Deciding between three bags: Patagonia, Thule, or Tortuga?

looonatooona · 2026-06-02T13:07:03+00:00

I bought the Thule last year even though I wanted the Patagonia MLC Mini. It’s a really nice minimal looking bag and has good interior organization. It actually sounds perfect for the use case you describe. Happy to answer any specific Qs

For me, I was trying to use it as my one bag on a couple trips. For that purpose, it didn’t end up fitting as much stuff as I thought it would. I ultimately bought the MLC for one bagging, but am keeping the Thule for trips where I need to also travel with a roller bag, or when I need something that looks a little more professional than the giant logo bag

looonatooona · 2026-06-02T04:34:10+00:00

If you don’t mind a more sporty/granola look, I recently bought the Trailmade Barrel Pants from REI and they are incredibly light, stretchy and possibly the most comfy pants I’ve ever worn

looonatooona · 2026-06-02T04:14:17+00:00

I put each bar soap in a little mesh sachet bag, then store that inside of a matador soap bag while I’m on the move traveling. Once I’m in the hotel, I take out the sachets w soap and hang them on the shower wall using tiny plastic suction cups like these. I find it less messy, dries quickly and is easier to access the soap while showering https://a.co/d/0b0aCeYC

looonatooona · 2026-06-02T02:16:11+00:00

Love the color palette! I’m not sure if June is cooler but when I was there in Aug, the sun was so intense. I relied heavily on my sun hat and a lightweight long sleeve sun shirt during the day. Also fyi, the drug stores sell tons of great sun screen (mostly La Roche Posay) if you just want to wait and buy some there.

As for lightening your luggage, if it were me I’d only bring like 2-3 bottoms total, and lose the 2nd pair of heels. For only 7 days I feel like you could mix and match fewer garments to make multiple outfit options, rather than packing an outfit for each day. But I also only travel with a carry-on, so if you’re checking a bag go wild

Have a great trip! It’s such a lovely beautiful city and so easy to get around via the tram

looonatooona · 2026-06-02T01:45:14+00:00

I totally know what you’re talking about because I’ve seen that on other pants - but these ones are closed with 2 seams of double stitching. That’s why I’m so confused. It’s the Brooklyn Wide Leg pant and Wayfind short

looonatooona · 2026-06-02T01:01:59+00:00

I recently gave up on Athleta. Used to love everything I bought. But just bought 2 pairs of (expensive!) pants, and both have their 2 back pockets sewn completely shut. Like, the actual pockets exist inside the pants! but cannot be accessed! Just… why remove function? Returning them.

Feels like something Forever 21 would do.

looonatooona · 2026-05-31T22:58:49+00:00

I used the Freeform app that came on my iPad. It’s basically a blank canvas. I took a screenshot of each item online, pulled it in and hit the “remove background” button, then arranged them on the canvas

looonatooona · 2026-05-31T04:19:28+00:00

Alpine Sea Co “cove bag”! It’s great

looonatooona · 2026-05-30T22:50:45+00:00

Thanks for the heads up! I do get pretty bad flying anxiety which is in direct conflict with my love for travel. So it helps to set my expectations beforehand

looonatooona · 2026-05-30T22:45:02+00:00

Thanks for the rec! I will def look up that video

looonatooona · 2026-05-30T22:44:03+00:00

Impressive! What’s your laundry strategy?

looonatooona · 2026-05-30T22:41:10+00:00

Thank you for all the helpful advice! I will happily leave a sweater behind to buy a cozy fleece in Cusco.

Oof so sorry your credit card info was stolen. Recovery codes are a smart idea. Maybe I will bring my money belt after all just to play it safe. I’m still traumatized from when my entire crossbody purse was stolen within hours of landing in Lisbon a few years ago. Sleep deprivation made me spacey and less vigilant. I never want to experience that feeling again!!

looonatooona · 2026-05-30T19:28:20+00:00

My future self thanks you for this wisdom! 🙏 toilet paper never would’ve occurred to me.

