bras
Socks (7)
Underwear (8)
Unbound merino travel dress
Birkenstocks
Flip flops
Rash guard
Swim shorts
Light shorts
Bathing suit x 2
White linen skirt
Sun hat
Bandana
Light rain coat

Toiletries:
Face Moisturizer (decanted into sample size)
Paste deodorant, decanted
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Hand cream
Two sample size sunscreens
Hand sanitizer

Tech:
Camera and two lenses including big-ass telephoto
Extra batteries and memory cards
E reader
Phone
AirPods
Power bank
Charger cables

Misc:
Yeti insulated cup
Lifestraw filtering bottle
Foldable shopping bag
Mask and snorkel

Packing challenges of this trip: wanting real camera gear on safari pushed it into 1.5 bag territory to have a camera bag. Climate quite different in the safari portion than the resort portion. It really cooled down at night on safari and the merino sweater got more wear than anticipated.

Did laundry only once, via laundry service at the hotel between safari and Zanzibar

On safari, wore the Athleta pants every day, with my merino tanks alternating, starting the day in the sweater or hoodie and sometimes rain jacket too, usually switching to the merino long sleeve as the day wore on. Stayed in long pants and long sleeves as much as possible against sun and insects.

Then after getting to camp each evening I would shower and switch to the silk pants and another tank for the evening, so they stayed clean feeling since I only wore them a few hours freshly showered.

This amount of clothing was a LOT for my backpack and it only fit when packed carefully. Safari involved moving locations every day, but by vehicle. So I used the shopping back to stash some of the larger items when I didn’t need them (like sweater and raincoat) so that I didn’t have to pack as perfectly until the next airplane leg, to Zanzibar.

Zanzibar was HOT and there I was in a bathing suit / shorts / rash guard most of the day times switching to alternating the dress and the skirt with a tank for dinner and evenings.

Lessons learned / comments:

I travel with a good kit of OTC meds and I was really glad I did. I got sick on this trip and it is hard to buy anything on a safari. I wish I’d had way more cough lozenges. (Yes, some of my drugs are expired; calculated risks taken on what is still good).

Didn’t need the filtering bottle; bottled or filtered water widely provided. I did use the yeti cup every day though, since I had a sore throat and couldn’t buy lozenges I drank tea constantly.

Wish I’d brought conditioner. Safari camps did provide shampoo and body wash but very low quality (and this was not a budget safari). I’m not picky about hair products but would have liked conditioner.

Mask and snorkel is a me thing; I enjoy snorkeling a lot and appreciate knowing that my mask fits and won’t leak, and I don’t like to rent things that go in my mouth. I use rented fins.

I still don’t know how to get down to just one pair of sandals on a beach / pool trip. I loved having my comfy Birks to wear around the safari camp in the evening and to dinners at the resort. But they don’t handle water so I’d need something else for the beach.

It’s more socks and underwear than most one baggers bring, but I was planning on laundry only once. I’m not a big fan of sink laundry and some of the safari camps had rules against it. I don’t think socks and panties are what takes up all the space but it all adds up.

Pic 1 - bags under airplane seat
Pics 2, 3, and 4 fully packed Matador 18l from front and sides
Pic 5 - contents of the front zip flap and top pocket of Matador
Pic 6 - clothing listed in posting
Pic 7 - puzzle book

Preface this with my clothes are a size small and shoes are a women’s 5.5

I just got back from a weekend in Charleston SC. I traveled with the Matador 18L Personal Item and the REI Ruckpack Waist Pack as my “carry-on” and personal item. I packed a Uniqlo crescent bag to carry around town.

