• visible variant TB0243-BKND^^The Ristretto in Black 525 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0243-BKND^^The Ristretto in Black 525 Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0243-GKLD^^The Ristretto in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) 525 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0243-GKLD^^The Ristretto in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) 525 Ballistic with Island (blue with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0243-DKND^^The Ristretto in Deep Blue (dark blue) 525 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0243-DKND^^The Ristretto in Deep Blue (dark blue) 525 Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0243-BBND^^The Ristretto in Black 1050 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0243-BBND^^The Ristretto in Black 1050 Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0243-VBSD TB0243-VBND^^The Ristretto in Verde (green) 1050 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0243-VBND^^The Ristretto in Verde (green) 1050 Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0243-SBID TB0243-SBND^^The Ristretto in Steel (medium grey) 1050 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0243-SBND^^The Ristretto in Steel (medium grey) 1050 Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0243-ABSD TB0243-ABND TB0243-ABWD^^The Ristretto in Aubergine (dark purple) 1050 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0243-ABWD^^The Ristretto in Aubergine (dark purple) 1050 Ballistic with Wasabi (green with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0243-NBUD TB0243-NBID^^The Ristretto in Navy (dark blue) 1050 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0243-NBUD^^The Ristretto in Navy (dark blue) 1050 Ballistic with Ultraviolet (purple with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0243-TBND^^The Ristretto in Burnt Orange 1050 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0243-TBND^^The Ristretto in Burnt Orange 1050 Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0243-CBND^^The Ristretto in Coyote (tan) 1050 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0243-CBND^^The Ristretto in Coyote (tan) 1050 Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • detail visible^^A filled Ristretto.
  • detail visible^^A filled Ristretto.
  • detail visible^^A close shot of a laptop in the padded sleeve of the Ristretto.
  • detail visible^^A magazine in the open-top back pocket.
  • detail visible^^A close shot of the d-ring shoulder strap attachment point.
  • visible video^^Thumbnail for a video showcasing the features of the Ristretto.
  • visible variant TB0243-BKND^^The Ristretto in Black 525 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0243-BKND^^The Ristretto in Black 525 Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0243-GKLD^^The Ristretto in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) 525 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0243-GKLD^^The Ristretto in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) 525 Ballistic with Island (blue with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0243-DKND^^The Ristretto in Deep Blue (dark blue) 525 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0243-DKND^^The Ristretto in Deep Blue (dark blue) 525 Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0243-BBND^^The Ristretto in Black 1050 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0243-BBND^^The Ristretto in Black 1050 Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0243-VBSD TB0243-VBND^^The Ristretto in Verde (green) 1050 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0243-VBND^^The Ristretto in Verde (green) 1050 Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0243-SBID TB0243-SBND^^The Ristretto in Steel (medium grey) 1050 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0243-SBND^^The Ristretto in Steel (medium grey) 1050 Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0243-ABSD TB0243-ABND TB0243-ABWD^^The Ristretto in Aubergine (dark purple) 1050 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0243-ABWD^^The Ristretto in Aubergine (dark purple) 1050 Ballistic with Wasabi (green with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0243-NBUD TB0243-NBID^^The Ristretto in Navy (dark blue) 1050 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0243-NBUD^^The Ristretto in Navy (dark blue) 1050 Ballistic with Ultraviolet (purple with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0243-TBND^^The Ristretto in Burnt Orange 1050 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0243-TBND^^The Ristretto in Burnt Orange 1050 Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0243-CBND^^The Ristretto in Coyote (tan) 1050 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0243-CBND^^The Ristretto in Coyote (tan) 1050 Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • detail visible^^A filled Ristretto.
  • detail visible^^A filled Ristretto.
  • detail visible^^A close shot of a laptop in the padded sleeve of the Ristretto.
  • detail visible^^A magazine in the open-top back pocket.
  • detail visible^^A close shot of the d-ring shoulder strap attachment point.
  • visible video^^Thumbnail for a video showcasing the features of the Ristretto.
(17 Reviews)

Ristretto

$160

What Goes Into A TOM BIHN Backpack?

