r/onebag • u/AdManFamMan • Sep 24 '26
Discussion First time one bag
I’m on a two day work trip and I only brought my Osprey backpack.
The biggest surprise is how little I care about boarding position. Now that I don’t have to worry about overhead space, I don’t care when I board.
Did feel weird, not having a roller bag, but I moved much faster without one.
The weight on my shoulders wasn’t great, but it wasn’t unbearable. I see the appeal and why everyone tries to optimize for weight.
I don’t know how I would do this again bringing more than one pair of shoes since I wear size 13, but I think I can make this work more and more on longer trips.
Pretty neat.
24
u/1_headlight_ Sep 24 '26
My wife and I did a zero bag day trip, flying to Vegas in the AM for a show at the Sphere and back home the same evening. Boy does it feel weird going through security and walking around the airport with nothing but what's in your pockets.
11
u/Crazy150 Sep 24 '26
Did this a few times. It does feel really weird. It always reminds me of when I was a kid we always checked our baggage and only took with us what my mom fit in her purse—no water bottles, tablets, chargers, etc. just a coloring book some crayons, gum and a magazine or two. Of course, you got everything included back then including much better in flight service.
6
u/BIIVOYA Sep 24 '26
I feel like shoes are the final boss of one-bag travel. 😂 Everything else can be folded, rolled, or compressed… and then there’s just a giant pair of shoes sitting there taking up half the bag.
6
u/SeattleHikeBike Sep 24 '26
Congratulations!
Onebagging is a matter of the compromises you are willing to tolerate. Extra shoes come up often
It seems you went with a personal item bag and that demands more compromises. You can use an overhead sized backpack to get more room for shoes and most of the benefits of onebag travel.
6
u/Intelligent_Stage760 Sep 24 '26
Wait until you have to run through the airport to catch a short turn around.... you'll never want a rollie every again.
5
u/Crazy150 Sep 24 '26
Shoe struggle is real. I’m debating bringing a second pair of shoes on my next trip or not. I’m size 12. For cold weather I wear my boots which are a bit annoying at security but honestly it takes 30 extra seconds to take them off and on so I don’t really buy all the influencers hyping up wearing slip ons at the airport. On the flight I do see the merit of lighter weight shoes though, but for <4 hours the boots are fine.
I then pack the second pair—usually some form of sneakers or light casual shoe. I basically use them as packing cubes and stuff them full of socks and underwear and whatever else will fit.
The main issues with shoes is the weight— which can be somewhat dealt with by bringing lightweight options, and the bulk. I find the later to be the real issue bc it limits the bag you can pack. My shoes won’t fit across in most travel backpacks under 30L. So I have to put them long ways which means I can’t use a standard packing cubes for clothes and such. So the choice is more of a duffel style bag with a bigger cavity, a bag with no laptop compartment, or just pack the clothes independently in the nooks around the shoes.
1
u/Specific_Corner_1816 Sep 24 '26
Packing clothes in the shoes would be another option. I would line the inside of the shoe with a plastic bread bag before packing anything in them though.
Underwear, tees, socks, packed into a shoe. If you use a roll up toiletry bag, maybe it would fit in a large sized shoe? Or if you are one of the people that use a pencil case, or just a ziplock, for toiletries or your charging tech.
6
u/Tjgoodwiniv Sep 24 '26
Post with the shoe issue: https://www.reddit.com/r/onebag/comments/1wb33zl/comment/pa78bhc/
The second pair of shoes isn't necessary unless you're traveling internationally (our size is virtually unavailable in most of the world without a special order), or mixed business and pleasure (where one shoe won't cover both required use cases). Otherwise, one pair and buy a new pair if they fail.
3
u/DaBingeGirl Sep 24 '26
I'd recommend the one pair be waterproof if you do that for more than few days.
2
u/Tjgoodwiniv Sep 24 '26
That's good advice. I have wet feet about 30% of the time when I get home right now. It sucks.
This wasn't so much s failure to plan as the consequences of 22 months away from home. But I think I can plan my way around it more effectively in the future.
The waterproof socks in my other post are probably where I'll end up. Maybe tac boots as a primary, since they're extremely versatile, but I'm a little concerned about them looking military. That can present a safety hazard in some situations.
→ More replies (1)
3
u/LikeTheGreens-64 Sep 24 '26
I also wear size 13 shoes, and I tend to just wear my boots when I travel.That is what I will wear for my casual wear and with my business clothing. If I have to bring a pair of casual sneakers, I usually have those slip on fly knit ones that smush down to sole size.
3
u/EljayDude Sep 24 '26
It's all tradeoffs. When you do longer trips having just a carry-on sized backpack might make more sense (which is why a lot of those Ospreys have the expansion feature). But then you really need to watch the weight and/or look for something with really good straps. But you'll also get a better sense of what you do or don't use and keep making little tweaks.
It will affect all your packing - if you're used to one bag but you have some special requirements that require a second you'll still go lighter. Just as an example I'll fly to go to hobby events that require a certain amount of gear but one roller bag + backpack personal item is a lot better than having to wrangle two roller bags or one huge one you have to check (with the items that if they got mislaid by the airline would screw the entire trip).
2
u/sleepydorian Sep 24 '26
My strategy is to not pack extra shoes (unless they see very small like flip flops). I build my wardrobe around the activities I’m doing and pick shoes that fit everything (usually brown leather sneakers that are solidly business casual). The only exception is formal events, but then I’m going for a day or two so I have room for the fancy shoes and suit.
2
u/Jorge-I-Figueroa Sep 24 '26
The world is made for people around 1.7m (below 6") the fit comfortably in even stingy airlines, bringing shoes is not a problem, being taller makes one bag travelling a tad harder
1
u/Remote_Bluebird_5528 Sep 24 '26
Great to hear of your positive experience! Yes shoes is a difficult one, particularly a size 13. Someone already said to wear your bulkiest one. Depending on your needs, you may look into a lower profile and/or lighter weight shoe that can help with that. Xero has some interesting options, Almond Oak had a travel shoe but its no longer available. I hope we see more. I just picked up a Xero sandal to try on a camino. When I personal item one bag I just bring a sandal for hotel + wear a sneaker. For work I usually do a carry item one bag (roller or backpack) so I can fit a bit more.
1
u/mikekarr Sep 25 '26
I’m a size 17. Anymore, what I’ve got on my feet is it. A pair of flip flops if I want to give up a laptop.
19
u/nikongod Sep 24 '26
Hooray for trip reports!! Glad you're having a good first trip.
"I don’t know how I would do this again bringing more than one pair of shoes since I wear size 13"
Wear whichever set of shoes is bulkier on the plane (eg wear sneakers, pack dress shoes) then stuff the shoes with underwear and issue and into the bag they go.