Sub 1 kg carry-on bag (not backpacking)

"Ben, and seven days of food? Sounds too small of a pack for weeklong backpacks."

That's the thing about the Mountainsmith Ghost. It's carry-on size — and shaped like a mini fridge. No wasted corners. :)

But I should mention I was talking about 3-season hikes — not winter.

Happen to have a link to the Kickstarter?

And @David: I've tried using hiking backpacks for travel before and they've always come up a bit short – too difficult to access things quickly with a top loading backpack, too difficult to transport laptops, pain to bring as a carryon. Even used a SMD Traveller panel loader, which was a step in the right direction but not quite there. I'd be interested in looking at the above mentioned Kickstarter, but I don't think there are currently any bags on the market that I would rate as good to excellent in both the travel AND hiking categories. For my last trip I actually did have to bring two bags and stored the Tortuga at a hostel while doing the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path – needed the space anyway because I had to be a suit at a conference for a few days, but would have loved to be able to get away with just one bag. Haven't found it yet.

Here is the THREAD where he posted about his Kicksarter project and here is the KICKSTARTER page

@Ben,
I do very similar thing as you do.
But I probably won’t bring additional flip flops or sandals. I usually feel more comfortable to wear sandals or flip flops in the city when a pair of trail runners would be better for hiking. However it’s a pain to carry shoes in the pack anytime since shoes are quite heavy and difficult to be packed. So I only want a pair of footwear with me for traveling.

Thus, I’m always searching for footwear which works well for both hiking in the mountains and walking in the city. So far I found teva barracuda sport sandals are my best all-round footwear since they are light-weight and provide nice protection, dry very quickly, and can be tightened well.
( I’ve mentioned about these sandals in another thread )

To carry my travel gear including hiking gear, a 45liter backpack works well ether for check or carry on. I think it’s large enough for a week long hiking trip. Besides, I would bring a cuben drawstring pack as a day pack (It’s also a nice large stuff sack).

FULL DISCLOSURE:
I’m one of the founders of HANCHOR brand.
—
Jangtian Shieh(Syoten)
HANCHOR outdoor gear design Co. Ltd.
http://www.HANCHOR.com

@syoten:

I mostly wear my flip flops at beaches and as slippers in hotels. This may (or may not) change your mind, but since you mention that you too like wearing flip flops, but are weary of their bulk and weight… take a look at Old Navy flip flops — very light at just 6oz a pair (size 8) and dirt cheap at just $2.50.

@Ben,
Actually, I rarely wear shoes fully cover my feet. I usually wear flip flops or sandals and only wear shoes in some specific occasions or wear trail runners for hiking. So when I travel, I'm weary about the weight and the bulk of the trail runners in the pack just for hiking but not the flip flops or sandals on my feet. Besides, sometimes sandals are better than flip flops to walk in the city.

FULL DISCLOSURE:
I’m one of the founders of HANCHOR brand.
—
Jangtian Shieh(Syoten)
HANCHOR outdoor gear design Co. Ltd.
http://www.HANCHOR.com

I traveled extensively with an Osprey 33 Talon, until the inner liner started peeling off. Osprey replaced the pack but I sold it. Now I use a stripped down ULA CDT. no hip belt or any frills. it weighs 15ozs, has tons of storage capacity and extremely durable. The shoulder straps are comfortable, I can put wet stuff in the mesh, has large water bottle pockets and frameless so I can push it into any overhead compartment and it will give not break. The 210 Robic material is proving durable for my needs..

Good Luck in your search.

I have not been on BPL or this particular thread in a long while, so I was surpised (positively) to see that it has been alive for a while this past summer.

In the meanwhile I am still searching for the perfect carry-on bag that does not break the one kilogram limit, yet have been unsuccessfulthus far. About two months ago I did spend a long time searching for it though, resulting in purchasing the eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender Junior. Even though at a kilo and a half it is no where near the weight I’d like it to be. Still I liked the many features and smart designs it has.

Currenlty, I am seriously considering just designing my own and having it build by a local manufacturer.

Below is a list of bags that I like, of which the first two I actually own. My ideal bag would be a combination between the simple design of the Air Boss and the smart design of the Mother Lode and weighing one kilogram.

