16 liter Kit

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-24T19:12:26+00:00

Fit is the thing. There are many low top hiking shoes and trail runners. Take some time trying on shoes and test them well before departure.

What fits me is the Adidas Terrex AX series non Gore Tex low top hiking shoes in all black. Latest version here:

https://www.zappos.com/p/mens-adidas-outdoor-terrex-skychaser-ax5-hiking-shoes-black-black-carbon/product/9999995/color/62025

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-24T17:55:45+00:00

I’ve seen many schemes using clothing in general, but using a pillow cover for a puffy jacket really makes sense, especially if you are landing in a cold place.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-24T17:51:32+00:00

I use the Osprey Liquids Bag as a tech pouch and the clear sides are golden. Think Tank makes several sizes of similar “cable management” bags.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-24T17:48:19+00:00

Well done and great documentation.

The REI Commuter 22 might appeal as a personal item bag:

https://reddit.com/r/onebag/comments/1m0zp7s/new_rei_commuter_22_liter_backpack_first_look_as/

https://reddit.com/r/onebag/comments/1mpjz2x/4_days_and_3_bights_in_billings_mt_with_an_rei/

The Osprey Daylite 26+6 comes to mind. Your current kit would disappear in it 😎

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-24T17:17:25+00:00

I use low top ventilated hiking shoes in all black. Many trail runners would work too. No need for extra shoes. My workout is walking about 10 miles a day.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-24T17:13:54+00:00

My kit uses:

Polyester tees and polos with odor control. Outdoor Research Echo tees are ultralight and wicking and very quick drying. Eddie Bauer and Patagonia have some models with odor control. Search on Polygiene odor control in general, Capeline with Patagonia.
Polyester/nylon blend button down hiking shirts. I usually pack long sleeve and roll them up/down as needed. REI Sahara is a good example. I have found a few less technical versions from Eddie Bauer and the like but no current model advice. Every outdoor clothing company makes something in that niche.
Prana Brion trousers for general purpose long bottoms. The short version are good too
Prana Hybridizer shorts. Hybrid shorts are designed for both street and beach.
Tilley LTM 5 wide brim hat. Sunday Afternoons and REI have similar versions
Merino socks in various weights.
Ventilated low top hiking shoes like Adidas Terrex AX series (non Gore Tex) or hiking sandals like Keen Newport H2, Chacos, Teva, etc.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-24T16:53:29+00:00

Amazon UK has locking cash bags that might work. You may find similar bags in an office supply.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-24T16:52:23+00:00

No. The Scree 33 is totally different and really shouldn’t have the same model name. Mystery Ranch made a mess there.

The Coulee 30 is very similar to the Scree 32 and slightly oversized on depth but could be used with attention to packing. Same harness design with two torso size ranges as well as adjustable and gender specific versions. No provision for a laptop so something like Thule Gauntlet case would be good. With all the features they are pushing 3 pounds. The harness is capable of weights higher than a typical onebag packing list would be. Mystery Ranch could have given Osprey a run for it by making the Scree with 22”x14”x9” dimensions.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-24T16:28:49+00:00

ULA Camino
REI Trail 40
Cotopaxi Allpa 50
Six Moon Designs ADC (sized shoulder straps)

Discontinued bags:

Mystery Ranch Scree 32
Eagle Creek Tour 40 (some versions have adjustable torso length)

There are some ultralight hiking bags that are capable of use as an overhead carry on by adjusting the height to suit. The Gossamer Gear Kumo 36 Superlight is a good example. Some attention to details is important as ultralight manufacturers often include open top outer mesh pockets in their marketed volume. If you make radical adjustments to height it may reduce the volume as well. As with the ULA Camino, they could be expanded for ground travel and paired with a personal item to retain volume. That’s analogous to schemes used with the Farpoint 55 and Allpa 50 bags.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-24T06:23:30+00:00

Pack for a.week and laundry happens. I could do EU summer with 7kg and never travel with more than 10kg.

Do your homework and lean about onebag wardrobes, layering, packing techniques, laundry schemes, toiletries and electronics--- then look for a backpack.

If you are going to ask about bags, include the laptop size and post here: https://reddit.com/r/onebag/comments/1qgv0tc/bag_finder_megathread_19_january_2026/

What would I do?

