A Minimalist Travel Backpack

A Minimalist Travel Backpack

Minimalist travel is all the rage these days. Whether you are heading for a weekend getaway or trying to tick off one of the major items on your Travel Bucket list, people are looking for ways to pack lighter and smarter. Perhaps this is due to all the extra fees that are being tacked on by airlines. Or maybe it is because carrying around tons of extra gear is getting harder as we get older. Either way, downsizing luggage into a minimalist travel backpack may be the answer we all need.

Briefly indulge us and let us paint a picture of when we failed with a luggage choice.Eric Gamble dragging the Suitcase from Hell through the airport on the way to Scotland

In April of 2017, we went on an epic adventure across Scotland, England, & Wales. We were pumped! But in typical fashion, we wanted to cut some costs and thus decided to pack all of our travel gear in one gigantic rolling suitcase. Boy was this a mistake. Don’t get us wrong, we saved some money on bag fees with the airlines. But this monster of a suitcase caused us more problems than it was worth. As we struggled to haul it around all of the places we visited and fought to fit it on different transports, we had a lightbulb moment. We need a better travel bag to fit the minimalist travel lifestyle we want.

Fast forward to 2020. As we’ve become more seasoned travelers, we have definitely improved the way we pack. But we have still been on the lookout for a great minimalist travel backpack. That is how we came to discover the one bag travel system by Journey System.

About the Journey System Minimalist Travel Backpack

the one bag travel system by Journey System.
The minimalist travel backpack is the creation of Tys Sniffen. Perhaps he was a boy scout in a former life, but for Tys, he has struggled between always being prepared and being unencumbered, especially when travelling. Like most people, Tys juggles the challenges of travel like wanting to look good while not having to carry his entire closet with him. Thus, he decided something had to change in the world of travel when it comes to packing.

That is when he hit his secret laboratory with a few crude sketches of what he wanted. He knew that he didn’t want to create another hiking backpack for the typical hostel type traveler. Nor did he want some cumbersome rolling bag that would break while rolling across the cobblestone roads of Europe. So, after some trial and error, he developed a minimalist travel bag that could fit any smart and efficient traveler. Thus, the Journey System minimalist backpack was created and made available worldwide.

Benefits of this one bag travel system

Inside the Journey System One Travel Bag you find 5 Bags in 1
Tys was generous enough to let us try out his one bag travel system. But, we wondered, what makes the Journey System such a great minimalist backpack? Is it really an ideal minimalist backpack? Will it work for typical Gen X and Gen Y travelers wanting to tick off the many items on their bucket list?

Well, our honest answer is YES!

Essentially, the Journey System Minimalist Travel Bag is really 5 different bags in one. But don’t let the quantity of bags confuse you into thinking it is massive or bulky. Tys created these 5 different bags to fit perfectly into each other like snug Russian nesting dolls.

When you get your own One Bag Travel System from Journey Systems, you are actually receiving:

  1. A carry-on sized travel pack
  2. A smaller day pack knapsack
  3. A hangable toiletries bag
  4. A detachable hip pack that can be worn as a sling bag
  5. A laptop bag for your computer, tablet, or accessories

The organization alone is amazing for anyone travelling for a weekend or several weeks around the globe. But let’s dive closer into some key features anyone looking for a minimalist backpack will love.

Whether it's a weekend getaway or you're ticking off an item on your Travel Bucket list, you might want to pack lighter and smarter. So, the Minimalist Travel Bag from Journey System is the one bag travel system you'll need! Click To Tweet

1) This One Bag Travel System is Tough

Travel can be tough not only on you but on your luggage too. That is why we always look for a travel bag that is strong and dependable while still being comfortable to maneuver no matter where we go. With these travel bags, you will easily find it covers all the bases of strength and durability while not stressing your body out.

