Pilot in Wilderness (forest green) Ballistic. Pilot in Wilderness (forest green) Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. Pilot in Wilderness (forest green) Ballistic with Dusk (blue-grey with light blue-grey grid) 210 Cerylon interior. Pilot in Burnt Orange 525 Ballistic Pilot in Burnt Orange Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. Pilot in Aubergine (dark purple) Ballistic. Pilot in Aubergine (dark purple) Ballistic with Northwest Sky (grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. Pilot in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) Ballistic. Pilot in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) 525 Ballistic with Wasabi (green with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. Pilot in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) 525 Ballistic with Island (blue with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. Pilot in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) 525 Ballistic with Sangria (red with red grid) 210 Cerylon interior. Pilot in Black 525 Ballistic. Pilot in Black 525 Ballistic with Moss (green with light green grid) 210 Cerylon interior. Pilot in Black 525 Ballistic with Island (blue with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. Pilot in Black Ballistic with grey label. Pilot in Deep Blue (dark blue) Ballistic. Pilot in Black 525 Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. Pilot in Deep Blue (dark blue) Ballistic with Moss (green with light green grid) 210 Cerylon interior. Pilot in Deep Blue (dark blue) 525 Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. Pilot in Mars Red 525 Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. Pilot in Mars Red 525 Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. Pilot in Constellation (light blue) 525 Ballistic. Pilot in Constellation (light blue) 525 Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. Pilot in Coyote (tan) 525 Ballistic. Pilot in Coyote (tan) 525 Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. Pilot in Ursa (brown-grey) 525 Ballistic. Pilot in Ursa (greyish brown) Ballistic with Northwest Sky (grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. Pilot in Ursa (greyish brown) Ballistic with Dusk (blue-grey with light blue-grey grid) 210 Cerylon interior. Pilot in Taiga (green with grey grid) 400 Halcyon.. Pilot in Taiga (green with grey grid) 400 Halcyon with Northwest Sky (grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon.
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$181.00


Color: Wilderness Ballistic/Northwest Sky 200 Halcyon

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In Production Options

Personal item carry-on travel bag/laptop briefcase.

13 liters / 800 cu. in.


TLDR

With 30% more volume than the Co-Pilot, the Pilot is a medium, personal item carry-on travel briefcase designed to fit your work essentials.

  • Main compartment that fits a 14" laptop or tablet
  • 2 interior open-top pockets and 2 O-rings
  • 3 exterior front pockets with independent volume and 1 O-ring in each
  • Rolling luggage handle pass-through pocket on open-top pocket bottom
  • Carry as a briefcase or wear as a shoulder bag
  • Fits under the seat in front of you on the airplane

Full Description

Main Compartment

The main compartment is large enough to store clothes or a 14" Macbook Pro or smaller tablet in a Cache. Inside, there are two open-top pockets of equal size — perfect spot to store an organizer, like our Clear 3D Organizer Cube or Vertical Packing Cubelet. On one interior side of the main compartment are 2 O-rings so that you can attach our Mystery Organizer Pouches and Ghost Whale Organizer Pouches. On the other interior side are a set of Cache loops for you to attach an optional Cache, stored with your device inside. 

3 Front Exterior Organizational Pockets

The Pilot has three front zippered pockets with an O-ring in each. The front left compartment also has a small organizational pocket.

The middle front pocket is designed to fit a small water bottle or compact folding umbrella. The bottom of this pocket has an eyelet so any condensation, spills, or leaks won't puddle in the bag. 

The front right pocket has four pen pockets and one O-ring which includes a Key Strap. It's the same size as the left pocket and it's perfect for storing things like a digital camera, snacks, or even a light wind shell or down vest in a Travel Stuff Sack

Rolling Luggage Handle Pass-Through

We know many of you like to use our bags as personal items alongside roller luggage when traveling, so the pass-through pocket is tucked on the bottom of the open-top back pocket.

The pocket also has a zipper on the bottom side so when you are not utilizing it for a luggage pass-through, you can just zip it up and store quick-access items in there. 

What's Included

Standard Shoulder Strap
1.5" / 38 mm nylon webbing strap, includes .25" / 6mm texturized rubber pad and heavy-duty plastic snaphooks. 
 

8" Snaphook/Snaphook Key Strap
As with most of our bags, we've included a key strap. 8" long from tip-to-tip, a snaphook on either end. Good for attaching your keys to.

