Light travel experts weigh in on packing techniques

kjm3579 posted in the TOM BIHN Forums that s/he was ready to buy an Aeronaut but was told online that it wasn’t ideal for the bundle packing method because it doesn’t have tie-down/compression straps (not accurate; Tom added removable tie-down/compression straps to the Aeronaut in 2010) and that it doesn’t have much “flat space” (this is why the Tri-Star, with its ample flat space, might be a better option for those who want to bundle pack.)

Frank II, owner and author of One Bag, One World (OBOW) replied:
“As the owner of a site dedicated to light, one bag travel, I can tell you my main bag is the Aeronaut and I travel wrinkle free. I also don’t bundle pack as I find it to be the least efficient way to pack. And contrary to the bundle packing cult, there are other ways to pack wrinkle free.”

moriond posted an excellent collection of links to other forum threads in which techniques such as rolling and bundle packing are discussed as well as the use of Packing Cubes to keep clothes wrinkle-free.

JLE and peregrina noted that Packing Cubes prevent their clothes from being wrinkled in the Aeronaut.

Lani, owner and author of The Travelite FAQ, posted:
“There are two big disadvantages to the bundle method (and I’ve read the book, which for the most part is pretty good):

#1: It prevents wrinkles… BUT ONLY FOR THE OUTER GARMENTS IN THE HUG/BUNDLE!! If you aren’t careful, the inside garments can easily fold into each other and get just as wrinkled as always.

#2: You wind up with one huge lump. You can’t get to an inner garment without unfurling the entire bundle. What this means is that when you get to your hotel/destination, you HAVE to unpack everything. Put them in dresser drawers or hang them, but they cannot stay in your carry-on.”

Read the full thread in the TOM BIHN Forums. Do you bundle pack? Roll? Use Packing Cubes? Join the discussion and share your experience with wrinkle-free packing for ultralight, one bag travel.

Removable tie-down or compression straps are included with the Aeronaut travel bag

darcy | 16 May 2012 3:37 pm

Photos: Synapse continues to surprise

Posted by Jon ‘Geo’ Camp in the TOM BIHN Forums:

“TIL (Today I Learned) just how handy those side pockets on the Synapse are, and how much attention went into their design.

After 5 months of ownership, and always taking off the backpack to access the sides (since this is how every backpack I’ve ever owned had been) I was thinking about the backpack and how I see everyone else here in Japan with their shouldered-bum-bags (fanny packs?) and how they just swing them over and have access.

Today I learned that by swinging the backpack under your shoulder, the side pockets are the EXACT SHAPE to pull open with one hand, grab whatever you need, and close again. Mind = BLOWN.”

Read the full thread “Synapse continues to surprise”.

The TOM BIHN Synapse continues to surprise

Note: the Synapse is currently backordered in all colors. Our Seattle factory is working on the next batch of Synapse and backorders are expected to ship in the next 2-3 weeks.

darcy | 14 May 2012 7:59 am

cancoi: Swift in Cork after 4+ years of use

TOM BIHN Swift in Cork after four years photo by cancoi

Thanks to Cancoi for sharing this photo of her Swift in Cork with us.

darcy | 3 May 2012 4:45 pm

@TomBihn – Helping me stay organized

Photo by Jon 'Geo' Camp of the TOM BIHN Synapse

Photo by Jon ‘Geo’ Camp. See also: the Synapse backpack

darcy | 1 May 2012 10:42 am

Even more photos from Brian Stowell’s Camera I-O review

Photos of the Camera I-O and Brain Bag by Brian Stowell. Read Brian’s review of the Camera I-O, posted in the Forums.

