For many years now I’ve been a devotee of “one bag” travel. No matter where I’m traveling — or how long I’ll be there — I take just one bag.
And it’s a carry-on.
Crazy? Maybe.
Cheaper and easier and less stressful? You bet.
In answer to the inevitable questions about how I manage to pull this off, I figured it’s time for an updated look at what I carry and why. (You can compare this to my 2017 and 2015 kits, if you like.) I’ve added purchasing links where applicable. (And, hey, if you use the Amazon ones to make a purchase, you’ll help support me and this site.)
TRAVEL KIT 2019
Unlike previous iterations of my list, I’m gonna do this one backwards, starting with me fully packed and ready to head to the airport.
That’s me. And that’s it. Nothing else. Got a wee satchel and my one carry-on bag. (For size comparison, I’m just over 6’ tall.)
The trip I’m packed for in this picture? Across a nearly four-week stretch this summer I will fly from Charleston to Los Angeles to England to Los Angeles to Charleston.
In Los Angeles, I’ll be on set filming a TV show. My TV wardrobe requires jeans, boots, and a precisely trimmed beard. Then in England I’ll be an academic: I’ll give a professional talk, visit at least one archaeological dig, sit in a research archive, and traipse around multiple fields in search of medieval battlefields. Between the climates of California and England, between film sets and lecture podiums and potentially muddy fields …
Well, one-bagging means that what I pack will need to work across a variety of duties. Multi-functional, space-efficient, and highly-durable will be recurrent themes across this list.
Out-the-door Kit
So let’s unpack my packing, starting with this out-the-door outfit.
Jacket … Eddie Bauer Voyager 3-in-1. One-bagging requires versatility, and this jacket is a superb place to start highlighting that requirement. It’s a fine looking warm-weather blazer, but it’s also got a water-repellent finish, which makes it a decent rain jacket. It has a great selection of pockets, including zippered security pockets for travel documents. What’s more, it has a terrific insulating vest (also DWR!) that can be snapped into the jacket or worn all by itself. Put it together and you get multiple climates, multiple weathers, multiple uses, but always looking sharp.
Jeans … Lee Performance Series Extreme Motion Jeans. These are very comfortable with good stretch and low weight … but truthfully I have these particular ones because they were on sale and my wife said they looked better than the other ones I tried on. Blue jeans in general are comfortable, useful, and they have a wide range of wear given the fact that they can be dressed up via a decent travel blazer. I don’t always pack jeans, because even these are a little more bulky than I’d prefer for my travel kit, but I have no choice this time: these are part of my assigned TV wardrobe.
Boots … Thursday Boot Co. Captain Boots in Brandy. I like my boots full leather with a rich finish, goodyear welt, great traction, and a classic look that’s at ease both in the sticks and around town. These beauties are it and then some. What’s more, the company stands behind their products to the highest degree, which is awesome. I love these, and I’d be wearing them even if they weren’t also part of my TV wardrobe.
Belt … Timberland Reversible Leather Belt. Thick, full-grain leather that switches between rich brown and sleek black depending on the outfit. Versatility!
Shirt … Just a performance t-shirt, so that I have the flexibility to shed the jacket and chill as much as possible if I get stuck on the tarmac in an AC-challenged plane. (It has happened.) This one is from Bass.
Underwear … My traveling underwear (not pictured; you’re welcome) is a variety of styles from Uniqlo and ExOfficio. They are all anti-microbial and quick-drying, which allows me to sink-wash them while traveling.
Socks … I’ve collected a variety of styles, but lately I’ve really been liking bamboo fiber socks.
Satchel Kit
Satchels are tremendously under-rated. They’re more classy than a lot of sporty alternatives, and something about having good storage under a flap at my hip just feels right to me.
This particular handmade leather beauty has been dragged all over the world, which has only added to its character. The dimension of it is just big enough to hold the stuff I might carry with me on a hike around Rome or visiting an archive or some such.
So what’s inside it? Let’s see!
