A Western Flyer in Navy 1050 Ballistic. A Western Flyer in Navy (blue) 1050 Ballistic with an Northwest Sky (grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Western Flyer in Deep Blue (dark blue) 525 Ballistic. A Western Flyer in Deep Blue (dark blue) 525 Ballistic with an Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon exterior. A Western Flyer in Coyote (brown) 1050 Ballistic. A Western Flyer in Coyote (brown) 1050 Ballistic with an Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Western Flyer in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) 525 Ballistic. A Western Flyer in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) 525 Ballistic with an Island (blue with white grid) 200 Halcyon exterior. A Western Flyer in Burnt Orange 1050 Ballistic. A Western Flyer in Burnt Orange 1050 Ballistic with an Steel (dark grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Western Flyer in Navy (blue) 1050 Ballistic with an Ultraviolet (purple with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Western Flyer in Navy (blue) 1050 Ballistic with an Wasabi (green with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Western Flyer in Aubergine (purple) 1050 Ballistic. A Western Flyer in Aubergine (purple) 1050 Ballistic with an Wasabi (green with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Western Flyer in Black 1050 Ballistic. A Western Flyer in Black 1050 Ballistic with an Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Western Flyer in Black 1050 Ballistic. A Western Flyer in Black 1050 Ballistic with an Wasabi (green with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Western Flyer in Black 1050 Ballistic with an Island (blue with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Western Flyer in Verde (green) 1050 Ballistic. A Western Flyer in Verde (green) 1050 Ballistic with an Ultraviolet (purple with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Western Flyer in Original (black with white grid) 400 Halcyon. A Western Flyer in Original (black with white grid) 400 Halcyon with an Ultraviolet (purple with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Western Flyer in Original (black with white grid) 400 Halcyon with an Wasabi (green with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Western Flyer in Black (black with grey grid) 400 Halcyon. A Western Flyer in Black (black with grey grid) 400 Halcyon with an Island (blue with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Western Flyer in Black 525 Ballistic. A Western Flyer in Black 525 Ballistic with an Island (blue with white grid) 200 Halcyon exterior. A Western Flyer in Black 525 Ballistic with an Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon exterior. A Western Flyer in Steel (grey) 1050 Ballistic. A Western Flyer in Mars Red 525 Ballistic. A Western Flyer in Mars Red 525 Ballistic with an Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon exterior.
Add to wishlist

$273.00


Color: Navy 1050 Ballistic/Northwest Sky 200 Halcyon

Two-compartment carry-on travel bag with zip-away backpack straps.

26 liters / 1600 cu. in.

TLDR

The Western Flyer is a three-way carry travel bag designed with the super organized, minimalist business traveler in mind. It is the smallest of our main carry-on travel bag options behind the Tri-Star, Aeronaut, and Techonaut

  • 2 main compartments of equal size and 6 O-rings
  • 3 exterior pockets in the front panel
  • Carry as a briefcase, backpack, or shoulder bag
  • Personal item carry-on friendly for most airlines

Full Description

Two Main Compartments

The Western Flyer has two main compartments of equal size. The front compartment has 2 O-rings and a vertical divider that zips out of the way if it's not wanted. We recommend storing your clothes in a Western Flyer Packing Cube which is designed to fit in these compartments. Either half of the divided front compartment can fit a pair of shoes in a Packing Cube Shoulder Bag. The undivided back compartment also has 2 O-rings and is an ideal place to store your laptop in a Cache

3 Front Exterior Organizational Pockets

On the left are two horizontal zippered pockets with an O-ring in each. One of the O-rings includes an 8" Key Strap, which is useful for tethering and keeping track of your keys or your AirPods. On the other O-ring, you can attach our Mystery Organizer Pouches or Ghost Whale Organizer Pouches. The top zippered pocket spans the full height of the bag and the bottom pocket goes about halfway.

On the right is a curved zippered pocket that is useful for storing a boarding pass when unzipped partially. Unzip it entirely, it's an expandable water bottle pocket. The bellows that make the pocket expandable can be snapped up so your water bottle doesn't fall out, or unsnapped to allow greater access to the pocket. 

Ways to Carry the Western Flyer

Backpack

Want to carry the Western Flyer like a backpack? Untuck the hideaway backpack straps (same as those on our Aeronaut and Tri-Star) from the back compartment and snap on the bottom of the straps. They're our Edgeless Shoulder Straps and feature a 3/4" removable sternum strap and an optional (not included with this bag) 1" removable gatekeeper waist strap. Both the sternum and waist straps are simple webbing straps designed to help distribute weight and stabilize the bag to your body. 

