Hello all,
In 2 short weeks I will be setting off on a 6 month trip across 4 continents. Onebagging has certainly changed the way I approach travel and opened my mind to new possibilities. This is my 9th symphony of packing. The Cotopaxi Allpa 28 was the first bag in my journey, however, due to cost considerations (not wanting to risk getting a fine at the gate) and aggressive minimalism, I have elected to give the Cotopaxi Allpa Mini 20L pack a try.
My previous 2 trips with this bag (both ~5 days long) proved that this bag is everything I wanted.
- Personal item dimensions
- Clamshell opening
- NO dedicated laptop space (I travel with only a phone and would hate to have space wasted)
- Exterior hanging options (4 included loops, and I added 4 more loops on the bottom)
I loved my Allpa 28, everyone has their own travel style, but personally I love to arrive at a hostel and open my clamshell bag flat in a locker or on the floor and have everything handy. Through far too much reddit research I found this to be the best clamshell bag with listed dimensions in line with the vast majority of personal item requirements. However, in this configuration I measured the bag at 48-30-27 at the largest bump on each side. Having a packing list more fitting for a 25-30L bag this "20L" bag is absolutely bursting at the seams. However, I packed this bag with absolutely everything coming on this trip (except the shoes), so in reality some portion of the clothing will be on my person as I am yet to travel naked (the inevitable climax of onebagging).
This trip will begin with a few weeks in Portugal in January, followed by the month of February in South America (Argentina/Chile/Peru, and then March to June in Asia (Starting in Japan, but going everywhere). My goal is to have everything on me for absolutely any scenario that could come my way. I hope this kit could cover me from a blizzard (Uniqlo heattech, Quarterzip, puffer jacket, rain jacket, long johns, travel pants over jeans) to having to cross a body of water with the entire kit on my person (No shirt, Running shorts as swim trunks, Sandals, entire bag in Summit to Sea drybag). Ideally besides a local wall brick to USB-C, and restocking toiletries, I shouldn't need to buy anything on the road. I understand this goal to be naive, and I will certainly end up adding to this packing list down the road. All of which I hope to include in updates throughout and after the trip. But for now:
Packing List:
- Papers
- Passport
- Cash (USD/Euros)
- 2 Debit Cards (not a points/miles person)
- Miniplanner
- World map
- Notebook (ledger to account for all spending)
- Pilot G2 07 Pen
- Sharpie
- Tech (In the Eagle Creek Tech Organizer)
- Phone: Duoqin F21
- Emergency backup smartphone: IPhone SE (2020)
- Wireless earbuds: Soundcore Sport X20 (would highly recommend)
- Wired earbuds: cheapest USB-C wired buds I could find
- Powerbank: Anker slim 10,000mah (2020)
- Charging cables: USB-C to USB-C, USB-C to Lightning
- Charging Brick: to be purchased at destination
- Toiletries
- Electric toothbrush
- 2x Mini toothpaste tubes
- Nail Clipper
- Tweezers
- Deodorant
- Razorhead (is the handle really needed?)
- Head and Shoulders mini shampoo
- 6 Band-Aids
- 1 month Malaria medication
- Clothes
- 2 Packing cubes, 1 Thule small, 1 unlabeled amazon medium
- 1 Red laundry tote bag
- 2 Blue T-Shirts
- 2 Blue Airism Shirts
- 1 Blue button down shirt
- 2 Pairs of Uniqlo shorts
- 1 Pair of decathlon running shorts
- 1 Pair of blue jeans
- 1 Pair of travel pants/shorts
- 1 Uniqlo Heattech long sleeve shirt
- 1 Pair of tights/long johns
- 7 Pairs of underwear
- 5 Pairs of short sox
- 1 Pair of running sox
- 1 Pair of warm/long sox
- 1 Grey long sleeve quarterzip
- 1 Uniqlo packable puffer jacket
- 1 Colombia packable rain jacket
- 1 Old belt
- 1 Pair Brooks Adrenaline running shoes (on person)
- Utility items
- Decathlon 2L packable sling
- 35L Sea to Summit light drybag
- Cotopaxi Rain cover
- Source Sandals + included carrying bag
- Travel Multitool (has already made it through airport security in 3 nations)
- Travel Lock
- Various Carabiners
- Packable water bottle
- Boston Red Sox cap (too many random y*nkees caps abroad)
- Seiko Sport 5 field watch (not pictured)
In reality a good amount of the tech will be in the Decathlon 2L crossbody bag, and once also including the clothing on my person, I anticipate the bag itself will be able to squish to 20cm in depth if I am actually required to do so for an airport sizer. And throughout the trip the only souvenirs I actually enjoy collection are local paper maps and paper receipts/tickets when possible. This post is going up 2 weeks prior to departure because I appreciate the collective knowledge held by this subreddit. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE give me suggestions of what could be removed and what I am missing, and especially scenarios I haven't considered. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and inspiration for both this travel style and this lifestyle. From the 10L psychos to the 50L maximalists, everyone certainly has some experience to be learned from.
