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I have always been a r/OneBag traveler. When he was in his twenties and thirties, he was euphemistically called a “backpacker,” even if it rarely involved actual hiking in the wild. Carrying that little bag that you could sling over your shoulders was often the only way to get on that little inter-island flight or walk around a city in search of an air-conditioned hostel.
I briefly left minimalist travel when my spouse and I had young children. But now that they are older, I introduce them to their joys. Buying plane tickets is more expensive than ever. Budget airlines like Frontier and Spirit have always charged more for carry-on luggage, but now even standard airlines like United have started charging carry-on fees for lower-tier tickets. Now is a better time than ever to learn to travel with only one personal item.
If you think this is hard, let me tell you the minimalist packer mantra: the less you bring, the less time you spend making stupid decisions and the more time you spend traveling. That shirt you thought would be perfect for Italy? You can’t use it in the Vatican. Those hiking sandals you thought you needed to hike in Hawaii? Everyone is in flip flops. Leave it. If you really need it, you can get it there (you won’t). With less stuff you can go more places and have more money and energy to do things once you get there. Let us show you how it’s done.
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Check dimensions under the seat
I am always amazed at how many people don’t do this and find themselves in unnecessary fuss when boarding. Check the dimensions each airline will allow for personal items, then grab a tape measure to get the dimensions of your bag.
These are the size requirements for several major airlines. We have not included any airlines that do not disclose personal item size requirements on their website.
If you live in the United States, you may be able to get away with a few excesses here or there. However, airlines in other parts of the world tend to be much stricter in enforcing size requirements. If you’re walking a fine line, I have some suggestions. First, choose a soft bag so you can squish it into any box the door agents point out when you get to the front of the line. Second, put a smaller bag inside your bag with your essentials, so you don’t have to carry the larger bag everywhere once you reach your destination.
Our Favorite Bags for Personal Items
Virtually any bag that fits these size requirements will work as a personal item bag. I’ve used several bags from our laptop backpack and carry-on guides as personal items on flights. However, here are a few that have performed well in recent tests.
The best canvas bag
A soft bag gives you more freedom when putting it under the seat in front of you. This is currently my personal favorite item and travel bag; I’ve taken it on three trips since August. While Wandrd claims its dimensions are 19 x 11.75 x 9 inches, I measured mine when it was packed and it turned out to be 17 x 12 x 8 inches, which is small enough to fit on almost all airlines except Air Canada.
Most duffel bags are, by design, black holes into which you throw a bunch of oddly shaped things. Wandrd’s has some structure and is exceptionally well organized. There are multiple reinforced handles on each end and both sides, plus comfortable padded backpack straps (with a chest strap!) for carrying it around the airport. Two zippered compartments at each end separate my dirty Birkenstocks, wet toiletry bag, and swimsuit from my clothes, and there are a few internal zippered mesh pockets to store my wallet and Kindle.
A suitcase with wheels
When I brought this little bag to the WIRED offices on a recent press trip, several people stopped and marveled at my tiny suitcase. The standout feature of the Take Off suitcase is that it is a proper rolling suitcase, but you can remove the wheels and slide it under the seat in front of you. However, on a recent trip with Alaska Airlines, I didn’t bother removing the wheels and the flight attendant didn’t bother me about it.
In addition to being adorable, this miniature suitcase works very well. The bumpers have no nicks or dings and I am very hard on suitcases. The wheels are easy to remove and you can put them in your pocket in a pinch. The handles fit my hands and are sturdy, and the telescoping handle extends 21 inches, which is the standard height of a suitcase handle, although if you’re taller than me (5′ 2″), you might find it higher. It is a little difficult to pull it behind you without hitting it with your heels. However, I must say that because the wheels are locked, they make a louder noise than other suitcase wheels, especially if you walk on a rougher surface like one. sidewalk. This made me grind my teeth. However, if you’re not the type of person who would prefer to sneak through an airport like the Pink Panther, then this probably won’t bother you and it didn’t affect the suitcase’s performance at all.
A job board
Does it make sense to buy a $400 American-made suitcase when you’re traveling on a $40 Frontier flight? If you have to ask, you’re in the wrong article – any airline can be pretty enjoyable if you have the right gear, and this square backpack from Waterfield Designs cleverly maximizes size. Inside you’ll find two laptop sleeves and a separate zippered pocket. The top has two zippered pockets, one of them with a lanyard for keys. The sides have two more zippered pockets big enough to hold a 20-ounce Fuji water bottle, if not one of those big mugs kids like these days.
The backpack’s padded straps are a little tight on my larger frame, but comfortable enough, and the padded cover holds it comfortably on top of my full-size carry-on when I’m flying fancy (read: Economy Plus). I’ve tried the version made of gray-green waxed canvas, which has a natural look and is developing a patina, but there is also a version with 1680-denier ballistic nylon. —Martin Cizmar
Don’t bring so many things
Unless you’re traveling for a very specific purpose for which you’ll need a lot of gear, like ice climbing, you can cover your bases with a lot less stuff than you might think. You just have to be ruthlessly pragmatic, get rid of all your fantasies, and discard the idea that you need “choices” in how you dress.
Are In fact You’re going to go for a run every morning, and if you do, is it really worth bringing all that gear for what will be, at most, an hour of your day? You In fact Do you need a dress or will you feel a little self-conscious and should have worn chinos as usual? For example, here’s how I packed for a recent three-day trip to San Francisco. Within Take Off Personal Item 2.0, I have: