[#SimpleLifeInParis] Luggage for my 2025 trip back to Japan (gear for over a week)

Hello everyone.
I wrote an article like this last time, and as I mentioned in that article,

Just after the start of 2025,

From January 7th to January 23rd...

I returned to Japan for the first time in about a year and three months. I had my new travel companion, the backpack [Able Carry Max EDC], which I introduced in the article above, with me. Additionally, I also had the shoulder bag I bought new last autumn, the [Arc’teryx Mantis 2]

So, my travel companions have changed quite a bit starting from this trip.
Also, during my previous trip back to Japan,

I wrote an article about that too, but here, once again,

Luggage for my 2025 trip back to Japan

I would like to show you what gear I actually used for my trip back from overseas lasting over a week, and also how I personally use the popular Able Carry Max EDC.

I hope this will be helpful for those who are interested in the Able Carry Max EDC.

Please note that everything mentioned here is my own personal property, and there are no sponsored posts, PR, or provided items involved.
These are all items I have carefully selected that I am truly satisfied with.

If you are interested, I would be happy if you could stay with me until the end.

The bags I brought

The bags I brought to Japan this time are as follows.

1. Able Carry Max EDC

2. Arc’teryx Mantis 2

3. Peak Design Everyday Sling 6L

4. MUJI Mini Water-Repellent Backpack

5. 1 large suitcase

However, the suitcase in number 5 contained almost none of my things, as it was only for my family, so basically I only used items 1 through 4. Now, I will explain the purpose of each.

1. Able Carry Max EDC

I used this for the travel to and from Japan, and also for two overnight trips I took during my stay, moving around with this and the Arc’teryx Mantis 2 that I will introduce next.

Therefore, for future trips within Europe of up to about a week, this combination should be just about enough for my luggage.

I already have several trips within Europe planned for later this year, so I hope to use this setup and introduce the luggage specific to European travel here again.

2. Arc’teryx Mantis 2

Combined with the Able Carry Max EDC this bag was very useful as a shoulder bag for valuables during long-distance travel. Even in daily life, when I wasn't carrying a camera, this bag and the MUJI Mini Water-Repellent Backpack were a great combination for everyday use.

Since I usually use this bag for my daily life in Paris when I'm not primarily carrying a camera, it was great to be able to use it with a casual, everyday feel without any fuss.

As expected, the feature of this bag having a dedicated smartphone pocket on the back was very convenient and reassuring during my travels, as it allowed me to access my phone without even opening the bag.

I think this was the item I used most frequently during this stay.

3. Peak Design Everyday Sling 6L

This came out when I went out primarily with my camera. During my stay, I went on half-day camera walks several times, and I used this bag for those. The ease of taking out the camera and small items is outstanding, and since it's a bag I use regularly in Paris, I'm well-accustomed to how to use it alongside the
Arc’teryx Mantis 2 for camera-related purposes.

Also, since I introduced the MUJI Mini Water-Repellent Backpack this time, I feel that the combination has significantly increased convenience.

Furthermore, as I introduced in my luggage for my previous trip home to Japan, I put it in my suitcase during travel to and from Japan, where it also served as cushioning for fragile items.

4. MUJI Mini Water-Repellent Backpack

https://www.muji.com/jp/ja/store/cmdty/detail/4550584236099

Introduced from this trip. Actually, there is a MUJI in Paris, but as of the end of January 2025, this product is not handled in Paris. I had been looking for a pouch of this size in Paris even before going to Japan, but I couldn't find anything just right. When I arrived in Japan, I found this at a local MUJI on the first day... and since it was the perfect size I was looking for, I bought it immediately. It became an essential item that I couldn't have done without during this stay.

I will introduce how I use it later.

5. Suitcase (Large) x 1

It's no exaggeration to say that I brought this to carry souvenirs for my family on the way there; other than that, I hardly used it at all.

