“Overall, I will say it again…I LOVES my Tom Bihn Cafe bag. It is not just for mommies like me, but made for everyone on the go. I would highly recommend any of Tom Bihn’s products as I have yet to be disappointed by any of his wonderful bags. Added bonus, it makes me feel good to know that Tom makes all his bags here, in the good ‘ol U.S.A. and loves to show off his employees hard at work–go for a factory tour, he is happy to oblige. It is a very fascinating and informative tour of how his bags go from just a mere concept to the finished product.”

Read the full review.

Jason O’Grady has posted a review of the TOM BIHN ID messenger bag and the Archetype Molded Cork laptop case on his ZDNet Apple blog. Here’s an excerpt of his review:

“Instead, I paired the ID with the new and visually stunning Archetype sleeve (US$95) which protects my MacBook Pro with 0.25″ thick closed cell foam, a #8YKK Uretech “splash-proof” zipper and an outer skin made of killer-looking genuine cork fabric. The sleeve alone is sure to be a conversation starter and the bag’s no slouch either.

At US$225 the ID/Archetype combo might be a little pricey for people on a budget, but it’s been my experience that quality bags built with good materials cost a little more – but they’re worth it.” Read the full review.

Rainy Day Magazine has done a First Look/First Use mini-review of the Imago Messenger Bag, complete with pictures. Check it out.

DragonSteelMods recently reviewed the ID messenger bag and Brain Cell laptop case. The review contains a thorough description of both bags, and has over 39 pictures of the ID and Brain Cell – pictures of the Brain Cell clipping inside the ID, close-ups of the pockets on the ID, of a laptop in the Brain Cell, and more!

Excerpts of the review are below. To read the entire review, visit DragonSteelMods.

“The Brain Cell is surprisingly lightweight for all the protection that it provides your laptop, I was actually shocked when I picked it up by just how light it is.”

“I probably have 30 assorted things in the ID Messenger bag and there is still plenty of room for more stuff in there if need be. I’m amazed at how well Tom Bihn utilized the space of the ID, with all the pockets and compartments you can fit lots and lots of stuff in there, and keep it organized as well.”

Episode #323 of the Tech News Radio podcast features a review of the TOM BIHN ID messenger bag. Listen to the podcast to hear the full review. Also featured in this episode are some great digital photography tips from PC World and Wired magazines…

Kristie Masuda of Spymac recently reviewed the TOM BIHN Brain Cell hard-sided laptop case. Below are excerpts of the review. You can read the full review over at Spymac.

Excerpts:

“Spymac loved this case because of its functionality, stylish design and durability. It is recommended for anyone who needs to carry around a laptop safely and securely”

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


“Spymac tested out the Absolute Shoulder Strap, with its heavy duty, all-metal, double-plated snap-hooks and soft, durable neoprene pad with comfortable stretch backing. The strap was the most comfortable of any shoulder strap we have tested and, with its 20-inch to 52-inch span, it is suitable for users of virtually any height.”

Read the full review.

Many of you may remember Rick Yaeger’s review of the ID bag from 2003.

Since then, the ID has gone through a few minor and one major redesigns.
We sent Rick the latest version of the ID bag to review, along with the new Q-AM (Quick-Adjust Messenger) strap, a brand-new TOM BIHN shoulder strap that will be available for order by the end of this week.

Excerpt:
“All in all, I am very happy with the changes in the new ID bag–in particular the Q-AM strap (aka Starbucks Strap), soft pockets and the structured front pocket. The construction of the bag, like every Tom Bihn bag I’ve reviewed yet, is second to none.”

Rick’s review of the ID also features a lot of pictures of the ID bag, including close-ups of the water bottle pocket, and a picture of the Q-AM strap.



Picture by Rick Yaeger of MacMerc from his review of the ID.

Read the full review.

Check out the new review of the Smart Alec published by the great folks over at MacNN. What did they think of the Smart Alec? That it’s a great bag (lots of space, sternum and waist straps, etc.) but that it’s expensive. And both of those things, we think, are true. Because we use high-quality U.S. made Ballistic Nylon and Cordura®, and because our bags are manufactured in our own Seattle, Washington factory as opposed to overseas, they are expensive. We think the bags are worth it. What do you think? Let us know in our forums.

In other Smart Alec backpack news, we recently posted new interior pictures of the Smart Alec. You had been asking us for them for a long time, and we finally have them! Check them out by clicking the picture below.

Check out this review of the Aeronaut by customer Yash K.

Excerpt:
“When the Aeronaut was first introduced, I was in awe of its appearance. I thought to myself, this is a beautiful bag!

I have to admit, I have a lot of bags, of all sorts. But I don’t have anything quite like the Aeronaut. I was thinking about using this for travel, as I have a few trips planned for this summer. I am writing this review while on my first summer trip.” Read the full review.

Photo by Yash K.

Talk about the Aeronaut in our forums

The Aeronaut Page at TOM BIHN

“While the Super Ego is the maximum capacity one would want a messenger bag to be, the Imago is probably the minimum. The ID Bag hits the sweet spot in the middle. Fully loaded is was as cozy as any carry-on or personal bag would want to be. The renowned suspension shoulder strap absorbs pressure that would otherwise be transferred to the user’s shoulders, making long hikes or hurried dashes less strenuous than with plain unpadded straps.”

Read the full review. The full review on the Imago Metrics Web site has detailed pictures of the features on the ID, and pictures of what would fit inside the ID.

Talk about the Imago Metrics review of the ID in our forums.