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An Overnight Trip in One 13L Tote | 6 Montbell Pieces That Cut My Packing Down

2026.09.18

Does your bag get heavier every time you travel? Just in case, you add this. And that. And before you know it you're carrying far more than a night away needs. Lately I've started to genuinely dislike hauling a heavy bag around on a trip.

So I picked six things from Montbell — the Japanese outdoor brand best known for mountain gear — and tried to fit everything for a one-night, two-day trip into a single 13-litre tote. The answer, up front: it all went in, with a little room left over.

What the exercise taught me is that packing light isn't about buying more travel gadgets. It's about choosing things that each do more than one job. Here are the six, with how each one actually worked.

For transparency: I bought all six Montbell items myself. The lighting kit in the second half of this article was provided by NEEWER, and the video was made in partnership with NEEWER.

The six, side by side

| Item | Its job | Price (tax incl.) | Weight | |---|---|---|---| | 1. Bernina Wide Tote M | The travel bag | ¥7,800 | 283g | | 2. Wickron Relax Pants | Comfortable on the train and in the hotel | ¥4,620 | avg. 212g | | 3. Washed Out Cotton T Women's | A T-shirt chosen for how it feels | ¥5,170 | avg. 124g | | 4. Light Stuff Bag 2L | Holds everything for the bathroom | ¥1,400 | 17g | | 5. Vacuum Pack | Compresses clothes, no vacuum cleaner needed | ¥990 | 65g | | 6. Travel Sunblock Umbrella 50 | One folding umbrella for sun and rain | ¥6,000 | 124g |

Add up Montbell's published weights (average weights for the pants and T-shirt) and the whole set comes to 825g — bag, clothes and umbrella together, lighter than a litre bottle of water.

Prices are Montbell Japan's official tax-included prices as of 17 September 2026.

1. Bernina Wide Tote M | 13 litres, 283g

The bag I chose for the trip is the Bernina Wide Tote M.

The first thing I like is the shape. Montbell tends to mean hiking backpacks, but this is a design that works in everyday life. I went for khaki: a khaki body with orange along the top edge and on the handles. It still has an outdoor feel, without looking like something you'd only take up a mountain — on a train, around town or in a hotel lobby, it fits in.

Size and weight

• Dimensions: 28 cm high × 47 cm wide × 15 cm deep (takes A4)
• Capacity: 13 litres
• Weight: 283g
• Colours: black, khaki, navy

As the name suggests, it's wide rather than tall. Thirteen litres may sound small for travel, but the whole point here was to pack as little as possible, so I chose this size deliberately.

A bag that's light to begin with matters more on a trip than it sounds. It rarely feels heavy when you set off — but add a drink, then some souvenirs, and by the time you head home it's a different bag. So I always start with the lightest bag that will do the job.

Details that help when travelling

• A zip across the opening. A tote is great for grabbing things quickly, but on a crowded train it's reassuring to be able to close it properly
• An organiser pocket inside for small things
• A zipped pocket with a key leash on the other side — somewhere to clip the hotel key or your house keys so they don't vanish into the bottom of the bag

The outer fabric is 420-denier ballistic nylon. According to Montbell, it has roughly twice the tear strength of conventional nylon of the same weight. Travel bags get put on floors and packed and unpacked far more roughly than everyday ones, so that toughness is welcome.

If you want to compare it with other Montbell bags, my six Montbell bags compared article lines up six of them, from 39g to 599g.

2. Wickron Relax Pants | Comfortable in transit and in the room

My change of clothes starts with the Wickron Relax Pants — ¥4,620, an average of 212g, and unisex (XS–XL).

Montbell describes them as clothing for relaxing in — the kind of thing you'd sleep in at a mountain hut or a campsite. On, the fabric is thin, light and very soft. They sit loosely rather than squeezing, the rise is on the deep side, and the waist adjusts with elastic and a drawcord, so they're genuinely easy to wear.

