I’ve been eyeing this bag for awhile now as a possible airplane personal item and am on the fence about buying it. Has anyone tried/owned one who can share their thoughts on it?

Hello everyone, I'm glad I discovered this forum and the posts make for very interesting and informative reading. I have fallen into the trap of trying to find the best one bag for an upcoming 5 day trip. I've seen many posts commenting on the Osprey Daylite 26+6 but it seems impossible to find here in Canada and I've so far only managed to locate the Daylite 44.

Does anyone have any experience with Patagonia Blackhole? I thought I could overcome the lack of clamshell opening with some packing cubes.

It's my first time to really try and onebag it.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated 🙏

Interested in the black hole tote, but I'd rather not pay $90 since I wouldn't be using it too often. I just like the idea of having a very portable backup backpack that maximizes space and can possibly hold a laptop. It doesn't need to be amazing quality or high durability necessarily, since I don't anticipate using it as more than a backup bag (eg to carry excess on the way back from a trip).

I've got a few packable day backpacks, but they're not very space efficient due to the traditional rounded backpack shape--which also makes them not great for laptops. The square shape of the ultralight tote maximizes space for personal item airline travel where you've got rectangular size limits--plus, the long tote handles make it easy to carry different ways. I'm wondering if there are any similar dupes on Amazon, or by different brands.

I actually saw the lightweight tote on Ebags about a week or two ago, and there was ONE in stock for $22! Unfortunately, I spent too long deliberating on what else to get to qualify for free shipping, and within 20 minutes it disappeared from my cart and went OOS :/. Still hurting from that lol.

edit: After some searching, Timbuk2 makes a lot of similar tote backpacks, but none of them are packable and they're all more expensive. Same with Rains--equivalent cost.

As for amazon generics, GOX makes a cheap horizontal tote (no backpack straps), and there's this rose gold thing from a mystery company.

Closest I can find is this Duluth one for $40.

There's also this Eagle Creek one for $20, but it's only 18L.

Update: I received 2 of the 3 bags I’ve ordered so far and the Patagonia is actually looking like a big winner. I filled the Patagonia with packing peanuts, with a goal of trying to fit as many as possible without crushing them, and it just…kept…going. Kept looking like it was done but more fit in there. That thing is a clown car. Then I tried transferring the peanuts to the Osprey Daylite and got maybe 2/3 of them in there if I’m being generous. The more compliant and thinner fabric of the Patagonia is making a huge difference. In fact I even transferred some of the remaining peanuts to my Topo Quick Pack (7L advertised) and there were STILL peanuts left in the Patagonia. I actually prefer this older design (style 48808) over the newer Black Hole version because it’s a little taller and less deep. And a cool thing is that the dolomite blue color is a pretty decent match to my Porter 46. Unlike the Osprey, it stands up on its own when fully packed. And the tote straps are long enough for me to carry on one shoulder. Only negatives are that it’s a little too floppy (since it’s packable into a pocket) and lacks a laptop sleeve, but I do have standalone sleeves for all of my tech so that’s no big deal.

Still waiting to see what the UBB 25L looks like by comparison but the Patagonia is really impressing me!

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I’m interested in finding a tote pack that can be used for multiple purposes: as a 0.5 bag for 1.5 bagging, as a one bag that fits under the airplane seat for shorter trips or budget airlines, and as a purse.

My main bag is an Osprey Porter 46, and I specifically want a tote pack rather than just a backpack so I could wear the porter and carry the tote pack on my shoulder or arm.

Here’s what I’m looking for:

• Size/shape: I’d like it to be at least 20L and ideally want to be not much larger than United’s personal item dimensions of 17x10x9” (edit: originally had 11" but I went back and looked again - it's 10")

• Long tote straps for shoulder carry

• Stowable backpack straps

• A little structure but not so much padding that it decreases the capacity

• Zip closure for security. Not a roll top (dislike the aesthetic).