Wallet … Slimfold soft-shell wallet. This is a minimalist marvel that still has RFID protection. Pictured here, though, is my wallet for when I’m crossing borders: the Pacsafe 150 Wallet and passport holder with RFID protection.
Water Bottle … Coleman FreeFlow with Autoseal, 24 oz. Gotta stay hydrated, and I hate toss-aside plastic. There are lots of reusable water bottles around, but I wanted one that was well insulated (drinking hot water on a hot day sucks), made of stainless steel (it’s heavier than plastic but more durable and cleans better), and affordable, too. Even more, I need it to be leak-proof. On this wee beast the spout seals automatically, plus it also has a travel locking mechanism to further ensure no leaks. This is awesome for me, since my satchel tends to get tossed and crammed every which way while I’m traveling, and this sloshing water bottle sits in my satchel beside …
Tablet … Apple iPad Pro 10.5. Lighter and longer-lasting than a laptop, an iPad has been my primary working computer for years now. I recently transferred to an iCloud life, so all my files are with me on this beauty, and I can write books or articles on it either with my thumbs via its split-screen keyboard or using all my fingers via my …
Wireless Keyboard … Brydge Keyboard, Series II. This is a new piece of the kit, as I previously had a different keyboard + case setup made by Anker. That old keyboard lost a key, however, and it was right about that time that this Brydge went on sale. Made of aluminum, it’s heavier than a typical plastic keyboard (it about doubles the iPad weight), but it provides a durable and laptop quality clam-shell: the iPad and keyboard can be at any angle relative to each other and the world. It perfectly matches the iPad finish, has backlit keys with superb throw, and the battery goes a year (!) betwixt charges. My only complaint is that I can’t use any regular iPad cases with it and also can’t bring myself to fork over $40 for one of the ones from Brydge.
Headphones … Linner In-ear Bluetooth NC-50 Headphones. These are the cheapest noise-reduction, travel-friendly headphones I could find, and they’ve worked pretty darn well. I’ll for sure get something better eventually, but I don’t want over-the-ear cans because they’d take up too much space in my travel kit. These pair with the iPad or …
Smartphone … Apple iPhone X 64 GB. It’s running on T-Mobile, which means that wherever I step off an airplane I have the familiar full power of my phone — no extra money or bother for talk, text, and data. As a piece of hardware, the iPhone X has such a great camera that I’ve ditched my fancy digital camera and use it exclusively. All that I needed to do was carry a few accessories to amplify its already great camera functions. The center of these accessories is …
Smartphone Case … Moment Photo Case in Walnut Wood. In association with Nomad, Moment makes a gorgeous leather case that I would love to try out, but it was out of stock when I was needing to buy one, and I can’t justify spending $50 for a case that functions just like the one I have (even if it is prettier!). Regardless, the case is built to fit …
Wide-angle Lens … Moment 18mm M-series Wide Lens. I take pictures in castles and on battlefields and that often means I need a wider angle than my iPhone provides. Enter this lens that attaches to my Moment Photo Case with an easy half-turn. I’ve tried other add-on lenses, and none of them had decent quality or comfortable security. This one does. The lens is pricey, but it’s cheaper (and a LOT smaller) than hauling around another camera. I’m hoping to eventually try some of their other lenses on my travels. Telephoto? Anamorphic? Yes, please!
Mini-tripod … This is a knock-off of a GorillaPod tripod, and I’ll have to replace it with the real deal one day. It attaches to the phone with a spring-loaded thingamabob. I don’t even know the brand here. They came free with some purchase somewhere along the line.
Extra Batteries … Tylt Portable PowerBank 5200 mAh. Bought this a few years back as a Hurricane was bearing down on my location: it’s a dual back-up pack, and I will take one or two of the batteries and leave the charger at home. They’ve lasted well. Tylt has some better options now, including one with a built-in wall plug called the Smart Charger 3x. That’s probably what I’d get right now.
Stylus … AmazonBasics. I take most of my notes on an iPad app called Notability using this stylus. Yes, I would truly love to have that new Apple Pencil and the new iPad it runs on, but Apple has inexplicably taken away the split-screen keyboard on those iPads. No bueno.