Note: I am flying the following route, please let me know if anyone has come across issues with bags being size checked at any of the following airports,
LIS-PDL-OPO-GRU-EZE- (ground transit) - LIM-BOG-MIA-ATL-LAX-NRT
I hope this post can serve as inspiration for all, but at the very least get the Allpa Mini 20L out into the more mainstream discussion on this sub like its large siblings enjoy. I really think this bag hits a sweetspot of size and form factor.
Please post a trip report when you get back!!
I'd consider adding an umbrella. There isn't much that sucks as bad as wearing a raincoat when its 85f and humid out.
I'd pack a phone-charger and the international adapter you will need... Like, yea, you can buy one anywhere, but you loose the home-court advantage of being familiar with the place you shop, and its not like anyone has any sort of reliable solution that means you don't need one - so you will be packing this anyways. Just start with it.
I'd leave the expense book home and just get familiar with google sheets. Saves the physical book, and gives you all sorts of cool options for pivot tables, auto sum, categorizing expenses, etc. I would consider a similar plan for the day-planner/journal with whatever online app you like (google keep, a note in google drive, whatever.)
Caution! A lot of people dislike the use of airport codes.
I'd consider trading Miami for NewOrleans. Might be awkward to get to NOLA from Bogota Colombia, but IMO worth it. There are frequently bus-cheap-flights from NOLA to Atlanta, btw.
Any recommendations for a travel umbrella? For whatever reason I always associate pouring rain with being cold, couldn't picture such a situation of wet and warm, thanks for the idea.
I am currently in the US and starting my travels in Europe which is why I plan on buying a cheap phone charger there. The Qin F21 lasts me 2 days easily and with my battery bank I have a week easily.
As with google sheets, I've been using this up until now and my goal for this trip is to be 100% offline, which means ditching sheets for a paper ledger. Although, you're certainly right that tech could reduce some clutter there.
Personal favorite umbrella:
https://www.montbell.com/us/en/products/detail/1128560?fo=0&color=SV
You can probably go lighter and less expensive (there are a bunch of montbell options even!) but I do like the sun protectiveness of the umbrella since I use it in the sun toooo. Note! the way Montbell umbrellas open/close is a little weird.
I guess we each need to set our own limits for being "offline" but how are you going to organize flights, accommodations, trains, and busses on a 6mo trip offline?
I'd make sure to have some extra room in your bag for a paper book or a magazine so there is something *other* than your phone to do on a bus/train ride. The temptation is real.
Thanks for the rec! I'll be sure to check out their store in Japan.
As for being "offline" my goal is to minimize time on my phone. The last few months I caught myself doomscrolling far too much and it has had a real impact on my day-day life. I started by getting the Qin F21 as a dumbphone with spotify and whatsapp, which proved to be an incredible choice. As for flights/accommodations, the majority of flights I have booked in advance , and for the last few flights I plan on finding an internet cafe to make those bookings. For a few years now I have been simply writing down my confirmation numbers and getting paper boarding passes at the airport, which has been very efficient for me.
For accommodations I research every city I might end up, I'll write down the address of the cheapest ~8.0+ hostel from hostelworld, and when I arrive to the city I'll start there unless I see something better on the way in. I only ever book hostels at the front desk, no internet needed. And I've never run into a sold-out hostel that won't give me a recommendation on a nearby alternative.
I plan on buy books/magazines if Spotify isn't enough for transit entertainment, that being said, spotify has proved sufficient for me up to this point. Listening to full albums on a plane or bus really passes the time for me. And with a dumbphone, there's no temptation to do anything else
I love your commitment to digital minimalism. Been trying to incorporate same in my daily life, but it's tough.