Even more photos from Brian Stowell's Camera I-O review

Even more photos from Brian Stowell's Camera I-O review

Even more photos from Brian Stowell's Camera I-O review

Even more photos from Brian Stowell's Camera I-O review

darcy | 30 April 2012 3:30 pm

Brian Stowell’s updated On Tour packing list

“I mentioned in an old thread of mine that I would post an updated packing list. It’s amazing how much progess I’ve made in the last two years. I leave in a few hours for a 17 day trip, traveling all over the East Coast/Mid-Atlantic area of the US, selling merch for a band. I’m planning for very nice spring weather, 60s-70s, maybe some rain. But I work indoors mostly.”

Brian Stowell's updated packing list

Read the full thread in the TOM BIHN Forums for more of Brian’s packing lists. See also: Brian’s previous On Tour packing list.

darcy | 27 April 2012 9:52 am

Dana Constance Thomas: Travel Art Studio w/Field Journal Notebook

Dana Constance Thomas and her Field Journal Notebook

“Years ago I came up with an idea for travel design kits. They are of course specifically aimed at Fashion design. The inspiration was my years of playing with Tomy Fashion Plates.

Now that I have more time on my hands I have begun to delve back into the creation process of my design kits. So it occured to me that I could at least begin by organizing my existing travel art supplies. A mini studio that allows me to fashion sketch on the go.”

Dana Constance Thomas and her Field Journal Notebook

Read the full post by Dana Constance Thomas, designer and illustrator. See also: the Field Journal Notebook.

darcy | 26 April 2012 4:16 pm

JLE: Imago and Large Cafe Bag comparison

“On another thread I said I had some pics to post of my new Imago and LCB. These photos are iPhone/JLE-quality (ie a bit on the ordinary side – I am no photographer!). I have included a side by side comparison which shows how similar in size the two bags are. I packed the same items in each bag, but unfortunately it looks as if the LCB packed shot is corrupted and it won’t upload (but it looked pretty much the same packed as the Imago!). Possibly of more interest are shots of my iPad going into the LCB vertically and horizontally with room to spare (in the shot with iPad in vertically, I pulled it out part way so you could see how the width of the iPad compares with the width of the bag).”

JLE: Imago and Large Cafe Bag Comparison Photos

Read the full thread — with more photos — posted by JLE in the TOM BIHN Forums.

darcy | 26 April 2012 10:56 am

ncb4: Cardinal Co-Pilot as camera bag for DSLR kit (Part I)

“This is an ad hoc solution, nowhere near as elegant as the brand new Insert/Outsert. But if you have a smaller DSLR, or any of the smaller mirrorless micro-4/3 or other ILCs (interchangeable lens cameras), and/or you don’t carry as much gear around with you, and/or you’re just taking your camera and a spare lens out with you for a photo excursion, I think the Co-Pilot is an excellent choice.”

Main compartment:

•Olympus e620 DSLR with 25mm pancake lens attached
•Billingham single insert with camera inside
•Olympus 40-150mm Zuiko lens (the older, faster, and larger version), in soft pouch
•Olympus 35mm macro lens (Zuiko), in soft pouch
•Olympus 14-42mm Zuiko lens, in soft pouch
• Two filters in hard cases inside repurposed neoprene floppy disk case (in slip pocket)
•Two filters in hard cases, loose (in slip pocket)
•Cardinal Ballistic mini OP (empty at the moment)

ncb4 on the Co-Pilot as a camera bag

Read the full thread by ncb4 — with many great photos — in the TOM BIHN Forums.

darcy | 25 April 2012 9:06 am

conejo23: My Tri-Star review (with comparisons to the Brain Bag)

“I’ll cut to the chase and then fill in some details, along with pictures. The Tri-Star is an incredible bag. The design is as impressive as the reviews I poured through indicated it was. This is a typical Tom Bihn bag so I don’t need to go into excessive detail here, you all know the materials, construction, finishing, it’s all first rate. Very, very impressive.”

Read the full review by conejo23 — with many great photos — in the TOM BIHN Forums.

My Tri-Star Review (with comparisons to the Brain Bag)

My Tri-Star Review (with comparisons to the Brain Bag)

darcy | 16 April 2012 8:35 am