I think there are limits to onebag travel, depending on your travel needs, style, and purpose.
Types of travelers.
OG- The original gangster of onebag travel. They literally only use onebag, no slings, no packable daypacks. One bagging in the most pure sense. They travel on budget airlines, walk, use public transportation, stay at cheap hotels/hostels, and usually carry all of their belongings on them. They save as much money as possible so they can travel longer. One bagging is absolutely for them.
LK2- The low key two bagger. (Aka SBH u/SeattleHikeBike) They are similar to the OG, but they carry a sling or packable daypack. They typically stay at slightly better hotels, where they are comfortable leaving their main bag unsecured. They still like to walk and explore, but like having a few essential items on them at all times. Although it isn’t exactly one bagging, we will turn a blind eye.
MAE- Middle aged explorers u/TheGoldenChow. They have done it all and know what works for …
Inspired by a post here recently about not buying new things to travel, I thought I’d break my “lurker” trend and put up my bag from my last trip.
Nothing was new for the trip but all the clothes were new this year because I was a different size before so have needed to replace my whole wardrobe. This means a lot of the things I bought were pretty cheap. Mostly they’re holding up very well.
A good while ago I saw someone estimate the cost of their bag and it made me baulk, so I thought it would be fun to count up the cost of this bag, and maybe it will help someone else to realise they don’t have to have a gazillion pounds to travel this way. Of course the replacement cost would be higher, especially because of my free phone, but that’s not the game I was playing! I have taken a proportional cost for things in multipacks, and have to do some estimating.
Pics in imgur, here: https://imgur.com/a/PYcawZS
​
Pic 1: clothes, including worn …
Since starting to pack down to only one bag when I’ve been travelling, its an amazing feeling. I’ve really started to notice some things that have crept into my daily life, and I love it. For me they are:
Gramicci G pants. Been a fan of them for a couple of years now, super comfy, the black ones can be dressy, built in belt, perfect for hiking and climbing. Also weirdly popular these days (In the UK at least) so they look cool in some more fashion forward places.
Waterproof trail running shoes. Currently rocking some by The North Face as I get that sweet, sweet staff discount. They’re insanely comfy, low profile, light, don’t stand out as major brand trainers but aren’t super clumpy looking. Perfect for light hiking, I don’t tend to bring big hiking shoes unless I have something major planned. If I need dress shoes (which is incredibly rare) I just pop to a supermarket nearby, or a second hand shop.
Reusable ear plugs. A godsend. So good that …
For those that don’t know, Tynan was one of the first bloggers (around 2008) to be dedicated to the concept of traveling with one bag. He’s since transitioned his posts to more transcendental topics and about making a living as a digital nomad. I look forward to his gear post every year.
22L is a common pack volume, so here’s a paean to my favorite 22L pack:
Nowhere else does $55 get you this list of features:
15 oz empty weight Mine is a few generations old. The REI website says the latest model is down to 13 oz.
Personal item sized Fits under the seat on every plane I’ve ridden.
Hip and sternum belts These are a lifesaver for long queues that shuffle forward a foot or two a minute, and surprisingly useful even for casually walking about. The hip belt folds back through some loops on the front of the pack when not in use.
Five pockets This is the perfect amount of organization for me. I don’t typically use any packing cubes or stuff sacks other than the dry bag I carry for laundry and the ziploc mandated by TSA.
Great build quality Mine is still going strong after five years. The waterproof coating is breaking down, of course. And it’s about as dirty as you’d expect of something that rides the subway six …
An armor-like jacket in the tough yet beautiful Supima Duckcloth. Extra long staple cotton twisted into thick yarns to make a rugged yet supple 460gsm cotton duck, then blazed dry with an F0 DWR finish. Simple matte black stainless shanks finish off a classic jacket shape, but mostly this stuff has that stand-on-its-own character that speaks for itself.
FIT PICS
MATERIAL - SUPIMA DUCKCLOTH
This material is finally showing signs of breaking in, but still has a good way to go. I’ve worn it a lot as it’s quickly become my do-everything jacket. The jacket has yet to go through a wash, and I don’t plan on giving it one anytime soon. Spot cleaning has worked well and at this rate. There is something interesting about this material as a jacket. I’ve owned 3 pairs of pants nts with duckcloth and it just performs differently as a jacket.
Each pair of duck pants I’ve received came folded in a way that they already had a patina line near the inseams. You kind of get used to it, but being able to form my own patina on the shank was very satisfying. You can see the stacks that have formed on the sleeves. It’s funny because in my initial review I was really concerned about the length and I was annoyed at how small the sleeve openings were because I could not cuff them. Someone on the discord hemmed them and they …
This isn’t directly related to outlier but a topic the community may be interested in
My understanding is that the mercerization process removes the scales from merino fibers resulting in a smoother feel, more lustre, and easier drape.
What effect does the removal of the scales have on the performance properties of the wool– warmth, moisture wicking, water resistance, hygroscopic ability?
Mercerized merino also makes the garment machine washable. Does outlier use mercerized merino?
Any new ideas for Polyamour or belts moving forward? I’ve enjoyed the fabric and the fidlock clasp has performed pretty well overall. Wrapped mine through the rear molle on a Tom Bihn Handy Little Thing to transform that from pouch to sling/Fanny. I’m happy with the look but would want more security than the magnet and more slack than my waist size ordered.
Are suspenders a consideration for anybody anymore? I used to enjoy the fashion of suspenders, but lately am attached to their function particularly with winter sports. A pair of Polyamour suspenders would probably make for some sweet apres ski attire.
Experiment 286 - Cottomerino Overflow T-Shirt
A flowing over the the shoulder t-shirt experiment in the heavyweight Cottomerino fabric. Spun and knit in Italy by Albini, it intimately blends a stunning 15.5 micron (Super 150s) merino with Albini’s cotton expertise to create something truly special.
Half a decade ago, Outlier released a decadent twist on a classic jacket, made from a melange of materials, Hardcore Hooded Bomber.
This piece kind of comes across as the final boss version of the Supermarine Softcore Bomber. The most blatant differences being the addition of a removable Purling Fleece Hood and the use of wool insulation, in the middle layer, instead of synthetic.
As another point of reference, this piece seems somewhat like a more soft-bodied, puffy, spiritual sibling to the Prodigy Mutation, which also has a removable Purling Fleece hood, as well as its own smorgasbord of materials that seem to have a similar kind of playful implementation.
Here are some first impressions on the materials of the Hardcore Hooded Bomber from a reddit post:
Materials: 9/10 I’ve been thoroughly convinced of the greatness of Supermarine cotton for a while now. The breathability is amazing and I love the feel of it. My coveted …