To clarify, even though you’re taking a backup smartphone you won’t be checking email etc? I’m on a four month trip in SE Asia right now, and just want to flag that out of ~9 short flights within Indonesia and the Philippines, about half had timing changes or were rescheduled, which we learned about via an email from the airline. Most were changes in departure timing by like 5-20 minutes, but two were significant changes. One in particular was changed to the next day with no explanation, and if we hadn’t received the email and decided to cancel and rebook on a different airline it would have significantly screwed up the next leg of our trip. Most other travellers we talked to were basically like “ya, this happens to us too all the time in SE Asia..”. I love your idea of unplugging for your trip, but I would worry that you won’t receive notifications like this which might screw up your itinerary…
Also, the one thing you don’t have which I would really have regretted not having in a time of need is a small pack of emergency meds. Stuff like Imodium, painkillers, gravol, antiseptic etc.. I know you can buy it while traveling, but when you NEED Imodium or gravol you’re often not able to just buy it that very moment… I was getting over a relatively minor case of food poisoning and had to travel 4 hour by shared van on a winding road, and those pills saved my butt as well as everyone else in that van…
I have email on my dumb phone, with a separate email address that I only use for flights on this trip/maybe hostels if needed. Also I will never arrive at an airport less than 4 hours before departure and I always check to make sure the gate exists, etc. I’ve never heard of a flight being moved to the next day, how commonplace do you think that is? Great to hear about now.
Great idea on the pills, I need to do some more research there. Can anyone speak to carrying pills through customs? My US doctor told me I have to keep malaria meds in the pill container, but can over the counter meds be kept in a smaller bag/tin ?
I can’t believe I forgot this, but my partner is reminding me that it happens to us twice, both from Manado to Sorong, and then again on the same leg of the journey back from Sorong to Manado!! It all blends together a bit haha… But it wasn’t a major international flight, both were small internal flights. I hadn’t heard/read about a flight being fully delayed a whole day until it happened to us, but can’t say exactly how often it happens… Other travellers in Indonesia weren’t surprised to hear about it, but no one that we’ve talked to specifically said that the same also happened to them. Maybe there are some stats online about frequency of that kind of thing? It’s up to you of course how often you check your email while trying to stay mostly disconnected, just know that there might be consequences if you aren’t checking much and something gets significantly delayed! I still admire you for trying to disconnect!
On a somewhat related note, I also got locked out of my email account at the beginning of my trip since I was accessing it from unfamiliar countries, and had to call someone back home via WhatsApp to get them to find a recovery code in an obscure folder of paperwork from years ago so that I could regain access… Maybe store a few passwords/recovery codes etc somewhere at home where a trusted family member can find them if absolutely necessary?
We’ve had no problems (so far) carrying over the counter meds through customs/immigration. I found a few good posts on this subreddit about which meds and how to pack them, you should do a few searches to see what others have done. We purchased pretty much everything in push-pack packaging rather than plastic bottles, since it weighs less and has drug info/brand names on the foil side of the packaging. We brought Imodium, regular gravol, ginger gravol, Advil, Tylenol, pepto bismol, antihistamines, and a set of prescription heavy duty anti-diarrhea antibiotics from our travel doctor. So far, it seems like we went over the top a bit, as we haven’t needing all of that, but we still have two months of travel left! The meds I’ve been deeply, desperately grateful to have in moments of emergency are the Imodium, gravol, and Advil.
The one other thing I was extremely glad to have when I was bitten by a dog in Indonesia was a small bottle of tincture of iodine. I know that doesn’t happen to most travellers, and I had previously seriously questioned the cost of rabies vax shots before our trip, but in hindsight the shots were totally worth it and being able to clean the wound with iodine on the way to the hospital for follow up shots did help relieve some of the stress. Who knows whether it made a difference, but the wound has since healed without infection!
You might need to add some maps then...
I'm bringing the world map for intercity travel, and once I get to each region I plan on picking up a map of their local transit, also makes for great souvenir!
Well done. I too have a 4 season setup in a personal item sized bag. I have this umbrella.94g or 92g once you've lost the little slip cover. 🤣 Not great in the wind, but really useful. https://www.fultonumbrellas.com/products/aerolite-black
I see you are looking to buy a charger when you get to Europe. Which of course you can do but it might not be the lightest I'm European and travel with this. US / UK and Europe covered and a lot of the rest of the world too. I have it on my spreadsheet as 159g, but would be less if you don't need the UK plug end. It's reliable and doesn't overheat and I can thoroughly recommend it.
https://amzn.eu/d/d2QERFe
I think you've got most things covered there. Although I can't speak for the 'being offline' bit. I used to do that when the internet didn't exist and travel with maps and guidebooks, but not sure i'd go back to that!
