1 Bag Travel

Field-tested in Turkiye, Switzerland, and Italy

Table of Contents

  • The Personal Item Strategy

  • Minimal & Utilitarian Packing

The Personal Item Strategy

We pack very light with only backpacks to avoid the possibility of having to check a bag. Friends who have traveled with us while utilizing carry-on bags have been instructed multiple times to check their bags due to the airline overselling the flight. We use a Cotopaxi Nazca 24L Travel Pack as a personal item, which is a nice loophole. Personal item dimensions vary by airline so always check before.

Another benefit to using a backpack as a personal item is the freedom to walk around with our luggage if needed. Traveling light in this way gives us peace-of-mind and adaptability. Side note, if you or anyone in your group has extra room, you can bring a bidet and a massage machine to improve your quality of life for everyone on your trip.

The Cotopaxi Nazca 24L Travel Pack qualifies as a personal item with most airlines (check your airline’s requirements), and it opens up as if it were a suitcase. It has many pockets that are perfect for utilizing every inch of the bag. This model is not made anymore, but they can be found on eBay. The price point is usually around $75 to $150. Find one with hip straps if you can. Note that not all Cotopaxi backpacks are the same size.

Cotopaxi Nazca 24L Travel Pack dimensions (height x width x depth):

  • 19.5 x 10.5 x 5.5 in

  • 50 x 27 x 14 cm

Minimal & Utilitarian Packing

Many of the items we pack are versatile or collapsible. For clothing, we typically pack capsule wardrobes.

Side #1

  • Sandals

  • Toiletries

  • Cords, chargers, etc.

  • Scarf and/or mini towel

  • House slippers / sleeping mask

  • Packable windbreaker jacket

  • Packable backpack

  • Regular walking shoes (we use Vivobarefoot, Lems, and Xero Shoes). They feel good, and they bend well for packing.

Side #2

  • Clothing

  • eReader

Pockets

  • Rain jacket

  • Collapsible grocery bag

  • Headphones & earplugs

  • Eye makeup

  • Underwear

1.5 Bag Travel

Field-tested in Turkiye, Switzerland, and Italy

Table of Contents

  • Utilize a collapsible neck pillow

  • Utilize packable / mini hip packs

  • Utilize the outer straps

Utilize a Collapsible Neck Pillow

You can use a collapsible neck pillow for extra storage to extend your personal item. When you stuff socks and small items of clothing into it, you’re essentially just replacing the stuffing of an average neck pillow. Note that walking around with this at your destination can be fairly uncomfortable. Finding a neck pillow that hooks onto your backpack can help.

We bring a collapsible neck pillow just in case we run out of room with extra souvenirs or if we need to hastily stuff things into a bag when packing. Having a bag to quickly stuff things into can make a difference in saving time when you’re rushing to make your flight or train.

Utilize Packable & Mini Hip Packs

We wear hip packs (cross-body style) almost every day, whether we’re abroad or not. We like the hands-free freedom it provides. It’s also helpful to have a bag like this against your body and in your view, in-case of pickpockets. If you’re a forgetful person, it’s also great because if the bag is strapped to you, so you can’t accidentally leave it somewhere.

We use these bags for exploring, day trips, and going out in the evening. They’re lightweight and can surprisingly hold a lot, including your phone, a small wallet, keys, etc. It is collapsible and fits into a little bag that is stored in the pocket, but we use them so much that we hardly ever store them.

Tip: When using a backpack as a personal item (to avoid having a carry-on that may become a checked bag), hiding a small hip pack under a hoodie you’re wearing is a way to sneak another personal item in, depending on how full it is. There’s also mini hip packs that are thinner and better for carrying medications and other small items.

Items listed:

  • Collapsible hip pack

    • Phone

    • Pill holder

    • Glasses cleaner

    • Tiny mirror or compact

    • Hair ties

    • Small bag of cash & cards

    • Same small bag holding foundation, chapstick, and deodorant (travel size)

  • Mini hip pack

    • Meds & small items

Utilize the Outer Straps

Using a utility strap, you can pack a jacket on the top of your backpack. You can also hook on a collapsible water bottle, your sunglasses & case, a collapsible neck pillow, etc.

Items listed:

  • Modl utility strap

  • Packable water bottle

  • Packable neck pillow

  • Sunglasses & case

  • Utility hook / carabiner

  • Utility rope woven around bag handle

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