At some point, every traveler hits that moment of truth — standing at the luggage carousel, waiting for a suitcase that may or may not have made it. It’s usually around that time you realize: there has to be a better way.

That’s where the one-bag travel philosophy comes in. The idea is simple: everything you need fits into one carry-on-sized bag. No checked baggage. No extra roller. Just one pack you can sling over your shoulder and keep with you every step of the journey.

Why One Bag Is Enough

One-bag travelers know that simplicity is power. Carrying less means you move faster, stress less, and spend more time enjoying your trip. With smart packing cubes, a compact toiletry setup, and versatile clothing, a single 20–40 L backpack can easily handle weeks on the road.

One traveler put it best: “I spent multiple weeks out with just a 20 L pack — it felt amazing to move freely and realize how little I actually needed.”

That sense of accomplishment — knowing you’ve packed efficiently and left behind everything unnecessary — is addictive.

Choosing the Right Backpack

The travel community’s favorites keep coming up again and again:

• Osprey Fairview 40 L – a balanced, female-fit version of the iconic Farpoint, perfectly sized for overhead bins.

• Osprey Daylite 26 + 6 – ideal for minimalists or short trips.

• TNF Basecamp Voyager 32 – great organization and carry-on compliance.

• ULA Dragonfly 30 L – lightweight, smart pocketing, fits under most airline seats.

• CabinZero 28 L – ultralight and budget-friendly.

If you’re in the U.S., you can try many of these at REI; in Canada, Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) carries Osprey, The North Face, and its own affordable in-house models.

For more detailed comparisons, check out our community’s One-Bag Gear Guide — a growing collection of pack reviews and real-world traveler experiences.

When to Add a Second Bag

Sometimes life happens — destination weddings, business meetings, or events that demand extra outfits. There’s no shame in bringing more when you need it, but those moments remind most travelers how freeing it is to keep things simple. As one Redditor put it, “Packing a roller for two weddings made me feel like a normie again — I hated it.”

Tips for Success

• Plan for laundry instead of packing duplicates.

• Use compression cubes to shrink and organize clothes.

• Know your airline limits (some international carriers have strict 7 kg caps).

• Pack multi-use gear: quick-dry shirts, convertible pants, lightweight layers.

Travel Light, Live More

Packing light isn’t just about weight — it’s a mindset. It’s about freedom, not luggage. Every item you leave behind is one less thing to worry about, and one more reason to enjoy your trip.

So next time you’re planning your getaway — whether it’s a Baja dive week, an island-hopping catamaran charter, or a quick coastal escape — consider taking just one bag. You might find it’s all you ever needed.

Ready to plan your next adventure? Visit VentanaTravel.com for ocean-to-island experiences across Baja California Sur — and explore more smart-packing stories at blog.ventanatravel.com/tag/picking-right-travel-one-bag/.