A Set of Black Zipper Pulls
A set of pulls to extend or replace your metal pulls.
 

What's Optional

Absolute Shoulder Strap
Upgrade from the included 1.5” strap to an Absolute Shoulder Strap if you anticipate carrying a heavy load.

3D Clear Organizer Cube
The 3D Clear Organizer Cube is the perfect organizer for your toiletries and is specifically designed to meet the TSA 3-1-1 liquids-program requirements. If you want a faster and smoother security checkpoint experience, use the Cube as your go-to toiletries bag.

Cache
The Pilot can accommodate a wide range of devices. If you plan on putting a laptop or smaller tablet in the interior banded open-top pocket, we recommend adding a Cache.  

The main compartment is large enough to store clothes or a 14" Macbook Pro or smaller tablet in a Cache. Inside, there are two open-top pockets of equal size — perfect spot to store an organizer, like our Clear 3D Organizer Cube or Vertical Packing Cubelet. On one interior side of the main compartment are 2 O-rings so that you can attach our Mystery Organizer Pouches and Ghost Whale Organizer Pouches. On the other interior side are a set of Cache loops for you to attach an optional Cache, stored with your device inside. 

The Pilot has three front zippered pockets with an O-ring in each. The front left compartment also has a small organizational pocket.

The middle front pocket is designed to fit a small water bottle or compact folding umbrella. The bottom of this pocket has an eyelet so any condensation, spills, or leaks won't puddle in the bag. 

The front right pocket has four pen pockets and one O-ring which includes a Key Strap. It's the same size as the left pocket and it's perfect for storing things like a digital camera, snacks, or even a light wind shell or down vest in a Travel Stuff Sack

We know many of you like to use our bags as personal items alongside roller luggage when traveling, so the pass-through pocket is tucked on the bottom of the open-top back pocket.

The pocket also has a zipper on the bottom side so when you are not utilizing it for a luggage pass-through, you can just zip it up and store quick-access items in there. 

Standard Shoulder Strap
1.5" / 38 mm nylon webbing strap, includes .25" / 6mm texturized rubber pad and heavy-duty plastic snaphooks. 
 

8" Snaphook/Snaphook Key Strap
As with most of our bags, we've included a key strap. 8" long from tip-to-tip, a snaphook on either end. Good for attaching your keys to.

A Set of Black Zipper Pulls
A set of pulls to extend or replace your metal pulls.
 

Absolute Shoulder Strap
Upgrade from the included 1.5” strap to an Absolute Shoulder Strap if you anticipate carrying a heavy load.

3D Clear Organizer Cube
The 3D Clear Organizer Cube is the perfect organizer for your toiletries and is specifically designed to meet the TSA 3-1-1 liquids-program requirements. If you want a faster and smoother security checkpoint experience, use the Cube as your go-to toiletries bag.

Cache
The Pilot can accommodate a wide range of devices. If you plan on putting a laptop or smaller tablet in the interior banded open-top pocket, we recommend adding a Cache.  

Materials

Handle

PORON® foam padded handle

Other Components

Tough Duraflex®, Nexus, and Woojin buckles and related components

Specs

Dimensions

15.4" (w) x 11.4" (h) x 5.1" (d) / 390 (w) x 290 (h) x 130 (d) mm

Weight

630d high tenacity ballistic nylon: 1 lbs 5 oz / 595 grams
630d high tenacity ballistic nylon, with Standard Strap: 1 lbs 10.8 oz / 760 grams

Volume

13 liters / 800 cu. in. (ASTM Standard Measure)

Total O-Rings

5 (2 in the main compartment, 1 in the left zippered pocket, 1 in the water bottle pocket, 1 in the right zippered pocket)

4.9
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
Based on 178 reviews
94%would recommend this product
178 reviews
  • Rafael Martinez de C.
    Verified Buyer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Comfortable, Thoughtful Design, High Quality Craftsmanship, Sewn in USA, Good Storage Size
    1 year ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Comfortable, Thoughtful Design, High Quality Craftsmanship, Sewn in USA, Good Storage Size
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Pilot flight bag

    As a corporate pilot for more than 14 years I’ve been used a lot of flight bags during this time, and believe this one is the one ! Quality, great storage, practicity , comfort and many positive adjectives I can describe to this bag.

    I can list all the stuff fits on it but will be to long.

    It’s perfect for all the storage and all the stuff and gadgets that I need.