• Laptop/tablet sleeve would be very nice but not completely necessary

• A crossbody strap or a connector to attach one is nice

• Budget: around $50 USD

I’ve bought a couple that may end up going back and I just took a look around REI, but nothing really fits. Here are my thoughts:

• Osprey Daylite tote pack - ordered and received this. It’s ok but a bit too thick/padded, capacity seems smaller than the advertised 20L.

• United by Blue Revolution Carryall - ordered for $30 on sale over the weekend. Looks promising but dimensions are more consistent with 17-18L. Plus it hasn’t been shipped and I’m concerned they will cancel my order, and the sale color is now out of stock. (edit: my order has shipped, and also someone on REI reviewed it and says it’s closer to 17”, so the volume might be correct, which would mean it’s the one!)

• Patagonia lightweight tote pack (old version, 22L advertised) - saw this on REI’s used site and thought it might be perfect, so I got a little trigger happy and ordered immediately. Then of course checked u/ladylighttravel and realized it’s actually 16L. Probably will return.

• Patagonia ultralight black hole tote pack - good size and straps but too expensive. I might have bought this at half the price. Lacks laptop section but that’s ok.

• Patagonia atom 20L - straps are too short, looks a little smaller than advertised, and backpack straps are not stowable.

• REI beyonder - good price but a little too small.

• A couple of Sherpani and Fjallraven options at REI were too small, too expensive, or had the wrong closure.

Mostly leaning toward keeping and using the UBB or Patagonia that I ordered but still hoping something better may be out there!

I am using my LW Travel tote pack as EDC and sometimes for domestic travel 3-4 days.

For traveling, it holds the Amazon medium packing cube, a 13inch laptop with sleeve, an A4 memo pad, and a pen case filled with electronics (AC adapter, USB cables). Sometimes I put my nano-puff jacket as well.

In the front pocket, I can put a minimum toiletry kit, i.e., tooth paste and blush in zip-lock bag and an umbrella from Mont-bell.

With this setup, it is almost full especially the depth-side (15cm).

Now there is a newer version, Ultralight Black Hole Tote Pack. Patagonia says that the depth is 20cm and more capacity, 27 litters.

Is there anyone who did a side-by-side comparison of there versions? Does new versions really have more capacity?

I started my quest for the perfect totepack on a budget here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/HerOneBag/comments/1255v96/does_my_perfect_tote_pack_exist/

My perfect totepack is at least 20L, around 17"x10"x9", zips at the top, and does a better job of being a tote than a backpack, since I'm mostly planning to use it as a 0.5 bag personal item with a Porter 46. Long enough straps for shoulder carry are essential. The three I'm comparing are the Patagonia Ultralight 22L travel totepack, style 48808 (predecessor of the current Black Hole version), United By Blue 25L Carryall, and Osprey Daylite totepack. Now that all three have finally arrived, I have some thoughts!

TL:DR - While none are perfect, I think both the UBB and the Patagonia are both keepers for me, especially at the price I paid ($30 for each excluding shipping). The Osprey just couldn't get enough stuff in there IMO, but it's still a really nice and well built pack, and my mom loves it.

In a clearly very super-scientific method, I stuffed as may packing peanuts I could into all three bags and judged how much they could hold. Patagonia clearly held the most, so I used that as my gold standard. Osprey held the least, about 2/3 of the Patagonia. Osprey plus Topo Quick Pack held about as much as the Patagonia. UBB held almost as much as the Patagonia, at least 3/4 or maybe 7/8?

Osprey seems the most structured and least compliant, but perhaps the most durable. Patagonia is stowable into its pocket, so completely unstructured when unpacked. In reality my sweet spot is somewhere in between - a little structure but not so much that it takes away storage space. The UBB seems to hit that sweet spot pretty well. It has a laptop sleeve and a little more organization than the Patagonia.

