One Bag Travel: Everything You Need to Know
Published October 15, 2021
The Tortuga Promise
At Tortuga, our mission is to make travel easier. Our advice and recommendations are based on years of travel experience. We only recommend products that we use on our own travels.
Table of Contents
One bagging is the packing version of minimalism.
Newbie travelers always start by bringing way too much stuff. They pack for every square inch the airline will allow onboard the plan plus however much checked luggage they can afford. We understand the instinct, but it’s the wrong way to approach travel.
Traveling is about what you experience, not what you packed.
If minimalism is about owning fewer but better things, one bagging is about packing fewer but better things.
Pack for trips of one week or more without checking a bag.
- Thick comfortable straps
- Easy to organize
- Durable, waterproof fabric
- Backed by our Worldwide Warranty
Doug Dyment, the creator of OneBag.com, puts it well:
[I]f you persevere, you will at some point reach a transcendent moment, in which your (one) bag will be small and light enough to carry without consequence, no longer of any meaningful concern. And—from that instant—your travel experiences will be forever changed, with an unfettered freedom that is quite simply beyond the understanding of those who remain bound to their baggage.
You can find the one bag community online at Reddit.
The /r/onebag subreddit describes itself as:
[A] minimalist urban travel community devoted to the idea of lugging around less crap; onebag travel. Fewer items, packed into a single bag for ease of transport to make travelling simpler with more focus on the experience than the logistics.
Whether you’re looking for a “transcendent moment” or just to lug around “less crap,” one bagging is the first step.
The minimalist lifestyle isn’t for everyone, but we think that one bag ideals can—and should—be applied to all travelers’ packing lists. Less stuff means more focus on the experience. Isn’t that why you’re traveling in the first place?
Traveling Like a One Bagger
Ever see that person in the airport who zips past a crowded escalator and beats everyone to the top, because they have a travel backpack and took the stairs? That person also didn’t have to wait at baggage claim. They never fear lost luggage. Their bags never get tagged at the gate for being oversized.
One bag travel saves you money because you never have to deal with baggage fees. You’ll feel more secure because your luggage never leaves your sight. And best of all, it gives you the ability to spend as little time as possible in the airport worrying about your luggage. Just land and get your adventure started.
Traveling with one bag make the “in transit” part of your trip faster, easier, and cheaper. So you can get on with it and get to the fun part.
How to Pack Like a One Bagger
If you’re new to packing light, let’s start with the core curriculum. One bagging is a slightly more limited version of carry-on-only traveling. Think of it as traveling with your
First, learn the rules of what you can bring onboard your flight.
With a firm grasp of the rules, we can move on to the general approach of how to pack less.
With the theory portion covered, you’re ready for the tactics. Depending on where you’re starting, jump into our “Step Down to
One Bag Packing List
As OneBag.com recommends, you’ll need a carry on packing list. Download the linked packing list and use it as an all-purpose list for getting started. From there, you can customize the list based on your own style and preferences.
You can also check our blog for destination-specific packing lists to match your next trip.
What to Look for in a One Bag Travel Backpack
Any single bag is technically one bagging. But carrying a giant, 80L hiking pack that’s taller than you are, defeats the purpose of one bagging. Especially because you’ll have to check it.
One bagging is about “just what you need,” not “just in case.”
Carry-On-Sized
The right size for your one bag is
Most airlines have
We applaud their commitment but also know that most people won’t go that far.
To strike the best balance of minimalism, packing space, and sticking to the airlines’ rules, we recommend a backpack between 35-40L. Check with your airline before flying. If you fly multiple connecting flights, check each airline individually. The Travel Backpack 30L works as a
Front-Loading
Aside from their size, the other reason that hiking bags don’t work well for travel is that they’re disorganized and messy.
Remember the last time you had to dump everything out of your bag to find your last clean t-shirt buried at the bottom? If so, you know that a backpack that only opens at the top like a garbage bag is a nightmare to use.
Instead, opt for a backpack that opens from the front, like a suitcase, so you can always find what you need. A front-loading (or panel-loading) bag is always organized and easy to find whatever you need.
Organized
Get a backpack with a spacious main compartment for your clothes. Keep the main compartment simple for more flexibility in packing. If you need more organization, add a set of packing cubes.
Look for a good balance of compartments and pockets for all of your small stuff. But don’t overdo it. Too many pockets can be limiting and will take away from your packing space.
If you expect to carry a laptop or tablet, make sure your backpack has dedicated, protected spaces for one or both.
Comfortable
If you’ve used hiking backpacks, you know their best ergonomic feature: a hip belt. The belt allows you to transfer most of the load from your shoulders to your stronger leg muscles and keep your back happy all day long.
Other small details make a difference for overall comfort. Make sure that the shoulder straps and back panel are well-padded and that the backpack fits your torso.
Low Profile
One bag travel is about minimalism, simplicity, and ease. Your bag should reflect that too.
A colorful bag is useful in the outdoors but will make you stick out in urban settings. Go for a subdued color palette and minimal branding.
Pack for trips of one week or more without checking a bag.
- Thick comfortable straps
- Easy to organize
- Durable, waterproof fabric
- Backed by our Worldwide Warranty
The Best One Bag Travel Backpack
Whether you’re new to packing light or a seasoned minimalist, we designed the Travel Backpack to be your one bag
The
New one baggers will prefer the larger, 4OL Travel Backpack. If you’re looking to pack even lighter, downsize to the 30L version.
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Fred Perrotta
Co-Founder, Tortuga
Fred Perrotta is the co-founder and CEO of Tortuga. His first backpacking trip to Europe inspired him to start the company. For over a decade, he’s traveled the world from his home base in the Bay Area while working remotely. When he’s on the road, Fred enjoys both walking and eating as much as possible.