I stare at your pictures in awe whilst I wonder how on earth I filled a (40l?) Fairview for a six day trip over Christmas! Most of it is gifts, but still :')
We all start somewhere! 5 years ago I remember taking a backpack and a roller bag for just 6 days.
I'm usually more minimalistic, not the same as you but ~26l for trips less than a week long and ~40l for multi-week train trips which imho isn't too bad. Idk what happened this time.
Also, I recently upgraded from a 2013 Farpoint and I'm convinced the newer model fits a lot less stuff 😅
Hahahaha I feel the same about my far point 😂
This .. 20l would be a good challenge. Personal .. all under 35l seems "to small". No idea. 8l Sling is good for a Daytrip.
I would generally advise against setting out for long-term travel with no extra space in your pack. There will be things you want to pick up along the way (though worst case you just carry an extra bag with a few things so not a big deal).
However instead of sizing up, I'd just cut out a few things, maybe a t-shirt, one pair of shorts, the dry bag. Pick between jeans and travel pants if you can.
Overall very solid list though and sounds like an amazing trip!
ETA: do you really need that much cold-weather gear for the itinerary? Long sox might be enough to not bring long johns? If your underwear is quick-drying you can bring 3 and wash while you shower.
ETA2: if you're in a blizzard you might want a buff/neck gaiter!
I am yet to get to the shower with clothes stage of one-bagging, although essentially all the clothes are quick drying except the jeans. This trip should take me to Mongolia and Northern Japan at some point in the spring, and coming from a colder climate I'd rather be prepared then be caught out in the cold. Although the Jeans and Puffer jacket might be ditched on the road.
How much mileage do you thing I could get from rotating 2 pairs of shorts (1 Uniqlo 1 travel pants sans pant legs) in SEA? I'm concerned about soaking one through with sweat and not having immediate access to laundry, etc. That second pair of shorts is sitting on the chopping block as we speak.
I take 1 pair + gym shorts, I sweat a lot but have never had issues, even in SEA (though I don't spend too much time there precisely due to the climate). Shorts should be easy to pick up on the way if need be, so I think you should be safe to cut 1 pair from the initial list.
Also the "20L" is in quotes because this bag is anything but 20 liters.
Nice. Good luck on your trip. Suggestions:
+ Imodium.
+ Possibly: small flashlight / headtorch / similar.
+ Several debit / credit cards
+ SIM removal tool.
+ Sunglasses ?
Jeans x1 -> replace with lighter, more compact & more versatile pants.
Shorts x4 -> x2. (1 all-rounder, 1 hybrid).
Underwear x7 -> x5.
Sox short x5 -> x3
Karabiners multiple -> x1, or max x2
Totally forgot to list my sim opening tool and debit cards in the packing list, but don't worry, they exist. And the multitool has a sim tool. That being said my goal is to never buy a simcard. I love using travel as an excuse to disconnect, and this trip I am trying to go fully paper when possible.
Sunglasses didn't make the cut because I don't own a pair that I felt comfortable throwing in this bag without thinking that they'd break. Do you have any recommendations that would be fine without a hardshell case?
Sox and Undies for me are a non-negotiable because for creature comforts I MUST put on a new pair every single day, and I plan on doing laundry no more than every 4-5 days.... although that needs to change.
Karabiners are an absolute necessity, I forgot to mention this in the post, but I added 4 additional loops on the bottom of the bag, bringing the total to 8 loops for Karabiners. In the event that I want to thruhike with this bag I plan on clipping a sleeping bag+shelter (tent/tarp/hammock/etc) to the bottom of the bag, and in anycase, my sandals can clip on under the bag to save space.
My sunglasses are simply regular glasses with prescription lenses (UK supplier: Glasses Direct), and are reasonably durable. I ditched the supplied case, replacing it with a compact, cheap & light, but still reasonably protective, one sourced from ebay. Glasses 25g + case 30g = total 55g.