For example, these bags are made with a 450D two tone finished nylon. Now, most people may not have a clue what that means. But to give you a better understanding, most adventure backpacks used for hiking and camping can commonly be found in the range of 450–600D nylon. So that means that even though this isn’t a bag you may take on the Appalachian Trail, it can handle anything you throw at it.

2) This One Bag Travel System is Light Weight

The Journey System Minimalist Travel Bag is Lightweight
For most of us, one of the worst parts of travel is the insanity that occurs at airport baggage carousels.  Inevitably, you stand there for hours waiting for a heavy, overstuffed travel bag to finally come out. Then, when it finally does, you have to muster all the strength of Hercules to even lift it off the belt. Couple that with the idea of lugging your albatross in and out of planes, trains, or automobiles, and you will be praying for a shrink ray.

But with the Journey System Minimalist Travel Bag you actually don’t have to be a bodybuilder to haul it around because the bag is so lightweight. Unpacked, this bag weighs only 3.75lbs (1.7kg) but even fully packed with a full water bottle, the weight averages about 17lb(7kg). So, unless you allow Eric to pack all of his chocolate “souvenirs” from The Schokoladenmuseum (Chocolate Museum) in Cologne, Germany, this bag will be easy to travel with.

3) This One Bag Travel System is Secure

A dachshund packing up his squeaky toy in his Journey System Minimalist Travel Bag for a road trip
Sadly, safety and security of your possessions are always a big concern when traveling anywhere. Travelers are constantly having to find ways protect their electronics, gear, money, and documents from pickpockets or thieves. But this need for security doesn’t mean you have to carry an extra bulky lock box, a complicated anti-theft device, or have a vicious mini dachshund to guard your gear. Instead, minimalist travelers will find at least 5 security features that will keep your gear safe including:

  • Quick stash pockets in the straps
  • Secret Passport sized pocket that presses flat against the wearer’s back
  • A hidden interior stash pocket behind the interior zippered mesh pocket
  • Secret Passport sized stash pocket within the Hip Pack
  • Interlocking YKK zippers that can be locked at one central point

4) This One Bag Travel System is Intuitive

Packing up the 5 compartments of the Journey System Minimalist Travel Bag
Perhaps one of the best parts of this one bag travel system is that it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out. When you go to pack your Journey System Travel Bag you will find it quite easy to understand or operate without explicit instruction. This is great not just for packing but for unpacking too.

There is nothing worse than getting to your destination and immediately needing something buried at the bottom of your suitcase. Tys developed a smartly designed travel bag that remains sleek and packed-with-features for any type of travel.

So, what makes this minimalist travel backpack so intuitive?

  1. It’s really 5 different travel bags in 1: The best feature of this travel bag is that it is really 5 different bags in one system. When you receive your Journey System Travel Bag, you immediately see that it comes with a travel pack section, a day pack section, a hip pack section, a toiletries bag and a laptop sleeve. Now, normally, when a bag comes in parts like this, it can be a bit bulky or complicated. But this travel bag is designed for quick access to any of the different bags while still maintaining a sleek design.
  2. Everything is easily accessible: As we have said before, there is nothing worse than getting to your destination only to need to grab something at the bottom of your overstuffed suitcase. That is why we love the clam shell opening feature of this travel bag. Whenever, you get to your location, you can easily open your Journey System Travel bag for complete access. That way, you can quickly grab whatever you need.
  3. It is easy to unpack: When you arrive at your destination, you don’t want to spend hours unpacking. Even worse, is when you are going through TSA, and you need to remove certain items quickly. That is why we like how convenient this travel bag is to take apart. With the luggage straps for your clothes, snaps for your toiletries bag, and Velcro straps for your shoe bag, everything you pack will remain tightly secure. So, when you open your travel backpack, everything is accessible, including a removable laptop sleeve for when you arrive at TSA. Plus, with the mesh pockets inside, everything is visible, making it that much easier to find something. Even the toiletries bag is quick to remove and comes with handle so you can hang it from any hook or doorknob.
  4. There are tons of pockets and storage bagsOn top of the removable laptop bag and toiletries bag, you will find several other storage bags to keep all of your gear neatly and simply stored. From the drawstring shoe garage and small bag for tech accessories to multiple pockets, you have plenty of storage options. One of our favorite key features is that it also comes with 2 vacuum storage bags. These bags allow you to compress clothes and save space. My wife loves it because she can use them separate our dirty clothes.
  5. You have day trip optionsOne of the best parts of this backpack is that it is truly a one bag travel system. No longer do you have to bring a suitcase and a knapsack and a hip pack. The Journey System Travel Bag comes with a built-in hip pack that can be worn as a sling bag or a fanny pack. This easily accessible bag has a key ring holder and a hidden pocket that can hold your valuables for touring anywhere. If you need something a little bigger, you can easily detach the day pack to carry your bigger items.
  6. It is very comfortable: There is nothing worse than having a travel backpack dig into your shoulders or put your back out of sorts. However, unless you are carrying concrete blocks, you will find this one bag travel system really comfortable. That is because it has been reinforced first with a spine channel. But to add more comfort, Tys made sure to add back foam pads. Then, he added padded straps and a G-Hook Sternum strap to add more stability and comfort.

