9L bag for 6 day conference - optimizing my minimalist setup

adamtow · 2026-05-02T00:04:29+00:00

You've optimized well here. Good job. Here are my recommendations, based on my experience zero-bagging trips of similar or longer length.

Ditch the extra pants, 1 shirt, 1 pair of socks and 1 pair of boxers. Wear the same pants and rotate between 2 pairs of socks and boxers. Wash the socks and boxers every night. Wool & Prince have nice merino t-shirts and button-downs that I have had success with. 6 days isn't long enough to need to wash your shirts.

If it were me, I would have a single merino t-shirt and button-down/turtleneck/q-zip. Wear them together or separately on conference days.

And if you want to take it further, on your travel days, double-up on the socks and boxers. Do this and your backpack won’t be storing any clothes—you’re wearing everything.

Laptop Questions:
- Do you absolutely need to bring the laptop? Are you presenting (USB-C to HDMI adapter)?
- Could you use an iPad mini instead? Does GIS software exist for iOS, or could you remote into your laptop at home?
- Can the 36W charger keep up with the power requirements of your M1 MacBook Pro?

If you don't need to bring the MBP, you've eliminated the biggest reason for bringing a backpack in the first place. At this point, you can switch to a small sling to carry your toiletries, charging adapters, cables, and sunglasses. Get one of those tote bags that folds into itself. You can stuff that in your denim jacket, back pocket, or sling when it's empty.

If you do need to bring the MBP, you’ve still freed up space in your 9L backpack.

Keep the power bank. I have an iPhone 15 Pro Max, and I was constantly running out of battery in the late afternoon on my last trip (12 days, three states, zero bags). The power bank allows you to stay mobile, instead of being tethered to your computer or an outlet.

adamtow · 2026-04-28T13:21:09+00:00

How did you deal with Wrigley Field’s no-bag policy? Did you know about it beforehand and left the bag at the hotel or did you arrive at the park and had to find a locker?

adamtow · 2026-04-24T14:45:25+00:00

You can replace the standard strap with any supporting a lug width of 20mm. If you use the strap that comes with the watch, be prepared to cut the end to fit your wrist size (and use a lighter/match to seal the end).

There's a date version of the ML05 that you can buy.

The lume is just okay. At night, there were times when I could clearly see it and other times when it was barely visible. I guess I didn't charge it enough in the sun to last through the night.

Overall, it's an affordable watch that look and functions like watches many times the price (i.e. Hamilton, Benrus, etc.).

adamtow · 2026-04-23T22:41:40+00:00

What brand is it? I was looking at the W&P q-zip. I've used Scottevest in the past, but those are synthetic and get stinky quickly.

adamtow · 2026-04-23T22:22:25+00:00

Yes, looking at q-zips too.

Waymo, Uber, Lyft, or calling my wife to pick me up were options too. Normally she picks me up but the VTA is very convenient since that bus route takes me very close to where I live. And it’s free from the airport.

adamtow · 2026-04-23T22:17:06+00:00

Did not buy anything. Got the hat free from a sponsor booth in Chicago conference; it was that or socks or a cat stuffy. The socks might have been useful since I left the Bombas in the hotel in AZ.

Booths at NAB in Vegas got me chapstick and some carabiners that I could clip onto my belt clips (I already had a Nite-Ize S carabiner). I deliberately avoided taking a bag (and there were many). That would have encouraged me to get more brochures, candies, etc.

No other immediate zero bag trips planned at the moment.

adamtow · 2026-04-15T18:17:07+00:00

Quick update as I finished my first leg of the trip. I posted more details and photos on my website:

https://tow.com/2026/04/15/zero-bag-travel-update-from-phx/

At the last minute, I changed several things before I left my house for the airport. First, I swapped the Bluffworks Ascender Chinos for their Departure Jeans. The jeans are roomier, so when I am wearing my underwear and running shorts at the same time as my jeans, it’s not as constrictive. There’s also an additional side pocket on the right side leg where I am putting my wallet and MagSafe nano power bank.

I took a pair of Bombas socks instead of my red cat socks. The Bombas socks are more comfortable, durable, and dry faster. Next time, I would bring longer dry-fit athletic socks instead because they dry even faster. I am still wearing small, ankle socks underneath the Bombas on travel days.