Why they're easy to move in

• Two-way stretch — the fabric stretches both lengthwise and across, so they're easy to move in when you sit down and stand up
• A tapered leg with ribbed cuffs, which keeps things neat around the ankles
• Two pockets at the waist

A trip isn't only sightseeing; there are long stretches sitting on trains, including Japan's shinkansen. A pair of pants that doesn't dig in makes those hours noticeably easier.

The fabric is Montbell's own Wickron. It looks and feels natural, almost like cotton, but it's 100% polyester: it pulls sweat away and spreads it out quickly, so it dries fast and breathes well. The inside has very little roughness against the skin, and it stays comfortable over long hours.

Drying quickly also helps if you wash things while you're away. On a two- or three-night trip, wearing the same pants twice becomes a real option. Easy to wear, quick to dry, easy to move in — a very good fit for a trip where you're trying to carry less.

3. Washed Out Cotton T Women's | Chosen for the feel

To go with the pants, I chose the Washed Out Cotton T Women's — ¥5,170.

I first touched this one in a shop, and the feel of the fabric is what sold me. It's a thin, supple cotton that feels lovely against the skin.

If the pants were a choice about function — quick-drying, easy to move in — this one was a choice about how it feels to wear. After a full day walking around somewhere new, this is exactly what I want to change into back at the hotel.

Paired with the Relax Pants, it's a very comfortable outfit that still doesn't look like pyjamas. It works for walking around the hotel or going down to breakfast, and for a short stroll nearby you could head out just as you are.

The details

• One small pocket on the left chest; otherwise very plain
• The neckline is double-stitched and reinforced with binding tape, so it resists stretching out through repeated washing
• Montbell says the colour and texture change gradually the longer you wear it
• UV protection of 90% or more (per Montbell)
• Sizes XS–XL, and there's a long-sleeve version in the same line

Outdoor clothing is usually judged on function, but it's nice that Montbell also makes things you enjoy simply for their texture and comfort. And once you're home, it's just a T-shirt you'll keep wearing.

4. Light Stuff Bag 2L | Everything for the bathroom in one place

For all the small things, I chose the Light Stuff Bag 2L — ¥1,400, and just 17g.

It's a very simple bag, but because it's so thin and light, it's exactly what you want when you're trying not to add anything. I put everything for the bathroom in it: shampoo, conditioner, skincare and makeup.

Keeping it compact

• Decant toner and lotion into small bottles, or buy travel sizes, and take only what you need
• Don't bring your whole makeup bag — only what you'll actually use on the trip

Loose small items in a bag are a pain to find. In a big bag, just finding one lip balm can turn into a search.

With the bathroom things in one bag, when you arrive at the hotel you just carry this one bag to the sink. In the morning, everything goes back in and the bag goes back in the tote, which also makes it harder to leave something behind.

Why 2 litres? Because if the bag is big, you'll find things to fill it. Deciding from the start that "whatever fits in this is what comes" is one more way to cut down.

That said, it's an extremely simple bag with no dividers. If you like to separate things neatly, a travel pouch with compartments and pockets will suit you better. This one is for people who put lightness and compactness ahead of organisation.

One more thing from Montbell's own description: all the seams are taped, but it also states clearly that it is not completely waterproof. It's safest not to rely on it for anything that absolutely must stay dry.

5. Vacuum Pack | Compression without a vacuum cleaner

To make the clothes smaller, I used the Vacuum Pack — ¥990, 65g, 40 × 62 cm.

Clothes alone can take up a surprising amount of a bag, especially in autumn and winter, when knits and fleece are light but bulky.

It works in three steps, with no vacuum cleaner:

1. Put the clothes in (Montbell's instructions say to place them 5–6 cm from the end of the bag) 2. Close the zip firmly with the slider 3. Press the air out as you roll the bag up, starting from the zip end

For the test I packed the Relax Pants and the T-shirt, plus a sweater, to see how small it would get.

I've used cheap compression bags from a 100-yen shop before, and getting the air out of those was a real struggle — so I wasn't expecting much. It turned out to be easier than I expected. Just rolling it up pushed the air straight out. I wished I'd bought one sooner.

