A traveler in India cut their luggage from 100L and 30kg down to 24L and 7-8kg—then traveled 13-17km daily across hostels and cheap lodges for just $12-13 per day.
The secret: a nightly laundry system that eliminates the need for backup clothes.
The transformation came after years of "serious traveler" packing—60L + 40L bags totaling over 30kg that wrecked shoulders and dictated travel plans. For a recent 10-15 day solo trip across South India, the traveler committed to a single 24L bag weighing roughly 7-8kg.
What made the ultra-light approach possible wasn't just packing fewer items—it was implementing a daily washing routine that turned 2-3 clothing items into a perpetually fresh wardrobe.
The nightly laundry system:
Every morning while bathing, used items go into plastic bags. Every night, the traveler washes t-shirt, underwear, socks, handkerchief, and towel using a washing brush and hostel soap or body wash—10-15 minutes total. After rinsing and twisting thoroughly, clothes hang on bunk bed curtain rails.
The key insight: hostel AC units function as dehumidifiers. Clothes dry completely overnight in air-conditioned rooms. Rooms with fans work even faster. By morning, everything is dry and ready to wear.
Jeans get washed every 5 days. Polyester track pants dry in 2-3 hours.
The result: walking 13-17km daily with a pack that fits anywhere, never checking into accommodation early just to unload bags, maintaining complete flexibility in plans, and reducing theft risk.
The minimal packing list included laptop, tablet, phone, power bank, headphones, chargers, 1 jeans (wearing), 3 t-shirts (1 wearing), 2 underwear (1 wearing), 2 socks (1 wearing), 3 handkerchiefs (1 wearing), 1 track pant, towel, shoes (wearing), plastic bags for wet items, toiletries, washing brush, and basic accessories.
Notably, the traveler chose jeans and higher GSM cotton t-shirts specifically to "look presentable, not some messy backpacker"—proving ultra-light travel doesn't mean sacrificing appearance.
Hostel staff and other travelers expressed surprise at the small bag. The traveler never felt short on clothes and reported the smoothest trip experience yet.
Why the system works in India specifically:
• Most budget accommodations have AC or fans
• Hostels provide soap/shower gel
• Warm climate means lightweight fabrics dry quickly
• High humidity makes the dehumidifying effect of AC especially effective
• Budget lodges at $12-13/day still typically include AC
The experience convinced the traveler to downsize further. Realizing laptop and tablet went unused, the next trip will use a 12L setup with just phone, power bank, headphones, watch, 2 t-shirts (1 wearing), 1 jeans (wearing), 1 track pant, 2 underwear (1 wearing), 1 socks (wearing), 1 handkerchief, towel, sheet, slippers, shoes (wearing), plastic bags, and minimal toiletries.
The philosophy extends beyond travel. After discovering one-bag minimalism, the traveler gave away roughly 70% of possessions at home—a common pattern among people who discover how little they actually need.
The r/onebag community promotes similar approaches, though many still carry 35-40L bags. This 24L (and soon 12L) setup represents the extreme minimalist end of the spectrum.
Practical considerations for replicating this system:
• Works best in warm climates where lightweight fabrics suffice
• Requires accommodation with drying space (curtain rails, chairs, balconies)
• AC or good airflow essential for overnight drying
• A washing brush makes hand-washing significantly more effective
• Quick-dry fabrics help but aren't essential with AC
• Plastic bags prevent wet items from dampening other contents
The approach won't work everywhere. Cold climates requiring bulky layers, destinations without reliable AC, business travel needing variety of outfits, or trips involving formal events all present challenges.
But for budget backpacking in warm destinations with hostel-style accommodation, the daily washing system unlocks truly minimal packing that traditional advice about "pack for 7 days" can't achieve.
Multiple commenters on the original r/onebag post confirmed similar experiences. One travels Southeast Asia with a 15L bag using the same washing approach. Another noted that washing clothes nightly actually keeps them cleaner than wearing items multiple times before washing.
The weight difference matters physically. Thirty kilograms on your back causes shoulder pain, limits walking endurance, and makes spontaneous activities difficult. Seven kilograms feels like carrying a school bag—negligible during normal movement.
The best travel isn't about the destination—it's about what you learn along the way. And sometimes what you learn is that you never needed 90% of what you used to pack.