UBB is about 14" wide when fully packed, so a tiny bit too wide for United Airlines (17"x10"x9") as a personal item. The 10" measurement is extremely limiting, and I'm not sure UA will be as strict on sizing as Frontier and Spirit, but you never know. It's also not the most squishable because the laptop sleeve takes up almost the entire back panel, so you're trying to squish a double-thickness padded portion of the bag, compared to squishing something unstructured like the Patagonia. So I don't think I'd take the UBB on United Airlines basic economy, but it should be fine on airlines with 18"x14"x8" limits like Frontier etc. Osprey and Patagonia are taller and less wide, so they're both going to fit into the United sizer just fine. If I don't need to pack as much and can get away with just my Topo Quick Pack as my 0.5 bag instead of a totepack, that would actually be my preference for 1.5 bag travel since it's hands-free. But I like having options.

Edit: My plan for using these is basically:

• Flying personal item only? Patagonia, hands-down. Fits the most and should pass the sizing test on any airline.

• For 1.5 bagging, UBB or Topo Quick Pack plus Porter 46, depending on how much I need to carry in my personal item bag and whether I'm flying United or something else.

Osprey seems to be a better backpack than tote, the other way around for UBB, and Patagonia will do well for either.

Side note: I think that magnolia print on the Osprey is absolutely gorgeous. Kinda hurts to give it up but at least it's going to a good home.

Edit: Another side note...I wish companies would more accurately list their volumes. I highly doubt the UBB actually carries 25L, since it carries less than the 22L Patagonia (if indeed the 22L capacity is correct for that). I probably should have done some actual measurements.

Here are some pics from my totally super-scientific experiment: https://imgur.com/a/MDhWVly

Looking for recommendations for packable tote that also has backpack straps. I want something for day usage and don't wanna lug around my full pack. I felt like a tote wouldn't bother me in emergencies when I need to use it at the same as my backpack. Packable totes are great but some cities have bike rentals and I didn't feel too safe in their flimsy baskets.

Thanks in advance!

I’ve read a bunch of recommendations for the Black Hole Totepack and went ahead and ordered one. I’m now second guessing if it’s right for me - it’s incredibly floppy and I can’t see myself ever having enough in there to fill it out properly to give it enough structure so I’m considering returning it.

In some further research I’ve stumbled across the Klattermusen Urur Totepack. There’s very little detail on it online apart from a few videos, but it seems a bit stiffer and might sit a bit better. Seems like there’s a few tradeoffs on the Urur - no sternum strap and the water bottle pocket seems a little small, but it would be great to hear if anyone has any specific experience with it.

It will be primarily used as a travel daypack, but would be useful to use it for day hikes as well. I’m not opposed to a backpack either - I thought the tote might be handy while carrying my larger pack through airports etc but it’s not a huge deal. I’m also considering a Matador Freerain22 or Beast18, so would love to hear if you have any experience with one or more of the packable daypacks / totes mentioned. Cheers!

I've been looking at the Patagonia black hole tote pack for a while but discovered today that they make a very similar one called Terravia. The measurements and materials are a bit different and it is also a bit heavier. Has anyone here seen it and how does it compare to the black hole?

This summer we’re doing an east coast trip (US). We’re a family of 4 with two small children, hubby and I will be doing backpacks (I’ll be doing an REI 40l Ruckpack), but I also will need a bag on hand to serve as a diaper bag. I prefer a backpack, but because I will already be wearing one on travel days, I think a convertible Totepack will work best. Must have good ergonomics, comfortable straps, and needs external water bottle pockets for sippy cups. So far my biggest contenders are the Sherpani Camden, Sherpani Soleil, and the Osprey Daylite Totepack, but I’m wondering if I should look at others or if one of the options I mentioned is preferable.

Thanks!

