Can you travel for a week with nothing but a 13-liter shoulder bag - smaller than most daypacks - and still have everything you need?
A minimalist packer put this question to the test with a $20 Uniqlo Multi Pocket Shoulder Bag, conducting a detailed packing experiment that challenges assumptions about how much luggage travelers actually need.
The results: Yes, you can pack for 3-night trips in 13 liters. But whether you should is a different question.
For context, most onebag travel enthusiasts use backpacks in the 30-45 liter range. Ultralight packers might drop to 20-25 liters. A 13-liter shoulder bag represents extreme minimalism - roughly the size of a school bookpack.
The packer documented every item that fit in the Uniqlo bag, complete with weight measurements and packing strategies. The total loadout weighed 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg) and included:
Clothing: Two polyester shirts (one polo, one tee), two pairs of boxer briefs, two pairs of wool hiking socks, plus a rain shell and wind shell. Everything fit in a small Eagle Creek compression cube.
Toiletries: A minimalist kit with folding toothbrush, toothpaste in a refillable tube, floss, Dr. Bronners soap (which serves as shampoo, body wash, and shaving cream), razor, comb, scissors, nail clipper - all in a small clear pouch.
Tech: 33W USB charger, cables, 5000mAh power bank, wireless and wired earbuds, packed in a small tool pouch.
Miscellaneous: Bandana, hand cleaner, pain relievers, earplugs, spork, reading glasses, small notebook, pens.
The packer wore zip-off pants, a button-down shirt, fleece or merino sweater, shoes, and hat on the plane - meaning those items didn't count against the 13-liter capacity.
This is classic "2x plus worn" packing: two of each essential clothing item, plus whatever you're wearing. The strategy works for short trips if you're willing to do hand washing and air drying, or if you have access to laundry facilities.
For warm destinations, the packer noted you could swap the fleece for hybrid shorts, trade shoes for sandals, and skip the socks entirely - opening up even more space.
