Does this sound familiar?
A dull ache in your shoulder from a backpack overflowing with “just in case” lenses. The low-grade anxiety at the check-in counter, praying your carry-on isn’t a kilogram over the limit. The sinking feeling of watching the perfect shot—a fleeting expression, a perfect ray of light—vanish while you’re still fumbling to switch from one lens to another.
For years, I thought this was the price of being a creative who travels. More gear, I assumed, meant better photos, better videos, better work.
I was wrong. It just meant more weight. More friction. More frustration.
Then came the turning point. It all came to a head on a trip to Istanbul.
I was standing at the entrance to one of the city’s ancient, subterranean cisterns, excited to photograph the rows of columns stretching into the darkness. But I never made it inside. The security guard took one look at my oversized camera bag and tripod and shook his head. “You have to leave that outside,” he said.
Leave thousands of dollars of camera gear unattended on a busy street? It was an absurd choice to have to make. In that moment, I realized my gear wasn’t enabling my creativity; it was actively preventing me from experiencing the world. I had carried it all that way just for it to become an anchor.
I walked away, angry and frustrated. And I made a decision right then and there: never again.
That decision sparked a new philosophy, and it’s the foundation of this entire site. It’s built on a few simple principles:
- Mobility is Freedom. The ability to move through an airport, a city, or a landscape without being burdened is the ultimate travel luxury. It allows for spontaneity and opens you up to experiences you’d miss if you were anchored to a heavy bag.
- Constraints Spark Creativity. Having one lens doesn’t limit you; it forces you to be a better photographer. You learn to see the world in a new way, to move your feet, to find more interesting compositions. A minimalist kit is a creative catalyst.
- A System is More Important Than Gear. The most expensive camera is useless if it’s sitting in your hotel room. A well-thought-out, lightweight system that you’re happy to carry everywhere will always outperform a bag full of gear you’re reluctant to haul around.
This blog, and its accompanying YouTube channel, is my promise to explore that philosophy. Here, you’ll find everything you need to join the one-bag creative movement: honest reviews of lightweight gear, minimalist packing lists, mobile creative workflows, and travel guides—all through the lens of staying under that magical 7kg limit.
This is more than just a blog. It’s a community for creators who value freedom over features.
If you’re ready to travel lighter and create more, then join us.
Join the Movement:
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