Hello onebag experts,

I’m currently using two separate bags — a classic backpack for my laptop and a ~30L beach bag - and I consider switching to a single bag that can cover all my needs:

1. Daily use for work (laptop sleeve already covered)

2. An under-seat cabin bag for airlines like Ryanair, Wizzair

3. A beach bag that can carry towels, a beach mat, snorkel mask, parasol anchors, and similar gear

I came across the Patagonia Terravia Tote Pack (24L), which looks promising. However, I’m concerned it might not be sturdy enough for beach use and potentially a bit small. Its dimensions (41 x 25 x 20 cm) suggest a usable volume closer to 20.5L than the listed 24L. What is the real volume of this bag?

Could you recommend something a bit larger and more robust, in a similar convertible tote/backpack style?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I'm intending to use this as an airline hand carry when I go on holiday. When I arrive I'll use it when I'm out and about, carrying a water bottle, power bank and souvenir shopping. It can be worn as a backpack too.

Specs:

Gear Capacity: 27 L (2,648 cu in) Dimensions: 16" x 10.6" x 8" Weight: 1 lbs 7.1 oz (655 g)

Any thoughts, experiences, opinions?

I’m looking for a 15L-25L (approx) lightweight backpack to use for day hikes/occasionally as a personal item, that I can carry easily in my Fairview 40 most of the time.

Earlier this year, I travelled for the first time for 2 months in SEA with a Fairview 40 and Pacsafe LS100 (which is like a 3 litre shoulder bag). They were both great. Everything fit with room to spare and I don’t need a bigger personal item to carry more stuff.

However, it was a bit of a problem not having a bag between the two sizes on a few occasions. Firstly, I didn’t have a bag suitable for day hikes, as my Fairview was too big and full of all my stuff, and my Pacsafe can only fit a 600ml water bottle and maybe a very small layer, so definitely not suitable going out of town or leaving my belongings at a hostel for a night. Secondly, in situations where I needed to stow my bag for a long bus ride, or once check my Fairview for a flight, I did not have a secure place to put any belongings (such as food and layers) that did not fit in my Pacsafe. I had a roll up shopping bag that did the job, but it wasn’t ideal.

So I’m looking for a backpack to fill this gap. My mind goes to foldable/ultralight bags, but I’m not specifically seeking that.

My needs:

• able to easily be carried in my Fairview most of the time - either in the bag, or somehow carried on the front.

• comfortable and durable enough to walk/hike for hours with a couple of litres of water, some food, a few layers of clothes, etc.

• can fit my pacsafe bag if I need to use the backpack as a personal item - my pacsafe is 22cm/9in x 17cm/6.5in x 7.5cm/3in.

• comes in non-garish colour options

• can tolerate weather okay

Desirable, but not necessary:

• comes in black

• water resistant or even water proof

• stylish, or at least not ugly

• could be used when not travelling as a day to day backpack

• lockable

• can fit in my pacsafe bag comfortably, with room for a small waterbottle, or could otherwise easily be folded and clip onto my pacsafe bag without being cumbersome

Please let me know if you have any ideas!

UPDATE:

I ended up getting the Patagonia ultralight tote pack, both due to the comments and because it was available to look at in person. I’m really happy with my purchase. I just got home from a week away where I used it everyday and as my personal item. Here’s my super long review:

Pros:

• Both a tote and a backpack. I was worried that this would reduce its functionality as a backpack, but it was just as good (if not better) as you’d expect from a ultralight backpack. It was especially great as I was travelling to a humid place, so I could carry it off my back if I needed, but could swap to a backpack if my load got heavier.

• You can hide the backpack straps. You can feel the straps/strap buckles through the light back padding, though I didn’t notice them when wearing it as a tote. If they were noticeable to you, you could either just take care to flatten the straps when packing them away, or wear the tote with the back panel facing out.

• Lightly padded back. This only takes you so far, but it was noticeably more comfortable than other ultralight bags I’ve tried.

• Lightly padded backpack straps. They were more comfortable and supportive than expected!