Wondering if you've tried merino wool socks? I also refuse to re-wear socks/underwear after a day EXCEPT for wool socks. They're antimicrobial and you can easily get a 3 days minimum out of a single pair without feeling gross. They're also much better than cotton if they get wet (warmer, drier, fewer blisters, etc). I'm doing about 8 months next year with three pair of socks and feeling guilty since I could really get by with two lol. Also, jeans and multiple pairs of shorts could be reconsidered. Enjoy your trip!
[Jeans x1 -> replace with lighter, more compact & more versatile pants.]
EU can be "somewhat" cold in the winter .. Jeans is fine, compared to multifunction trekking pants.
Experience: Living in CH.
The jeans seem to be a common theme, not just on this thread, but on the sub as a whole. Do you have any recommendations for a replacement that doesn't look like stupid utility travel pants (of which I'm already taking 1 pair)
Amazing what you can get into a small bag. Great documentation.
The Gillette Venus women’s razor with Mach III men’s head is my go to.
Are men's and women's Gillette razors interchangeable?
No. The Venus and Mach III are definitely the same mount. I tried a Mach V in ignorance and they have a different connection. Why that is so is baffling. I guess they get to sell more stuff to end up in the landfill.
> I hope this kit could cover me from a blizzard (Uniqlo heattech, Quarterzip, puffer jacket, rain jacket, long johns, travel pants over jeans)
Don't underestimate the value of being comfortable rather than just being covered.
I have traveled with the idea being that I would wear 3 pairs of pants if it got cold. But then it did get cold, and wearing 3 pairs of pants was very inconvenient and uncomfortable. So now I travel with the idea being that I want to be comfortable, rather than just being covered.
> due to cost considerations (not wanting to risk getting a fine at the gate) and aggressive minimalism, I have elected to give the Cotopaxi Allpa Mini 20L pack a try.
You are going on a 6 month trip and limiting your packing because you are worried about potentially paying carryon fees? Penny wise, pound foolish.
I don't anticipate on being in a number of blizzards, and personally I am fine with being uncomfortable for a day or two in order to minimize the amount of stuff I'm carrying.
The money discussion doesn't come up as much as maybe it should on this sub, and as an American I trend to avoid it. But plain and simple, cost is the biggest consideration on this trip and the 12 flights I have booked so far are by far the biggest expense in this trip, having already spent ~$1,200 and I still need an Asia to US flight in June. After calculating all of my previous travel costs, in Europe in the US I average $69 dollars of total spending per day on the road, however that is in major US cities and Western European capitals with an average lodging cost (hostels/air bnbs/hotels) of $33 per night and both figures decreased considerably with every trip I take. I am aiming for a cost factor of ~$30 per day in total travel costs. The vast majority of the trip will be in SEA. Japan is the highest cost of living place I plan on being, and I won't be there for long.
That's all to say that a ~$80-$100 fine at the gate would make a dent in my budget. Especially considering I already have 12 flights booked all personal-item-only which (I know this will never happen) could hypothetically double the amount I spent on all of these flights ($1200).
It's a miracle that the option exists to fly between 4 continents for $1200 is a miracle. And personally I think ultra cheap flights and one bagging go hand and hand. I'd rather not deal with the anxiety of arriving to an airport with a bag that I know doesn't fit the sizer. At the end of the day I think this trip will include well over 20 total flights at 20 or more airports, where I may or may not be able to effectively communicate with gate agents. That's a scenario no amount of clothing can prepare me for.
It's just like r/vanlife, in that you can't tell who is here because they want to be, or who is here because they HAVE to be...
This is all r/shoestring not r/onebag.
Maybe one bagging, but definitely not r/onebag. This is subreddit dedicated to consumption? The people who are perpetually one bagging are wealthy.
Well... I mean, not to fuel your anxiety, but the Allpa 20 won't always fit in the sizers anyway? After you read the dimensions on the website, it's good to actually measure the bag. They're rarely exactly correct.
But, realistically, these airlines are MUCH more likely to make you weigh your bag than size it. And a luggage scale is cheap.
Do you think it will be easier to explain to a foreign immigration officer why you are traveling for 6 months with only a carryon? A $100 charge for a checked bag would affect your budget. Being denied entry to a country would almost certainly affect it much more.
I think the cost element should be considered a little more in this sub, cost cutting is what got me here and I doubt I'm alone in that.
