My onebag one-cable setup for EDC and travel

You might not be traveling because of the worldwide Rona™️ outbreak, but it doesnt mean we can’t be thinking about how we are going to set up our bags when we do. I personally live, or try to live, by the onebag code. This means I need to pack minimally and include multi-functional items in my gear load-out. 

One issue many of us have is trying to keep all out electronics powered. I found a solution that comes as close to the “onebag” code that works well for me and has little fuss, and more importantly, little gear. This is my “one” cable setup.

Now, this is not really a “one” cable solution, hence the quotes around one. A true one cable solution would probably be usb-c to power everything I own. Unfortunately my ipad, iPhone, and airpods are holding on to the lighting port. But really, this has been pleasant solution for me.

My one cable set up involves the least amount of cables, chargers, and batteries to be able to charge my electronic comfortably during travel. This has been trail and error to figure out, but I found a setup that works well for me. Besides the usb-c and lighting cable I only have two other issues, but before I get into those let me tell you what my core setup looks like.

I carry with me as my EDC setup;

• Amazon basics dual usb charger 2.4 amp each port

• 6 ft black usb-c cable with usb-a end

• 6ft white lighting cable with usb-a end

• small battery pack that charges through usb-c (sometimes I dont even carry this)

I went with usb-a cables because the cables and chargers are much cheaper than usb-c. Usb-a plugs are more common right now than usb-c, so at airport lounges, airplanes, trains, or cafes I dont have to breakout the charger and can just plug my cables directly into the ports.

While everything seems well there were two problems I had with this setup. The first was trying to find an electric beard trimmer with usb-c. This was impossible so I had an alternative solution so that I wouldn’t have to bring another charger or even dock that some come with. 

My compromise was to buy one that would charge with a usb-a cable (usb-a into the charger and then their proprietary plug into the razor). Additionally, the razor had to have long battery life so that charging was infrequent. Not my utopian one cable setup, but a good enough compromise.

The second was my apple watch. This wasn't a big deal since the Apple watch already come with a usb-a cable to charge the watch. I just would have liked to not bring another proprietary cable. I was thinking about buying a battery charger that will charge the watch but also has pass through charging, and of course this would have to be usb-c. Unfortunately there was none for me to purchase of this type.

So my list now looks like this;

• Amazon basics dual usb charger 2.4 amp each port

• 6 ft black usb-c cable with usb-a end

• 6ft white lighting cable with usb-a end

• small battery pack that charges through usb-c (sometimes I dont even carry this)

• usb-a Apple watch cable

• usb-a electric razor cable 

There are some important key features I would like to point out in my list. The first is the dual usb charger. I can not help but praise the amazon basics dual usb charger. It has been perfect. Its small, but most importantly it charges TWO things at once. I can charge my iPhone at night but also your camera, ipad, watch or whatever at the same time, then unplugging them when you wake up and charging two additional things, and then plugging two other things when you leave the hotel. The only way to beat this is having one with more ports, but then you sacrifice weight and volume with that larger charger.

Another important feature of the charger is that each usb port is 2.4 amps. Thats enough to charge a switch or ipad pro, at the same time, while they are being used. I dont have any fast charging items so that feature is not necessary for me.

It was important that I have long enough cables to reach an outlet from my hotel bed or desk but not have them be too long that they become cumbersome. I think the 6ft cables hit this mark. I found the Amazon basic cables or Apple cables to be very durable at this length unlike longer cables I have used.

Another thing I did to make my life simpler is color code my cables. White is lighting and black is usb-c. The apple watch cable is also white but I equate this to white for Apple and then the electric razor cable is black but this goes into my electric razor travel bag and doesnt get mixed up with the others.

Lastly, I want to point out that the battery bank is not necessary. Most modern planes and trains have either usb-a plugs or actual outlets to charge things. Most of the time everything I bring is always charged by just using the usb charger. I dont actually remember when is the last time I used the battery. My phone, ipad, watch, and camera can all last at least two days without a charge and even more if they are put into battery saving modes. But for this weird trips where I wont see a plug for a night or need to heavily use gps, the battery is there.

I told you my charging setup but what are the things Im bring that need charging? On a normal trip I always bring these items;

• Fuji x-t3 camera (usb-c)

• Nintendo Switch (usb-c)

• Battery (usb-c)

• Ipad pro 10.5 (lighting)

• Airpods (lighting)

• iPhone (lighting)

• Apple watch (proprietary)

• Electric Razor (proprietary)

This is my setup. It is not perfect, but I always have everything charged and it works. The simple dual usb charger and two cables when I go on short trips or for my edc is an elegant solution without breaking the bank.