Each backpack is handmade in Seattle using premium, hard-wearing materials—and built to last a lifetime, guaranteed. You're not just buying a bag, you're investing in decades of thoughtful design, durable function, and responsible craftsmanship.

Color & Material

Exterior Color: Black
Interior Color: Northwest Sky
Material: 525 Ballistic
Material: 200 Halcyon

We've retired the Ristretto so we can focus our efforts on other projects. You can sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of the page to receive updates on what we're working on next!

Ristretto

Reviews

5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
Based on 17 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 17 Total 4 star reviews: 0 Total 3 star reviews: 0 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
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17 reviews
  • RA
    Robert A S.
    4 years ago
    Reviewing
    Ristretto
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Disappointed

    Disappointed that this was retired. Would have purchased one as it looks like it would meet all of my needs.

    Is there any extra stock leftover?

    How similar would this be to a Medium Cafe Bag with Freudian Slip and Cache for an iPad 11?

    Cheers

    Was this helpful?
  • AC
    Aaron C.
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Good Storage Size, Unique
    2 years ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Good Storage Size, Unique
    Reviewing
    Ristretto
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Please bring back

    I’ve used my Ristretto for over 10 years. It’s it still hands down the best laptop bag I have ever owned. With the world going back to the office I came here to spoil myself with a new bag and alas it is discontinued. Please bring this or a similar sized vertical messenger with a built in laptop sleeve back. This is THE bag that got me into Tom Bihn and I now have a dozen bags and organizer pouches of all kinds.

    Was this helpful?
  • JD Profile picture for Jason D.google logo
    Jason D.
    Verified Reviewer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, High Quality Craftsmanship, Compact, Durable
    2 years ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, High Quality Craftsmanship, Compact, Durable
    Reviewing
    Ristretto
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Reliable bag - please bring back

    Bought this back in 2013 and have used as my everyday carry bag since. Lug my laptop, lunch, notebooks and more in this. Is fantastic for public transport as sits vertically and can sit under your arm. Easy to move through crowds than horizontal bad.

    Has served extremely well. As you would expect, after 10 years of dedicated service, some parts are now starting to wear. The fabric itself is sound, the webbing and fittings are the sites of wear - absolute strap in particular has stretched and the swivel has worn at the swivel such I am concerned it will break on a commute. That being said it is 10 years old with everyday use.

    Came looking to get a replacement and a change in colour from my purple and have found to be discontinued :(

    Please bring back!

    Was this helpful?
  • F
    Fraser
    Verified Reviewer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Durable
    2 years ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Durable
    Reviewing
    Ristretto
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    15 Years going strong

    I have used this bag daily for fifteen years, it shows almost no signs of wear, the zippers, the stitching, the clips are all still perfect, the swivel joint on the strap failed just recently but that's the only think that I've ever had a problem with. It has outlasted over ten MacBooks and still looks great. I cannot recommend this enough.

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    TB Profile picture for TOM BIHN
    TOM BIHN
    2 years ago

    Wow! That is amazing, thank you for sharing this with us.

  • YB Profile picture for Yitzack b.google logo
    Yitzack b.
    Verified Reviewer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Durable, Good Storage Size
    1 year ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Durable, Good Storage Size
    Reviewing
    Ristretto
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    WHY "retire" this wonderful bag?

    I have had two Ristretto bags over the last 15 years, and absolutely loved them. The new "Co-pilot" and "Cafe" bags are, IMO, far inferior. I honestly don't understand why Tom Bihn retired this wonderful, wonderful bag.

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Quality Designs Since 1972

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We stand behind every bag we make. If it’s our fault, we’ll fix it—no questions asked. For everything else, we offer honest repairs in our Seattle factory.