  • Amy
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Made in USA, Compact
    1 year ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Made in USA, Compact
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    The perfect minimalist overnight bag

    I bought this to use as a super-minimalist bag for a quick weekend plane trip, where my Synik 30 would have been too big. Going through airport security has never been easier! While everyone else fiddled with overstuffed backpacks and rolling luggage in the security line, I breezed through at lightning speed with just this little bag. I sprang for the absolute shoulder strap, and it was well worth it – it really does lighten the load. I am a 5’3” woman and I never felt like the Pilot was too big or bulky.

    For my weekend trip, I packed a shirt, pajamas, socks, and underwear in the main compartment, along with my Bose headphones and two 3D Organizer pouches in the inner pockets for liquids and makeup. One front pocket carried miscellaneous essentials and the other carried my phone, wallet, keys, and books for the plane. The water bottle pocket is a game changer. The entire bag fits under the plane seat, keeping everything at hand during the flight and also saving time not having to pull your bag down from the overhead compartment upon landing.

    I didn’t travel with any technology – no laptop or tablet – and it probably would have been too much to pack all of the above with any sort of tech. But for me, it was a fun challenge to see how lightly I could pack! As a business briefcase, a personal item, or packed out for an entire weekend, the Pilot is built to last and has more organization than you can shake a stick at.

  • Joshua B.
    Verified Buyer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Sewn in USA, High Quality Finishings
    1 year ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Sewn in USA, High Quality Finishings
    Rated 4 out of 5 stars
    Great bag—just not quite what I need

    I’m a big fan of this bag. The organization and capacity of it are brilliant—best I have seen. So are the materials, workmanship, and customer service. For me, however, it needs a protective laptop sleeve and more structure so that it holds its shape when carried by the grab handle or set down. Fully loaded, it sags in places and leans or falls to one side. The luggage handle pass-through gapes open. This was true of both the halcyon and ballistic fabric, but less so on the latter. I would strongly recommend this bag if you are not concerned by these issues.

  • Briz G.
    Verified Buyer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design
    1 year ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Perfect for a one night business trip

    The Pilot is perfect for a one night business trip. I had been using a backpack but found myself carrying it by one strap or trying to carry it by my side. The Pilot is a great replacement. It is also perfectly sized as a personal item for a plane. I take one change of clothes in a packing cube on one side, and my Tom Bihn Standard Spiff kit on the other side. I used a laptop sleeve in the main compartment for the laptop and iPad. I opted for the Absolute strap which made long terminal walking easy. The only addition that would make this bag better would be two o-rings in the open pocket in the back. I could better clip and access a passport pouch in that area. I will be adding organization pouches to fully optimize the bag. Thanks Tom Bihn.

  • Heather R.
    Verified Buyer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, High Quality Craftsmanship, Good Storage Size
    1 year ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, High Quality Craftsmanship, Good Storage Size
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Great work bag

    I always think that my TB bags are smaller than they actually turn out to be. When I got the bag, I set it aside and continued to use my Makers bag because I thought the pilot would be too small. I was wrong. It’s a great, well-sized bag.

    It holds my 13-inch laptop, pens, iPad, keys, phone, lunch, umbrella, and if I leave it unzipped, my 40-ounce insulated water bottle. With more structure than my other bag.

    Very happy with my purchase.

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Sewn in Seattle

Our bags are designed and sewn right here in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.

That allows us to be control freaks in the best way possible; we have direct control and oversight of the quality of our materials, our products, and the jobs and working environment that we help create. It also offers us a unique spontaneity: when we have an idea for a new product or accessory, we can design it, figure out how to build it, add it to our website and be ready to ship it out our front door all within just a few weeks. How cool is that?

Intrigued? You can find out more about the unusual way we do business on our Company Philosophy page.

THE BIHN Guarantee

Everything you buy from us here at TOM BIHN is satisfaction guaranteed. We’ve been in business since 1972 and we stand behind what we make.

If something goes wrong and it's our fault, we'll fix it for free. Repairs due to normal wear and tear or due to other things that are not our fault will be performed, when possible, at a reasonable charge right here in our Seattle factory where your bag was made. Defects in materials or workmanship are uncommon and almost always evident while the product is still new. Keep in mind that bags and packs are often subject to extreme wear in everyday use: do not expect them to last forever. Only true love lasts forever! You can expect a TOM BIHN product to give years and years of hard service.

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