Backpack Wrap Up: The Best Medium Lightweight Pack [Review] from Justin Lukasavige on Vimeo.
See also:
Backcountry Treks Video Review of the Synapse
Backcountry Treks Video Review of the Brain Bag
The Synapse
The Brain Bag
Backcountry Treks Video Review: Best Medium Lightweight Pack
The Wirecutter on the Ristretto
“It’s one of the sturdiest, sleekest looking laptop satchels I’ve used in a long time, and I’ve been hauling around a computer everywhere I go since the mid-’90s.”
Read the full review by Seamus Bellamy @ The Wirecutter.
See also:
Ristretto for iPad
Ristretto for 11″ MacBook Air
Ristretto for 13″ MacBook Pro or Air
David Kong on The Perfect Carry-On Luggage
“Now that I have actually owned the bag [The Aeronaut] for almost 1 month now, I can say with confidence that it was the right choice, hands down for actually another reason that I didn’t even think of at the time or weigh into my requirements. The Tom Bihn bag makes an excellent CASUAL bag… I’ve taken this bag on bike rides (backpack straps, mind you) and to picknicks and to trips to the coffee shop and even to the grocery store when I have a large amount of groceries to buy. I use it as a gym bag and a laundry bag perhaps once or twice a week.”
Read the full review by David Kong.
See also:
The discussion thread started by David on One Bag, One World.
The Aeronaut
The Brooks Review: Best Diaper Bag
“Now I have one packing cube with diapers and wipes. Another with a change of clothes. A third with all the other miscellany that ends up in the diaper bag and bottles. It takes me less than two minutes to go from computer bag to diaper bag.
That’s acceptable because I get to use a bag [The Smart Alec] that I love.
What’s also neat is that the packing cubes still fit in the ”real” diaper bag, so it is still always ready to go for my wife (I toss the packing cubes back in that bag when I change out my backpack). So now I have a diaper bag that I love at very little extra cost, and a system that is very flexible.”
Read the full post at The Brooks Review.
See also: Smart Alec, Packing Cubes
But She’s a Girl: Mighty Tri-Star
“You don’t need to use the packing cubes, but I thought that as I was spending a fortune to import the bag, I might as well get a set of those while I was at it. I haven’t used them to capacity yet, but they are very useful for segregating and organising your gear and also making sure that you don’t over-pack. Since the packing cubes are sized carefully, you know that if your stuff fits in the packing cube, it will fit in the bag. This sounds trivial, but is actually quite reassuring for someone like me who has had some stressful moments in the morning before a flight anxiously sitting on a suitcase lid to wrestle the thing closed.”
Read the full post @ but she’s a girl… See also: the Tri-Star and Packing Cubes
papids2000: Westerns Flyers Packed and Ready to Go
Western Flyers Packed and Ready to Go
Posted by papids2000 in the TOM BIHN Forums
“We are taking a 12 day tour of Europe starting 1st week in October. We will be traveling light so we are only taking the Western Flyers plus the backpack packing and shoulder cubes as daypacks. The only electronic devices we will be taking are the Iphones. Each of us will have 4 sets of clothes and 1 extra pair of shoes. Also will have an outer fleece jacket since it could be pretty cool by then. Of course Kiya wants to go also but she still did not get her passport.”
And an update:
“Wanted to follow up on our 12 day trip to Netherlands and Germany. Just took the two Western Flyers and it was so easy to move around on the trains. These bags our now our favorite for travelling light and efficient but also not looking like a backpacker. We also had the shoulder packing cube for which holds more than enough fo day trips in the city.”
Read the full post. See also: Western Flyer, Packing Cube Shoulder Bag
ProfHacker: Smart Alec is an Ideal Commuter’s Backpack
“Finally—but perhaps most importantly—the Smart Alec is incredibly comfortable. The straps sit easily on my shoulders, and the (removable) sternum strap helps me keep the bag positioned in just the right place on my back. I removed the waist straps, but they might be useful for some users. In short, I’ve hiked all over with this bag quite full, and I’ve never felt burdened.”
Read the full review @ ProfHacker. See also: the Smart Alec
Documentally: 3D Clear Organizer offers luxury in grotty hotel room
“My @TomBihn 3D clear organiser cube is offering me a fragrant dose of luxury in an otherwise grotty hotel room.
Last week I wasn’t prepared for this hotels meagre facilities. A slither of soap and a plastic cup.
This week I took delivery of some Tom Bihn goodies and uncertain of what this particular pouch was for, the included hook and transparent sides makes it perfect for a wash kit.
I can now imagine i’m in a respectable hotel at the same time as protecting my toothpaste from hungry cockroaches.”
More: Documentally and the 3D Clear Organizer Cube
Metro Man: Gear & Gifts for Guys
“One of my favorite moments in the movie “As Good As It Gets” is when Jack Nicholson’s obsessive-compulsive jerk of a character storms into Greg Kinnear’s hotel room, panicked and yelling, only to find Simon (Kinnear) in the middle of laying out his clothing on the bed in perfect, folded symmetry next to his semi-full suitcase. In the middle of his tirade, Jack stops and very genuinely says, “Nice packing.” I like that moment because I’ve found that there are few human qualities more deserving of respect and celebration than the ability to skillfully and strategically pack a suitcase. For the uninformed, allow me to explain the process. Think through your itinerary: how many days, how many changes of clothes (swimming? coat and tie?); grab a few extra boxers and socks and tshirts; fold gently, lay out in rows; then place in suitcase – shoes on the bottom, then pants, then heavy sweaters and jackets, then shirts, then underclothes; then place your gear on top. And herein lies the problem: how do I contain my gear in an organized and classy enough fashion to live up to the hype that is the layer cake of packing perfection beneath it in my overnight bag? Until recently, I honestly didn’t have much of an answer. Razors and toothpaste and prescriptions went in whatever pockets were available, and remained in disarray for my entire trip. But then I came across Tom Bihn.”
Read the full post by Nick Caruso @ Metro Man.