The setup is comfortably under 5kg so I haven't bothered with a scale
How has your experience been explaining onebagging to customs agents? I haven't considered that factor whatsoever. I don't remember too many posts talking about being denied entry due to onebagging, but that is a very interesting point.
Well that sort of goes back to what I said earlier: It's just like r/vanlife, in that you can't tell who is here because they want to be, or who is here because they HAVE to be... and I understand why you would want cost to be discussed here in this subreddit more, but you should look around at the other subreddits in the Related Communities in the sidebar and then report back if you feel that's actually realistic.
The scale is there so the check-in agent can't lie about your bag being over the limit and charge you.
The honest answer to this question is that because all my clothes are tailored, they don't ask. Traveling with my brother, he always has to show them that he has money, or that he has onward travel plans.
Yeah, it's embarrassing, so not a lot of people post about it. But... I mean someone started a thread in r/travel 11 hours ago about being denied entry to Japan.
This does not sound credible. Nobody will deny your entry just because you travel with one bag. Lots of people do that. And the post in r/travel you are referring to is totally unrelated - "they denied me entry since I marked down that I had a conviction (it was only for weed - a misdemeanor, in Texas)."
Do you know where they might be more likely to weigh the bag? I've never had a personal-item weighed, but maybe that's just a US/EU experience? Have you come across gate agents/check in agents giving you trouble for weight?
My clothes are far from tailored, but I'll always be wearing jeans and a collar when going through customs, thanks for reminding me to get "onward" tickets to show them. I'd hate for customs to come into play here.
Thank you for all the feedback, a lot of things still left to cover prior to departure!
Southeast Asia.
I've never had a personal item sized, anywhere on earth. But 40-50% of the time I travel through SE Asia, my bags get weighed. There are some airlines, VietJet, etc, that will 100% weigh your bag, every time, sometimes twice.
Japan is going to be tough. Think about it like this: If your goal really is to spend less than $33/day, then why would Japan want you in their country? They don't benefit from you getting a cultural experience, they benefit from your money, and if there is no benefit to Japan then they aren't going to let you in.
When I went through Japanese immigration in September, they asked me where I was staying, when I was leaving and how much money I expected to spend, daily, on my trip. If you put too low an amount, they don't let you into their country. If you exaggerate your anticipated spending, then you are lying to the government of Japan, on immigration paperwork. It's very common for them to ask to see 3 months of bank statements, and if you've been traveling for 3 months spending less than $100/day, then I would not expect to get into Japan.
You 'should' be able to pull up the form on their website and look at the questions you will have to answer on your flight into Japan.
“Do you think it will be easier to explain to a foreign immigration officer why you are traveling for 6 months with only a carryon? A $100 charge for a checked bag would affect your budget. Being denied entry to a country would almost certainly affect it much more.“
I’m confused whenever this idea comes up in the sub. Do immigration officers see in the immigration notes how much baggage you’re bringing? Because usually you collect luggage after passing immigration.
What’s the multitool you’re carrying?
It is the Mini Sailor Pliers Lite from NexTool (https://nextoolstore.com/collections/outdoor/products/mini-sailor-pliers-lite%E4%B8%A8nextool%C2%AE).
It features pliers, flat and Philipshead screwdrivers, bottle opener, sim opener, and mini scissors. I love tinkering, so having something on me at all times feels like a necessity. Watching airport security in the US and Europe (only on new machines) I noticed even with the scissors nothing shows up as "blade-like" on a security monitor, and by any airport security rules it is technically legal. Although I'm yet to take it beyond the US/Europe so your mileage may vary, and I will update here as soon as it is confiscated.
Thanks.
It looks a bit like the now-discontinued Leatherman Style PS in size and tool selection. I used to carry this for travel until the scissors broke and the tweezers got stuck. It was a rare Leatherman fail.
Awesome kit and list. I’d personally cut back on the amount of pants and ditch the jeans. If you also need online maps, check out mapy.cz. It’s Czech but has English interface and is wayy superior to google maps. Also beautiful cap, Fuck the Yankees 🤣
This is fab! Good luck! And 20L for 6 months, impressive!
If you really think about it, once you concede that you'll have to do laundry once on a trip, whether it's at the 5 or 10 day mark, it's really all the same for trip length!
DAMN! I wish I had seen this bag before I bought the 28L, which was just a liiiittle too big on my last trip.