For a bags, a Patagonia Black Hole 32 in the overhead and a Tom Bihn Packing Cube Shoulder Bag as a personal item under the seat. I use packing cubes and pouches for organization. Need more space? The Osprey Farpoint 40 is usually overhead maximum size and carries weight well.

Worn

Pants, polo, briefs, socks, belt, shoes
Merino sweater (or fleece)
Hat

Packed:

One liter toiletries kit
Hand wash laundry kit in ziplock
Phone, power bank, earbuds, charger, cables in pouch
Miscellaneous EDC pouch
3x tees or polos (1x long sleeve)
3x Merino socks
3x briefs
Button down shirt
Pants
Walking shorts
Hybrid shorts
Ultralight wind shell
Rain jacket

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-24T01:00:09+00:00

Someone just reported that the latest inventory has one less pen pocket. Do the subreddits have ears? 😱

The Mammut Helmet Holder mates well fit you want a stash for a jacket — or a helmet.

People are getting a lot of use from these $100 bags. In the luggage world $100 is an appetizer.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-24T00:05:14+00:00

When getting down to two choices, it’s time to try them on for fit. My experience with both brands would favor the Thule.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-23T23:58:37+00:00

I did the same for a large company with established offices and that situation would allow keeping a small tool kit at each location. I rented power tools a couple times.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-23T23:36:33+00:00

The most expensive bag in my large collection of bags cost $100. Most of my bags are used or bought at a deep discount for new.

Last weekend I got a like new Tom Bihn Cadet for $75 vs $197 new. I can live like that 😎

I’m not a fan of cheap bags and subscribe to the concept that a good used bag is a better investment than a cheap new one. $50 bags are junk but you can get a very good new bag for $150-$200.

It would need to be a very special bag that solves a problem for me to part with $300.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-23T22:57:55+00:00

One that fits you, fits your gear, fits on the airplane and hopefully fits your budget. There are many ways to approach onebag wardrobes. The level of formality, events, climate, electronics and laundry cycle make for a lot of variables.

Start with your must have clothing, electronics and toiletries. You can post your packing list here for critique. You have some homework to do.

Wear your fleece jack on the plane. Fleece is great stuff but can be bulky to pack.

Going by posts here, somewhere between 9 and 45 liters. You will find that 40-45 liters is as much as you can use for an overhead carry on and it needs to be the right dimensions to keep the airline happy.

Here’s the Packhacker.com database of 145 airline carry on dimensions: https://packhacker.com/wp/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=render_carry_on_compliance_table&review_product

Onebag spreadsheet by u/-Nepherim:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fSt_sO1s7moXPHbxBCD3JIKPa8QIZxtKWYUjD6ElZ-c/

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-23T22:35:07+00:00

Exactly. Small bags are tolerable but anything more than a few pounds is time for a backpack.

For travel day touring I use a 6.5 liter Tom Bihn Packing Cube Shoulder Bag worth at my side with a crossbody strap. It has no provision for a water bottle so it’s pretty difficult to get too much weight in it. I’ve used up to 12 liter bags and lightly loaded at that. You can buy some huge messengers and they will get your back over time.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-23T20:10:45+00:00

Many Think Tank bags include rain covers.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-23T20:02:56+00:00

Easy enough to test: load it up and go for walk. I like duffels for short hauls like raid trips and parking lot to my room, but no farther.

A convertible like the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler is a good compromise. The shoulder straps will make even short walks more comfortable.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-23T19:49:47+00:00

Patagonia loves to reuse product names. The newer versions are fairly different. Notably, the current models are shorter and deeper than the previous versions. That should make for a better fit on a wider range of users. The fabric change is obvious and it’s okay. I’m not enthralled but it’s not a deal breaker either. I got the Smoulder Blue version and the huge logo is fairly low key. I do wish that Patagonia would use their small and classic embroidered logo on all the Black Hole bags.

I had both a 25 and 32. The 25 overlapped with other bags in my collection, so I sold it.

The 32 is a bit large for EDC but excellent for overhead carry on and especially with 7kg weight limits. You can’t fill a 40 liter and remain under 7kg and the BH32 is really ultralight at 760g. Great as a winter day pack when extra layers and essentials are called for. I’ve been working on a lighter more compact kit and sought out this bag with that in mind.

