Week of 30 December, 2007 - 01:00 to 6 January, 2008 - 00:59

Posted by ratdeau in the TOM BIHN forums:

"This autumn my wife, my daughters and me we went for a four day trip to Budapest. We travelled by night train, with one day stop in Vienna. I carried my Aeronaut's, my wife carried my Smart Alec computer bag, my daugthters carried their Smart Alec school bags. This is a picture of them three with the Smart Alec bags in Vienna."

Choosing reusable over disposable products
posted by maverick in the TOM BIHN Forums

"i was cleaning out my pantry and refrigerator earlier this morning and it occurred to me that we use a lot of disposable products - paper/plastic plates, cups, forks and napkins, paper towels, paper bags, and so forth.

if we forsake convenience for a moment and consider the alternatives, we could slowly impact our environment in a good way.

rather than using paper/plastic plates and bowls, use real plates and bowls.

rather than using plastic utensils, use real utensils...." -- Read maverick's entire post

My resolution? Always remember to bring my Utility Tote to the grocery store. I've found remembering easier if I take my wallet, keys, and phone out of my everyday bag and put them in the zippered Dyneema pocket of the Utility Tote. That way I have to remember to take the Utility Tote with me! (You can also use the zippered pocket for separating soaps or small cold or potentially leaky items from the rest of the bag.)

The folks over at One Bag, One World are off to London with the Western Flyer and Aeronaut in tow. Read all about it.

Many TOM BIHN bags come with Cord Zipper Pulls on at least some of their zippers while other bags come exclusively with metal zipper pulls. Now you have the option of buying extra Cord Zipper Pulls to use in addition to or instead of metal zipper pulls.

For $3.00 (plus $2.00 shipping of ordered by themselves), you'll receive parts for 8 Cord Zipper Pulls: 8 cords and 16 plastic zipper pull parts. (It takes two plastic zipper pull parts to make one complete zipper pull.)

Cord Zipper Pulls. $3 for an 8-pack. Ships immediately.

Posted by falconea in the TOM BIHN forums:
My husband then sprained his knee and is hobbling around with a knee brace, so the task of carrying everything we bought at the market for Christmas fell to me and the ">Utility Tote.

I'm happy to report that it holds:

2 kg (5 pounds) box of cherries
Large fresh turkey breast
2.5 kg (6 pounds) of chocolate buttons
Another .5 kg (1 pound) of different chocolate buttons
A frozen lasagna
2 glass pint bottles of milk
and a 10 gram jar of saffron!

And I still had room!

Despite weighing about 20 pounds it was very comfortable on my shoulder. And I normally struggle with a 10 pound carry on bag with an ordinary webbing strap.

"Whenever I arrive at my destination, I immediately unpack my clothes and put them on hangers. Then I spray them all with a light mist of water, stretching out the wrinkles on the clothes. Then I hang them up, still moist.

By morning, my clothes are effectively wrinkle-free. (At least for my purposes; I'm not a suit-and-tie guy, but I do wear long-sleeve button-down shirts when I work.) I have never had to use an iron." -- BJ Nemeth in the TOM BIHN forums. Read the entire post or thread.

Mac Law Students Review: Tom Bihn Empire Builder Bag
by Erik Schmidt on December 30th, 2007

"The Absolute Shoulder Strap is particularly handy for chugging across campus when you’re really loaded down. But the handles on this bag are also excellent. They lean in towards each other, making them easy to grab in a hurry. They’re thickly padded but very sturdy, and they don’t look cartoonish, unlike some bags with oversized handles. When I’m carrying a smaller load, I unclip the Absolute Shoulder Strap and use the handles."
Read the entire review.

Posted by caryn in the TOM BIHN Forums:
"I just wanted to let people know how amazingly comfortable the Super Ego can be fully loaded. I was not happy that I was "stuck" with a messenger bag instead of a Brain Bag Backpack (since the big HP wont fit). I did not want to carry a heavy asymetrical load on my spine. However, when carried on the lower back, with the stabalizing belt that comes with it, the entire load is shifted to the hips, just like a good backpack. (more after the break)

Feedback on the Imago (with the above picture) from Sid:
"I have one of your Imago bags, which was highly coveted by a friend of mine. When she had to move back to France, I decided it was the perfect going-away pressie... It was received with MUCH enthusiasm! I'd love to send you the photo she sent me - the big brimming with French chestnuts! It definitely provides an excellent display for the capacity of this great bag! Cheers!" -- Sid

Feedback on the Imago from Alan:
"Wow! I can't believe that there a not any user reviews of the Imago!! This is a FANTASTIC bag. I have had mine since they were first introduced (black/black/wasabi YANG in ballistic nylon).

The entire TOM BIHN crew wishes you a Happy New Year.

Reminder: Shipping and Customer Service will be closed today (Dec 31st) and tomorrow (Jan 1st). We will open again on Wednesday, January 2nd.