How small these bags get matters, of course. But if you're going to use one every trip, how easy it is to compress matters just as much. The difference in thickness was clear, and having all the clothes in one package made the tote easier to keep in order.

To be honest, though, for a single night you don't really need to compress anything. This comes into its own on two- or three-night trips with more changes of clothes, or in autumn and winter when you're packing thicker layers.

6. Travel Sunblock Umbrella 50 | 124g, for sun and rain

Last, the Travel Sunblock Umbrella 50 — ¥6,000 and 124g.

True to the "travel" in its name, it's very light and folds down to 23 cm. It lives in your bag the whole time you're sightseeing, so that lightness really counts.

Specifications (official)

• Weight: 124g
• Folded length: 23 cm
• Open diameter: 88 cm
• Ribs: 6 (main ribs in carbon-fibre-reinforced resin)
• UPF 50+
• UV blocking: 99% or more
• Light blocking: 99% or more
• Heat blocking: about 50%

The outside has a silver coating that reflects sunlight. The underside is black, to absorb light bouncing up from the ground and make it easier to see.

The thing I like most for travel is that it works in both sun and rain. It's a parasol when the sun is strong and an umbrella when a shower comes through. Weather can change on a trip, and carrying one umbrella instead of one for sun and one for rain is a real help when you're cutting down.

The trade-off: it's a six-rib umbrella, 88 cm across, built for lightness and compactness. If size or sturdiness matters more to you, a more substantial umbrella may be the better choice. I want my bag as light as possible, so this is the one that stays in it, rain or shine.

Note that Montbell also sells a similarly named but different umbrella, the Travel 2-way Umbrella 50. The one in this article is the Travel Sunblock Umbrella 50 (product no. 1128811) — check the product number when you buy.

Packing the 13-litre tote for one night

Finally, everything went into the bag: the six items above plus what I carry every day.

What went in

| Item | Contents | |---|---| | Bag-in-bag organiser | Wallet, handkerchief, tissues, power bank and so on (it's always packed, so it just drops in) | | Light Stuff Bag 2L | Shampoo, skincare, makeup — one night's routine | | Vacuum Pack | A change of clothes (Wickron Relax Pants + Washed Out Cotton T) | | Travel Sunblock Umbrella 50 | For sun or rain |

And that was it — everything for a one-night trip. It's a 13-litre bag, and with everything in, there was still a little space. It didn't feel as though I'd forced myself to go without anything; for one night, it was plenty.

What made it work: everyday small items already gathered in a bag-in-bag, and the bathroom things and the clothes each in a single bag of their own. You're packing a few pouches rather than dozens of loose items, which keeps it simple.

The rule that lightens the bag: one thing, several jobs

Putting this together, what struck me is that the way to carry less isn't buying lots of travel products — it's using each thing in more than one way.

• An umbrella that works in sun and in rain
• Clothes you can relax in at the hotel and still step outside in

Give each item more than one role, and the number of things you pack goes down naturally, without having to go without.

Mountain gear is full of design work aimed at making things lighter and smaller. Bringing that into ordinary travel turned out to be a surprisingly good match.

Where to start

• You want one umbrella instead of separate ones for sun and rain → 6. Travel Sunblock Umbrella 50
• You want clothes that are comfortable both in transit and at the hotel → 2. Wickron Relax Pants + 3. Washed Out Cotton T
• You're away for two nights or more, or packing bulky autumn/winter clothes → 5. Vacuum Pack (for one night, you can probably skip compressing)
• Small things keep disappearing in your bag → 4. Light Stuff Bag 2L
• You want a lighter travel bag to begin with → 1. Bernina Wide Tote M

How the product shots were lit | NEEWER HB60B

A change of subject. In the video, could you see the texture of the fabrics in the product shots?

I recently added another light to my setup. As a test, I shot the same items under ordinary room lighting only: the shadows were harsh and the fabric lost all its character. That's why I started using NEEWER's compact video light, the HB60B.

The lighting kit described here — the HB60B, NS7L softbox, ST-300SS light stand and sandbags — was provided by NEEWER.