If I had to say, I brought a total of 3 sets of clothes for my stay, and I put only 1 set in my backpack this time, and the other 2 sets in the suitcase to make it lighter. But honestly, the amount is small enough that I could have put all 3 sets in the backpack, so for me, in the future,

No matter how many nights I stay, I don't think I need a suitcase for my personal belongings...

That's how little luggage I had; I was actually worried I might have forgotten something when packing to come back... (sweat)

On the other hand, the suitcase on the way back was almost completely filled with my partner's belongings, so if you think about the family as a whole, maybe it is necessary after all.

Other than that, I guess I just used the Peak Design Everyday Sling 6L as a cushion for the luggage on the way there and back... (laughs)

So, I probably won't be covering much about that this time.

Packing

Up to this point, I have written about the role of each bag, but next, I would like to write specifically about packing for each bag.

Able Carry Max EDC

(1) PC Sleeve

• iPad mini 6

(2) Gadget Pocket

Unlike my previous trip back to Japan, I no longer have a gadget pouch, and the storage pocket included with this backpack has taken its place. Also, because it is in the same location as the PC sleeve, the smoothness of the workflow stands out.

Also, regarding the gadget pocket, since it has three elastic pockets and a space with a wide gusset, being able to store thick chargers, a foldable keyboard, and a smartphone stand inside this pocket like a pouch was an improvement for this trip.

Unlike last time, what has been added are a UGREEN smartphone stand and earplugs.

I introduce how to use the UGREEN smartphone stand in this article, so please take a look if you are interested.

• Anker charger

• USB-C cable

• USB-A to C cable

• USB-A to micro USB cable

• Foldable keyboard

• Apple Pencil

• UGREEN smartphone stand

• Earplugs

(3) Main compartment

Since I also had a suitcase this time, I only brought one set of spare clothes. However, I tested it and found that even if I packed three full sets for autumn/winter, they would fit in this backpack, so I felt I could travel without a suitcase.

• 1 set of spare clothes (in a compression bag)

(4) Document sleeve

• Receipts

• Documents

(5) Bottle pocket

When not traveling by plane, I used this pocket for cosmetics. There was no liquid inspection on the flight from Japan to Paris on the way back, but for the flight from Paris to Japan on the way there, and for other European flights, there are still many places where you have to take out liquids, PCs, cameras, and other electronic devices separately as part of the security check. So, when flying, I put them in the front compartment, which I will mention later, to keep them ready to take out at the security checkpoint at any time.

• Cosmetics (only for short-distance travel)

(6) Front pocket (upper)

• Portable towel

• Sponge (for washing body)

(7) Front pocket (lower)

I barely used these this time, but when traveling within Europe, I usually bring them along with the cutlery I didn't bring this time, just in case.

• Tea (tea bags)

• Coffee (stick type)

While traveling, I basically kept the main compartment locked with a padlock and treated it as a place I wouldn't open. Whenever I had to check my luggage, I made sure to put things in here.

(8) Front compartment

The camera I brought this time was:

• Fujifilm X-Pro3 + Voigtlander Ultron 27mm F2 X Mount (pancake lens) + Peak Design Leash (strap) + Kodak camera wrap (camera wrapped in a camera wrap)

• Interchangeable lens: Voigtlander ColorSkopar 18mm F2.8 Aspherical X Mount (pancake lens)

I decided to bring only these. In the past, I have brought other lenses on trips to Europe, but I often ended up using only these two. Also, since it's winter, I figured I wouldn't be doing any serious flower photography, so I went with a very light setup. I think choosing this gear is what ultimately led me to choose the Able Carry Max EDC backpack.

The actual contents of the compartment were:

• Camera (wrapped in a camera wrap)

• Interchangeable lens (pancake lens), lens cloth (in the compartment's inner pocket)

• Cosmetics (for air travel)

• Outerwear (Arc’teryx Beta AR, in case I get hot and take it off)

• Air cushion (for air travel)

(9) Side pocket

I mainly packed things that I wouldn't use while traveling.

• Keys to my home in France

• Things not used locally (French transit cards, etc.)

