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Writer's pictureTom Bouwman

How To Minimize Your Pack for One-Bag Travel

Tips for minimizing your pack for first-time one-bag travelers.


In this article:


  1. Bring Less Clothes

  2. Bring the Right Clothes

  3. Pack One Pair of Shoes

  4. Minimize Toiletries

  5. Minimize Electronics

  6. Everything is Everywhere

  7. Packing/Compression Cubes


1. Bring Less Clothes


This obvious, but often difficult-to-implement tip requires its own mini-list. There are many ways to minimize... but since I'm trying to keep this list short, I'll give you the top tips.


  • Pack one week's worth of clothes and commit to doing laundry once a week, or pack even less and commit to hand-washing small items in the sink or shower.


  • Pack one outfit for each activity, for example, one hiking outfit, one workout outfit, one "going out" outfit, and one comfort/casual/lounge outfit. Once you have your outfits, add a second top, now you have 4-8 outfits. And once you've done that; try to consolidate your pants and shoes. Hiking + workout shoes; casual + everyday shoes; gym/swim/workout "hybrid" shorts, etc.


  • Be okay with looking like a tourist (or hiker). Unless you're traveling for business trips or special occasions, no one cares what you look like when you're traveling; the moment you step off a plane in another country, fashion rules go out the window, and the second you start moving around, the only thing that matters is comfort, so pack functional, comfortable clothing that can be worn anywhere. Athleisure-wear is great for this. This simple mental switch can easily save you 2-3 outfits and pair of shoes.


  • Pack extra socks and underwear. Base layers like socks and underwear are small and don't take up much space, and laundry days are always determined by these two items; I like to pack 10 day's worth and do laundry once every week and a half; you'll appreciate having flexibility here, no one minds putting on a "dirty" shirt, but putting on dirty underwear is a different story.


  • Pack fewer shirts, shorts, and pants. Shorts and pants can easily be worn multiple days in a row, and shirts can be worn multiple days in a row, depending on the person and what you're doing. If you're worried about sweating in hot climates, it's worth noting that sweat doesn't cause odor, it's sweat mixing with bacteria on your skin that causes odor, so if you shower, and hang your clothes up to dry, you can easily stretch a regular shirt 2-3 days, if you need to.


  • Layer!  No packing advice would be complete without saying this, but cool climates don't require much more clothing than warm climates; one pair of pants, a hoodie, a puffer jacket, a hat, and gloves are usually enough for general travel. You can use your same "summer" packing list and add just a few items to stay comfortable in cooler weather. Note: Legitimate winter travel will require more clothes, there's no easy way around it.


  • Speaking of winter travel, why not just stick to warm climates? I know, it's not always possible, but it's somewhat obvious that the hotter it is, the fewer clothes you need. A more applicable piece of advice is to simply acknowledge the climate at your destination; if you're traveling to a tropical climate, you can probably get away with 2-3 swimsuits and little else.


  • Wear your biggest items to the airport; pants, long socks, hoodies, hats, shoes, etc., this is common one-bag travel practice and just good advice in general, but here's an extra bonus tip:


  • Consider suffering on your way to the airport. If you're going to a warm or hot destination and you know you won't need a jacket, why even bring it? I once waited on a tarmac in 4-degree weather (-15.5C) in shorts and shirt, yes, it was very uncomfortable... but only for five minutes. If you're only wearing something to get from your front door to an Uber, and from an Uber into the airport, you're making it harder than it needs to be; consider suffering for 30 seconds and feel the weight being lifted.


"If you're only wearing something to get from your front door to an Uber, and from an Uber into the airport, you're making it harder than it needs to be.."

2. Bring the Right Clothes


Invest in high-quality, travel-specific apparel.