The last link is to the wonderfull blog of one bag one world that lists many more bags than my shortlst, but unfortunately none that ticks all my boxes.

Red Oxx Air Boss
http://www.redoxx.com/air-boss/91018/product

eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender
http://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/tls-mother-lode-weekender-convertible-junior/241465?productid=10365842&rlid=DETAIL_AI

Tom Bihn Tri-Star
http://www.tombihn.com/travel_bags/TB0940.html

Tough Traveller Tri-Zip
http://www.toughtraveler.com/lug/carryon.asp

MEI Voyageur
http://www.meivoyageur.com/

Tortuga Travel Backpack
http://www.tortugabackpacks.com/products/tortuga-travel-backpack

Osprey Porter
http://www.ospreyeurope.com/nl_en/view-by-series/travel/porter-series/porter-46

Patagonia MLC
http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/transport-mlc-carry-on-shoulder-bag-45-liters?p=48109-0

Caribee Sky Master
http://www.caribee.com/#!sky-master-40-carry-on/c1bdj

Minaal
http://www.minaal.com/

One bagger
http://onebagger.squarespace.com/blog/category/luggage

I have my eye on the Osprey Ozone Travel Pack 46 at 1.07kg.

Backcountry Edge has a video review on YouTube.

Soon it will be three years ago already that I started this thread and still I have not found my ideal carry-on travel pack. Zimmerbuilt did not want to make one for me and a local manufacturer would be much too costly, so my search continues.

In addition to my list above I would like to add three bags and by bumping this tread up the forum, it might get some traction and some more ideas from you. It’d surely appreciate any suggestions.

Minaal Carry-On 2.0:
https://www.minaal.com/

Slicks:
https://slicks.com/eur_en/backpacks.html

Nomatic Travel Bag:
https://www.nomatic.com/pages/the-nomatic-travel-bag

I really like the Nomatic Bag, it seems well thought out and has many smart storage features that I really like. Yet at four pounds it’s not the weight I’d like it to be.

As for Hanchor, while I do appreciate their answers on this thread, to me their bag is too much backpack and too litte a one bag style carry-on.

Eins

Why isn’t the Rick Steves bag (mentioned on the first page) on your list?

https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/classic-backpack

http://www.tortugabackpacks.com/products/outbreaker-travel-backpack?variant=26900597257

Check out the Tortuga 35L travel backpack….it opens up like a suit case, clam shell style, which is typically easier to urban travel with vs. digging top down into a traditional backpack.

This is their newest design and really is the UL/Lightweight urban backpacking cottage company….their packs are waterproof with this new version.

https://www.amazon.com/Tortuga-Travel-Backpack-Carry-Sized/dp/B01AV640WQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1485823096&sr=8-2&keywords=tortuga+backpack

Smaller 27L discontinued backpack available on Amazon.

I bought this one on deep discount for $99.00 and took it with me to Cambodia for 13 days this past November.

I had plenty of space….really too much, but I was traveling very minimal style.

Worked great for my needs.

Hope this helps.

Tony

Eins never really gave all of his criteria other than weight limit of pack. He must also be looking for a certain liter size, price, features, etc because he has shot down everything mentioned for three years. ; )

@bzhayes:
Good question. I guess I simply forgot to list Rick Steve’s classic. The weight is pretty good as well. Yet, Rick has been travelling since the dawn of time and I do think the bag needs an upgrade to the 21st century: me travels no where without me laptop/tablet hybrid. :) At that price though, I guess I’ll buy it anyway though.

@valshar:
The Tortuga needs to be included in my list as well, since I do hope this thread might help another persons search for such a big. The Tortuga has a few design choices that do not tick my boxes, so it’s not for me.

Which brings me to

@jshann:
Fair enough, I should indeed list more details of what I’m looking for, yet I haven’t shot down all options on my list. After all I do own an Airbos, TLS Mother Lode and also a TNF Base Camp Duffle that I have seen people carrying onto airplanes. And currently Rick Steve’s bag and the Nomatic are being considered for purchse.