I'm curious what you plan to do at these destinations? I admire minimalism and I aspire to it - but I find it impossible to pack this little. I need laptops for working. I enjoy hobbies that require gear (boxing gloves, for example. Or athletic clothing). I'm not sure what I'd even do for 6 months without a laptop or some of my hobby gear.
So what's your typical entertainment look like? You don't do any type of work at all that would require a laptop?
Thank you for asking the questions I have yet to ask myself. I'm not quite sure what I plan to do at these destinations. I enjoy exploring new cities and public transit systems. My plan is to make friends at Hostels and join them on their travels. I am open to everything and I'd like to see as much as I can while being prepared for every scenario. Personally I love the "where", "when", and "how". The "what" and "why" are just fun constraints to build around.
I am not working on this trip (besides potentially volunteering in hostels or on a farm), I've been saving aggressively for 2 years to allow this trip to be purely for fun.
For entertainment, I have elected to not. The Qin F21 phone has Spotify, I am planning on buying a book if I find myself with downtime, but otherwise I hope new friends the trip itself will be entertaining enough.
Sweet, I really like that mentality. Just showing up and figuring it out. I did something similar for a 2-3 month trip to Thailand - nothing but my flights booked and figuring it all out when I landed. It was one of my favorite experiences.
What a blessing to not have to work during that time, that's going to be really fun. I don't think I've been detached from my laptop in over a decade. Working remotely, having a side business to maintain - laptop is always with me no matter what. Can't imagine the freedom of not having to worry about that stuff at all.
Well I admire the way you're approaching the trip - I hope you have a great time.
this level of one bagging is incredible. Idk how you all do it
We do it for the good folx like yourself, u/Furrypocketpussy
Phenomenal list, minus the choice in baseball team (go Blue Jays)
But seriously, this is a fantastic list. I completely forgot the Allpa came in a 20L size, how do you like it compared to the 28?
For my purposes the 20L is a scaled down version of the old 28L (I'm less familiar with the update version), The 2 biggest differences I noticed, the 20L doesn't include the dedicated laptop pocket as seen in the 28L, and the only difference I cared about is the lack of a dedicated toiletries pocket. Otherwise essentially a scale model.
Oh and the small fabric loop that prevents the main zipper from being pulled quickly is also missing.
https://jkg.jp/column/law-htm/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Leatherman/comments/1b0l4xe/psa_tsa_safe_multitools_wont_get_through_all/
Japan explicitly bans 'multi-tools' and Japan and Korea are the only countries that caught my 'tsa approved' folding scissors that look like a pen and examined them for a minute before handing it back to me... but I think some travelers like above weren't so lucky so definitely just up to the agents.
Wow. Thank you for linking that article. Maybe google translate is overdramatic but those Japanese knife laws sound absurd. I'll be sure to try and avoid that situation at all costs. Thank you!
This post should be highlighted. This is the way. 20L bag, in a bag that weights less than 1kg. One underwear for each day of the week and no crazy stuff like a bottle of sauce or a snorkeling mask.
Could still cut a bit (second earbuds, second toothpaste tubes... maybe you could buy as you need). Would also drop the second phone. I'd re-think the idea of one packing-to-rule-them-all, you will get cold weather in Portugal and than warm weather in South America. I'd bring the Uniqlo puff jacket (love that thing) and layer out. You can keep the rain jacket at home and purchase a small umbrella instead when you need.
Thank you! The second items will be the first to go! If all goes well for the first month of the trip, on my 2 day layover in America I plan on dropping off the smartphone with a friend if I'm confident I can go without smartphone features. And one of those 2 little toothpastes will likely be used.
As for the headphones, both have their use cases, for example, wired for when the wireless die and need to charge, or if I'm in a scenario where wireless would make me stick out, and wireless is for normal people things.
I know you mostly wanna take less, but I love taking a little pouch with me for all of my scrap maps/receipts/tickets. But you can maybe remove
- a tooth paste (unless they are prescription you can't get elsewhere)
- switch your laundry bag to a plastic bag (also keeps in smells more)
- maybe go from 4 to 2-3 pairs of shorts unless you do sports a lot and/or get your trousers sweaty easily
- you can try wool socks so you have to bring less, but I prefer wearing them 1 time, wearing another pair, wearing the first pair, etc - so not wearing them 2 days in a row but have them air out in between (and some people will tell you to wear them for a week but 2 times is enough for me).
