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How to Pack a Personal Item for Ultra-Minimalist Travel

Pack Hacker

113,967 views

Personal item bags are small but mighty. We're showing you how to fit everything you need for a short trip into a smaller bag.

Packing everything into a personal item bag is an excellent way to save time and money while keeping all your travel essentials in one place. It's nearly always included in your fare, and it's small enough to carry around as you explore a new place. Plus, it's easier to stay organized with minimalist packing. What's the best bag for personal-item-only travel, and how to pack it? We're laying it all out for you in this video.

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0:00 - Intro
0:25 - Choose Your Bag
1:58 - Lay It All Out
3:17 - Organize
5:42 - Compartmentalize
7:05 - Pack It Up
7:51 - Practice Your Trip
8:24 - Pack With Me

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PRODUCTS MENTIONED
Fjallraven Kanken Laptop Backpack: https://www.packhacker.com/travel-gea...

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#personalitem #howtopack #minimalistpacking

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20 Comments

@PackHacker Creator 5 months ago Pinned

What's your go-to personal item bag? 🎒👕

@EveLivesToTravel 5 months ago

I love my Fjallraven Kanken for exactly THESE reasons! I can also access things easily on the bottom by moving the zipper to the side. I even use it as a foot rest during my flight. The structure is fantastic. Sometimes, simpler is just better.

@7ymlord 5 months ago

I want to thank your group for normalizing Masking in the airport and on the planes. Better safe than sick and sorry :)

@moxiedawn4370 5 days ago

Thankfully, I'm not a minimalist so I always have a carry-on. But in the event of gate-checking, my personal item (always a backpack) has one full change of clothes and a sleep shirt. And my best tip is exactly what you've done here. Organize by pouches. But I use bright colored pouches so I know exactly which color to go for if I need to get something out. It makes it a lot faster.

@TischTosh 5 months ago (edited)

I'm always jealous of young people with straight hair... I'm an older lady with long 3c hair, scalp issues & sensitive skin (so I can't just pick up random stuff at my destination), my personal item could be entirely toiletries including sunscreen 😅😅 but I've learned to pack in just a personal item for 4-5 days.

@robinh2082 5 months ago

My flight last week they made several announcements that all charging banks must be placed in the seat pocket in front of you. Make sure your tech pouch can fit in the pocket.

@Andz200zx 4 months ago

the kanken #2 laptop 15 is perfect for this, I have travelled for over two weeks with it as my only bag

@mezzogal 4 months ago

I adore the Kanken! I keep trying other bags, but end up always coming back to it. I used to use the classic size, but when I got the one with the laptop pocket, it changed my packing life completely. That extra laptop pocket is so useful. I use it for documents and the essentials i need on a flight, and keep the main pocket for rest of the less-important stuff.

@frstesiste7670 5 months ago

Excellent presentation, but it would be interesting to see a largish guy do something similar (assume clothing would need more space).

@lynneeie5226 4 months ago

Fave bag: Kånken Nr. 2 and my Go to. Rarely, if I need more, I have an Osprey Daylight 26+6 but it does not fit always under some seats. The Kånken does. In fact, on an international flight I brought a flat packed cross body & used it for bringing things home … and as both were black, I fit both under the seat in front of me 😂. As a tall woman who is also not small, this works well for me. I even have room for all my meds & a small dry bag I use for wash n wear washing. I take fewer clothes: my go to is wear one outfit, pack an outfit plus an extra shirt. Carry a cardigan & coat with a foldable grocery bag in the pocket & once on board I fold my coat & cardi and use the grocery bag like a pillow. I have used this system for two week trips. I put more into the PC compartment - maybe some drawing supplies. The Kånken is definitely my fave!! My husband also has one & he has shoulder problems - but the Kånken is so light, it isn’t an issue. I have a pinched nerve in my back & again Kånken is no issue. Plus, the black Nr2 is pretty stylish. I took it to Paris & even with limited clothes - it was fine!! I did take one more shirt for Paris & some silk scarves.

@Darthvinder 5 months ago

Great video, and I appreciate the focus on concepts rather than focusing on listing the gear itself.

For the Switch (2?), I tried using the Tomtoc case and noticed the part behind the joycons was adding so much bulk, which you can see in your packing as well. I switched to the Spigen Thin Fit 360, which feels less premium but saves on a ton of space. I'd give that a try for packing like this.

@stefaniepech2087 5 months ago

I just travelled to Stockholm for a week with my kanken. I „ctually have the newest version which is slightly bigger but still ok for most airlines. Another tip: take a neckpillow with you which doesn’t count as luggage and fill it up with some soft clothes like socks and undies. It’s amazing how much stuff you can put in there…

@megaira86 5 months ago (edited)

I have my Fjallraven Kanken in front of me and a lot of things on my bed to pack for my next trip and I turn YouTube on for a break and this is the first Video I see. Perfect! I'm not new to personal item only travel and came just back from 2 weeks in Croatia but the next trip is a little colder and windier climate so maybe I can still learn something from your video
Edit: I really should have gotten the laptop size Fjallraven...the frontpocket is so much bigger. I can only fit my phone and some mints in mine

@awgnaw 5 months ago

I wish you included the weight of the kanken while empty and the final weight of the bag all packed. Other than that, good video!

@catasino 5 months ago

Almond Oak 25+5 is my perfect personal item backpack
Also got the Minimul M20 to be used soon

@lynnfox8376 4 months ago

I take a small foldup nylon bag so I can put extra clothing I wear at the airport (jacket, cardigan, scarf etc) into it, tie the handles and use as a pillow.

@autumnrose_tv 5 months ago (edited)

I usually only travel backpack only for trips up to 3 nights and 4 days, and don’t carry a laptop with me, so I normally put my clothes and pyjamas into ziplock bags and put them in the laptop pocket along with a small, flexible pouch with my cables and plug on top of the clothes. I can fit my toiletry pouch in the front pocket of my 17” laptop kanken and I have about 20 litres of space to work with in the main compartment for my Nintendo switch and souvenirs

Edit: I do carry a kanken sling as my main day bag which I’ll put a magnetic portable charger, my purse, uno, a canvas tote rolled up in the main pocket, the kindle and phone go into the back pocket; lip balm, Nic salts and keys go in the front pocket, L’Occitane mini hand cream in one side pocket, and my vape and a pen in the other side pocket and hook my AirPods case to the outside

@LisaPhares 5 months ago (edited)

Love the Osprey 26+6. I pack it without expansion so if I need to add something or it’s very tight, I can unzip the expansion zipper and it’s easier to root around and find things. I pair it with the away carryon size, not the large carryon size for several weeks trips to Europe. I always tucks under the seat in front and I have a waist pack in the top that has charging cable, lactase, alcohol wipes, phone, and small packtowl that I wear to keep everything together so nothing gets left behind.

@beachstart 5 months ago

Great Video!👍👍👍
But now we need a follow up video for the next level personal item travel: Going on a photography trip by Ryan.
So how to fit a camera body and three lenses plus tripod, filter, batteries and setup to double save your pictures. ... it works, I tried it😊