Base layers, i.e. anything touching your skin (ex. socks, shirts, and underwear) should be quick-drying, antibacterial, sweat-wicking, and comfortable; some popular brands include: 


  • Socks: Darn Tough, SmartWool, Icebreaker, REI Coolmax 

  • Shirts: Outlier, Icebreaker, Arc'teryx, Patagonia, Western Rise 

  • Underwear: Exofficio, Lululemon, Smartwool, Outdoor Research

​

Mid-layers like shorts, pants, and lightweight hoodies should be comfortable, durable, and ideally "hybrid" or multifunctional; some popular brands include: 

​

  • Shorts: Western Rise Evolution, Outlier New Way, Patagonia Baggies

  • Pants: Arc'teryx Palisade, Western Rise Evolution, Patagonia Quandary, Lululemon ABC, REI Sahara Convertible Pants

  • Lightweight Hoodies: Patagonia R1 Air, Unbound Merino, Arc'teryx Ionia, Kuhl 

​

Outer layers (if necessary) are ideally water/stain-repellent, mid-to-lightweight, and consist of more durable nylon/polyester fabric blends; some popular brands include: 

​

  • Patagonia, Unbound Merino, Arc'teryx, Western Rise, Icebreaker, REI Sahara, Kuhl, Marmot


These brands are designed to be worn multiple days in a row without washing - but even if you opt for "regular" clothes, you can still wear them multiple days in a row if you're not sweating profusely or rolling in mud. If you think that's insane, consider your bed sheets.


"If you think that's insane, consider your bed sheets."

Pro Tip: If weather and location permits, hang your clothes in direct sunlight - UV light will naturally kill bacteria in as little as 20 minutes (up to ~6 hours). You have the world's best washer/dryer combo sitting outside your window, and you can use it every day to cut your pack in half (weather permitting).


The biggest thing to remember is that comfort is king while traveling... if you bring twelve pairs of pants, I guarantee you'll be wearing the most comfortable pair 95% of the time, all the rest just take up space.


Note: Quick-dry apparel is great for shorts and pants (since you're presumably wearing underwear), but quick-dry shirts - which are typically right against your skin for extended periods - can hold on to odor, so we recommend lightweight, antibacterial nylon/polyester blends or Merino wool shirts and tops.


If you have the means (and need), consider a packable puffer jacket and/or rain jacket - or simply buy a 30-cent poncho at the nearest convenience store.


3. Pack ONE Pair of Shoes (and Sandals)


For general travel, a single pair of trail-runners will get you through 95% of anything you do; they offer a balance between being sturdy enough for hiking, yet comfortable enough for daily wear; and if you stick to neutral colors like black or white, they can work as a casual shoe too; again, no one cares what you look like when you travel.


Pro Tip: If you're worried about ankle support and debating calf-high hiking boots, consider minimalist ankle braces to pair with your trail shoes, they take up less space and may offer all the ankle support you need.


If you need a dressier option, add a low-profile casual shoe like Vevo Barefoot or Xero shoes, they have hundreds of option and pack down to nothing.


If you're traveling to cool or rainy climates, consider pairing trail-runners with waterproof socks instead of bulky boots; waterproof boots are great for winter and cold-weather travel, but rarely necessary for general, three-season travel.


Note: Many one-baggers prefer waterproof socks over waterproof shoes, because waterproof shoes take forever to dry once they get wet; waterproof socks give your feet the same protection and are much easier to pack, even if they are still wet.


If you're traveling long-term and expecting hot and cold climates, there's not much you can do, you'll want to pack a 3-season shoe and a winter shoe, or consider picking up winter boots while you travel and donating or shipping them home when the weather turns.


​​Sandals


For sandals, there are three options: hiking sandals, barefoot sandals, or inexpensive flip flops. Hiking sandals open the door to more intense watersports, but cost the most; barefoot sandals offer the smallest footprint with the least amount of comfort, and flip flops offer an inexpensive, worry-free solution; each has its merits.

4. Minimize Toiletries


Simplify your bathroom routine. Can you survive with just mini mascara and eyeliner? Can you get away with a single bottle of all-purpose soap? Do you even need to bring soap? If you're staying in hotels, AirBnbs or private rooms, probably not.


You could take this to the extreme and not bring any toiletries; it may sound insane until you remember that you can find everything you need at any convenience store, with the exception of specialized meds, makeup, and organic products.