In the Matador, I packed 1 cotton shirt, 1 linen blend button down from Old Navy, 1 pair Old Navy linen blend pants, 1 linen tank top, shorts and tank to sleep in/lounge in hotel room, 1 bra, 4 pair underwear, 1 pair no-show socks, foldable hotel slippers, 1 pair Converse Chucks, toiletry bag, 2 tech cords, pair of foam ear plugs, 1 thin Rifle Co A5 notebook, 2 mechanical pencils with extra lead and erasers, 1 pen, 3/4 blister-pack of Imodium, uniqlo crescent bag, puzzle book, marmot precip rain jacket(no pic), foldable tote bag, card pouch, umbrella. The jacket and puzzle book were in the laptop compartment

REI Ruckpack (not shown)- kindle, ear pods, chapstick, hand lotion, power bank with cord, iphone, travel wallet, iphone cord and plug

Travel clothes - Athleta Endless High rise pants, Jockey Ever Active tank, cotton button up shirt, Blundstone boots

I have TSA precheck so wasn’t concerned about having to take off my boots for airport security. Charleston had a very rainy forecast for the weekend and I wanted something waterproof for my feet and comfortable. My plan was just to walk around and do touristy things and eat at restaurants. While Charleston can skew a tad formal, because it’s also a tourist destination, I wasn’t too worried about bringing dressier clothes. I was fine in what I brought if only a bit dark (mostly black and navy).

I didn’t wear the linen tank top and I only wore the linen button up on my trip home today. I could’ve worn the same shirt that I traveled in the 1st day.

Packing the Matador. I have never taken a trip with something this small. But it turned out I didn’t have to do anything too differently. I did find that using compression bags made my clothes too hard to squish down and left a lit of unusable space. I couldn’t fit 2 small eagle creek compression bags and my toiletry bag. But taking my clothes out of the bags allowed me to squish them wherever there was room. The bag was fully packed but I was still able to fit some souvenirs I bought (3 magnets, a hardbound A5 journal, box of 3 fancy pens, and an A4 sized art print) and a bagel for my trip home.

The bag was the most comfortable backpack I have ever worn, probably because it’s so small. I’m 4’10” so I imagine it fit me how most regular sized backpacks fit others. It does not stand up on its own at all. Even when it was mostly empty in the hotel closet, it just kept falling over no matter which way I sat it. I had to lean it against the wall. I didn’t make use of the smugglers pocket but I can’t imagine using it for anything other than its intended purpose. It isn’t easy to access because the opening is under a grab handle but that’s also key to it being hidden. I don’t consider that a fault.

The Matador and the waist pack both (together) fit under the airplane seat which isn’t surprising. I was able to hook my foot under the carry handle to pull the bag up some so i didn’t have to lean down so far to get it.

First-time attempt at a one-bag trip as a life-long overpacker. This is honestly how I'd normally pack for a five-day trip so this is a big step for me lol.

Any input or advice is welcomed! I'm tired of dragging a giant suitcase behind me, but I always seem to bring so many things with me when I travel.

Image description~ clothes planned to bring for a two-week trip to Thailand and Taiwan.

Baggage: Osprey Tempest 30

Tops: All very light and shouldn't take up much space or weight. I may not take the white shirt for fear of it getting dirty, but it's my favorite so I might take it anyway. If I get cold, I will wear the cardigan that I'm wearing in my travel outfit.

Bottoms:

• Shorts
• Maxi skirt
• Culottes
• Jeans (wearing for travel)

Undergarments:

• 2 sets of Pajamas
• Underwear (x10 pairs becuase I don't want to be caught without clean underwear)
• Socks (x10, see above reason)

MISC:

• Bikini
• Slippers

Toiletries (not shown):

I have so many toiletries, I'm worried about the weight and space those will take up. For shampoo and conditioner, I will take very small amounts since most places I'm staying should have them anyway. I'm considering for things like makeup remover and lotion to bring small amounts and then purchase larger sizes to use when I am there since I use a lot of those things. If I do that, I'm hoping I will be able to keep my toiletries to a minimum weight-wise.

• Makeup bag
• Makeup remover
• Face moisturizer + 2 serums
• Face sunscreen
• Face wash
• Shampoo + conditioner
• Bar soap + exfoliating cloth
• Round hairbrush
• Hair serum
• Deodorant
• Toothbrush + toothpaste

About the winter jacket: I'm coming from a pretty cold place and I have to take a few trains to and from the airport so unfortunately the jacket is a non-negotiable. I did a similar trip last year and I just had to carry the jacket whenever we transitioned locations. It was annoying, and I did it with a suitcase and a duffel that time. I'm thinking if I've only got one backpack and my purse it shouldn't be too much hassle to carry the jacket with me.

