Onebag Travel

Almond Oak is a one-man company that makes the closest I’ve found to the perfect travel backpack.

It’s extremely lightweight (855g / 1.86lbs) and small enough to be used as a personal item on flights. It expands to 30L, which I think is the ideal size for onebag travel, but I like how it can drop to 25L for use as a daypack.

I like how the main compartment opens clamshell-style like a suitcase, with the hinge on the long side of the pack. This uses less zipper (saves weight) and is more convenient to lay flat than if the hinge were on the short side. I also like that there’s a mesh pocket in the main compartment that removes the need for a packing cube.

I like how the laptop compartment has a false bottom, is accessed from the top, and doesn’t use Velcro (which is too loud). I like that the bag has basic organization for chargers and cables and whatnot, as well as a hidden pocket for a passport.

I like that the top handle is slim enough to hang on a hook (like in a restroom stall) and that the back panel doesn’t cause my shirts to pill. I like that the zippers are easy to open (which isn’t usually the case with waterproof zippers) and that they’re made of Hypalon, which is lightweight and doesn’t jingle.

I like that it doesn’t have a hip belt or load lifters, and that the sternum strap is removable. The backpack isn’t overengineered and doesn’t include any features that aren’t necessary.

Aside from the positives, there are two things I wish could be improved. For one, the passport pocket is a little tight. I wish the opening were half an inch longer. And second, I wish inside the front compartment there were two zippered pockets instead of just one with a divider. This would make it easier to get things into and out of it.

I’m a big fan of hanging toiletry kits. This one folds open and has a strap that can hang from something like a towel bar. Some toiletry kits hang with a hook, but a strap is more versatile and less likely to drop.

This kit is lightweight with a sensible amount of organization. There are three zippered compartments: a spacious main one, and two smaller ones for things like nail clippers and lip balm. There are also two mesh pockets, one of which I use to hold my toothbrush.

As the name suggests, Nanobag makes extremely lightweight bags that are small enough to fit in your pocket. They sell a few different types of bags but they’re all made from the same thin material, which is surprisingly strong. I take two with me. One is a drawstring bag I use as a daypack. The other is a tote bag I use for grocery shopping.

I’ve experimented with passport wallets, but ultimately I think a Ziploc bag is superior. It’s cheap, extremely lightweight, waterproof, and transparent so I can easily see what’s inside.

This is the very first backpack I bought when planning my packing list. I originally liked it because it has a detachable daypack and shoulder straps that stow away when checked in as luggage. Neither of these things are necessary if you just use a smaller bag to begin with.

Aer makes cool stuff but it tends to be heavy and overengineered. I like a lot of things about this backpack, but the weight became a dealbreaker after using it for a while.

This is a nice toiletry kit, but what I said about Aer’s Travel Pack applies here as well: it’s heavy and overengineered. I also don’t like how the hook is too small for a lot of towel racks.

Packing cubes can be really helpful, but my backpack now has a built-in mesh pocket for loose clothes. I use that instead and it saves weight.

I’m just not a fan of slings. They feel awkward to carry and can’t really hold that much. I originally bought this with the goal of doubling its use as a tech pouch, but I ended up returning it. It’s a well-built product but it’s not for me.

I really like the design of this pouch, but I ended up not needing it. I originally used it to store tech items like my mouse and chargers, but I was able to simplify and store them all in the various pockets of my main backpack instead. It takes up less space this way, and I find it easier to access everything. The pouch is also available in X-Pac, but since it doesn’t need to get wet I opted for the normal material.

I bought this to hold my passport, extra cash, and a backup credit card. I ended up returning it. Despite being one of the thinnest passport wallets on the market, I still found it to be too thick. Even worse, it had a tendency to spring open when folded, even when there wasn’t much inside it. I prefer to store things in the smaller pockets of my backpack instead.

I originally bought this to give my laptop some extra protection, especially if I needed to carry it loose on a flight. I ended up not using it. My backpack already offers enough protection as it is, and I prefer using a drawstring bag to carry my laptop separately instead. It’s a nice product otherwise—the material feels premium and I like how it can be used as a mousepad when unfolded. It just takes up too much space.

I think this is the perfect laptop for the vast majority of people, even for those who think they need the Pro. The Air is lightweight, half the price, and super powerful. I compile code, render the occasional video, and work with large graphics files, and it’s rare the computer will even get warm.

