My one-bag packing list

This is my current One-bag travel packing list. The guiding concepts are:

1. Think in Permutations

   Two tops and two bottoms makes four looks!

   Example: Travel clothing permutations

2. Prefer solids to liquids

   The USA’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires that “[e]ach passenger may carry liquids, gels and aerosols in travel-size containers that are 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters. Each passenger is limited to one quart-size bag of liquids, gels and aerosols” (Transportation Security Administration n.d.).

   Example: Bar soap rather than liquid soap

3. Multi-purpose

   Example: A gaiter (a) serves as a scarf, face covering, headband, balaclava, sleep mask, and more!

Packing list

Clothing

I pack with the expectation that I’ll do laundry every 5 days and will wear things more than once before washing them (except underwear). This allows me to pack less clothing and overall keep weight down.

• Tops
  • 2x wool button-down shirts
  • 2x t-shirt
  • 1x jacket/windbreaker
• Bottoms
  • 2x pants (a)
  • 1x shorts (exercise and swim)
  • 3x socks
  • 5x boxer briefs
• Footwear
  • 1x boots (a)
  • 3x socks (a)
  • 1x sandals (a)
• Misc
  • 1x Lightweight merino wool Buff (a) (doubles as sleep mask)
  • 1x Sun hat (a) (ideally foldable/collapsible)
  • 1x Belt (a)
  • 1x sunglasses

Storage

• 1x backpack (a) (ideally water-proof/resistant)
• 1x sling bag (ideally theft-resistant)
• ?x zip-able packing bags
• 3x gallon zip-lock bags
• 3x quart zip-lock bags

Accessories

• 1x umbrella
• 1x water bottle (collapsible)
• 1x face mask
• 1x pair concert earplugs
• 4x pairs sleeping earplugs
• 1x travel utensil spork/etc

Documentation

• 1x passport
• 1x USA Drivers license

Technology

• 1x laptop Essential for how I read (example), study, and write these notes
• 1x USB adapter/converter (a) Can charge everything I bring with at once and I can plug it in everywhere¹ I go
• 2x external USB batteries (a)
• 1x phone (Pixel 6 Pro)
• 1x watch (Google Pixel Watch (a))
• Cables
  • 2x USB-C to USB-C cables (a)
  • USB-A to USB-micro-B cable
  • Watch charging cable

Money

• ?x credit cards
• 1x debit card

First aid and medication

• 10x anti-diahreal
• 1x N95 mask
• 1x thermometer
• 20x ibuprofen
• 20x acetaminophen
• 1x surgical tape
• 10x bandaids
• 10x caffeine pills
• 1x/night melatonin pills

Laundry

• enough soap
• 1x line
• 1x tide pen

Food

There’s no way to one-bag if I bring these. I bring an additional duffel bag to hold the food.

• ?x protein powder (a) and bars (a) to total 100-200g protein per day It’s difficult to source sufficient macro-aligned vegan protein while traveling.
• 1x protein shaker

Exercise

• Lacrosse ball (a): Roll out my tight muscles
• Resistance band: Bodyweight Exercise program
• Yoga band (a): Stretch and general rope/tying utility

Changelog

See Semantic versioning.

• 1.0.2: Extended (no replacements) based on recent Italy trip

• 1.0.1: Replace Western Rise Diversion pant with Greg Norman Men’s 5 Pocket Travel Pants (a)

  The Western Rise pants were good quality. However, they didn’t look flattering on me. I switched them out for pants I found at Costco which felt similar (textile and weight) and were much cheaper (~$15 vs ~$160).

• 1.0.0: Based on extensive reading on r/onebag (a) and linked sites including (Maluf n.d.)

Bibliography

Backlinks

• One-bag travel