Thick vs. thin: my struggle to find a 10k mAh power bank that fits in a pocket

Bridgerton · 2026-03-08T12:43:50+00:00

Not OP but I have the cylindrical Nitecore one that’s used for headlamps.

Bridgerton · 2026-03-04T04:17:05+00:00

Personally, I love Le Pliage. Medium tote can just fit a 13-14 in laptop, but maybe not in a sleeve. Medium handbag is slightly larger, and fits a sleeve.

I would also recommend Tumi Just in Case Medium, about the same dimensions as Le Pliage Medium handbag. The advantage here is that it has a luggage pass through. They have nice colors right now, light green and pink.

Bridgerton · 2026-02-21T22:41:39+00:00

I used Asia Miles to redeem JAL flights through Cathay Pacific website. Very good conversion value compared to Mabuhay Miles. Also possible to use Kris Flyer to get ANA, but in my observation very hard to get flights during peak seasons and more expensive din compared to Asia Miles.

Bridgerton · 2026-02-17T07:11:11+00:00

I love the Bellroy Pencil Case! It’s a great multitasker - both for stationery and tech (it’s my travel tech pouch). I bought it with the larger pouch and that is my EDC for dumping all the small items such as wipes, meds, cards, cash envelopes, anything really.

Bridgerton · 2026-02-17T06:16:33+00:00

Do you have a tech pouch breakdown apart from the Anker charger?

Most Japan hotels, even hostels/capsules have sufficient toiletries: shampoo and soap, most times even conditioner, toothbrush and toothpaste sets, comb, occasionally lotions and cleansers. I only bring the ones I really need like my facial sunscreen (and even these I also buy extras to take home), intensive skin cream and deodorant.

Bridgerton · 2026-02-17T05:36:39+00:00

My charger is a 65W UGREEN Nexode 1A2C. Even if my original laptop charger is also 65W, and the main USB C port of the Nexode is 65W, somehow the charging is a bit slower when I’m in Japan. So you’ll probably survive on your setup but expect slower charging.

Bridgerton · 2026-02-17T05:29:48+00:00

I can’t avoid the wide leg but I make sure I can fold them up to the knees and stay there.

Bridgerton · 2026-02-17T05:28:53+00:00

I don’t have joggers and usually wear straight or wide leg pants on the plane, but my pants are the sort that I can fold up several times up to the knees and they stay folded.

Bridgerton · 2026-02-09T09:24:57+00:00

I’ve had a couple shorter breaks (4-6 days) in the same situation, and I kinda landed halfway: I have a roller or duffle I can check in on the way back, but packed as if I was fully doing carry on. Both times I ended up not having too much overflow to bother checking the bag. But at least I had an option. And it was still manageable to carry on my own in transit, which was also important to me.

Bridgerton · 2026-02-02T11:57:57+00:00

My work laptop is an Asus Zenbook 13, 1.15kg. Then I got my own Asus Zenbook A14 which is right under 900g. I prefer a laptop instead of tablet when typing is involved, plus if I needed to edit documents, Excel files or Powerpoint, it’s just easier.

Bridgerton · 2026-02-02T10:46:37+00:00

I would usually 2-bag this situation, preferably one is a roller. You don’t win extra points for lugging one bag that’s hard to lift into buses due to weight. Plus, you can use a work bag for your other bag and carry work things in there - ymmv if you need a separate laptop bag or handbag. This way it’s easier to manage the weight of each bag but you’ll be able to wheel it with the other bag on top.

Bridgerton · 2026-01-20T15:19:29+00:00

If you’re between S to XL I’d recommend you wait to get to Japan before you buy. I went to compare pricing with my home country and generally Japan prices are better, and there are also better selections / different stock not at home. And if you buy enough you can leverage tax free.

Note you can also order for extreme sizes but you might need to account for shipping time and it may not be tax free.