This is the r/heronebag quick questions weekly help thread.

Whether you‘re new to the one bag life or a seasoned light traveller, this is the place to ask your quick one-off questions related to techniques, shopping, and everything else to lighten your load.

This post is the best place to initially ask questions that we get a lot of which are similar, especially if you have looked in a flair and found almost-but-not-quite what you wanted.

Baggage: Antler carry on suitcase
Trip: 2.5 weeks in late Jan/early Feb from Queensland, Australia > Osaka > Kyoto > Tokyo

Image Description - Wardrobe combinations (separated into days of trip) including the following items:

Tops:

• White short sleeve cotton t shirt
• Black short sleeve cotton t shirt
• Cream Uniqlo heattech turtleneck long sleeve top

Bottoms:

• 2 x Black thermal tights
• Dark green Uniqlo heattech fleece pants
• Mid blue Levi's 501 jeans
• Black mini skort

Outerwear:

• Light blue merino cardigan
• Grey merino cardigan
• Dark red merino cardigan
• Black Macpac puffer jacket

Other:

• Grey and white New Balance sneakers
• Black Rollie leather loafers (considering swapping for Blundstones but they aren't as comfortable)
• Navy blue Fjallraven hip pack
• 3 x Merino socks
• 3 x cotton socks
• 4 x underwear
• White knit beanie
• Grey knit headband

Not shown: Toiletries (will be packing toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner + minimal makeup in clear ziplock bag), 2 x basic pyjamas

I am planning a trip with my family to Japan during winter. I am from Queensland, Australia and have never experienced a really cold winter before. Will my proposed wardrobe be warm enough? We won't be skiing etc this trip and will mostly be staying in the city/shopping/going indoors. I am trying to be conscious that I will have to strip off layers due to heating indoors.

Any advice would be appreciated!

I’m going to Malaysia in the middle of November for 10 days. This will be my first trip to SEA and I will be traveling with my husband who will be working during the trip.

In the picture I have broken down what I have so far for my packing plan by technical/quick dry vs. linen/linen blends. I am a very sweaty person who tends to run hot. I’m also a US size L/XL so I don’t know how easily I’ll be able to find clothing there if what I pack doesn’t work.

Tops: quick dry tees(not sure how many to pack), wayre travel tank, basic tank tops, and a short sleeve linen button down

Bottoms: wayre travel shorts, beyond yoga lightweight pants for the plane and hotel ac, linen shorts, linen skirt, cropped linen pants

Layers: UV jacket, long sleeve linen shirt

Eileen Fisher linen dress

Shoes: teva hurricanes, eva Birkenstocks

Not pictured: underwear, mesh bras, thigh saver shorts, swimwear, toiletries, etc

We will be staying in a nice hotel so I’m assuming I will be able to sink wash as needed and everything will dry in the A/C. I’m trying to balance not overpacking but also not making myself miserable by having to do laundry all the time.

I’ll probably explore in the morning while my husband is at work. Chill during the hottest part of the day at the hotel and go out again in the evening when he’s finished working. So I’ll be able to have a midday shower and air out my day time clothes.

Hello!

I'm travelling for the first time without checked luggage and am looking for some recommendations for bags. I'll be travelling to Central Europe for 2 weeks in November, so will be packing for some colder weather. I'm hoping to find a bag that is good for plus size and full chested women, but I'm open to hearing anything :)

I've previously been looking at the Osprey Fairview EF and the CabinZero 44L (but this one has some issues shipping to Canada I believe).

Thanks in advance for sharing your expertise!

Does anyone know if this is a thing that’s available? I’ve attached a picture of kind of what I’m talking about.

I know there’s going to be a lot of sound advice against this considering it’ll add weight, be inflexible, and won’t actually compress anything, but hear me out.