Bonus: Hitting malls, shopping centers, grocery stores, and convenience stores in a new country is fun! Just bring your phone and have Google Translate ready so you know what you're buying.


5. Minimize Electronics


All those toys take up space, and not just physical space, but mental space too. Every high-ticket item you pack is one more thing to worry about back in your room while you're out having fun.


Ask yourself if you really need a Kindle, or eReader, or tablet, or over-ear headphones, or a smartwatch, or HUD glasses, or whatever - chances are, you can get by without them; you can watch movies on your phone (or use the built-in airplane screen), you can listen to books or podcasts, etc.


Every device adds weight, and cables, and worry. If you're only bringing them for your flight, they definitely are not worth it.


"If you're only bringing them for your flight, they're definitely not worth it..."

If you're staying in private rooms, most have Smart TVs these days. As I write this, I'm sitting next to a 75in Smart TV (the biggest I've ever seen in a hotel), and I'm in Ko Lanta, Thailand, not exactly big-city vibes - and it's not a resort by any means.


If you're traveling short term, leave the extras at home, you won't have time to use them, and if you're traveling long-term, leave the extras at home, you can be more selective with where you stay and filter for places with Smart TVs.


And while we're on electronics, consider packing one power cable per charger type, or even better, a single split cable; splitter cables and chargers are everywhere, so if you lose it or break it, it's easily replaced, and having one cable simplifies everything.


6. Everything is Everywhere All The Time


While we're on the topic, this is a friendly reminder that everything is readily available everywhere, literally, all the time. If you're flying into an airport, to a place where other humans live, you will have no problem finding everything you need to live.


It may not be the best, or your favorite, or the most comfortable, but if you forget something or need something, there's a supermarket nearby 99% of the time.


Just a friendly reminder that all you really need to travel is a passport a way to pay for things, that's it.


7. Utilize Packing or Compression Cubes


Once you have your clothes and shoes figured out, it's time to compress your pack. I recommend spending a lot of time getting your pack list figured out before you look at packing cubes or compression bags, since these items need to fit all your stuff, and fit in your bag.


There are a few options here: standard packing cubes, air-tight (vacuum-sealed) compression bags, a portable wash bag (used as a compression bag), a waterproof dry bag (also used as a compression bag), or the humble plastic bag.


Each method has its pros and cons:


  • Packing Cubes - easy to use, square-shaped for easy bag organization, inexpensive and available everywhere / lots of cheap options, don't pack as small as vacuum-sealed bags

  • Vacuum-Sealed Bags - air-tight for maximum space savings / may require an external electric or manual pump, variable shapes can throw off internal organization/space, takes more time to pack

  • Waterproof Dry Bags or Scrubba Wash Bag - air-tight for maximum space savings, double as dry bags for beach/boat outings, can be used as a wash bag* / often built using thick/heavy PVC material, oval shape can throw off internal bag organization/packing, takes more time to pack

  • 1L Plastic Bags - partially air-tight (will slowly expand after packing), effectively free, available everywhere / prone to ripping if overpacked, limited space, will slowly expand after packing


It doesn't matter which option you choose, but all options are better than nothing.


8. Follow the Rule


Lastly, it all comes down to this.. follow the rule - the one rule, the only rule that truly matters when it comes to packing, and it's simple... if you're unsure if you'll need it, you don't need it.


"If you're unsure if you'll need it, you don't need it."

It's as simple as that.


If you're on the fence about something, and you're thinking about "what if" situations, that's called fear-packing, and it's what gets a lot of people in trouble.


The simple solution, let it go, and accept that you might have to pick something up on the road in a worst-case scenario.


Conclusion


That's it folks, the only packing guide you'll ever need - until the proliferation of wearable multi-screen contacts, haptic gloves, and Elon's mind-reading brain implants, at which point, your backpack will get even smaller. Can't wait.


As always, happy travels.


overhead image of a packing list

Read Next: The One Bag Traveler's Mindset


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