A first-time onebag traveler just completed a month-long Southeast Asia trip with only a 32-liter backpack — and the results challenge some popular assumptions about minimalist travel gear.
The detailed trip report, posted to r/onebag, provides honest assessments of what worked, what didn't, and whether the onebag lifestyle lives up to the hype. Spoiler: it does, but not always for the reasons gear reviewers claim.
The Setup: 32L and Six Flights
The traveler used a Quechua 32L backpack from Decathlon for a month-long journey through Southeast Asia, including six flights on various Asian budget airlines — with zero baggage issues.
"The 32L Quechua was a delight," they reported. "Plenty of pockets and good shoulder straps." Two packing cubes fitted perfectly, and a small cross-body bag handled daily essentials.
The trip began dramatically when their original Barcelona to Bangkok flight via Doha was canceled. "Qatar Airways was utterly unhelpful, but the onebag travel made it super easy to move around the airport and get onto another airline without having to worry about suitcases. So +1 for onebag travel, a good start."
What Actually Worked
Merino wool shirt from Decathlon - "The winner on this trip. Super comfortable, long sleeves protected against the sun, breathable, could wear for a couple of days without get stinky and easy to hand wash/dry in the hotel. When I get back home I'll buy a couple more."
This contradicts the expensive merino wool brands heavily marketed to onebag travelers. The budget Decathlon version performed excellently.
Heliocare 360 sunscreen stick - "A clear winner for me on this trip. It was easy to apply, small and did not smell." Stick sunscreen proved more practical than tubes or sprays for travel.
