Yes, the TOM BIHN Aeronaut 30 is (finally) back! Restocking 8/26 at 7am PDT.
This restock has been a long time in the making. We've seen your various emails, blog comments, DMs asking for when the Aeronaut 30 will be available for purchase, and trust us, we've been working hard at this for months.
If you've been following us for a while, the Aeronaut 30 is probably a household name for you. If you're newer to us, the Aeronaut 30, predecessor to the Techonaut 30, is a convertible travel duffel and backpack, ideal for those who want a versatile travel bag with a large main compartment but don't need the separate laptop compartment or luggage handle pass-through feature that the Techonaut offers. It's designed to fit European budget and regional commuter airline carry-on requirements, making it a great weekender bag or long vacation bag if you're a true minimalist packer.
When we first set our sights on putting this bag back into production at the end of 2021, we asked ourselves: "Can we make the Aeronaut better?" Through lots of trial and error, we found that the Aeronaut is a design that shouldn't be messed with too much, but if you're interested, here are the improvements that have been made:
- Edgeless Shoulders Straps, replacing the old bound shoulder straps
- Main compartment and two end pockets are now #10 YKK Racquet-Coil Water-Repellent Zippers, replacing the Aquaguard zippers
- Updated mesh pocket on the inside of the cover, similar to the design of the pocket in the Cambiata
- Simple webbing grab handle now on either side of the main compartment that will allow you to keep the bag balanced if you want to grab it while it's in open duffel mode. We find this helpful for swinging the bag from the floor to the bed (or vice versa) as your packing and unpacking
- An improved and re-engineered back panel for better durability and to make it more intuitive how/where to buckle the shoulder straps. The bottom of the main compartment inside the bag has always been a single piece of material separating that compartment from the backpack straps stow-pocket, and we've changed it from lighter-weight lining material to more robust shell material- it will match the exterior color/fabric of the bag. This improves the durability and the strength of a couple of attachments. We'd also heard from folks many times over the years that they thought that the bag was missing the bottom buckles because of how they were tucked into the fold along the side seams so we made that more clear
You may be wondering...why there is still no separate laptop compartment and/or luggage handle pass-through? We experimented with iterations of this bag that had one or both features, and what we've found was: we kept on turning the Aeronaut into the Techonaut. We love the design of the Aeronaut; it's a tried-and-true classic, so ultimately we decided to keep the look mostly the same and distinct from the Techonaut.
Stay tuned for the Aeronaut 45, which we will also be restocking soon. The Aeronaut 45 will have the same improvements as the Aeronaut 30.
JK - August 29, 2022
I’m happy to see the Aeronaut 30 back!
It looks like one of the weights listed for 525/630d is incorrect. The page says 2 lbs. 6 oz. or 1170 g, but 2 lbs. 6 oz. is actually 1077 g. Which is correct?
Dylan - August 25, 2022
This is great news! I recently purchased Technonaut 45 , but really don’t need the laptop or passthrough features. Any idea when the Aero45 will be shipping? I have an international trip the last week of September and would love to get one! Thanks again!
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TOM BIHN replied:
Hi Dylan! Aeronaut 45s aren’t too far off either, being just a couple more weeks out. That might be a little tight for the end of September, but there’s a good chance they’ll be ready in time. :)
Dan - August 25, 2022
In the color selection, I assume the exterior material listed as just “Black Ballistic” is the High Tenacity 2×2 ballistic nylon, versus the “Black 1050 Ballistic” listing, Is that correct?
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TOM BIHN replied:
Hi Dan! That’s correct—the regular Ballistic bags are the 2 × 2 Ballistic Nylon, our 525/630D fabric. Any labeled specifically as 1050D Ballistic is the heftier, slightly more stiffer version of Ballistic.
Larry Clark - August 25, 2022
I understand where you’re coming from with “With the Simple Rolling Luggage Strap (though it is self admittedly simple) the strap can compress the Aeronaut in more, creating a more balanced load that won’t tip over your rolling bag.”
The problem is that the strap is too simple and not fit for task. I purchased one (just to be loyal) knowing it was problematic. I found a piece of 1 1/2" strap at home and took both to a shoe repair shop. A 12" piece (plus 2" fold-unders) was sewn to you strap. I had made a 3d printed form based on the widest of my rolling luggage handles that the shop could use to make sure the strap would then pass over the handles. We even left a little slack in the added part so that the intact original strap could always take the load. Not exactly rocket science.
The test comes when you extend the handle of your luggage and lay the original strap on top. Likely, it will fall off, if not immediately, then when you are horsing the Aeronaut into place. When you slip my improved strap over the luggage handle, it slides down, but stays on top of the luggage. It is much easier to attach the Aeronaut, and the improved strap holds the Aeronaut more securely, with less shifting. When you detach the Aeronaut from the wheeled luggage, the strap stays in place on the handle extensions until you decide to remove it.
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TOM BIHN replied:
Hi Larry! Great to hear that you were able to find something to make the strap even better for you! Very intriguing concept. :)
Maxine - August 25, 2022
Hey Bihn crew! Can you confirm the lack of Halcyon liner throughout the main compartment ? Noticed it wasn’t listed in the changes above but the product photo on the nebulous grey/island shows interior ballistic where it’s been double lined before .
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TOM BIHN replied:
Hi Maxine! Good question! Truth be told—the original Aeronauts were never double lined—it only had one panel of the Halcyon there that has now changed to one panel of the exterior shell material for more durability. For the full lowdown, you can check out this explanation from Mike V. on our forum: https://forums.tombihn.com/forum/tom-bihn-forums/general-bag-discussion/332463-discussion-of-new-colors-new-designs?p=342061#post342061
JK - August 29, 2022
I’m happy to see the Aeronaut 30 back!
It looks like one of the weights listed for 525/630d is incorrect. The page says 2 lbs. 6 oz. or 1170 g, but 2 lbs. 6 oz. is actually 1077 g. Which is correct?