I’ve noticed that 1.5-bagging is popular here, maybe even more popular than one-bagging.
For those of you who travel with a half-bag (like a sling) in addition to your main bag, what is your setup? What are the capacities? Do you pack the half-bag in your main bag? What do you pack in it?
Spending two weeks in Europe. Traveling by plane overseas and trains locally.
Bags:
Aer City Pack Pro
Aer Day Sling 3
Worn:
Boots (Converse waterproof high top)
Pants (Boundary Chase)
Sweater (Unbound compact hoodie)
Phone (Pixel 9)
Clothes:
6 Shirts (Merino Protect)
6 Socks (Danish Endurance)
12 Underwear (Bamboo Cool)
Pant (Boundary Chase)
Short (generic)
Dress Shirt (Mizzen + Main)
Puffer Jacket (Uniqulo ultra light)
Rain Shell (Uniqulo)
Buff (BUFF)
Towel (Turkish)
Toiletries:
Bag (Comfyable)
Deodorant (melted for smaller stick)
Antiperspirant (melted for smaller stick)
Comb
Face Cleaner
Face Moisturizer
Lotion
Lip Balm
Tums
Medicine
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Mouthwash
Oral Hygiene (various tools)
Ear Cleaner
Nail Clippers
Tweezers
Earplugs
Electronics/Other:
Tablet (Samsung Tab S9 + S Pen)
Android Emulator (AYN Thor)
2 Cables (USB-C)
USB-C female to USB-A male
Charger/Adapter (Anker)
Battery (10,000 mAh)
ANC Earbuds (Pixel Buds Pro 2)
Earbuds Wired (Google)
Microfiber Cloth
Bullet Space Pen
Glasses (ROAV prescription)
Sunglasses (ROAV prescription)
Passport + Driver's License
Credit Card + Debt Card
4 day hop across the pond for a trade show in the US - super happy with my setup. Trade show can also mean more items coming back than going out, which was the case.
- The Aer Tp3 fits nicely in even a tight overhead bin as the little CRJ has. A great bag for longer transfers at and around airports and - most important - everything on me even on a one hour stopover with no worries losing checked in luggage
- Rework Toshi Sling 6L for the iPad pro 11“. I need it with me on the stand/ booth all day for three days, so keeping it light. The padding on the shoulder strap is a godsend. I wish the passport/ papers pocket would have a divider for sticking business cards in. Otherwise perfect sling, I had tried the Aer Day Sling Max beforehand and didn‘t like it as much, mainly because it is so bulky. The Toshi was in the TP3 on the way out.
- Thought I could use the iPad pro stand alone on trips but figured out it is not for me. So in comes the neo 13“ - a fantastic machine. Happy with the seupt (for now).
Busy filming day at Jimbobs EDC HQ.
The T33 is a fantastic sling (this is the 3.5 litre version).
Thoughts on tomtoc as a more affordable sling...?
For anyone who likes these Thule compression packing cubes (set of 2, large / small). They are normally $48 or so.
The container store has them on sale for $26.99
Free shipping if over $99
There is other stuff on sale too. But I only wanted the above.
If this isn’t ok to post I am ok deleting it.
I have no affiliation with Thule, any stores, etc
I just like cheaper stuff when I can.
Enjoy!
Looking for ideas for small pouch for my 2.5L sling. 3x5, 4x6, ‘ish. With some volume besides credit cards. I.e. pill tubes, micro flashlight, chapstick etc.
Thanks!
Loadout fom right to left
How it was packed...
I picked up the Pack Hacker x Matador ReFraction Pro Packable Backpack and, so far, I’m impressed. I bought it expecting a better-organized version of the kind of packable bag I already like, and that’s pretty much what it feels like in use.
For context, this is replacing my Matador On-Grid. Both are listed at 16L, and in practice the ReFraction Pro feels like it holds about the same amount for me. The difference is access and organization. The separate laptop compartment makes getting a laptop in and out much easier, especially compared with stuffing it into the main compartment of a packable bag.