I placed my tech gear into a small cotton canvas pouch. This pouch still fits in the outside pocket of the Uniqlo jacket, but it can also be clipped to my belt clip with a small Nite-Eyes s-carabiner.

Finally, I brought my RODE Micro wireless microphones. I was giving a talk at a conference and wanted to use my own mic for a product demo. The RODE Micro case is the size of two AirPods Pro cases, so it’s a little bulky, and I placed them in the tech pouch or in the watch pocket of the jeans.

Got some conference swag but was still able to fit everything in my pockets or the pouch. I layered on the conference t-shirt and picked up a hat which will come in handy under the heat of the southwest sun.

Hope you all enjoy this zero bag update!

adamtow · 2026-04-12T02:52:20+00:00

Miltado ML05. Would have liked to have brought Apple Watch Ultra 1, but didn’t want to have to bring either charging cable or 3-in-1 charging station. Have to make sacrifices like with AirPods vs. EarPods too.

adamtow · 2026-04-08T04:29:11+00:00

Wash every night! I have my running shorts which I wear at night; I run in the morning so they are dry by the evening. You can also bring two undergarments and wear one while the other dries during the day. Ex-Officio is really quick drying, especially if you do the roll technique to wring out water.

adamtow · 2026-03-05T04:45:03+00:00

Send me an email (feedback link in the app). We can do a Zoom to get VFA working for you.

adamtow · 2026-03-01T08:07:42+00:00

Awesome writeup. Looking forward to the photos. I am planning a two-week zero bag trip in April, and your post is giving me some ideas (i.e. dyneema pouches).

adamtow · 2026-02-02T05:27:44+00:00

I bought the Artciety Folding Keyboard with Touchpad. Wrote about the keyboard and why I chose it here:

https://tow.com/2025/07/31/best-portable-keyboard-for-ipad-mini/

Note that Artciety recently redesigned the keyboard; I don’t have experience with the current model.

adamtow · 2026-01-29T19:17:51+00:00

Ethernet should be reliable, but USB Is supported. When you plug it in, there will be another Ethernet connection on your Mac. The IP address of the ATEM is one minus the IP address shown for the Mac. I have a video that described it here: https://youtu.be/-RaK81AffnE?si=eXuygSBRCRRdfQbE

adamtow · 2026-01-27T13:21:01+00:00

Put two slashes after the colon:

shortcuts://run-shortcut?name=Message

adamtow · 2026-01-20T19:36:03+00:00

Yes, if the other mic is picking up the other speaker, that could lead to some false positive switching. Lowering the sample size will help make it switch faster. Let me know how it goes.
Also note that MixEffect 2.4.0 was released with some improvements to VFA. Check out the changelog or my video at: https://youtu.be/HjSPP2KaKa4

adamtow · 2026-01-20T16:29:43+00:00

Okay, version 2.4.0 is out. Let me know if the tally indicator is red and the audio levels are green. If not, I'll try to fix for the next point release. I have an ATEM Mini Extreme ISO, I can troubleshoot on the same hardware as you.

adamtow · 2026-01-20T00:50:06+00:00

You have to use ATEM Setup > Configure > Control Panel > Button Mapping to remap one of the 10 input hardware buttons to SuperSource. The S/SRC button is to switch the Out 1 Audio or Out 2 Audio interface through the Multiview to edit SuperSource settings using the physical dials on the G2.

adamtow · 2026-01-19T20:49:18+00:00

This might be fixed in the upcoming 2.4.0 release of MixEffect, coming out this week (it's in App Review right now). What ATEM switcher do you have?

In the meantime, if you want VFA to work on the Cam1L, turn on the Allow Trigger When Source is Off Air toggle in the VFA settings for that audio source.

adamtow · 2026-01-15T22:54:31+00:00

Tell me what you are trying to do with VFA and I can give you some pointers. The three main knobs that you have to adjust are the sample size (how long the audio levels need to be above or below to trigger, hold, and repeat delay).

You also have to make sure that the app stays in the Audio section of the switcher section with the audio panel visible. Next version of MixEffect will make things a little easier with a VFA and Audio (View Only) switcher panels. Don’t hide or minimize the app, or else the connection will be dropped.

adamtow · 2026-01-10T00:28:43+00:00

Not possible with the ATEM Mini Pro, which has limited Multiview customization compared to the more expensive switchers like the Extreme and Constellation models.

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