- what will you use the drybag for? I took one with me but didnt use it that much
I plan on using the included tablet pouch for my scrap (great term), but if I can find something better, that's a great idea!
The toothpastes are tiny and I like having travel size (I have gone over 6 years without missing a single morning nor night of brushing, that won't end on the road)
The laundry bag doubles as a tote and I like putting it in the wash with my clothes, but I will try a plastic bag if things get too stinky, are you thinking of simply a plastic grocery bag? or something more robust?
My shorts get sweaty and I see it as 2 day-day pairs, 1 utility pair, and 1 running/water pair. However you're right in that 1 day-day pair is probably first thing on the block
Do you have any recommendations for wool socks? All together socks aren't a significant factor for weight or volume in this setup, but I'd appreciate anything to make this kit better!
The drybag is for my reoccurring dream/nightmere/fantasy that I will be on an adventure and need to cross a body of water, forge a river, etc, with the entire kit on my person. If this happens once even in a canoe or kayak this will be considered the most useful item in the kit.
I use something like this . I just used a plastic grocery bag (which might even double as an emergency dream/nightmare/fantasy kayak crossing protection!).
But I do always like taking a tote bag as well, just in case you do groceries or buy too many snacks to fit in your bag. But then you can't carry food and laundry at the same time unless you have questionable hygiene habits and like to go shopping with your dirty socks.
For shorts, would you also wear the utility pair day to day? And how often do you actually go running? (looking at myself - I brought a sports bra and only wore it on laundry day)
I like darntough socks - specifically the merino no show running socks (but be sure to choose any length of sock you prefer). I brought 2 pairs of those "good socks" and 2 normal pairs and would very much notice the difference between them. So even if I don't care about volume or weight, I just like the fit of them better as well. They are actually a bit bulkier than my regular low socks but that's also just because socks are tiny.
Wireless earbuds: Soundcore Sport X20 (would highly recommend)
I have the same ones. I use them for loud city transport like subway, bus and ferry rides. The battery life is excellent.
So do you check your bag or bring it on board when flying?
Bag comes with me at all times. On a less than full flight I’ll put it in an overhead bin to save my legroom
Too many shorts. One pair is enough
I'd hate to get to a "one perfect shoe" type question. But are there any shorts you'd recommend taking 1 pair of that are: quick drying, sweat resistant/cool, and business casual/golf style? The second pair of shorts seems to be the first thing on the chopping block. Thanks
https://us.oneill.com/products/reserve-light-check-21-dark-khaki maybe?
I love this
I did it do not get altitude sickness !
Which electric toothbrush are you bringing?
The most basic $8 AA battery powered toothbrush branded by my local supermarket's in-house brand. It is one of the bulkier items on the list but I like the spinny head and it is something I'm sure I can replace on the road as needed.
WOW. I love your details post.
What's the final weight of the bag after you packed everything ?
Unfortunately I did not weigh the bag, but it is easily under 5kg, I will update when I'm at the airport and can use their scale.
How much does this weigh? Size is one thing for carry on but weight also matters - it’s where I get stuck most often
I find myself with the opposite issue, essentially everything I pack is clothing and very very little tech, so I've always felt volume constrained and never come up against weight issues. For that reason, I am yet to weigh this setup, but I will update with the weight whenever I come across a scale (likely at the airport)
Nice list! Great example of packing for a range of conditions, not exclusively special travel clothes/gear, and still keeping it super compact.
I see people have suggested wool socks to be able to pack fewer socks. I'd also suggest swapping out some short socks for at least one more pair of long/warm socks. Even "warm" socks aren't warm when they're damp/sweaty from being worn around a while. For Portugal in January, I'd want at least two pairs of warm socks to be able to change into a dry pair after a long day of walking or in case of rain.
Hope the trip is a blast!!
I’ve read all the comments and agree with umbrella, wool socks, and headlamp. I would strongly consider bringing credit cards for security reasons. Money stolen from your debit card is much more difficult to replace, any decent travel card will have other benefits like travel disruption insurance, rental card insurance, no international processing fees etc. when I travel I only use the debit card for atms and always keep it somewhere safe. Credit cards come out and about.
Hey man super inspirational write up , bookmarking this post & looking forward to reading the updates as your travel progress 💙💪🌎 Best of luck,age travel & go have a blast 🤞 6 months world stamp approved 🗺️🫡