• Chest strap. I know, it’s dorky, but it did feel like it made a difference in support, especially since the bag doesn’t have a lot of shape

• And internal zip pocket with a clip and a larger external front pocket. These were useful to put the smaller things so they don’t get lost in the black hole. Note that if you put your heavier stuff in the front pocket it can sag weirdly.

• Comes in black

• Seems pretty durable and weather resistant. I beat it up a little and got it dirty on some half day hikes and it cleans up fine.

• I think it looks nice. As a backpack, it can look a lil weird with very little in the bag, especially with lots in the front pocket and nothing weighing the main pocket down, but I really didn’t mind.

• Drawstring and good zips. Made the pack feel more secure (the drawstring makes the zip harder to access) and creates a more backpack shape instead of it looking like just a tote bag with backpack straps. The drawstring is a little dorky, but I think the function is worth it.

• Internal load lift straps. Helped the backpack not sag

• Two external water bottle pockets. Great if you are carrying lots in the bag or want your water accessible. I do wish the elastic on the pockets was a little tighter, as my bottles 600ml bottles felt like they could slip out. Could definitely hold bigger bottles. It didn’t feel like my bottles were eating into the bag space.

• 27l. Doesn’t really look it, and you can put a lot less than that and it still is comfortable and hold shape fine. Is a bit of a black hole though, but it has two decent zip pockets and water bottle pockets

• Wide bottom panel. Even though the bottom of the bag wasn’t padded (though does have an extra fabric layer), it held decent shape and could stand if there were a few things in the bag.

• Lays quite flat when not is use. If for whatever reason it didn’t fit in the main compartment of my Fairview when folded, I could lay it in the laptop compartment no problem.

• Has a clip/small strap when folded up. I didn’t use it, but it could be used to clip it on my pacsafe or Fairview if need be.

Cons/conclusion in a comment

For many years, I happily used the Patagonia ultralight courier when traveling which I retired a couple of years ago

https://www.rei.com/rei-garage/product/856163/patagonia-lightweight-travel-courier-bag

It was 12l, with two mesh pockets on the ends, a zipper top, and a pocket on the front, and a smaller pocket on the inside suspended from the top next to the body.

Does anyone know of a similar bag being made today. I would be happy with 6-12l volume. Need the main bag to have zipper (not flap) opening, 3.5-6” width. Water bottle pocket on outside or sleeve inside would be a bonus

I've been looking for a convertible bag I could use for every day and carry on traveling. I'm interested in in the Patagonia tote pack but I see that the tote carry option is just two short loops. I was wondering if there's any way to attach one long strap? So I could carry it hands free, on the shoulder? If not, does anyone have any reccomendations of tote packs or convertible bags that could be used as over the shoulder or carry on?

I have this bag from Travelon, the Packable Crossbody Tote, and it's absolutely invaluable - weighs almost nothing, has lots of zipped pockets, strong enough to carry a serious amount of shopping back from the supermarket (in the Netherlands we tied it onto the bike luggage rack!) has a crossbody strap as well as handles that go over the shoulder, bright colour so I'm less likely to leave it behind if I use it on a flight. Wanted to replace mine as it's getting a bit tatty, and they don't make them anymore. What's a good alternative?

I can see Amazon US (I'm over there in a couple of weeks) has a Peak Design bag that's similar, but not overly keen on the colour, so was hoping for some advice!

I have been looking at convertible backpack tote style bags for onebagging. They tend to be light, simple and inexpensive. The biggest downside is they are all top loaders. I just got a Kelty Hyphen which is 30 liters, 20 x 14 x 8.5 in, 18oz and has a laptop pocket. The top closure has a zip and rolls too. They are available for under $40 from several web outlets.

Mammut makes a couple versions of the Neon Shuttle designed as climbing rope bags. They have drawstring tops which I don't like as much as the zipper.

Gossamer Gear makes the Vagabond series on the daypack side. They are mich more backpack than tote, but they do have the zipper top load and small tote handles.

Does anyone use a bag like these?