Alright, below is a list of features my ideal bag would have:

First and foremost it will need to be carry-on sized;
Secondly, the weight should be minimal; a kilogram at most, this forum is dedicated to lightweight gear after all;
I do really like a KISS design ethic, yet I do like organisation pockets;
Laptop accessibility from the outside of the bag;
Clever dual carry design, minimising the amount of straps;
Secure pocket for wallet and travel tickets that needs to be accessible while carrying the bag;
Water bottle stowage.

That’s about it, me thinks. There’s a few more things I’d like, like a clip for keys and an easy way to keep sunglasses at hand while carrying the bag, but I will be able to live without those if all boxes in my list above would be ticked.

Eins

Good update. Had you ever seen the Golite travel backpack when it was out? I missed getting one of those on sale for $50 on closeout.

I just use a gym duffel bag. It has all the features you’re asking for except for laptop stowage. It does have exterior pockets but you didn’t specify how big your laptop is. Typically I travel with my gym duffel bag as my primary carry-on and a small leather backpack/purse thing that I stick my tablet in along with my necessaries (everything from ID and money to medications) so that if I had to I could check the duffel.

Trying to find one at 1kg is a challenge.  I like a heavier bag that can handle being tossed around.  I used to use the Kelty Redwing backpack.  I bet I got around 40 countries traveled using that bag.  Lately I’ve been using this..

Pacsafe Venturesafe 45L GII Anti-theft Travel Backpack, Olive/Khaki

It’s not light.  It has a built in safety mess so it can’t be cut.  A stored cable to lock it and a locking zipper.  I like India and when I’m there I like safety.  I don’t carry it far….  bus to guest house, so the weight wasn’t an issue.

It has everything you want except for the light weight.

I just stumbled upon this sweet pack and I’m quite intrigued by it:

Mont.Bell Tri Pack 45

https://euro.montbell.com/products/disp.php?cat_id=14020&p_id=1133107

It weighs a kilo and it’s 30 liter brethren even a bit less. And here in Japan it’s cheap as well at around a hundred Eur.

Eins

The last time I posted I was on holiday in Japan and on the small screen of my phone, so I didn’t feel to write a long post. Now I want to answer the few last posts that I haven’t replied to yet.

@jshann
When it was out it certainly wasn’t on my radar, but I’ve found some images of that Golite bag online somewhere and it would definitely have been a winner if it was still available.

@eagleriverdee
I’ve considered a duffel bag and when I do short adventure race weekends recently my TNF Base Camp does do the trick, yet for normal travel I do prefer a bag that is a bit more ‘slick’ like for example the Nomatic bag.

@hairlessap
Pacsafe is really beyond my comprehension. I find that the only thing that their idea of building in mesh into a bag like that does is to advertise how interesting your bag is to steal. I think a low profile, generic brand bag, provides much more security. But perhaps I’m being a bit over critical.

Next to the Mont.Bell that eventually I didn’t buy (holidaying in Japan is not as expensive as people think, still I had better ways to spending my money [onsen anyone?]), I also think the Cabin Zero brand needs to be added to my list, since they get one thing very very right at Cabin Zero: Keep It Simple!

https://www.cabinzero.com/collections/travel/?constraint=size-44-litre

Eins

Keep searchin ; )

I won’t stop until I have found the holy grail itself. :D
And while I’m at it I hope this thread might help others finding a decent carry on.

Eins

https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/43311/

My wife uses the myog frame pack shown at link above for carry-on, backpacking and trekking.  We’ve beefed up the frame a bit after the carbon fiber struts broke on one trip.  It still weighs well under 1 pound, however.   She’s been satisfied with it for at least 10 years.

The original goal was a carry on, less than 1 kilogram, not for backpacking, yes?

How about: http://www.patagonia.com/product/lightweight-travel-tote-pack-22-liters/48808.html

Six Moon Designs has a travel pack but is is great than 1 kg.

@lyrad1
I do really like MYOG bags, but I don’t want to spend the time and effort making one. I hope that one day a bag will appear on the market instead.

@btolley
22 liter is quite a bit smaller than I need or every day travel. I really need around the 40 liter mark to get my travel stuff in. Patagonia’s MLC is still a great bag, but I still think that it could be made lighter.

Eins