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Writer's pictureTom Bouwman

What is One Bag Travel? (A Deep Dive)

Updated: Aug 11


A Deep Dive on One Bag Travel - and why it means different things to different people.


One Bag Travel is the art and science of packing light.


For some, one bagging means packing three days' worth of multi-functional clothing and doing laundry in the sink, for others, it means optimizing your pack for a specific destination and timeline (ex. two weeks in Italy, one month in Ireland, three weeks in Patagonia, etc.); and for still others, it may mean packing for long-term, "indefinite" travel, i.e. living out of a backpack, taking only what's necessary to comfortably travel to most places with just a backpack.


Whatever camp you fall into, one bagging is about simplifying travel, by bringing only what’s necessary, and nothing else.


 "One bagging is about simplifying travel, by bringing only what's necessary, and nothing else."

Packing Style and Preferences


There are competing philosophies and packing preferences; some believe one-bagging is packing a single backpack, others prefer two bags (a primary backpack plus a smaller day pack - sometimes referred to as 1.5-bagging), and for still some others, it's not a backpack at all, but a roller suitcase that fits within most carry-on limits.


Reddit poll - what is your definition of one-bag travel.

The ideal setup will be different for each person, but the premise remains the same, pack only what's necessary and leave the rest.


Competing Philosophies


There are competing philosophies around one-bag travel.


Some believe that one-bag travel is about optimizing your pack with the latest tools, techniques, and products.


Eternal optimizers, aka gear junkies, are constantly on the lookout for tools and clothes that help minimize their pack while improving flexibility, comfort, and style; it's a fun, addictive, and expensive approach to travel, and a far cry from the original philosophy of one-bagging: minimalism.


Minimalist travelers take the opposite approach; their primary goal is to let go of material possessions, knowing that as you let go, your pack naturally gets smaller; minimizing the physical and emotional weight that comes with everything you own.


An optimizing one-bagger might tell you to pack the smallest, lightweight, air-permeable, packable rain jacket if you're going anywhere it's expected to rain, a minimalist one-bagger would tell you to pick up a 50-cent poncho from a local store if it rains.


If you feel like you're getting conflicting advice on what to pack, it often comes down to these competing philosophies.


Like all extremes, the answer probably lies somewhere in the middle and depends on your preferences, budget, style, and needs.


Travel Types


Of course, what you pack depends on the type of travel you'll be doing, which can range from weekly, multi-day work trips to long-term, multi-month, or multi-year travel.


A weekday warrior's business trip pack will look vastly different from a digital nomad's "indefinite" travel pack, though both are considered "one-bagging".


It's important to consider this on a case-by-case basis; for example, you may appreciate high-end travel gear for a two-week trip to Iceland, a safe country with specific climate requirements; however, if you're planning a six-month journey that will take you through Europe, North Africa, and Southeast Asia, you may benefit from a more minimalist, less-is-more packing style, because the longer you're on the road, the more likely you are to lose, break, misplace, or simply need different things.


Or take hand-washing clothes for example; you may be okay with hand-washing your clothes for a few weeks while you explore Cappadocia, but if you're traveling for six months, you may not want to have to wash your clothes every day for 180 days, in that case, packing a week's worth of clothes looks a lot more appealing.


Long-term travel often demands flexibility and less attachment to things, whereas short-term travel offers opportunities for extreme optimization and of course, new toys; both are one-bagging, and each has its merits.


One-Bagging is an Evolution


Lastly, one-bagging is an evolution; what you pack today won't be what you pack a year from now - products will improve, new materials will be developed, and the way we work will evolve; all while your mindset, needs, and preferences change with every trip.


One-bagging is, and always will be, an ever-moving target.


I say this because it's easy to get caught in analysis paralysis, "What's the best backpack for X trip?" "What size backpack do I need? "What are the best shoes for travel?" "What's the best day pack?" etc.


Stop. Because it really doesn't matter in the long-term; find what works for you now, knowing that it will likely change as you get older, gain experience and learn what you like.


"Find what works for you now, knowing that it will likely change as you get older.."

Someone on Reddit recently asked "What's the biggest lesson you've learned from one-bag travel" - and a common answer went something like this - "Pack the clothes you already own, travel with the backpack you already have, wear what you wear today (because you know it's comfortable - and comfort is king when traveling)."


This is great advice if you're new to one-bagging, and perhaps feeling overwhelmed by all the tools designed to make one-bag travel easier.


Finding the perfect <insert travel gear> for <insert use case> is great, but what's really great is the fact that you have the freedom to travel and that you're going somewhere new.


One-bagging offers an incredible sense of freedom and mobility when you're on the move, but at the end of the day, it's not your stuff that allows you to travel, it's your mindset, and your passport. :)


backpack hanging in an empty train terminal
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