The ultimate guide to onebagging: A minimalist mindset for travel
Whether it’s a trip to Europe or one across the world, packing really is a nightmare and by far the worst part of travelling.
What are you taking, how are you fitting it all in, will your bag comply with the airline’s ridiculous luggage measurements: I don’t know about you, but I try to cover every eventuality, wherein I’ve got more spare battery packs than a Duracell factory and even my spare underwear has spare underwear, and of course, I pack a jacket even if it’s going to be boiling, just in case I regret it if the temperature decides to play me. The next thing I know, I’ve overpacked, and I’m trying to navigate Shanghai while carrying 25 kilos on my back, like a surreal CrossFit challenge.
If you’re like me, then it’s time to learn about a minimalist approach to travelling in the form of onebagging. In some ways, it’s just a way to pack light, but in others, it’s more a philosophy of travel akin to feng shui with a passport. This travel subculture has spread globally, with the onebag subreddit now containing over 871,000 members, the community nurturing a love for the approach that is both highly practical and near-spiritual.
The key principle of one-bagging is efficiency: it’s about being well organised and crucially carrying only what you need. The trade-off is that while you won’t have every possible outcome covered, you’ll have the majority, and by only carrying what you need, it’ll allow you to be quick and mobile, and ultimately liberate you.
If you’re running for your train with your rucksack on, you can gently jog to the platform and won’t need to be pulling your suitcase while trying to stop your backpack from falling off your shoulders. You’ll have total freedom without needing to pay extra to chuck your suitcase in the hold on the plane, or have the stress of taking a metro at rush hour with huge bags. You also won’t need to spend time worrying about what you’re going to wear when you’ve only got a few options in your bag, which will in turn allow you to get creative with what’s there.
The byline on r/onebag gives a good explainer as to what this travel philosophy is all about: “Pack less and simplify your travel experience, prioritising exploration over logistics. Onebagging allows you to immerse yourself in your destination by using your bag as a tool, not as the main focus of your trip.”
The starting point is a good backpack, essentially a carry-on, ideally something between 30 and 40 litres, and I’d also recommend getting something with comfortable padded straps to make it less of a chore to carry. Since durability is paramount, investing in quality is probably a good start, especially to protect you against the weather as well as wear and tear. Then, my final recommendation on bag construction is to get one with a clamshell opening, for it makes it substantially easier to cram everything you need in. There are numerous bags that get acclaim on r/onebag, but the Osprey Farpoint is one name that you see again and again, and one I can personally vouch for, too.
From there, it’s all about the packing and one key lesson I learned is to pack for the week, not for the entire trip. Aside from that, there are other rules worth considering, such as picking clothing colours that’ll all complement each other; I’m a believer that dark clothing is better at hiding dirt, and crucially, works with everything. Also consider the material of your apparel and ask yourself whether it washes well and is quick drying, where fabrics like merino wool and some synthetic materials offer that, as well as limit odour.
Packing cubes came as a revelation to me: keeping clothes compressed makes them far easier to pack, and has the added benefit of keeping your bag organised. On the same lines, I’d recommend a tech bag to use in a similar way as your toiletries bag, so you can have your battery packs, AirPods, leads and plug adaptor in one place.
A small, foldable rucksack is also a worthy addition to your bag and gives you an option to use as a day bag, rather than emptying all your gear out, and some of them fold down to smaller than a tennis ball to easily fit into some crevice. The final trick I learned is to consider what you’re wearing on your travel days, and you should wear your biggest shoes or boots or your thickest jumper, or tie it around your waist to be economical about space.
Travelling is about simplicity, agility, adaptability and ultimately freedom, so consider packing only what you need on your next trip, and who knows, you might enjoy it so much that you take your newfound minimal approach into other areas of your life.