Pen … Fisher Space Pen. Because sometimes you just have to write the old fashioned way. 🙂
Whistle … Sol Slim Rescue Howler. One of my quirks is to try to be semi-prepped for emergencies. A flat whistle takes up zero room and is hella useful.
Nail Clippers … Zwilling J.A. Henckels Ultra-slim Nail Clippers. I wanted these lovelies for years and my wife bought them for me because she knew I’d never spend this kind of money on nail clippers. But they’re so worth it. They pack flatter than regular ones and cut cleaner. Happiness!
Hand Sanitizer … Just a wee travel thing for when you feel like that train station bathroom wasn’t up to par. I got this scent because it genuinely gives me a shiver of relaxation. Go figure.
Ibuprofen … Just in case.
Vitamin C … Just in case.
Spork … Just in case.
Mints … Just in case.
Carry-On Bag Kit
Of course, all that satchel stuff is the side-show to the main attraction, which is my “one-bag” carry-on.
The Bag … Minaal Carry-on 1.0. A bag that is carry-on sized but still has good shoulder straps, durability, and packability is absolutely essential for one-baggin’ it. I bought this bag years ago and it’s been great. Minaal has since replaced it with an updated model, the Carry-on 2.0, so you can’t get my specific bag anymore unless you find one used. One of the things I love about these is that they don’t look like you’re wearing a gorram trunk on your back. Also, they’re tremendously flexible. When I’m traveling I use my Minaal as a backpack 90% of the time, but sometimes I have to check out of a hotel before I give a professional speech. Rather than showing up to the event wearing a backpack (albeit a very nice looking one), I zip away the straps and walk in with a cool briefcase. And inside the thing is a parade of features. I wish I had the current Carry-on 2.0 to compare for you, but I can tell you that this 1.0 has been a machine. I’ll also tell you that if I wasn’t getting a Minaal, I’d absolutely be eyeing the Tortuga Men’s Setout 35L in Heather Grey. It looks brilliant. In either case, I highly suggest getting …
Packing Cubes … Companies have started making their own cubes that’ll perfectly fit their bags, but that wasn’t the case when I bought my Minaal. So I have some cheap ones I got off Amazon. Packing cubes make your life easier: you fit more in the bag, with less wrinkling and more organization. Into the cubes I put my clothes.
Clothing Kit
Remember, this is in addition to what I’m wearing in my Out-the-door Kit above.
Shirts … Wrinkle-resistant, quick-dry, climate-appropriate, and in such color combinations that everything goes with everything. This round I’ve got 3 or 4 Bass t-shirts and Orvis button-ups. I also usually pack at least one undershirt. Again I’ve chosen Uniqlo Airism. It’s so light I didn’t notice it wasn’t visible here. Oops.
Pants … Bluffworks Chinos. If I had to wear one pair of pants for a year no matter where I was going or what I was doing, these would do perfectly.
Shorts … Eddie Bauer of some sort or another.
Swimtrunks … Hang Ten Hybrid Shorts. These are cleverly designed to have the same look and feel as regular shorts: a short that I can run, swim, and go to dinner in! I had a pair of such hybrids made by Aviator, but these are better (and cheaper!).
Underwear … Uniqlo Airism. Not only did these beauties win my testing some years back, but they’re comfortable. I especially enjoy the front pouch design for a fella’s bits. It’s all comfortable, and it’s all quick-dry so that I can hand wash ‘em in the sink and hang to dry if needed. (Implements for doing so are below.)
Socks … Variety is the spice of life, my friends!
Outside the packing cubes, a few other things fit in bag pockets or in the main compartment, including:
Extra Shoes … Pikolinos Liverpool M2A. My Thursday Boots are great, but they’re also boots. If I want something more relaxed, want to do something athletic, or just find that my feet need a change of pace, these are the ticket.