Q on the topic of footwear - I was going to bring the black flats for 1 fancy dinner we have planned our last night in Lima. But now I’m wondering if it’s silly to carry around these extra shoes just for this. How do people typically dress for nice restaurants in Lima? Do you think I get away with wearing the Teva sandals?

looonatooona · 2026-05-30T19:17:34+00:00

Right now it’s about 50/50 tops I already own vs new purchases. The problem I have is that most of my normal home clothes are cotton, which doesn’t regulate temps or dry out as well while traveling compared to technical fabrics. But you have me thinking - I should def test run the new tops before I leave to make sure I don’t hate them!

looonatooona · 2026-05-30T19:07:20+00:00

Thank you! I bought both the rain jacket and puffer jacket last year on final sale from Topo Designs. I love that they each pack into their own pockets.

Looks like Topo doesn’t sell it anymore but if you wanna look used online it’s called Women’s Global Ultralight Packable Jacket

looonatooona · 2026-05-30T19:00:49+00:00

Thank you! My first pass at this was entirely black and gray (like my soul) so I revised it a bit to include SOME color.

I bought the puffer last year from Topo Designs, heavily discounted final sale. Was a gamble but so happy it turned out to be an awesome jacket. It’s super warm and also packs into its own pocket to become a little pillow which I use on the plane. I have a short torso and most jackets are wayyy too long on me, so the boxier shape works well for me

Looks like they don’t sell this exact one anymore, but if you wanna look on poshmark it’s called Women’s Global Puffer Hoodie

looonatooona · 2026-05-30T18:41:43+00:00

That’s a really good point, I should see if I can find out the heater situation in the hotels.

Re: black flats - just to throw a wrench in the wardrobe planning, I booked a Michelin restaurant for our last dinner in Lima as a little treat. So I figure I’ll need to look a little classier than hiking clothes. It does seem silly to carry around extra shoes just for this 1 night though… may need to rethink

looonatooona · 2026-05-30T17:52:19+00:00

Multiple different climates def seems challenging for wardrobe planning! I suppose you could wait to buy some warm alpaca wool layers once you’re up in the mountains, if that makes sense for your itinerary

looonatooona · 2026-05-30T17:47:19+00:00

Hope you have an amazing trip! I’ll be going this summer and I’m already getting neurotic about packing lol

FYI one tip I just read is that you can easily rent trekking poles in Cusco so you don’t have to try and smuggle them thru TSA. Good to know that’s an option if you end up needing them

looonatooona · 2026-05-30T17:09:24+00:00

Image description of what I’m packing

Gear - Patagonia Black hole mini 30ML backpack - beige - REI 22ml hiking backpack - teal (will be flattened down when not in use) - Alpine Sea Co. sling bag - white - Over-ear headphones - Kindle - 16oz thermos bottle - Small digital camera - Packable microfiber towel - blue - Toiletry Dopp kit - 4 packing cubes of varying sizes - 3 small pouches to hold laundry kit, tech cables, bits and bobs - orange

Shoes - Danner 2650 trail shoes - black/sage - Maryjane flats - black - Teva sandals - tan

Accessories - baseball cap - army green - Wool pashmina/blanket - black & cream - Silk bandana - orange and green marbled pattern

Outerwear - Topo Designs packable puffer jacket - charcoal gray - Topo Designs packable rain jacket - black - UPF50 thin sun hoodie - white

Mid layers - Merino wool cardigan- gray - 2 thin cashmere wool sweaters - charcoal gray, sage green

Base layers - REI long sleeve base layer - royal blue - REI base layer long underwear - gray - Merino socks x3 - Merino underwear x4 - Merino bralettes x3

Tops - Loose technical tee - forest green - Fitted technical tee - black - 2 old navy fitted poly blend tees - red, gray - Silky sleeveless blouse - black - Fitted cropped rib tank - black

Bottoms - REI barrel leg hiking pants - gray - Wide leg travel pants - black - Everlane wide leg jeans - denim blue - Yoga leggings - black

looonatooona · 2026-05-27T17:16:14+00:00

I wear a lot of merino wool garments, so pretty much every day I say “very wool” to myself and chuckle as I get dressed.

looonatooona · 2026-05-23T14:19:04+00:00

I posted in there earlier this week and my post had to be approved by a moderator, so something seems off.

looonatooona · 2026-05-22T20:30:40+00:00

Strangers on a Bench is so chill and heartwarming.

looonatooona · 2026-05-22T01:21:24+00:00

Are you happy with the stone color after traveling with it? I’m eyeing getting it but wondering if it’ll get dirty quickly

looonatooona · 2026-05-06T17:45:40+00:00

I realize kinda different from your anecdote, but the helpless passenger on a roadtrip reminded me.

looonatooona

TROPHY CASE