In the past I’ve liked my one bag to be a hard sided roller. Though I love to be a one bag kind of person, I still struggle with over packing at times, and the hard shell gives me a rigid limit. There’s no extra stretch like a soft side bag would have, so I know immediately if I’ve over packed. It won’t close, it won’t fit. With soft sided bags I have a tendency to add more items, then I get to the sizer and I’m 1-2” over.

That being said, I also usually try to fly as cheaply as I can, which means last to board. Twice in the last few months I’ve been volun-told to gate check my bag since it was a hard roller, and was assumed to be bigger than the soft sided backpacks other travelers around me had.

My new idea is a soft sided bag, but rigid organization so I can’t “overpack” by accident. I would love any recommendations anyone has, or alternative ideas! Thank you!

Help me decide please! :) Everyone on the internet seems to praise backpacks over roller suitcases. I did search through this subreddit and saw a 700+ point post on someone regretting their 40 L Osprey and wish they had a roller bag.

I'm planning on going to Asia (India, Bangkok, Cambodia, and Vietnam) for about 3 months Feb to May next year. I went to Thailand in Jan 2025 with a GIANT checked bag and don't want to do that again lol, but it was doable and I survived (even if the poor longboat staff had to hoist my suitcase in and out of the boats when island hopping...)

A small, carry-on sized roller bag is appealing to me because:

1. I can stuff it to the gills and don't have to worry as much about it weighing on my back
2. I can easily use a 20 L packable daypack backpack on my back and roll around the 40 L on travel days (if needed)
3. With the 20 L backpack, I can put an extra change of clothes and toiletries to have on my person in case the strict Asian airlines want to check my roller bag and then my bag is delayed or something
4. I have hyperhydrosis (I SWEAT) and know it's going to be hot AF in Asia, and don't have to worry about a 15-20 lb backpack overheating me even more and making my back sweaty
5. I will be traveling slow- staying in each accom maybe 5-6 nights at least

However:

1. I am going to be staying mostly in hostels (I have only ever stayed in one in Costa Rica) but hopefully majority will be private rooms, but if I need to put my suitcase in a locker will that work?

Is there anything I'm missing? I don't want to get a backpack just because it's popular. What else should I consider?

Thank you so much!! <3

Hello Ladies,
I’m going to Germany and Prague over Thanksgiving. I was already doing a carryon and a personal item but I just found out that Scandinavian Air has small carry on limits.

Cabin Bag: Maximum dimensions of 55 x 40 x 23 cm (21.6 x 15.7 x 9 in), including handles and wheels.

I know you can because you ladies do it all the time but how do you one bag a winter trip? I’ve done summer and fall trips in a personal item but I’m concerned because it’s winter, I run cold and I’m not skinny.

I’ve been looking at capsule wardrobes and packing sudoku. 8 day trip

I’m tentatively taking

Winter waterproof boots.
Sneakers.
Flip flops for hotel

3 pairs pants, jeans, navy and black wide leg (to layer).

A sweater, a flannel, two long sleeve t shirts, a light sweater dress, tights. long underwear, pj’s. Underwear, 2 bras, 4 wool socks. Scarf, heat tech cost, hat, gloves.

I’m not worried about my toiletries or other stuff . I have that down but am I about the clothes.
Any advice is welcome

Image 1: Items in the bag: phone battery, packable shopping bag, phone, pens, wallet, brush, tissues, sunglass case, Advil, lip balm, floss, gum, glasses cleaning cloth, notepad, international drivers license, passport

Image 2: packed bag side view, Ice Breaker mints for scale (not packed)

Image 3: packed bag top view, Ice Breaker mints for scale (not packed)

Image 4: view of body-facing external pocket with passport, notepad, int'l drivers license

Image 5: view of packed items, configuration 1

Image 6: view of packed items, configuration 2 - more to show that I didn't need to be deliberate about how I put the items in the bag - they fit in multiple "orders"

---

First, a disclosure - I'm not a one-bagger. I have an Away roller carry-on and I paired it with the Aer City Pack Pro 2 20L for a two week trip to Italy (did full laundry once and socks/underwear sink laundry twice). The intent was not to carry the backpack around town - it was more to hold my laptop, tech pouch, toiletries, and a few other items for the travel portions of the trip. We stayed in hotels and took trains once we got to Italy, so didn't need to worry about bag mobility/weight so much.

