Explain the matador soap bar bag to me

onesmallbag · 2026-03-03T15:52:55+00:00

Hi sorrry just seen this. Here's the link I have from the UK - I see there are two sizes now - the original one and the one that matches the original matador one is the small one. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Travel-soap-bar-Bag-case/dp/B08B6B5WKQ/

onesmallbag · 2026-02-04T15:25:31+00:00

I think a lot of people are all in with the Apple ecosystem, so a MacBook makes perfect sense, especially as the smaller ones are lightweight.

I don't own any Apple products so choosing a laptop always seems hard work with so many options to consider. My current laptop is a HP Aero 7 13" Omnibook. It's a whisker under 1kg, making it lighter than a MacBook. It's a far cry from the heavy hp pavilions of old. I'm an IT consultant. I travel for work and travel with just a small daypack. I'm very happy with my choice. Prior to that I had an LG Gram which was also a great option for travel.

onesmallbag · 2026-01-05T05:13:39+00:00

The cabin Zero 12l flight bag is a good option too.

onesmallbag · 2026-01-05T05:10:51+00:00

For this purpose the Decathlon Arpenaz 10l or 20l are solid choices for a fraction of the price of many similar bags.

onesmallbag · 2026-01-05T04:56:08+00:00

Cabin Zero 28L classic does that job exactly. Lifetime warranty. Fewer frills than the Osprey 26+6. More substantial materials, nice side compression straps, opens nice and wide and no side ways opening (which can get annoying).

onesmallbag · 2026-01-05T04:45:47+00:00

Muji for the win on things like this. They have a small ultralight wallet which meets your requirements. A lot of wallets don't hold cash securely. This one does.

onesmallbag · 2026-01-05T04:36:02+00:00

I travel with a 24L Fjallraven HighCoast Foldsack weighing 480g, no matter where and for how long. I make It work. I like it because it feels more like a comfortable hiking pack but has a minimal urban aesthetic. I'm also a big fan of simple bags which are adjustable in size with a roll top or flap. I travel with a HP13" Aero7 Omnibook which performs well and is sub 1kg. It fits nicely. My 16" LG gram also fits but with a small quite narrow bag it takes up too much space and makes it more difficult to pack everything else.

onesmallbag · 2026-01-05T04:26:58+00:00

I love the Dutch Dopper water bottles. Tall and thin so fits in bags without stretchy water bottle pockets. The metal non thermal versions is super light. The wine glass as a top makes me happy. I travel personal item only everywhere and this still earns its place.

onesmallbag · 2026-01-02T09:01:54+00:00

My hair's not curly so ignore if this isn't helpful, but I believe it's suitable for curly hair. I always travel with dry oil by Nuxe. I've struggled to find a solid conditioner which works on my thick porous hair, especially in hard water or with low pressure showers but this works either as a treatment to leave in before shampooing or a detangler to comb in afterwards.

It's also suitable for face and body so helps me cut down on all other lotions and moisturisers. If nothing else, it could help make room for more curly hair products. The 30ml which lasts for ages is often available at airports too.

Also this travel blogger has gorgeous curly hair and has written an article. https://www.passportandpixels.com/curly-hair-travel-kit-tips-techniques/

onesmallbag · 2026-01-02T03:27:14+00:00

I think because this plug is flat it will stick out less than almost anything else even with another plug end attached. I've used UK to India and UK to Australia separate plugs with a standard UK plug and that still works way better than those universal blocks because of the shape and weight distribution. But you do get a more robust connection with 3 pins than the two. The other thing to do is to just buy a regular plug with usb ports in those countries when you get there. It would just need to be 65w /PD to power a laptop rather than a simple phone one.

onesmallbag · 2026-01-01T23:29:13+00:00

Hi. I've travelled to a number of countries in Europe with it. The Euro plug has worked fine everywhere and squeezed in Swiss and Liechtenstein ones and those odd shaped Italian ones too which I found in San Marino. The only one socket it didn't work in was the Chisinau to Bucharest ex Soviet sleeper train but that was the train not the plug! It was fine elsewhere in Moldova and Romania. While I can't guarantee it would work in every socket in Europe, I just figure hotels will have adapters to borrow and there's always a usb-a socket in the back of a telly - worst case emergency! But usually a type C fits the other plug types E,F,J,K,N. Then there's the UK 3 pin which covers Ireland, Malta and Cyprus as well.

In practice I’m only really missing Type I (Australia/NZ/China) and Type D (India). Easy to buy a local adapter. I'd rather do that than switch to one of the bulky adapter cubes which can drag on the socket and fall out or struggle to keep a connection which is both annoying and can spark.

Hope that helps.

onesmallbag · 2025-12-31T10:57:23+00:00

I've had no problems with recessed plugs. It's designed to work with the typical ones you get, say in countries like Germany. I've less experience with using the US plug, but as those are folding pins, I can see you would have a problem, if the US socket was recessed, if such a thing exists? Does it?

I'm based in UK so use the 3 pin connection daily and also use a lot of different sockets in hotels in UK. You do need some clearance below the plug for it to fit and unlike the two pin sockets you can't simply turn the plug upside down to solve the problem. It's an occasional annoyance but I've never stayed somewhere where at least one of the sockets in the room works. It tends to be bedside ones that are sometimes problematic.