Sandals … XeroShoes Cloud Barefoot Sandals. Good to have for something to wear in a communal shower or at the beach. These amazing sandals take up almost zero space or weight. I’ve had them for years. Easy to toss in the bag.
Toiletries Kit
Toiletries Bag … Walgreens First-Aid Bag that I got for free with a purchase. It’s got basic goodies:
- Kleenex … Just in case.
- Prescriptions … I’m old.
- Medications … Pepto, probiotics, a few doses of sinus meds, etc. I ain’t a walking hospital.
- Sewing Kit … I’m hardly a seamstress, but I’m ready to fix the basics if needed.
- Toothbrush … I bought this wee electronic one on clearance at a CVS in Atlanta.
- Tooth Powder … EcoDent. Better than a gel at security checkpoints, plus it lasts longer and packs smaller than toothpaste.
- Razor … For years I’ve used a Schick Xtreme 3 to keep my face and head so shiny. Nothing else feels as comfortable to me.
- Hand Mirror … I made this for shaving said noggin.
- Beard Trimmer … Philips Norelco. I wouldn’t carry this but it’s a TV requirement.
- Headlamp … Petzl e+lite. This is an emergency thing.
- Drain Stopper … Basic Amazon Thing. Packing light means hand-washing clothes on the road. The stopper is for washing clothes or taking a bath when the drain doesn’t work.
- Tea bags … In case I have trouble sleeping or staying awake.
Liquids Bag … I picked up a thicker TSA-ok plastic bag for this stuff at some point. It holds:
- Febreeze … Sleep-time spray if a pillow has some funk.
- Lotion … A small dry-skin lotion nabbed from a hotel.
- Deodorant … I use the bigger crystal stick at home, but on the road I have this wee travel size.
- Shaving Oil … Lasts longer and packs smaller than a can of shaving cream.
- Sunscreen … Because I don’t like to burn or get skin cancer.
- Lip Balm … Because chapped lips suck.
- Laundry Soap … A few packets will do for hand washing for a couple of weeks. There are various brands.
All that’s to the right. On the left:
- Sunglasses … When the future is so bright.
- Shure microphone … For podcasting.
- Travel Towels … Microfiber, which is both soft and quick-drying. It sucks to need a towel and not have one.
- Clothesline … This is awfully handy for drying the aforementioned clothes.
- Portable Hangers … These are inflatable. I take two.
Destination Options
Depending on when and where I’m traveling, there’s an assortment of other gear that moves in and out of my kit.
- Water Purifier. I’ve raved about this beauty in at least one guest podcast stint. It’s a Grayl water purifier and bottle. Amazing piece of equipment that ensures I always have clean water to drink no matter where I am.
- Extra Daypack. If I know I’ll be taking some long hikes, I’ll just toss this little beauty in my kit. Unfolds into a usable little bag.
- Lenscope. This is enormously useful for archival work examining ancient or medieval manuscripts.
- Swim Goggles. These are AquaSphere Kaiman goggles, and for travel I pack them into a pouch rather than this hard-plastic case.
- Rain Jacket. Needs to pack small (sense a theme?) and do its bloody job. This one (surprise!) is from Uniqlo. As an added bonus, it’s got hidden Mickeys all over it. You gotta have fun, yo.
- Puffy Jacket. This will move in and out of my kit depending on expected weather conditions. On trips when I need this kind of thing, though, I need it to be super warm while packing super small. Uniqlo wins again with an ultra-light down parka. I got mine in this bright orange-red because (a) I like it, (b) it was the color that was half-off that day, and (c) in white-out conditions it could be handy. Yes, I try to think of everything.
- Universal Travel Adapter. I’ve got one from Kikkerland that’s the smallest one I’ve ever found. It’s brilliant.
The only other thing I’ll sometimes toss into the bag (because of course I use one that can be flattened) is a hat. The choice right now is a Tilley Mash-up Airflo.
So that’s just about it.
I’m always looking to refine my kit, so if you have suggestions (or if you’re a manufacturer who wants me to review a product for these purposes) please drop me a line!
Until then, happy travels!