Where to get your Minimalist Travel Backpack

the Journey System One Travel Bag you find 5 Bags in 1 is available for Purchase
Currently, the best way to get the Journey System Minimalist Travel Bag is direct from Idea Mountain. Personally, we love ordering direct from them since it cuts out any middleman and any extra costs they add on. Plus, ordering direct typically has a smaller environmental impact.  This is because your backpack won’t need to be transported from the factory to a middleman storage facility. Thus, you reduce the impact of shipping by having it shipped straight to you.

Another added bonus when you order your One Bag Travel System from Idea Mountain, is that Tys and his team can then offer a 100% guarantee on nearly every aspect of the Journey for at least 5 years. The only thing they don’t give a guarantee on is the 2 bonus vacuum compression bags. However, you can replace yours for $3 each + shipping at any time!

Then to boot, Tys would also like to help you on your next bucket list travel adventure. So, he is offering an additional 10% off your Journey System Minimalist Travel Bag, when you enter the promo code: Bucket List Project.

If you’d like to learn more about getting your own Journey System Minimalist Travel Backpack, click here!

So what do you think?

The One Bag Travel System by Journey Systems is 5 travel bags in one travel bag
As you can see, we love our Journey System Minimalist Travel Bag and think you will too. But everyone travels a little differently and definitely packs differently. So, what key features of the Journey System Minimalist Travel Bag do you love? Is there any part of this bag that you feel is the really important when you travel? What else do you look for when shopping for a one bag travel system? Let us know in the comments below!

Don’t forget to Pin A Minimalist Travel Backpack to your Favorite Bucket List Board!

A Pinterest Picture of Eric Gamble carrying the Minimalist Travel Backpack by Journey System
 

Disclosure: The Bucket List Project was given a Journey System Minimalist Travel Bag to review. With that said, All opinions in “A Minimalist Travel Backpack” are our own. Also, this post may contain affiliate links. Using the links doesn’t cost you any extra, and it helps keep the site free, fun, and community supported! Eric & Darcee will never recommend a product that we don’t genuinely believe in, actually use ourselves, have researched, and trust. Please see the disclosure policy for more information.

64 thoughts on “A Minimalist Travel Backpack

  1. So when you open your travel backpack, everything is accessible, including a removable laptop sleeve for when you arrive at TSA?

    1. Yup, It was super quick and fast when we got to the TSA line. Just pulled it right out and laid it into the bin. Loved that this bag makes every compartment so quick and accessible!

    1. Nothing worse than hauling around too much gear when you are traveling! That is why we absolutely love this Minimalist Travel Backpack because it forces us to be more conscious too!