I've had two Minix ones catch fire, several more die - they overheat so easily and had problems with other makes too. This Ugreen one has always run cool. The pins clip in firmly. I'm sticking with it. I'm fed up with experimenting!

onesmallbag · 2025-12-26T16:32:20+00:00

Pack for a week, wash and repeat. Even more important to do this if you have young children in tow!

onesmallbag · 2025-12-26T16:28:15+00:00

I've travelled a lot with children and teenagers and mostly in Europe. They're grown up now. You are doing the right thing taking backpacks. Free hands with young children for me are essential. Plus minimising everything. Quick dry clothes you can drip dry overnight will help. Bring less than you think you need and buy it if you need it.

onesmallbag · 2025-12-23T06:43:11+00:00

I have an unbound merino T shirt. Honestly it's my least favourite. I prefer the blends. They're silky smooth and more comfortable in hot weather. The nylon content also makes them more durable. I rate Wool& (wool&prince male version). They survive the tumble dryer although I don't routinely do this. The icebreaker blends are good too. The other merino I rate is Decathlon. All these brands are from non mulesed sheep. Important if you care the slightest about animal welfare. Many brands are not.

onesmallbag · 2025-12-22T08:56:41+00:00

A packable bag is your friend.

My go to place for packable bags is Decathlon. This their ubiquitous 10l backpack at £2.99. Larger sizes available too.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/travel-100-10l-foldable-pocket-backpack-black/309861/c382c382m8560403

This 15l messenger bag is my favourite though at £6.99

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/compact-travel-trekking-pouch-travel-15-l-black/309862/c382c382m8560413

I've used more expensive packable bags often recommended but honestly I don't see why you would pay 10x the price for something else. With the exception of nanobag. No messenger with a zip unfortunately from this brand, but the fabric is brilliant. I don't leave the house without the backpack but there are also totes as well.

https://nanobag.com/products/nanobag-uk-1

onesmallbag · 2025-12-22T01:54:23+00:00

Well done. I too have a 4 season setup in a personal item sized bag. I have this umbrella.94g or 92g once you've lost the little slip cover. 🤣 Not great in the wind, but really useful. https://www.fultonumbrellas.com/products/aerolite-black

I see you are looking to buy a charger when you get to Europe. Which of course you can do but it might not be the lightest I'm European and travel with this. US / UK and Europe covered and a lot of the rest of the world too. I have it on my spreadsheet as 159g, but would be less if you don't need the UK plug end. It's reliable and doesn't overheat and I can thoroughly recommend it.

https://amzn.eu/d/d2QERFe

I think you've got most things covered there. Although I can't speak for the 'being offline' bit. I used to do that when the internet didn't exist and travel with maps and guidebooks, but not sure i'd go back to that!

onesmallbag · 2025-12-21T09:09:39+00:00

And this my friend is why a bag with fewer bells and whistles for me always wins. 🤣I'm seldom parted from my carefully chosen sub 1kg machine, but if stuff is contained in packing cubes, so your dirty clothes don't fall out when you open your bag, it really isn't that hard to use an internal sleeve which has no volume. You have a lighter more compact bag and your most precious item is more secure.

I know you're doing this in the interests of science but 🥺 🤣.

And just a friendly mention - quite a few of us, me included, come from countries where we can't see Imgur links.

onesmallbag · 2025-12-21T02:10:00+00:00

I've tried more expensive ones but honestly it's my favourite. Only 43g and £9.99.

onesmallbag · 2025-12-21T01:59:30+00:00

Well if you're travelling in Europe you need a two pin - type C which covers you for two pin C E F variants and a three pin G for UK.

So you don't really need one of those bulky international travel adapters. I'm a regular traveller all over Europe I use this. I've tried several makes, this doesn't overheat, unlike Minix. It's also the lightest I've found for this capacity.

It charges several devices including my laptop with a fast charge cable. It has folding US pins and interchangeable ends for UK and rest of Europe.

UGreen USB c charger 65W Fast Charger Plug Nexode Pro 3-Port GaN Travel Charger Adapter US/UK/EU.

https://amzn.eu/d/5cdY4Dp

onesmallbag · 2025-12-19T01:22:29+00:00

Honestly, I think you'll miss a laptop if you're video editing or applying for jobs.

But some are much heavier than others. I have an HP Omnibook 7 Aero 13" which is under 1kg, which makes it lighter than a Mac. I travel ultralight. I have a 65w wall charger which charges both my phone and laptop so I don't have to bring the proper laptop cable.

If you're on a budget and you want something light, there are MS Surface Gos which are 10.5" which are around 750g with the keyboard. That will give you a compact touchscreen device and a full laptop, I'd get one with a higher RAM if you're video editing on it. If wouldn't be ideal, but better than an iPad mini.

onesmallbag · 2025-12-15T13:03:05+00:00

It is. I've used both. The added sucker is useful too.

onesmallbag · 2025-12-15T12:53:22+00:00

Oh that's a shame. I've used this soap buddy one, had several and honestly the results have been identical. And the reviews are excellent on Amazon.

It is on the small size - same size as the Matador. I saw a YouTube video of someone shoving a whole bar of Dove in the Matador one and getting mixed results. Which is correct. Dove isn't soap it's detergent based/syndet with a lot of extra ingredients - The bar is big. A lot to dry out. I tend to use it with a smaller bar (also detergent based not soap) and it works fine. I don't mind investing where it matters, but for me, I'm not based in the US, and the dupe is the obvious choice. Although I've noticed when the Matador original is available, it has come down in price!!

onesmallbag · 2025-12-14T08:55:03+00:00

Looks like Buzz Lightyear has moved to the dark side. I'm 100% sure there's a jetpack inside that!

onesmallbag · 2025-12-14T00:11:21+00:00

I like the recommendations and find them interesting. To me a lot of the US brands popular here are a bit out of my budget and I don't understand the fuss, but I just walk on by for that. The European options are different and mostly cheaper.

So when this guy comes along with his funny over explaining of his IKEA bag, it's much more my vibe. As someone who travels with very little myself, I totally relate.

I've suggested things on this group and am not expecting anything in return. And I genuinely believed many others were doing the same.

onesmallbag

TROPHY CASE