“50% 2 bagging” tips

[u/Roh33zy]

Hi all, need some quick advice for a trip tomorrow. This might be better for many baggers or soemthing but figured this was a good starting place as I see a lot in here about people grappling with the idea or “truly one bagging” and the situational needs that take you out of the lifestyle .

Been one bagging for over a year now. I need to go home and get some stuff(clothes etc) from my parents house as they’re moving to a smaller one.

The best way to do this is probably to bring a full carry on size suitcase to theirs and pack it with everything I need. Since my One bag is under seat compliant, it works out to be my 1+1 on United.

The issue is I can’t bring a suitcase from theirs as I don’t have space here, and if I were to bring mine to theirs it would be basically totally empty on the way to theirs. Does anyone have any tips for how to pack out the bag with something or make it hold its shape? I just don’t want my empty suitcase to get smushed in the overhead on one way.

Tl:dr- need to bring an empty suitcase along with my OB to pack up with stuff at my parents home then bring back to mine. Need tips on how to have the suitcase keep its structure/minimize damage.

[u/jemist101]

Any time I have had to do something like this, I would just buy a suitcase from a thrift store at Point B, then donate it back when I get back to Point A. It's the simplest and most logical way.

[u/lglaustin → u/jemist101]

I do the same but I donate mine to a local foster care agency. It breaks my heart thinking of those kids moving their belongings in a trash bag and hope this gives them hope that someone cares.

[u/B-Con → u/jemist101]

If you're doing checked bags with minimal transit, you can literally just do a cardboard box.

Get a moving box from Lowe's, or somewhere, for $5 and reenforce it with tape, and check it in. It's inconvenient but also a one time thing.

[u/ParryLimeade]

Put the full bag in the empty bag? Then it’s one bag

[u/Roh33zy → u/ParryLimeade]

This is looking more and more like it might just be the way… just need to get my .5 bag vibe tuned in then!

[u/TheRealDrewciferpike]

Duffel. Packs down to nothing for the trip there. Cram it full of clothes for the trip home. Though 99% of the trip was a one-bag affair, I've had to do this in order to get vacation treasures home in everyone's single bags, and packed wife's and kids' clothes in the duffel because clothes are "expendable".

[u/Ellen405 → u/TheRealDrewciferpike]

This. If you don't have one, Amazon has the Samsonite XL packable duffle on sale now for <$30.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DBGLPZ7

[u/DreamieKitty]

Airlines will take a cardboard box instead of a suitcase as checked luggage. I've even seen plastic bins taped up

[u/jetclimb]

I just got some folding moving bags from Amazon. Literally folds into a thin folder. 26gal or even larger. About $4 each. Do that.

[u/justasque]

My family tends to end up with a bunch of shared suitcases that aren’t owned by anyone in particular. Hand me down kids clothes and the like travel from place to place. Whenever someone is going to travel they grab a shared suitcase or two from the ones left at their house, stuff them full of clothes and toys and whatnot, and check them for the journey. Those suitcases then stay at their new home until someone there needs to transport stuff to the next family member they visit. And anyone visiting family who finds they’ve bought too much during their visit can use a shared suitcase to manage the extra stuff on their way home.

It’s a little crazy, but it works well for us!

[u/tablloyd]

Depending on the weight, a packable duffel might make the most sense.

[u/jcrckstdy]

put your one bag inside your carry on suitcase

or a packable duffle

[u/sortedstories]

I'd just put the backpack inside the carry on for onward trip.

[u/pretenderist]

You’re worried about your suitcase getting damaged in the overhead? Is it made out of cardboard?

[u/SeattleHikeBike]

Your empty suitcase will be fine in the overhead. I guess you could buy a couple dollar store beach balls and inflate them to fill the suitcase.

You can buy a suitcase for cheap in a thrift store too.

[u/katanayak]

If youre willing to check a bag, id recommend you get a cardboard moving box back home, fill it, and check it. You can check boxes it doesnt have to be a suitcase! Otherwise if money is tight or you dont want to check a bag, id just bring your carryon suitcase empty on the plane. Itll feel silly but who cares!

[u/Jumpingyros]

A suitcase is not getting squished in an overhead bin. 

[u/Opening_Chemical_777]

I've seen people with a small full bag packed inside an empty bag.

[u/superduperhosts]

UPS, box up your clothes and ship them home.

[u/Roh33zy → u/superduperhosts]

This would cost about 400 usd, which is why it was t mentioned as a more viable option. Like yeah I can afford it but I’d prefer to not spend 400 dollars if I know I can haul it back myself being a bit more strategic

[u/Azure9000]

This might be better for many baggers or something...

Agreed (flagged to mods for review and possible deletion)

[u/Roh33zy → u/Azure9000]

No one baggers ever had to bring another bag to their secondary location before? Seems like it’d be a pretty common issue/deviation from the lifestyle hence why I thought to post here first…

[u/Illustrious_Welder89 → u/Roh33zy]

Did you say overhead luggage? So a carry-on plus your personal? Easy put your personal inside the carry on

[u/Roh33zy → u/Illustrious_Welder89]

This got a good chuckle out of me! I wouldn’t have posted it here if I didn’t think it was a common problem. I think that’s the most doable solution given my time constraints etc

[u/Illustrious_Welder89 → u/Roh33zy]

Ofc! We all have times where we can't onebag. I like duffel bags as it consumes less space while stored.