Just when you think minimalist packing can't get lighter, someone pushes the limits further. A traveler just completed 20 days across Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan with just 5kg: two quick-dry outfits, three pairs of underwear, and trail runners.
No backup shoes. No "just in case" jacket. No variety. Just the absolute minimum.
The detailed breakdown reveals a packing philosophy that's part practical, part ideological. This is city travel, not hardcore hiking—staying in hostels, business hotels, and Airbnbs, moving mostly by trains, subways, and buses. But even for urban travel, 5kg represents extreme minimalism.
The complete packing list:
- 2 quick-dry shirts - 2 quick-dry pants - 3 underwear - 3 pairs of socks - 1 light jacket - 1 pair of trail runners - Phone + charger - Power bank - Travel documents - Neck pillow cover (not a pillow—just the cover to stuff with clothes) - Small camera
That's everything. The strategy relies on two critical elements: nightly laundry and radical acceptance.
"Washed stuff at night with hostel or hotel soap, and did a couple laundromat/hotel laundry runs during the trip. It was usually dry by morning," they explained. Quick-dry fabrics are essential—cotton would make this system impossible.
The neck pillow cover is clever. Instead of carrying an inflatable pillow or the bulky foam kind, they packed just the cover and stuffed it with clothes as needed. Takes up almost no space, provides occasional comfort when useful.
No real camera setup. "I didn't want to deal with batteries, chargers, SD cards, or carrying a separate camera pouch," they noted. A small camera handles basic needs, but they're considering an action cam like the Insta360 Go Ultra for next trips—specifically because it would integrate into the onebag system more seamlessly.
This approach requires letting go of options. You can't decide between outfits—you wear what's clean. You can't pack for weather variations beyond your single jacket. You can't bring different shoes for different activities. The limitation becomes the point.