Just about all my other tech is made by Apple. So is my phone. I have the normal version since I don’t take enough photos to justify upgrading to the Pro.

I love reading, but books take up a lot of space, and I’m not a fan of the Kindle app on my phone. The Kindle is pretty lightweight and charges with USB-C.

If you don’t need to worry about grounding, there are four main plug types used around the world: type A (Americas), type C (Europe), type G (UK), and type I (Australia, China).

Universal adapters come with all four types built right into them. I’ve tried a few universal adapters with varying degrees of success:

• The Road Warrior Universal Travel Plug Adapter has a lightweight design but gets annoying having to assemble it every time it’s used. I’m also not a fan of how it uses the same pins for plug types C and G.
• The Mogics Super Bagel is great as a power strip, but the adapter is awkward and fiddly to operate. The pins can be stiff to slide out, and it also uses the same pins for plug types C and G.
• The Epicka Air 40W Universal Travel Adapter is on the bulkier side, but the plugs are sturdy and easy to pop out. It also doubles as a 40W charger.
• The Anker Nano Travel Adapter is very similar to the Epicka adapter, but slightly flimsier and with only 20W of power output.

Between the four I’ve tested, I like the Epicka adapter the best. It’s bulkier than others but doubles as a 40W charger, with three USB-C ports and one USB-A. That’s enough to fast charge everything I need, except for my MacBook Air, which it charges at a normal speed (but that’s a fair tradeoff for the weight it saves).

I’m not loyal to any specific power bank, as long as it’s small and uses USB-C. This one checks both boxes. I think 5,000mAh is a good capacity. It’s just enough to prevent my phone from dying at a bad moment, and no bulkier.

AirPods have good audio quality for their small size, and the noise cancellation comes in handy when trying to sleep on a long flight. I have the version that charges with a Lightning cable, but I’ll eventually upgrade to USB-C so I only have to carry one type of cable.

I’ve recently been using the trackpad more and more, and it turns out I actually prefer it to using a mouse. Best of all, it’s one less thing to carry.

At the end of the day I’m just not a watch person. I thought I’d use this to track my exercise and help with directions, but I end up just leaving it in my backpack. It’s a cool gadget but it’s another thing to carry around and worry about charging.

I used to bring an AirTag when my backpack had a devoted slot for one, but in my new bag there’s nowhere to put it. An AirTag can be handy in a luggage mix-up, but my bag fits under the seat now so the chance of this is slim.

One of the warmest jackets for its weight. It’s comfortable down to about 40°F, and it compresses down to a very small size. I prefer the version without a hood since it’s even smaller.

Nice and comfortable hoodie that’s made of merino wool so it can go longer between washes. It looks good as a standalone jacket but can also be used as a layer beneath a thicker coat. The zipper is on the left side of the jacket, which is different from what I’m used to, but that’s not a dealbreaker.

It’s a rite of passage to have at least one shirt made of merino wool. Merino wool is expensive, but it’s odor-resistant, so I rely on this shirt to get me through to the next laundry day. Also, Outlier’s cut one design fits me perfectly. I pack one of these shirts.

I’ve been buying the majority of my shirts from Cuts Clothing lately. I’m tall so I appreciate the extra length, and I like the variety of colors they have available. The shirts are made of cotton, polyester, and spandex, and they have an anti-odor treatment that embeds silver particles in the fabric. It seems to work, as I’ve worn these shirts for several days in a row without issue. I pack three of them.

Lululemon is known for yoga pants, but they make everyday pants, too. I like these because they look dressy but feel like sweatpants. I’m not too familiar with the other materials they come in, but the Warpstreme has served me well.

I see these recommended a lot, and they’re pretty nice. They’re made of merino wool so I can get a few uses out of them before laundry day. They’re pretty durable and Darn Tough guarantees them for life—this means they’ll replace them for free if they develop a hole. I pack four of them.

These are great underwear. They’re comfortable, lightweight, and very breathable. They’re also available in low-rise and seamless versions, but I prefer the originals. The low-rise aren’t as comfortable, and the seamless are a bit tighter and tend to get bunched up more easily. I pack seven of them.

Any hat will do. This one from Uniqlo is cheap and warm. I’m a fan of hats in cold weather; they have a great weight-to-warmth ratio.

I like the simplicity of these gloves. They are starting to form a hole at the tip of one of the fingers, though.