(10) Side bottle pocket

For a bottle pocket, this one has a gusset and a large capacity, so I put all sorts of things in it.
For this trip, I had a strong feeling that I should put things here that I would use if it got even colder in winter, so that they would be in an easy-to-access location.

• Drinks

• Gloves (camera gloves)

• Montbell compact ear warmers

• Multiple emergency snacks (individually wrapped types)

• Eco bag (spare)

(11) Notable items

Just before boarding the plane, in the waiting area, I packed the following items into the eco bag (spare) from the side bottle pocket and took them on board.

• Cosmetics

• Earplugs

• Snacks

• Drinks

• Air cushion

• iPad mini 6

• Cables

• Charger

• Foldable keyboard

• Apple Pencil

• Smartphone stand

Other than that, my stance was to place it in the space in front of my seat when seated, and basically keep the backpack closed as much as possible until landing. On the plane, the setup is such that everything can be handled with the contents of this eco-bag and the contents of my Arc’teryx Mantis 2.

By the way, regarding this backpack, it was a size that fit into the space in front of the seat without any issues on the Air France flight I took this time.

The Able Carry Max EDC actually has several other hidden pockets, but this time I basically didn't use the other pockets. I stored important items in my other bag, the Arc’teryx Mantis 2, keeping it in a place where I could keep an eye on it and easily take it out. I did this because it helps me focus and prevents distractions if something happens.

Arc’teryx Mantis 2

The basics are no different from the article above, but the contents are as follows. Up to the medicine pouch, the contents are almost the same as what I use daily in France. (However, the transit IC card is, of course, a Japanese one.)

Items from the passport onwards are for travel use.

I always have a Montbell carabiner attached to the bag, and I always carry the Muji mini water-repellent rucksack, which will appear later, on it.

As needed, the same carabiner is attached to my other camera bag, the Peak Design Sling 6L, and I have customized it so that I can easily swap the Muji mini water-repellent rucksack as I like.

• Secrid card case wallet

• Transit IC card

• Eco-bag

• Tablet candy (This time I was eating Mintia in Japan a lot.)

• Medicine pouch

• Smartphone (stored in the dedicated back pocket)
  

• Passport

• Ballpoint pen

• MUJI Travel Wallet (used only while in Japan (for Japanese Yen))

• Hotel room key (for short trips and overnight stays)

Peak Design Everyday Sling 6L

My belongings are almost the same as they were at that time, but this time, as will appear later,

MUJI Mini Water-Repellent Backpack

by introducing this,

• Foldable reading glasses

• Alcohol sanitizing gel

have been removed from this set. Basically, I was operating with the items in the [blue frame] in the article above. Other than that, I used a Japanese transit IC card, and I didn't bring the Fujifilm XF60mm F2.4 R Macro lens.

Basically, it felt almost the same as the contents of the bag I carry around in Paris.

MUJI Mini Water-Repellent Backpack

Introduced starting this time. Basically, I attach it when using the Arc’teryx Mantis 2 or the Peak Design Sling 6L. For the attachment points, I have Mont-bell carabiners on each bag, which allows for smooth, free, and easy swapping of the attachment...

• IZIPIZI foldable glasses

• Glasses cleaning cloth

• Alcohol sanitizing gel

Pocket section

• Lens cap holder for when using the camera

Finally

That concludes my introduction to my luggage for my stay in Japan this time. Since it was my first trip using the new Able Carry Max EDC backpack and Arc’teryx Mantis 2 shoulder bag, I focused more specifically on how I utilized them. What did you think?

Until now, I had only imagined it in my head, but this time, for a trip back home lasting over a week, I was able to put it into practice. As someone who incorporates minimalism into my life and whose daily motto is

to live more compactly, minimally, and lightly...

I feel that with this packing, I was able to shape it into something quite close to a culmination of my efforts.

Moving forward, I hope to use this as a base to further adapt it for travel within Europe, and through this packing experience, I realized I want to continue engaging with my luggage to

lower the barrier between travel and daily life, making it more seamless and free.

I thought about this while packing this time.

Thank you for staying with me until the end.