If you're starting out in product photography: the three things I looked at

1. Colour

You can set the colour temperature anywhere from warm bulb light to daylight (2700–6500K). What matters most is CRI (colour rendering index) — roughly, a measure of how faithfully colours come out compared with the real thing. When it's low, reds look slightly dull and greens turn muddy. Because I make review videos, this was my priority. NEEWER lists the HB60B at CRI/TLCI 97+.

2. Size

The body is 12 cm (12 × 8.3 × 8.3 cm) and 620g (both without the reflector) — small enough to hold in one hand. It has a built-in battery, so it works without a power outlet.

3. Control

Tap your phone to the light (NFC) and it connects to the app, so you can change brightness and colour from where you're standing. Not having to reach over to the light mid-shoot is easier than I expected. There are also 12 lighting effects; I didn't use them for these product shots, but they come in handy for video.

What I use with it

• NS7L (30 cm lantern softbox) — softens the light. It opens in one motion, like an umbrella, and mounts straight onto the HB60B (NEEWER lists the HB60B as a compatible light)
• ST-300SS light stand — adjusts from 126 to 300 cm
• Sandbags — the part people forget. Without weight, the stand can tip over, so it's worth being careful

If you want to use Bowens-mount softboxes and similar modifiers, you'll need the separately sold CHB1 adapter.

Four ways to bring out fabric texture

A little on what to do once you have a light.

1. Make the light source bigger. A bare light throws hard-edged shadows; a softbox makes the lit surface larger, the shadow edges blur and everything softens. This is the single biggest change in product photography 2. Light from the front at an angle, not head-on. From about 45 degrees, the weave casts tiny shadows and the texture appears 3. If the far side goes too dark, bounce light back with something white. I use a sheet of styrofoam 4. Turn the room lights off. This is where most people stumble first. Mixed with room lighting, colours shift, so with the light on, switching the room lights off gives you truer colour

One thing to watch

Just one: the battery lasts about 50 minutes at standard brightness (NEEWER's figure; 80 minutes in ECO mode). It's easy to take anywhere, but on long shooting days it's safer to run it on a cable.

FAQ

Q. Can a 13-litre tote really hold everything for a one-night trip?

For me it did, with a little room to spare. That assumed a light change of clothes (thin pants and a T-shirt), bathroom things decanted or in travel sizes so they fit a 2-litre bag, and everyday small items already gathered in a bag-in-bag. For two nights or more, or for thicker autumn and winter clothes, compressing your change of clothes with the Vacuum Pack makes them easier to fit.

Q. Can the Travel Sunblock Umbrella 50 be used in the rain?

Yes — it's designed for both sun and rain. It's a six-rib, 88 cm umbrella built for lightness and compactness, though, so if size or sturdiness matters more to you, consider something more substantial.

Q. Do you need a vacuum cleaner for the Vacuum Pack?

No. Close the zip, then roll the bag up from the zip end while pushing the air out.

Q. Is the Light Stuff Bag waterproof?

Montbell's description states clearly that it is not completely waterproof. Keep that in mind if you're packing anything that must stay dry.

Q. Are the Wickron Relax Pants for men as well?

Yes — they're unisex, in sizes XS–XL.

A lighter bag makes the trip easier

This time I used six things from Montbell to pack for a one-night trip with as little as possible.

Everything for one night fit into a single 13-litre tote. And speaking for myself, just having a lighter bag made getting around at my destination so much easier.

The key isn't buying more; it's choosing things that do several jobs. Packed like this, you can leave the heavy bag at home and enjoy a night away travelling light.

Do you travel light, or does worry make your bag grow every time? If there's one thing you always take on a trip, I'd love to hear about it in the comments under the video.

All six Montbell items were bought with my own money. Prices and specifications are the manufacturers' official figures as of 17 September 2026 and may change; check the product pages for current prices and availability.

※ This article is based on a video made in partnership with NEEWER. Specifications for NEEWER products are the manufacturer's published figures.

※ As an Amazon Associate, Yoshimi Iwasaki earns from qualifying purchases.

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This post contains affiliate links. Prices and specifications are as of the video's publication date. Most items are sold in Japan.

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