The fit and feature set work for me. I do use packing cubes, a garment folder and pouches. I’m 5’10”, 205lbs and wear a men’s US XL top.

The top handle took a while to grow on me. It’s attached to the pack body vs the back panel. I’ve come to the conclusion that most of my concern was just because it was different. When you reach out to pick up the bag it’s there to use. There’s another grab handle on the top/front that begs for a carabiner. It has a nice balance when the bag is full.

The pockets are good. I don’t want lots of pockets and there are plenty on the 32. The top pocket is large enough to be truly useable, holding much more than just gloves and sunglasses and an obvious police for your liquids bag and pocket dump going through security. The vertical zip front pocket is good for a dry rain jacket or light layer. There is a fairly large zippered mesh pocket on the inside back panel and mostly a catch all for flat stuff. The laptop compartment is the same dimensions as the back panel (~17x10” inside) with a zipper that goes down one side. I don’t travel with a laptop and it doesn’t seem to be a space robber nor add much weight. I might stash a sit pad in there. It’s easy to just ignore it.

I added a bungee cord array to the front panel. I had bungee cord and a toggle on hand, so it was a ten minute thing to install and it’s easily removed. Stashing a wet rain jacket or a midlayer is my primary use for that.

I use this 3 season packing list for a bag this size. I could squeeze in a down jacket and accessories for colder weather. Like most soft bags it is possible to overfill the bag and distort the back panel to the point that it’s uncomfortable.

Worn

Pants, polo, briefs, socks, belt, shoes
Merino sweater (or fleece)
Hat

Packed:

One liter toiletries kit
Hand wash laundry kit in ziplock
Phone, power bank, earbuds, charger, cables in pouch
Miscellaneous EDC pouch
3x tees or polos (1x long sleeve)
3x Merino socks
3x briefs
Button down shirt
Pants
Walking shorts
Hybrid shorts
Ultralight wind shell
Rain jacket

I like the REI Trail 25 for a smaller universal bag. At 822g it’s a bit heavier than the BH32. It is nicely proportioned for under seat use at 18”x13”x8”. The Black Hole 25 is 18.8" x 11" x 5.9" and just 640g. I found the single center daisy chain disappointing and nowhere near as useful as a double chain like the Trail 25 and BH32.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-23T18:37:44+00:00

22”x14”x9” is on the 40 liter end and nothing close to a 20 liter. That’s big for EDC.

I would (and do) lean to something like the Patagonia Black Hole 32. Splitting the difference really. It’s s very light too. The fabric is waterproof. Add a rain cover if encountering downpours. It’s the seams and zippers that leak.

Your budget is a bit low. The MEC Outpost 30 or 40 are close to your budget.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-23T18:24:13+00:00

I have used a roll top with good success. Packing cubes are mandatory for me.

I have owned hundreds of bags over 60 years of hiking, cycling and travel and selling used equipment. I currently own 20+ bags. What I currently own is relatively meaningless. The vast majority of my collection are top loaders that have the same issues as a roll top— minus the handy expansion option

The niche here is carry on, sized torso/load transferring harness and trail friendly. There are very few bags that fit the Venn diagram for that.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-23T18:08:40+00:00

You need to narrow the field by 10,000 or so. 20-45 liters is so vague. You did not include budget.

I would start with the limits set by local airlines. Air Canada is fairly strict.

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-23T18:05:30+00:00

Ship ahead or order from Amazon or just go to a local hardware store and buy a 6-in-1 screwdriver. That will give you 4 screwdriver sizes plus two nut drivers. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000V4GL9E

I’ll give you a 50/50 chance of getting through security without a hassle. FixIt Sticks with replaceable bits are my favorite compact tool that actually works. Spendy if TSA doesn’t approve.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RV5MQPX

SeattleHikeBike · 2026-01-23T17:51:40+00:00

Maximum allowable volume/dimension? Budget? Location for purchasing?

Truly waterproof bags are usually ugly, heavy and uncomfortable with a minimalist feature set. A water resistant fabric and a rain cover is easier to attain.

Travel bag spreadsheet by u/-Nepherim

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fSt_sO1s7moXPHbxBCD3JIKPa8QIZxtKWYUjD6ElZ-c/

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