  2. Great list! I always only take my charger, powerbank, phone, camera, bathroom necessities in mini formats and minimum amount of clothes and lingerie

    1. That is great. There is nothing worse than the weight of a heavy suitcase when you travel. We have learned the hard way in many different places that less is better.

  3. Okay. I’m suuuuuper guilty of overpacking. Like, I’d pack a whole week of clothes for a 3- day trip! Using this bag would be a challenge for me honestly, but I’m still very much impressed with all of it’s features!!! I love the day bag-pack idea and how it has a sling bag as well. Super convinient!

    1. What we liked about the Journey System’s Minimalist Travel Backpack is that it kind of forced us to really evaluate what we pack and decide what is necessary and what is not. You would be surprised how easy it is to use and with all the extra features, you can really pack more than you expect.

  4. Okay…I am guilty of overpacking for my vacation. And I definitely need to invest in a good backpack so that I can travel light…I hate carrying my luggage especially on train journeys

    1. Well, then you should really consider the Minimalist Travel Backpack! These guys at Journey System have really taken the time to consider weight and functionality which is great for any type of traveler.

  5. This Journey System Minimalist Travel Bag seems just nothing short of brilliant! It really does solve the problem of how to overcome the painful lugging of impractical and heavy bags with you everywhere. I particularly love the 2 vacuum storage bags they include in addition to the entire 5 pieces you get. This just screams versatility and is something that has been missing, especially for those of us that travel quite a bit. Thanks for publishing your experience with this here.

    1. Yeah, those vacuum bags are definitely a great bonus on top of the 5 bags you get in the one bag travel system. We hate hauling around heavy suitcases around especially if we are moving from place to place. This bag makes it just that much more easier to pick up and go in all settings.

  6. Wow, that backpack really is well designed! And it has a laptop sleeve which is perfect for me and my husband when we travel.

    1. Thanks, I am sure Tys will love hearing this! We love the laptop sleeve too! We used it several times and never worry about our computer or tablets getting banged up! Plus it is so easy to remove whenever we are traveling. So we can just put the main bag in the overhead storage and keep our laptop bag with us to write or catch up on work while traveling the world!

  7. I have been working hard on minimalism over the last year. But, minimalism while traveling has been difficult for me. Thanks for sharing this!

    1. Glad to help Angela! I hope that you find a minimalist travel backpack like this one from Journey Systems that can help you get to your goals!

  8. Lol, this was informative yet funny to read. I really needed this post because I’m such an awful packer and traveler. I just can never get it right. At first the bag looked super small but once you opened it and explained how to pack, I realized how easy it was. Its so much more spacious than it actually looks wow. Thanks so much for sharing will be coming back to this article for future travels

    1. Thanks Rochelle. When we first got the Minimalist Travel Backpack from Tys, Darcee, my wife thought the same thing as you. She kept saying that it looked so compact. But I let her pack it first for a long weekend trip and she absolutely loved using it. One of the biggest features for her was how light it was cause she isnt that big herself. So, less back pain equaled a lot more fun on our trips!

  9. Wow! That back pack is amazing! I need to look into this because I really need to do better with packing! I really need to challenge myself to do minimalist packing (and not OVER pack – especially since I don’t end up using 50% of the things that I pack). This looks like a great and one stop shop backpack though!!

    1. Yeah there is nothing worse than over packing for a trip with clothes and gear that you will never use. Plus with the added weight, it is just asking for aches and pains! But this minimalist one bag travel system can really help keep a person in check while still helping you bring all the right gear you need.

  10. It doesn’t seem to matter how often I travel with them, how many tiny staircases we have to up or trains and buses we have to ride on, my parents always insist on bringing one huge suitcase. It drives me crazy haha. I love packing light and not having something like that to haul around! But it is hard to fight that backpack that’s “just right.” This one looks like a great option! I need to check it out.