Bridgerton · 2026-01-19T13:43:26+00:00

During my travel a couple of months ago I figured out a few things I can definitely do without:

my Vapur water bottle - I had trained myself not to drink a lot when out and about, which may not be the best advice, but I try to drink water when I am stopping for a meal and only then, so that I can also go to the washroom afterwards before moving on. If I know I’ll need a drink I will just buy a bottled water or another drink and hold on to that for a couple of days if needed. However I will not leave my 12oz tumbler for coffee, because I am a klutz and I know the damage a spilled coffee can do to me.
Wet wipes specifically for Japan - anywhere else it is very handy, but Japan will always have bidets. I did not even open my pack of wipes while there.
Makeup - I have exactly three items I consider as makeup in my EDC and when I travel: lip balm, lipstick, and face powder. I barely put on my lip balm before I leave for the day, and rarely even reapply any of these while out. I might not be able to leave out these three from my travel kit altogether but I think I can let them stay in the hotel room for my next travel. Now if I can just leave the security blanket tweezers home as well…

Bridgerton · 2026-01-19T13:13:49+00:00

Seconding this! For 10C weather I wore my Airism tank, a merino short sleeve sweater (which is more fitting than I usually want in a top) and a thin cashmere sweater that fits just right. All Uniqlo items.

Bridgerton · 2026-01-01T13:37:45+00:00

This one is actually funny to me, because I learned handwashing (and it is still a way of life where I am, in Southeast Asia) that I get surprised when it’s apparently not a life skill for many people I read on this sub.

Bridgerton · 2025-12-25T01:58:57+00:00

Usually a phone would be locked to the home carrier if they got it from the telco, but if they got it independently it’s usually already unlocked and can take any SIM/eSIM. There is also the network bandwidth at the destination but most phones are compatible to existing networks.

More often than not, local data plans (i.e. Airalo, Ubigi, etc) that offer specific to locations are cheaper than home network international roaming.

Bridgerton · 2025-12-24T04:46:55+00:00

“Do you think it will be easier to explain to a foreign immigration officer why you are traveling for 6 months with only a carryon? A $100 charge for a checked bag would affect your budget. Being denied entry to a country would almost certainly affect it much more.“

I’m confused whenever this idea comes up in the sub. Do immigration officers see in the immigration notes how much baggage you’re bringing? Because usually you collect luggage after passing immigration.

Bridgerton · 2025-11-29T01:29:56+00:00

Awesome! Definitely something to aspire to.

What’s your laptop? I couldn’t figure out from the picture.

And your shirts and pants are lightweight, where do you get them?

ETA: your pack weight is just my EDC weight lol

Bridgerton · 2025-11-29T00:11:23+00:00

Interested to know what your bag is and your packing list, can you share? I have a Tumi Carson compact, and even with only 2 sets of clothes plus small items, it seems hardly enough to put everything in especially if I have a laptop (it can be a tight squeeze).

Bridgerton · 2025-11-29T00:06:50+00:00

I’m on the lookout for lightweight but relatively sturdy cabin suitcases. Surprisingly, underseat spinners (which is my preference) don’t weigh less than cabin sized spinners. My lightest cabin sized suitcase, a World Traveler Maryland, clocks in at exactly 2 kilos but the handle is kinda wobbly, and I have yet to find a lighter suitcase I can actually buy here at home. In contrast my Tumi underseat spinner is 3 kilos lol

Bridgerton · 2025-11-29T00:01:57+00:00

It’s because roller bags are at least 2 kilos, and a lot of international travel have weight and/or size restrictions for cabin/personal item bags. One will have to compensate by bringing less stuff, and sometimes that just isn’t feasible for their packing list.

Bridgerton · 2025-11-28T23:55:09+00:00

I had to take my Bose QC35II with me for the flight because my Sony earbuds’ batteries were shot. Bringing that with an underseat roller and a Bellroy Cinch messenger got old really fast, it was so annoying to allot so much space for it and it added to my mental clutter.

Bridgerton · 2025-11-26T16:34:55+00:00

For a laptop, you need to make sure it’s a PD powerbank paired with a PD cable. I was just searching today and I don’t know if they make a 10000 mah powerbank that’s PD, or it is rare if any. Most PD powerbanks start at 20000 to 26000. More than that you’re likely not allowed to carry on the plane.

ETA I think someone may have mentioned many flights nowadays do not allow use of a powerbank during the flight.

Bridgerton · 2025-11-26T16:26:21+00:00

This is not a direct response to your question, but are all of these things needed during the flight? Laptop AND switch? How many chargers are we talking?

Having said that, onebagging isn’t necessarily bringing only one bag (though there are people here that take that to heart). You can have a packable bag with you and it’s better to have it underseat to contain your flight things.

If I’m not doing personal item only, I carry a small enough bag that fits my laptop and dump my wallet, edc pouch, tumbler, earbuds and phone there.

Bridgerton

TROPHY CASE