The Art of One Bag Travel

When I was younger, my family traveled with multiple suitcases. A personal bag, a carry-on suitcase, and one or two larger checked suitcases were our standard. Frankly, it was always a nightmare just trying to get in and out of the airport. I could see the grimace on taxi drivers’ faces when they pulled up to us. And even though I was a kid, I knew travelling like this was costly in more ways than one.

Once I became an adult and went on my first solo trip, I decided to do things a little differently. I arrived at the airport with nothing more than a backpack that fit the personal item requirements. The ease with which I was able to breeze through the airport without waiting in line or dragging around fifty pounds or fighting to cram an oversized suitcase into the overhang caused me to completely abandon my old family ways and embrace a lifestyle that I later learned was called one bagging.

What is one bag travel?

At its core, one bagging combines minimalism with travel. You pack everything you need into one well-designed bag. Nothing more. Nothing less.

There’s an active subreddit, r/onebag, for the community that 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.

It sounds so simple, but it changes everything about how you move. You walk off the plane ready to go. You skip the baggage carousel. No suitcases are lost or damaged. You can toss your own bag in the Uber. 

Beyond the money you’ll save on baggage fees, one bagging improves your travel experience. When you’re not constantly wrangling seven bags on the subway or scouring the hotel room for a lost hairbrush, you’re better able to enjoy your vacation.

But how can you travel with just one bag?

This is where the minimalism mindset really comes in. To successfully one bag, you need to bring less things. For the well-dressed and/or the over-prepared, this can be nerve-wracking, but it’s totally doable. Pack less clothing, but make sure that your clothes are versatile to account for a variety of situations. Toss a laundry detergent sheet in there and you’ll be able to travel for far longer. 

Really think about what’s necessary to get you through your trip. If you’re not traveling for work, then you probably don’t need to bring your laptop and iPad.

Ask yourself:

• Do I really need this? 
• Can one item serve more than one purpose? 
• If I lost it, would it matter?

These questions guide what makes it into your bag. Once you get used to thinking this way, you’ll notice the same mindset creeping into other parts of your life. You stop collecting and start curating.

The real challenge, of course, is finding a bag that can handle it. You need something compact but capable, tough but comfortable, organized but not overcomplicated. 

What to look for in a one bag travel backpack

Technically, any single bag is a one bag, but not all bags are made equal. A cheap backpack from Amazon might survive one trip only to have the strap fail on the next. A bag that might fit the size requirements may lack organizational pockets to keep you sane.

If you’re going to live out of one bag, the bag itself has to be exceptional. 

The ideal One Bag has:

• The right size so you can bring it as a carry-on or personal item. The standard personal item size for many airlines is 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm), but this can vary, so it’s best to check with your specific airline. 
• Structure to protect your gear and stay upright when set down. 
• Good organization so everything has a place and is easy to find. 
• Durable materials that can handle years of use. 
• Comfortable straps and back support for long walks. 
• A minimal design that fits both work and leisure.

The best one bag travel backpack for a weekend

Norwalk + 20L Backpack

Looking for something to get you through a short trip? We designed the NORWALK + 20L BACKPACK to be your one bag travel backpack. Veto Pro Pac has a strong reputation among tradespeople for building rugged, reliable tool bags. That same design philosophy carries through in the VETO GO line, created for travelers, commuters, and professionals who need a bag that works anywhere.

This bag is made to perform, not to show off. It’s durable, smartly organized, and balanced between work and everyday use.