Two weeks. Three continents. More than 12,000 miles across planes, boats, cars, camels, ATVs, and even a hot air balloon. One backpack. One sling. Our mission? To push the limits of new product development, testing in some of the world’s most unforgiving environments. At the same time, we committed to a philosophy we call, not one bag travel, but “1.5 bag travel”—packing light yet equipped for everything on an extended international journey, carrying with help from our friends over at Bedouin.
Months of planning, done the old-fashioned way with paper maps spread across the table, finally took shape. My longtime adventure companion, Jordan, and I sketched out a loose itinerary, leaving ample room for the unexpected—the moments where the real adventure begins.
Our journey started with a flight from Austin, Texas, to Gibraltar, that British outpost clinging to Europe’s southern edge. A short walk carried us across the border into Spain, followed by a taxi to the quiet port town of Tarifa. From there, a high-speed ferry across the turbulent Strait of Gibraltar delivered us to Morocco’s Tangier, the city of legends.
With a rental car at our disposal, we wound our way through the Atlas Mountains, stopping in Chefchaouen, known for its striking blue walls, before descending into the vast Sahara. Camels carried us deep into the dunes, where we camped under a canopy of stars. The next morning, we traded camels for ATVs, hurtling back toward civilization—crashing as we went.
Our road led to Marrakesh, where we commemorated the trip with quick tattoos before embarking on our final adventure: soaring in a hot air balloon at sunrise, watching the mountains bathed in golden light. Then, it was back to reality—a flight home to the U.S., the dust still clinging to our shoes.
Along the way, we’d take detailed notes for the products we were testing so we could improve upon them for final production, as well as discreetly hide a handful of Carryology Global Expedition Patches for readers to hunt down. Happy to report that every single patch we hid has already been found.
Our decision to use only Bedouin bags was heavily inspired by the destination of the trip itself – as Bedouin’s design philosophy is to create bags that are a metaphor for the tents of the Bedouin people (tough, rugged yet minimal weatherproof exteriors to protect you and your belongings from the harsh extremes, with luxurious comforting interiors emblazoned with artistic geometric patterns for visual delight). We love Bedouin so much that we’ve actually worked on four collaborations with them (Balian, KHAN, Sharky, and Triptych Collection).
A few takeaways from the experience:
- At first glance, the idea of one-bag—or even 1.5-bag—travel might seem intimidating. But as soon as we began navigating the narrow, winding streets of Tangier, it became clear that anything beyond a single bag would have been a nightmare. Morocco, with its rapid pace and intricate urban landscapes, is no place for rolling luggage. The ancient staircases, endless cobblestone streets, and labyrinthine alleyways—barely wider than a person’s outstretched arms—were filled with a constant flow of people, donkeys, utility carts, and motorbikes, all jostling for space at once. In this environment, the freedom of having everything on our backs was invaluable. My Bedouin Balian sling neatly tucked into the Bedouin Sharky backpack, creating an ultra-streamlined setup that made even the tightest quarters manageable. Traveling light wasn’t just convenient—it was essential.
- Rest in peace to my Sony RX100 VII—a camera I’d spent weeks researching and months saving for, specifically for this trip. Compact yet powerful, it seemed perfect, with its zoom lens and a body barely larger than a deck of cards. And for the brief time it served, it was. But its journey came to an untimely end under the vast desert sky of the Sahara. During a long exposure shot of the starry night, the camera toppled from its tripod, meeting its demise in a gritty handful of desert sand. No disrespect to Sony—few cameras, weather-sealed or not, would survive such an encounter with the Sahara. As a result, nearly all of our photos and every single video clip from the trip were taken on my Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max. While I’ve always preferred the feel and control of a “real camera” for travel, I was surprised by just how capable the phone in my pocket turned out to be. It delivered remarkably high-quality visual content—far more than I’d expected. Will I travel without a dedicated camera again? Probably not. But this experience taught me that you can absolutely rely on a modern smartphone and still walk away with incredible results.
- In Morocco, we encountered some of the most genuine, hospitable, and generous people I’ve ever met in all my travels. It wasn’t until we arrived that we realized we had landed at the start of Ramadan, the country’s most sacred religious holiday. In hindsight, even if we had known, I doubt it would have changed our travel dates—coordinating schedules as working adults was already a feat. But the realization dawned only after we touched down, thrusting us into the rhythm of a nation observing its most important tradition. The impact was immediate: most restaurants and shops were closed, and there were moments when we struggled just to find water. Yet, time and again, complete strangers would invite us into their homes for Iftar, the meal that breaks the daily fast, offering food and hospitality without a second thought. This didn’t happen once—it happened several times. We were welcomed into lavish Ramadan feasts, a smorgasbord of flavors and aromas, and endless glasses of “Moroccan whiskey”—the famously sweet mint tea. We shared meals, told stories, and laughed with people we had only just met. And no matter how much we insisted, they refused to accept a single dirham in return for their generosity. It was a humbling experience that left us deeply moved by the warmth and kindness of Morocco’s people.
- Most important of all, I can’t wait to go back to Morocco to visit all the new friends we made and to make even more new ones.
1.5 BAG PACKING LIST (2 Weeks):
BAGS/POUCHES:
Bedouin Sharky Backpack 26L
Bedouin Balian Sling Bag 4.5L
Bedouin Hold Fast Tool Roll
Bellroy x Carryology Toiletry Kit Plus
Bellroy x Carryology Tech Kit
Bellroy x Carryology Pencil Case
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Pod 10L
Aged & Ore Bottle Flight w/ Still Austin Bourbon
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Bag 8L
Bellroy Passport Sleeve
Bellroy Slim Sleeve (Decoy)
APPAREL:
Arc’teryx Veilance Field Jacket
Unbound Merino x Carryology Meili Hoodie Prototype
Unbound Merino x Carryology Meili T-Shirt Prototype (X2)
Fjällräven Övik Long-Sleeve Travel Shirt
Fjällräven Keb Trousers M Reg
Western Rise Evolution Pant 2.0
Western Rise Movement Short
Unbound Merino Boxer Briefs (X5)
Unbound Merino All Season Crew Socks (X5)
ACCESSORIES:
White’s Boots C350 Cruiser Boots
SUAVS The Barton Slip On Shoe
Stetson Bozeman Outdoor Hat
Magpul Tejas Gun Belt El Burro
Randolph Engineering Rx Aviator Sunglasses
Randolph Engineering Travel Sunglasses Case
(REDACTED) Prototype
Big Idea Design Ti Field Automatic Watch
Maratac Ti Zulu Watch Strap
Moroccan Tuareg Tagelmust
Elephant Brand Bandana
Carryology Global Expedition Project Patch (X4)
ELECTRONICS/TECH:
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max 1TB
Bellroy Mod Phone Case
Foursevens x Carryology Preon P1 Ti Flashlight Prototype
HAUSBELL 365nm Ultraviolet Flashlight
Princeton Tec Remix Headlamp
Thyrm CellVault Battery Storage
Energizer Ultimate Lithium AAA Battery (4)
CAMERA:
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX100 VII (RIP☠️🪦)
DJI Mic 2 TX + 1 RX + Charging Case
Sony AG-R2 Attachment Grip
Sony ACCTRDCX Travel DC Charger Kit
Sony NP-BX1 Battery (X2)
(REDACTED) Prototype
JOBY GorillaPod 3K PRO Kit Tripod
SanDisk Extreme PRO SD Card 128GB (X2)
Apple Lightning to SD Card Reader
Anker PowerLine III USB-C to USB-C Cable 1ft