  11. Sadly I was nodding when I saw the pic of the big suitcase being hauled through the airport. We often go on long trips and I do pack a big very bag. But lately we have been doing shorter trips and I have not yet found the right bag for those shorter travels. Maybe a minimalist travel backpack is the answer? I love separate bags for things so we interested in the separate bags and sections in this backpack. Weight is a big issue when we are carrying our bags so this sounds like a good mix of durability and weight.

    1. I think we have all been there with these obnoxious giant rolling suitcases! What was worse is that one of the wheels started to break on the cobblestone roads in Edinburgh while we were hitting the streets from the train to our Airbnb. That was no fun at all. That is why I really like this Minimalistic Travel Backpack cause it carries a lot while not weighing me down. Let us know if you ever really consider it. Would love to know your honest opinion!

  12. This is such an amazing system to use while traveling. As a minimalist blogger myself, I can say that traveling with one backpack is so freeing and also so much cheaper.

  13. I love the idea of packing lighter with a backpack that combines many options into one. I’ve gotten down to a 21-inch carry-on and a backpack after using big suitcases for years. Now this might be a way to really go minimalist.

  14. I always travel light and always use a backpack. I don’t even own a suitcase at all. This backpack seams pretty nice to use.

  15. Once you travel light, it’s hard to go back. We did ‘carry on only’ on our international & domestic trips last year and it was amazing! This looks like a great option for skipping the checked bag line!

  16. This looks nice and a great Christmas gift for travelers. Love the idea of a detachable day pack and hip pack. This product is truly well-designed and practical. I personally would love to have one since I hate bringing huge suitcases whenever I travel. Thank you for sharing this.

  17. That’s travelling light on a new level. I usually like to travel light and like to pack things that got multiple purposes. But yeah I have a lot to learn 🙂

  18. I am huge advocate for minimalist travel! I have a carry on size backpack from Osprey that I swear by and then use packing cubes to keep everything under control. I’m really really strict about not overpacking, and after every trip I make a point of reflecting on what I did and didn’t use so I don’t make the mistake of packing it next time. It’s basically my hobby trying to make sure I pack as efficiently as possible!

  19. I’m going to be honest here: I clicked on this post thinking “I’ll never be a minimalist packer”, and then I INSTANTLY had a flashback to my *only* holiday that involved a flight (same country, thankfully) where our brand-new suitcase’s wheel broke as SOON as we got to the airport, so if that doesn’t scream “you need to pack lighter!”, I don’t know what does 😅 I could use these tips, especially since I really do want to travel, well, everywhere!

  20. I always take more gear than necessary. Everything is needed until I realize I never used it. The backpack looks like it would handle most of everything. I might need two. Hey, don’t judge me.

  21. This looks like a great travel option! We’ve travelled with the rolling suitcases multiple times, however, that adds a challenge when we’re out and about. For example, before catching our bus home from Chicago last year, we were hanging around the bus station and decided to go out for breakfast. That meant dragging our rolling suitcase down the streets on our way. It would have been SO much easier to have something that could be carried on our backs!

  22. This looks like a fantastic system! I’ve been using my regular suitcase for short trips, so of course I fill it up with all of those “just in case” things that I never end up using. If I use my regular backpack, I can never find anything because it’s all lumped in one place. I love how this would keep everything organized!

  23. I love to travel light. Journey System Minimalist Travel Bag looks so sturdy and has 5 different bags in one. I would love to check this out for our next trip.

  24. Journey system travel bag looks like a great option for travelers as it is so important to have light luggage when you’re on the go. I am going to look for this. Thanks

  25. Oh wow this backpack can hold so much stuff! When it comes to traveling, it’s important for me to take only the necessities and to find a bag that is easy to carry and spacious. This minimalist travel backpack definitely hit all in my checklist! Thank you for this review.

  26. I didn’t look up the price and that might make a difference, but this bag really does have everything I’m ever looking for in a bag. Tell me, though, does it fit under an airplane seat or does it need to go in the overhead compartment?

