Brain Bag vs. Tristar

[Carolina]

According to the website specs, the Brain Bag is actually a bit larger than the Tristar. But in the real world, has anyone ever tried using a Brain Bag instead of their Tristar. Does it actually hold the same amount of clothes, items, etc. ??? Thank you.

[KarlJ]

As a travel bag, I actually use my Brain Bag a little more than my TriStar. Yes, the Brain Bag will carry more... it simply has a larger capacity. Now whether you want a backpack or not is a different matter altogether as some people don't. And the layout is a different as you're spreading your items over two large compartments. It really just depends. Either works well for a weekend trip.

In the Brain Bag I will typically use one large and one small Aeronaut Packing Cube for clothing in one compartment along with a pair of shoes. A netbook, Snake Charmer, and Side Effect go into the other. A 3D Clear Organizer Cube sits up top so it can be taken out quickly at the airport for screening. Anything that I'd carry in my pockets is tossed in to the top compartment. I use a lot of organizer pouches, so anything that will fit into one does, and gets clipped inside the respective compartment.

On a recent weekend trip with my TriStar, it's usually the same; one large packing cube for clothes in the back compartment, and one small packing cube in the front divided compartment and a pair of shoes. 3D Clear Organizer, Side Effect, and netbook in the center compartment, with room to slip in a magazine or newspaper. Often, I do find I have room in the center to fit in organizer pouches holding a charger or cables, but if not I just tuck them into the TriStar's front horizontal compartments along with the phones, keys, wallet, etc.

[MtnMan]

So, is fair to say that the difference between a Tri-Star and a Brain Bag is "all in your head"? Sound a little like the difference between a "man bag" and a purse, as far as perceptions go.

The Tri-Star is presented as a carry-on-able suitcase, whereas the Brain Bag is simply a backpack that can double as a travel bag. So it's all perceptions.

One thing the Tri-Star, Aerostar and Westen Flyer can do that the Brain Bag can't do: attach a shoulder strap and carry the bag along your side for quick access without having to take the bag off.

[falconea]

According to the website specs, the Brain Bag is actually a bit larger than the Tristar. But in the real world, has anyone ever tried using a Brain Bag instead of their Tristar. Does it actually hold the same amount of clothes, items, etc. ??? Thank you.

The brain bag is definitely bigger. It doesn't suit the way I pack but it suits Mr Falconea perfectly, while he doesn't understand why I like my Tristar so much.

Mr Falconea puts his camera bag in the bottom of the front section, and his laptop in its brain cell in the back section along with clothes etc.

I pack my clothes in packing cubes (large items such as trousers with minimal folds in the large cube, and smaller stuff like underwear in the smaller cubes, and toss my netbook in a neoprene pouch into one side of the front section, and carry our (shared) sponge bag in the other side of the front section.

I hate rooting around in the bottom of a backpack to find things. Mr Falconea doesn't understand why I like to open my bag up flat and see what's in it. When doing short carry-on only trip he doesn't take spare trousers (or if he does they go in my big packing cube); I do take an extra pair ot two. On short trips neither of us carry spare shoes.

It all depends on your preference. Neither of us would be parted from our preferred travel bag!

And yes, I nearly always carry the Tristar as a backpack.

I hope this helps!

Audrey

[KarlJ]

So, is fair to say that the difference between a Tri-Star and a Brain Bag is "all in your head"? Sound a little like the difference between a "man bag" and a purse, as far as perceptions go.

I cannot for the life of me make a connection to that conclusion. Or any relevance since the original question was one of numbers, nothing more. The numbers say there is a difference in sizes. That has been confirmed by the fact as it exists (numbers don’t lie), as well as anecdotal experience by those with personal familiarity with both products.

The Tri-Star is presented as a carry-on-able suitcase, whereas the Brain Bag is simply a backpack that can double as a travel bag. So it's all perceptions.

Perhaps to you, but what’s the point? I think any of us who aren’t new to this accept the TriStar as the response to two of the more popular products of the type; the Red Oxx Air Boss and the original Patagonia MLC.

One thing the Tri-Star, Aerostar and Westen Flyer can do that the Brain Bag can't do: attach a shoulder strap and carry the bag along your side for quick access without having to take the bag off.

Again, is there a point here? Even though the Brain Bag is a backpack (which was never in dispute), doesn’t mean it can only be carried that way. I’d guess that seventy-percent of the time I sling my Brain Bag over one shoulder. I can access it just as quickly, if not quicker than any shoulder bag. If I’m carrying a short distance, I’m just as likely to use the top handle to carry it. This isn't rocket science. On the other hand, to this day neither my Aeronaut nor my TriStar have been carried in backpack mode. Each has an Absolute Strap and I use that, or use the top carry handles.

[RedBeard]

One thing the Aeronaut and TriStar have that the Brain Bag does not is side handles. I have found these invaluable for maneuvering my bags in and out of overhead compartments and under seats. It seems like a small thing, but having handles on three sides of the bag is a great design feature. I also like that the backpack straps on the Aeronaut and TriStar can be tucked away, making it easier to maneuver the bag in a cramped airplane aisle without thwacking people who are already seated.

I would rather carry two easily handled bags than one large unwieldy one, but that is just my preference. There is nothing wrong with using the larger bag if you prefer.

[Carolina]

Just got my Brain Bag in the mail---Good Lord, what a terrific bag!! It definitely holds more than my Tristar. It will now be my primary travel bag for personal travel, while I will use the Tristar for business travel!!!

[Darcy]

One thing the Aeronaut and TriStar have that the Brain Bag does not is side handles. I have found these invaluable for maneuvering my bags in and out of overhead compartments and under seats.

This is a great point. Note that the Aeronaut and Tri-Star are also made out of 1050d ballistic nylon, which is smoother and will assist you when pulling your bag out of an overhead compartment. Both bags are also designed to have the least amount of straps and other dangly things on the outside as possible so that they don't get caught under the seat or in the overhead, etc.