Zero bag recap of my two-week, three stop trip
u/adamtow — 3 days ago
r/zerobags
My ZERO bag gear.
*With Photos*
I posted awhile ago about a big trip I'm doing across Europe, starting in a couple of weeks, where I listed what I'm taking. Finally, here's the photos.
Wallet (small cuben fiber pouch): Licence, one (expired) Visa card, AA (roadside assistance) card, blood donor card (not in photo), small amount of cash (NZ cash as an example).
Toiletries (small cuben fiber pouch): Solid deodorant, tooth powder, kawakawa balm, mini nail clippers, mini emery board, bamboo and silicon ear cleaning bud, Vicks inhaler, spare button for my shorts.
Tech (EXPAC Ultra 200 dyneema pouch): Jlab Jbud Mini earbuds in a cuben fiber pouch, micro SD to USB-C adapter, USB-A to USB-C adapter, micro SD (back up important documents), swim earbuds, several pairs of earplugs (in case someone has to share a room with my snoring), universal charger and mini USB C charging cable, mini sewing kit, folding toothbrush (fits better here than in my toiletries kit).
Utensils (EXPAC Ultra 200 dyneema pouch): folding titanium spork, collapsible titanium chopsticks, collapsible aluminium straw and cleaner, packet of sheet soap, Nanobag Sling (for groceries and to put my belongings in only while transiting the airport), 1 metre magnified charging cable (the corresponding charging points add water resistance to my phone and earbuds).
Glasses (cuben fiber pouch): I usually wear contact lenses. Spare pair of glasses, 12 pair of contact lenses.
Water Bottle: 500ml Pure Clear foldable(ish) water bottle with purification filter. Each filter is good for two months; a friend in Europe has a spare for me halfway through my trip.
Phone (cuben fiber pouch): Motorola ThinkPhone 25. This is the best phone for traveling I could find, when weighing up weight, robustness, water resistance, cost.
Passport (SUL Gear pouch inside another ziplock bag): Passport, physical Wise Card, emergency Visa credit card, emergency cash (Euro and Pounds).
ALL of this fits in the pockets of my shorts, and I'm comfortable swimming fully dressed with everything in my pockets.
Shorts: Quick-dry fishing shorts I've had zippers sewn into all of the pockets (except the front right water bottle pocket). Elasticised belt to account for any fluxuations in size/weight while traveling. In the photo, all items are in the pockets. Sure, the water bottle is a little bulky, but everything else is distributed evenly on my lower body.
Shirt: Quick-dry black polo shirt, no pockets.
Boxer Shorts: Quick-dry Ex-Officio boxer shorts, zippered pocket sewn in for passport so it is always secure.
Shoes: Quick-dry Hoka Mach 6s with elasticed laces. Pair of ultra thin (dries quickly) no-show socks. Got them soaking wet today, an hour after taking them off they're already dry (both shoes and socks).
I have utensils so I don't ever have to use disposable ones, and a water bottle so that I don't have buy plastic bottles of water, and the purifier I trust to purify almost any water source.
Literally the only other things with me are my watch, sunglasses, international driver's permit and laminated photo copies of my passport and licence (not shown).
And that's it. Literally everything I'm wearing and carrying for four months. I VERY rarely get cold; if I do need a jumper/jacket, I'll buy a cheap one from an op shop and donate it back as soon as I don't need it. I can either A) wash my clothes in the evening and they'll be dry within an hour or two, or at a pinch can even wear and wash them in the shower, and they'll dry on my body in about the same time. I've tested all of this, none of it is new. No, I don't stink; I shower every day and wash my clothes at least every second day.
I consider my set up waterproof. A couple of the pouches aren't 100% waterproof, but what's in them either can get wet or is in a separate bag to waterproof them. I am completely comfortable swimming fully clothed with everything listed here in my pockets.
And just for those who haven't read my previous posts; why I choose to zero bag.
- It's INCREDIBLY freeing! I have nothing holding me back. I can change plans literally in an instant, whether that's an unexpected opportunity or an emergency.
- Breezy airport/flying experience. Not fighting for overhead bin space. Not having cramped legs with something shoved under my seat. Not waiting for checked luggage. No liquids carried at all, so no having to deal with that. Slip on/off shoes, so even if I need to remove them, no problemo. Elasticed belt with plastic buckle, no metal in my clothes; no having to half-undress for security. Even scrutiny over not carrying a bag is a simple and quick conversation. And zero last-minute fees for bags.
- Security. With everything except my water bottle secured in a zippered pocket, and most importantly, my passport secured in a zippered pocket in my boxer shorts, I am a TERRIBLE target for opportunistic thieves. I can comfortably fall asleep on public transport and not worry about having a bag stolen, or even being pickpocketed. If I get accosted and they take my wallet, that's really no big deal. The card in it is a canceled one. Minimal cash carried. Even if they take everything in my pockets, I STILL have my passport, two cards and cash.
It's not for everyone. I am aware that given I don't need a jacket or trousers, I'm an anomoly. I acknowledge that women have other considerations to account for. By no means am I saying that this is THE way to travel, or that it's for you.
It's my set-up, and one I'm very comfortable with.
For those curious, a friend in Europe is holding for me one spare pair of shorts (after all, they ARE quite specialised), boxer shorts (same thing) and polo shirt, just in case I need them.
u/Traditional-Carob440 — 9 days ago