  27. I love strap pockets! I wish more backpacks had them. They are such a useful thing to have and I don’t know why more companies don’t add them to their packs.

    1. I know right! IT was so cool to be able to whip out my cash right from the straps of my Journey bag. Plus for me, I loved storing my keys in them for when I returned home so one less thing to lose of have to go digging for later!

  28. Its so important to travel light and right at the same time! I’m often left wondering what to dump and what to pack on my trips, and I think here’s where this back pack would be really helpful. The fact that it has various sections is pretty cool, almost like a smart bag!

  29. Lol I know what you mean about giant bags! I did that on my first trip to Japan, and then never again! It’s soooo much easier if you bring less with you (and I find that when i bring loads of clothes/shoes, I don’t wear most of them anyway.)

    This looks like a great idea. I don’t need a bag at the moment, but I’d think about this next time my bag breaks/dies.

  30. Minimalist packing is something which we are always trying to improve on, but definitely don’t get it right every time! I love how this also has the day pack. I hate having to stuff bags into bags to try and make sure I have a suitable bag for all occasions.

    1. Yeah, the fact that they have all the bags you need in a one bag travel system is quite cool to us also. I loved it on the airplane because I was able to put the Clam Shell part with all my gear in the overhead but the Knapsack Day Bag with my books, snacks, and computer fit perfectly under the seat in front of me and even left me leg room!

  31. Oh I’ve been there! I used to be the kind of person who’d carry an extra overcoat “just in case”, but traveling in Europe especially has taught me better. All the budget airlines offer amazing prices but there are luggage restrictions and it’s unnecessary to pay for extra baggage allowance. Love the article and the One bag travel system!

    1. Haha, you sound like Darcee! Being from Wyoming, she is used to carrying extra winter wear, so I had to remind her that we probably dont need 3 sweatshirts in Colombia! Glad you are coming around to a Minimalist travel style!

  32. I love this!
    Your picture struggling with the giant suitcase gave me a chuckle since I’ve been there! While I travel much lighter these days, I still debate with myself between carrying a smaller rollable suitcase vs a backpack. For long trips, I still take a suitcase (a small one though!) since it’s easier to roll around (for the most part!) than carrying the weight on my shoulders. Anything less than a week though I go the backpack route.
    But this travel backpack is making me question my choices – would love to give it a go and become even more minimalist!

    1. Yeah, we have often debated the Compact Roller versus the Backpack too. It can be a bit much as we get older to carry that weight. But if you get a proper bag, it shouldn’t weigh you down and hurt your shoulders or back. If it is a larger backpack, there should be a hip belt that relieves the stress. But if you have a smaller one bag travel system, it should have a reinforced spine column, padded shoulders, and even a sternum strap to help distribute that weight. That is what I like about the Journey System bags it has all of that. But also, so far while using it, I keep reducing my gear too which I find is ultimately great!

  33. This is brilliant, however I think there will be a few more years until my partner would even consider something like that. His approach is “we are taking a luggage ANYWAY, and if there’s a place in it, I can take more of this and more of that…”

    1. Haha, so he is a “No Space left behind kind of person!” Love it. Yeah, I guess you can always think of it like that but personally, I would rather have less going and leave space to bring new items back!!

  34. We learned minimalist packing a few years ago when we visited Colombia. Our cheap flight from San Andres to Providencia has a carry on limit of one carry-on per person and a max weight of 5kg. We visited quite a few places in Colombia and learned that it is actually quite easy to do minimalist packing and 5kg per person is totally doable. We have not travelled any different in the years to follow.

  35. Packing for travel can often be a big headache, especially for people who only travel carry on. This minimalist travel backpack really seems to pack a punch and looks like a must have for my next trip.

    1. Yeah, we have now used our Journey System One Bag Travel set up a few times now and I can’t tell you how many times it has stopped us from over packing which meant more space for Chocolate!!

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