▲ 179 r/onebag
Trip Report: First time (serious) onebagging - 9 days in Athens in June
I'm back from my first time (serious) onebagging trip for 9 days in Athens in June. While it's still fresh in my mind, here is a detailed trip report. I added some photos of the updated packing list and a few extras with impressions of my first time in Athens.
Link to previous post with packing list.
Hard facts:
- Trip length: 9 days in June
- Flying from Munich to Athens via Lufthansa
- Location: Athens, Greece (no accommodation change) + day trips to Mycenae and Napflio
- Accommodation type: Aparthotel with a washer + balcony
- Trip purpose: vacation
- Pack volume: 18 L
From my previous post, I took everyone's feedback into consideration (thank you!) and made some adjustments accordingly.
Adjustments made to packing list:
- added sunglasses clip-on I found at Decathlon
- switched out 1 light long pants for 1 light skort (half skirt/half shorts)
- added light long sleeved, buttoned down from uniqlo (nylon/rayon)
- read that many archaelogical sites has slippery marble floors/steps, so I swapped out the jack wolfskin sandals for Teva Hurricane XTL2 which has better traction and grip
What didn't work:
- The rayon/nylon long-sleeved buttoned down from uniqlo. Like one commentor mentioned, it doesn't do much to block the heat, this is true. I ended up buying a loose linen blend long-sleeved button down there instead. Worked way better and I ended up using it a lot, especially on day trips where we're out in the sun most of the day.
- The sling. I mentioned I have shoulder problems and even though I swap sides often, I still felt it unevenly waying down on my shoulders too much (also might be because I have a bit too much stuff in there and not used to the sling - I'm more used to a smaller fanny pack). Will opt out for small/packable backpack instead next time. Would have also been handy for carrying the camera instead of slinging it across the body all the time (which wasn't so comfortable).
- Huge mistake #1: Not thinking about mosquitos. Got multiple nasty bites on my legs on one evening out while wearing the light short skirt. Note to self for next time: bring mosquito sprays (and use them!) and after-bite cream.
- Huge mistake #2: Not using the washing detergent I brought myself to wash some t-shirts. Instead, my dumbass used the washing pods that came with the aparthotel just cuz why not. Turns out, I got some severe skin reactions from it which needed cortesone cream to get them under control (I'm not the type to be allergic to anything, so this came as a huge albeit nasty surprise). Lesson learned.
Neutral:
- Didn't use the clothing line because the apartment we stayed at came with a decent sized drying rack.
- Didn't need the bikini because we didn't go swimming at all (I know, shocker!). It didn't take up much space, so it was no big deal. We almost gone into the water when we visited one of the beaches in Piraeus, but there was a huge hospital right there on the beach, plus nearby is a port with hundreds of yachts and boats. Hence, we didn't want to risk getting into 'questionable' state of the water.
What worked out nicely:
- The amount of clothes I brought with me was just right. As someone who doesn't sweat a lot, I would probably take out 1 top and 1 shorts if I want to. Even if I sweated through some, I just hung them up on the balcony to air out for the next day and they were ready to go. I needed to only do laundry once, but could have done more often if needed since the weather was hot and dry enough.
- I was so tempted to get one of the chic sun hats over there, but my sun hat is very portable, lightweight and foldable. It also comes with a drawstring, so even in windy places, I didn't need to worry about it flying away.
- The sunglasses clip-on. Really nice to have on when everything was so bright out. But because it's a clip-on, there are some double visions/reflections, so I might invest in a proper one (with prescriptions) at some point.
- The pack fits perfectly under the seat even though it's slighty overdimensioned (see photo above).
- Having a pack with hip belts is very convenient and lightweight (I know 5 kg is already light, but I'm a hobbit-sized lady with shoulder problems, so this was a huge plus).
Room for improvement:
- Next time (for warm sunny destinations), I would only bring long loose pants instead of the shorts/skorts. I mainly wore the long loose pants + T-shirt + linenblend long sleeved buttoned down for protection from the sun (plus sunscreen for face). It's strange how most people (especially girls) barely wore anything when it was very hot and dry most days. The long-sleeved linenblend blouse and long pants kept me nice and cool most of the time, even though I stood out from many half-naked girls around me.
Final take-away for a first-timer:
- It was so nice to not have to worry about overhead spaces on the plane, so I could just be one of the last to board instead of scrambling to line up like many people.
- Travelling on public transport like the Athens metro during rush hour and didn't have to worry about any big luggage getting in anyone's way.
- Also a huge plus was I basically FLEW out of the airport without having to wait around to get any checked-in luggage. On my way home, I was able to catch the bus AND train back to the city right before they were leaving (the bus moved literally seconds right after I got on and these buses / trains come every 30-45 mins). Leaving the airport that swiftly never felt so good.
Onebagging is friggin' awesome. Period. Thank you to everyone for your tips and feedback. I'm officially hooked to onebagging and will never check in a luggage ever again.
Edit: Also would appreciate any suggestions for packable day packs with thicker/comfortable shoulder straps (something similar to Northface borealis mini but cheaper would be great). Thank you!
u/historymysterygift — 1 day ago