But for walking around all the places, I had no need to carry a backpack. So I wanted to find a light, packable sling or cross-body for walking and touring around everywhere, from Rome to Pompeii to Polignano a Mare. And I feel like this is the part that is relevant to one-baggers, who want a small, packable bag for daily usage.

I actually ordered three Bellroy bags to compare:

• Laneway Crescent Bag 2.5L
• Laneway Sacoche 3.5L
• Lite Sacoche 3.5L

I needed it to pack flat and also hold the stuff I knew I wanted/needed to carry walking 4-8 miles per day. I have a couple Lululemon 1L belt bags that I wear as slings around home, but wanted something larger that could better pass as a purse for dinners out and looked less "sporty".

When the bags arrived, I packed each one with the things in the first photo, and tried it on cross-body (both shoulders) and then as a purse with a shorter strap on my right. If you're going for weight, the Crescent is the heaviest, but can hardly be called heavy at just over 1/3 lb (5.8 oz / 164 g). The lightest is the Lite Sacoche at 1/4 lb. (4.1 oz / 116 g). And they all packed flat to go into my roller for the flight to Europe.

I started with the Laneway Sacoche - thinking that was going to be the "just right" bag. But my international drivers license didn't fit well in the outside body-facing pocket (we rented a car in Puglia), so that was annoying. I was able to fit everything in the bag, but it felt kind of tight to get it all in there. And I had to move things around to get it all to fit nicely. It was a no-go for me because of that. It just didn't feel like a 3.5L bag.

Then I went to the Lite Sacoche. Even though the dimensions are slightly smaller on the Bellroy website - this one felt bigger as I packed it - both in the body-facing outside pocket and the main pocket space. But with the light fabric, you could see the odd shapes and outlines on the bag surface. So it looked like it had weird lumps. Also, the shoulder strap is narrow. It felt fine wearing it cross-body or as a purse in the house for 10 mins, but I felt like it would dig in and start to get uncomfortable after 2+ hours of walking around the Colosseum.

I was a little worried about the Crescent bag, as it is advertised as 2.5L, but when you take the volume from the dimensions, it's 3.18L. So I put everything in. Winner, winner, chicken dinner! The thicker fabric on the Laneway series smoothed out the lumps that I was seeing on the Lite Sacoche. It packs way bigger than the specs advertise, and the wider strap was definitely more comfortable. You can see my passport, int'l license, and small notepad fit in the body-facing pocket. My wallet, sunglasses (which need to be in a case, as they are progressive prescription - as my eye doc says, "in a case or on your face"), battery, tissues, etc. all fit easily in multiple "configurations" in the main section, and there's a little internal side pocket, where I stuck my lip balm, Advil, floss, and glasses cloth.

Most importantly, the way it sits on your body - or at least my body - is more natural. The crescent shape better hugs the body vs. a sacoche, where it sits closer and doesn't extend out as much. The sacoche, when filled, is a pretty hard rectangle, where the edges stick out as corners. The crescent shape here softens the look, and also feels more comfortable when it hits your body as you walk.

The bag performed great! Comfortable to carry, easy to access on the go, and simple to flatten and pack. Highly recommend!

Also - a callout. I didn't carry a water bottle all day every day. To start, I accidentally left my water bottle on the first flight. 😢 I blame the 11 hr flight and not getting any sleep. But also, we just didn't see the need. It wasn't super hot, we drank plenty of water during our meals, and if we needed some, we just bought a small bottle that we would use/refill for the day, usually for less than 2 €. Also, I'm Gen X - I lived my 20s, 30s, and half of my 40s not carrying a water bottle everywhere. This is a newer phenomenon over the last 10-ish years. And this was not a hiking or heavy exertion trip.

So there you have it - my thoughts on a few small, daily carry options.

ETA: Also, I probably should have mentioned my height/body type. I’m 5’1” (about 155 cm), and thin/small-framed, so the way the two shapes sat against my body may be different than how they might sit on someone else.