I’m still trying to find a pair of shoes that are comfortable, look good, and are sturdy enough to take on a hike now and then. Trail runners are functional but I don’t think they look the best, especially after getting a little dirty.

They’re fine when it’s cold out, but not when it’s humid and 100°F and you’ve been walking for two hours and the last time you showered was on Monday. I think the same would apply to any brand of cotton underwear.

I like this shaver a lot. It’s small, lightweight, and cuts nicely without any irritation. The blade is removable and comes with multiple attachments so I can use it to cut body hair as well as facial hair. It charges with an included USB cable (not USB-C) and the battery lasts many months between charges. Replacement blades are expensive, but for me, they’re worth the price.

This little adapter lets me charge my Philips OneBlade with a USB-C cable. It saves me from carrying a special charging wire just for shaving.

Unironically this might be one of my best purchases. It’s cheap in both price and quality, but the design is perfect for traveling. The bristles collapse into themselves and the whole thing folds in half, so it fits nicely into the pocket of a toiletry kit. Plus, there’s a mirror inside the lid.

This is like hair clay but in powdered form, so it’s lighter weight and easier to apply. I sprinkle some into my hair whenever I need to, often right after I wake up if I don’t have time to shower.

A tiny and well-built nail clipper, made by the same company behind the Swiss Army Knife.

A compact pair of tweezers. They come with a cover so the pointy end won’t poke a hole through my bag.

I’ve tried out a few pairs of travel scissors and these are my favorites. They’re quite charming—people laugh when I take them out. They’re super tiny but they’re sturdy enough to cut through plastics and that sort of thing. I mostly use them to cut pieces of hydrocolloid tape.

A roll of hydrocolloid tape is super versatile and takes up very little space. Pieces can be cut to size and used as bandages, blister pads, or pimple patches. I keep the roll wrapped up with a rubber band.

I use these refillable tubes to hold shampoo and whatnot. They’re the maximum size allowed on an airplane, and they’re made from a material that feels really good in the hand. I don’t think I would buy this brand again, though. They’re too expensive, and the teardrop shape is awkward to pack.

I really like the idea of this stuff—it’s natural, small, and lasts forever—but it’s more annoying to apply than regular deodorant and not always as effective. After using it for a while I switched back to full-size sticks of regular deodorant (travel-size sticks are nice but they don’t last so long, and there’s less variety).

I really like this wallet, but unfortunately it’s no longer available. In fact, I can barely find a trace of it on the internet. I bought it on Tesla’s website back in 2016 and I’ve been using it since.

American Express Green Card

Good travel benefits if you like points. American Express has one of the best mobile apps I’ve ever used.

Fidelity Credit Card

Not flashy but a great travel card if you like cash back. No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, unlimited 2% cash back, and free Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

Fidelity Debit Card

Fidelity and Charles Schwab have the only debit cards I know of that offer unlimited international ATM fee reimbursements. This means whatever fees an ATM charges will be credited a few days later back to your account—super useful when staying in a cash-based foreign country. I’ve used Charles Schwab in the past but the whole experience was a bit clunky; I prefer Fidelity.

Especially while traveling, it’s so easy to destroy a pair of sunglasses that I prefer to buy cheap ones off Amazon. Even so, I’ve had pairs for years that are still holding up. One of them came with a carrying case, and to save space, I use it to hold my Philips OneBlade razor as well as the glasses.

According to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, a towel “is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have.” This towel is by no means the softest or most absorbent, but it takes up hardly any space. Usually I use the towels provided in hotels or Airbnbs, but if they’re not available or if I’m staying with a friend, this towel comes in handy. It also works as a beach towel.

I’m a big fan of using an umbrella for sun protection instead of wearing a hat or sunscreen—especially for walking short distances between buildings. Plus, an umbrella doubles as rain protection, so I don’t need to carry a rain jacket.

I’ve tried many different types of pens, including fancy ones, and this one remains my favorite. However, in an effort to save 2.7 grams, I decided I don’t use it enough to be worth carrying around.

It’s not the best but this is the closest I’ve found to an ideal travel bottle. It packs flat and stands up on its own, but likes to grow mold and cut my finger when I open its weirdly designed cap.

I don’t carry reusable bottles at all anymore, though. If I really need one I’ll just buy a plastic bottle and refill it. Many countries don’t have drinkable tap water anyway, so buying plastic bottles is the only option.