One Bag Methods for Minimizing Your Pack
One-bag travelers define specific methods and routines to stay organized and keep their packs to a minimum; the four primary methods to think about are laundry, packing, work setup, and everyday carry needs.
Laundry Method
Laundry can be as simple or complex as you want it to be, depending on your preferences, here are some common practices and methods:
Minimalist one-baggers (<20L) pack 3-4 sets of clothes and hand-wash small items (socks, shirts, underwear) on a nightly or fortnightly basis.
Mid-weight one-bag travelers (30-40L) pack a week's worth of clothes and do laundry every week (either hand-washing or laundry service).
Heavy-weight one-bag travelers (40L+) may opt for laundry every 1.5-2 weeks.
A popular middle-of-the-road approach is to pack 7-10 base layers (socks, underwear, shirts - since they don't take much space) and 2-3 mid-layers (shorts, pants, hoodies, etc. - since they don't need to be washed as often); this approach lets you skip hand-washing while still giving you 1-2 weeks of wear before laundry is necessary.
In any case, one-bag travelers choose their preferred method and pack an appropriate amount of clothing to match that schedule.
Packing Method
Every one-bag traveler has their preferred packing method. The primary methods are packing cubes, vacuum-sealed compression bags, dry bags, wash bags, plastic bags (generic 1L plastic bags), and no bags; and recently, we've seen backpacks with built-in vacuum bags like the AiroPack.
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
No Bags - easy packing (simple roll method), zero extra weight, less to lose while traveling / no internal space savings or organization.
I prefer an ultralight dry bag for packing, it compresses clothes better than packing cubes, pulls double-duty as a dry bag for boat trips and beach days, and doesn't require any additional hardware that needs to be charged, tracked, or kept safe.
Work Setup
Everyone's work setup will be different, but here are a few tips to minimize your setup:
Pack a single splitter cable with a Lightening, Micro-USB, and USB-C plug - this makes cable management easy, you can still charge multiple devices, and if anything happens to the cable, you can find a replacement at any convenience store, anywhere in the world. In other words, don't bring the default cable for each device, bring a single cable for all your devices.
Pack an international adapter, but don't be overly concerned about it, just like power cables, international adapters are stocked at most convenience stores, if you forget it, lose it, or break it, it's easily replaced, wherever you are in the world.
Consider leaving your portable monitor, laptop stand, and portable keyboard at home - the less you pack, the less you'll worry, and these big-ticket items are rarely worth the extra space they take up. If you're not using it every day at home, you definitely won't need it for travel. In addition, many coworking offices offer external monitors for rent, problem solved.
Assume you'll only ever have one working outlet and plan accordingly, this is especially true if you plan to stay in shared hostel dorms, where each bunk gets a single outlet. If you can charge all your devices using a single outlet, you've successfully minimized your technical footprint.
Everyday Carry Methods
If you're traveling long-term, you'll likely find yourself wanting a smaller pack for short trips: bike tours, beach days, grocery store runs, day hikes, general city exploration, commuting, etc.
Most one-bag travelers opt for one of the following options for daily use:
Packable Day Pack: Good for general use, day trips, and short hikes, but the frameless design makes them uncomfortable for extended wear.
Dedicated (small) Hiking Pack or Camelback: Good for general use, day trips, and short to moderate hikes - the foam-framed structure makes them more comfortable for longer wear but adds weight and takes up more space, you're effectively managing two bags instead of one.
Chest Sling or Waist Pack: Good for general use and day trips, may be okay for short hikes, but the smaller size limits what you can carry. You may want to add a packable tote bag for beach trips and grocery store runs.
Each option has trade-offs, if you're a heavy hiker, you'll likely want a second, smaller, dedicated hiking pack, if you're mostly city-bound, a chest sling plus tote bag may be ideal, and if you're not sure, a packable day pack gives you the most versatility in the least amount of space.
After years of one-bag travel, my vote is for a small, dedicated hiking pack that doubles as a personal item on travel days; yes it's technically 1.5 bagging, but who's counting?
Conclusion
There you have it, the four methods to consider for minimizing your pack for one-bag travel.
For more tips on minimizing your pack, check out How to Minimize Your Pack for One-Bag Travel.
Read Next: Essential One-Bag Travel Accessories
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