Because of that, this is probably going to become my new on-campus day bag when I’m traveling to school and spending all day in classes. It gives me enough room for the laptop, A5 notebooks, pouches, charging kit, first aid, and the usual daily carry stuff, but it still stays light and packable enough that it doesn’t feel like overkill.
My laptop setup is a 13” MSI in a Native Union Ultralight Sleeve. The sleeve adds just enough structure that the bag feels better packed out, without turning it into something stiff or bulky. I overloaded the bag on purpose for these photos to see how it would handle the load, and honestly, it handled it well. It carried better than I expected for something this light and packable.
Outside the bag, I typically attach a Topo Designs Mountain Accessory Bag. That holds an Ikigai nano pill container with head/stomach meds, Trek & Travel pocket soap sheets, hand lotion, Kleenex, and a Dude Wipe. I also usually attach a Henry Holsters OCD to the outside.
Inside the bag, in addition to the laptop, I had:
Topo Designs Micro Accessory Bag
Weston 3x5 pouch and 5x6 pouch
Tom Bihn Ghost Whale Small
Ghost Whale Mini with a 10,000 mAh Ridge power bank
Ghost Whale Super Mini with my quick charging kit, 30W Anker charger plus 2’ USB-C cable
Aer Slim Pouch to support the laptop carry
3x5 mesh pouch with first aid supplies
Reading glasses case
Pencil pouch
Topo Designs Small Accessory Bag with A5 notebooks for class, which also doubles as a mouse pad
The construction is the thing that stood out most to me. It feels more refined than I expected from a packable backpack. The zippers are YKK and zip smoothly. The materials feel light but not fragile. Other reviews have called out the same basic idea: this bag is trying to solve the usual packable-bag problem where you either get something that packs down well but feels like a shapeless sack, or something with structure and organization that stops being meaningfully packable.
The Pro additions are the reason this works better for me than the On-Grid. The laptop compartment, front admin organization, tracker pocket, key tether, exterior attachment points, and sealing YKK zippers are the upgrades that make it more usable as an actual day bag for me, not just a backup packable bag. I don’t use every feature equally, but the laptop access alone makes a big difference for my use case.
One small complaint: the zipper loops. I understand the reasoning. They make the zippers a little less grab-and-go for someone else, and that is useful in travel or crowded areas. But when I’m not worried about pickpockets, they can be a bit of a pain. That is also kind of the point, so I’m not sure I’d call it a flaw as much as a tradeoff.
Overall, I’m impressed. It holds the same general amount as my On-Grid, carries surprisingly well when overloaded, gives me much better laptop access, and still stays in the packable/lightweight category. For my setup, it feels like a real upgrade rather than just a limited-edition colorway or minor tweak.
We create Unreal Engine based learning / training environments that run off an iPad Pro or iPad Air 11” using a controller. It’s a highly mobile setup with said items plus some cables and chargers.
Being an Aer fanboy (CPP2, TP3), I went for the Day Sling 3 Max that is the perfect size for this use case. Just “because I could”, got the Toshi 6L for direct comparison as the second unit.
After a few months of using both, I’ve settled for the Toshi as my favourite that now doubles as EDC. There are subjective and objective reasons. Both are great bags, excellent quality and have that urban/ business/ tech look. The Aer outer material is thicker, it feels more rigid.
Both have the right size, and will take extra items such as (smaller) water bottle or packable rain jacket. Cut/ shape is a bit different, with Aer being more oval, but generally quite similar.
What made me tilt towards Toshi:
- material is softer, totally subjective preference. Carries better
- packs thinner, big point when it goes into the bag when onebagging. Sometimes it comes along as edc in combination with CPP or TP3
- interior lining is light grey, much better visibility inside
- key/ small stuff pocket as a huge plus. Aer doesn’t have that
- strap has padding. 8h of carrying time and any load starts digging into the shoulder
- Big minus for the Aer: the way I take the sling off results in the buckle releasing, with the bag falling to the ground. Repeatedly. Suppose I could reprogram my muscle memory - or just go with the Toshi
There are two straps at the bottom of the Toshi where I could attach an umbrella or the like, but haven’t used them yet. A non critical nice to have feature.
Anyway, knowing it is subjective. As said, two great bags and either will work fine if you are in the 11” tablet game.