“First off, thanks for getting everything delivered in two days- just in time for my 6 day trip. This was my first Tom Bihn purchase and in addition to the steel/solar Tri-Star, I also ordered the absolute strap, packing cubes, and a Brain Cell for a Macbook. I have to say this is the highest quality travel bag I’ve ever owned. The design and attention to detail are brilliant. No matter the circumstances, there was always a handle or zipper right where I needed one. At times, it almost seemed an extension of myself. I never found myself ‘hunting’ for anything.”

Read jehowe’s entire review of the Tri-Star in the TOM BIHN Forums. Then, see the Tri-Star for yourself or watch James Martin’s (About.com Europe Travel Guide) video review of the bag.

“Back in Seattle now after five weeks living out of the Tristar along with a medium cafe bag. I can unequivocally say that this is a perfect bag for the way I travel. It turned out to get a bit heavier over the course of the trip–collecting conference materials and a few souvenirs added a couple of pounds to the total weight. So, I would estimate that I was packing close to 20 pounds by the end. I ended up stashing the backpack straps for the last few days and just using the Absolute shoulder strap since I was in and out of busses, metro, and trains for those days and found it easier not to get it on and off my back repetitively.

The bag swallows up a remarkable amount of stuff, as attested by my packing list earlier in this thread. It looks neat enough with the backpack straps stowed to blend in when staying at a business hotel but is compact enough to be convenient to live out of in tiny European B and B rooms, too. Being tidy and compact had some other advantages, too. My husband and I were staying at one small hotel and wanted to stash our bags for a few hours after checkout. The owner was just explaining to another couple why they didn’t have room for bag storage when we came down to ask for the same favor. Looking at our Tristars, he said it would be no problem. Sweet…”

– Posted by flitcraft in the TOM BIHN Forums.

Below is an email we recently received from customer G. -

“Dear Tom and Friends:

My new Zephyr bag arrived just two days after my order, thank you for great service/price in shipping!

As for the bag… One would assume that designing a bag to carry things is not something that would take years….alas, I see now why these bags are so good. Intelligent design & Superior materials.

On arrival of my bag yesterday, I transferred everything from my old (& larger) [manufacturer name withheld] bag to my new Tom Bihn. Wonder of wonders….there remains a huge amount of empty volume and the bag now seems very much lighter! A wonder of physics & geometry Tom!

I see now that it does take time, probably an excruciating amount of angst as well, to constantly design/re-design to configure volume usage, center of gravity, zipper trails, pocket dimensions, strap points, construction details and on and on….. whoa….
I see now a glimpse of the “Zen of Messenger Bag Building”….
Thank you Tom and friends. Thank you for making the best bag I have seen with the utmost quality. Thank you moreover for making these in our country. Yes, it does feel right.

Over 60 of my colleagues must use bags such as these on a daily basis in our work and I am the first that I know to carry a Tom Bihn. After the word gets out, I don’t think I’ll be able to say that again….

Have a wonderful weekend….”

“I was traveling on business with my new Checkpoint Flyer bag in June. It was the only luggage I had for a 4 day trip. I was late to my connection in the Denver Airport.

When I arrived huffing and puffing at the Gate, the agent informed me all the doors were closed since the flight was leaving in 5 min. I begged to get on, she refused. Since it was a small jet (CRJ-200) to Winnipeg, they couldn’t unlock the doors on the bottom of the aircraft to load any more luggage.

I pointed out that my only luggage was the Checkpoint Flyer, and it fit would under the seat in front of me. I didn’t even need to access the miniscule overhead bins. She looked carefully at the bag, thought, and unlocked the door so I could board my flight!! That wouldn’t have happened with my old suitcase.” – Craig