Shoulder Bag

The attachment points for an optional shoulder strap are offset on the Western Flyer to provide the best balance and comfort, should you carry the bag with a shoulder strap. We recommend using the Absolute Shoulder Strap with the Western Flyer if comfort is your primary concern. You also have the option of using any shoulder strap you already have that attaches to D-rings. 

Briefcase

A single comfortable, padded handle made from PORON® foam sits directly above the center of gravity for maximum comfort, stability, and balance.

What's Included

8" Snaphook/Snaphook Key Strap

As with most of our bags, we've included a key strap. 8" long from tip-to-tip, a snaphook on either end. Good for attaching your keys to.

Cord Zipper Pulls

A set of pulls to extend, quiet, or replace your metal pulls.

What's Optional

Absolute Shoulder Strap

Upgrade from the included 1.5" strap to an Absolute Shoulder Strap if you anticipate carrying a heavy load. 

Western Flyer Packing Cube

We recommend organizing your clothes and shoes in a Western Flyer Packing Cube. Cinch it down with the included tie-down straps for extra security.

Packing Cube Shoulder Bag

You can also store your shoes in a Packing Cube Shoulder Bag and store it on either half of the divided compartment. The Packing Cube Shoulder Bag will fit up to a size 12 in men's.

Freudian Slip

Love organizing and want even more pockets? The Tri-Star/Western Flyer Freudian Slip adds an additional eleven organizational pockets to your bag. One side of the Freudian Slip has two folder pockets that can fit folders/papers horizontally or vertically. The other side has two flat zippered pockets, four pen slots, two pockets sized for your wallet or phone, and a credit card slot. 

Cache

The Western Flyer can accommodate a wide range of devices. If you plan on putting a laptop or smaller tablet in the interior banded open-top pocket, we recommend adding a Cache

The Western Flyer has two main compartments of equal size. The front compartment has 2 O-rings and a vertical divider that zips out of the way if it's not wanted. We recommend storing your clothes in a Western Flyer Packing Cube which is designed to fit in these compartments. Either half of the divided front compartment can fit a pair of shoes in a Packing Cube Shoulder Bag. The undivided back compartment also has 2 O-rings and is an ideal place to store your laptop in a Cache

On the left are two horizontal zippered pockets with an O-ring in each. One of the O-rings includes an 8" Key Strap, which is useful for tethering and keeping track of your keys or your AirPods. On the other O-ring, you can attach our Mystery Organizer Pouches or Ghost Whale Organizer Pouches. The top zippered pocket spans the full height of the bag and the bottom pocket goes about halfway.

On the right is a curved zippered pocket that is useful for storing a boarding pass when unzipped partially. Unzip it entirely, it's an expandable water bottle pocket. The bellows that make the pocket expandable can be snapped up so your water bottle doesn't fall out, or unsnapped to allow greater access to the pocket. 

Backpack

Want to carry the Western Flyer like a backpack? Untuck the hideaway backpack straps (same as those on our Aeronaut and Tri-Star) from the back compartment and snap on the bottom of the straps. They're our Edgeless Shoulder Straps and feature a 3/4" removable sternum strap and an optional (not included with this bag) 1" removable gatekeeper waist strap. Both the sternum and waist straps are simple webbing straps designed to help distribute weight and stabilize the bag to your body. 

Shoulder Bag

The attachment points for an optional shoulder strap are offset on the Western Flyer to provide the best balance and comfort, should you carry the bag with a shoulder strap. We recommend using the Absolute Shoulder Strap with the Western Flyer if comfort is your primary concern. You also have the option of using any shoulder strap you already have that attaches to D-rings. 

Briefcase

A single comfortable, padded handle made from PORON® foam sits directly above the center of gravity for maximum comfort, stability, and balance.

8" Snaphook/Snaphook Key Strap

As with most of our bags, we've included a key strap. 8" long from tip-to-tip, a snaphook on either end. Good for attaching your keys to.

Cord Zipper Pulls

A set of pulls to extend, quiet, or replace your metal pulls.

Absolute Shoulder Strap

Upgrade from the included 1.5" strap to an Absolute Shoulder Strap if you anticipate carrying a heavy load. 

Western Flyer Packing Cube

We recommend organizing your clothes and shoes in a Western Flyer Packing Cube. Cinch it down with the included tie-down straps for extra security.

Packing Cube Shoulder Bag

You can also store your shoes in a Packing Cube Shoulder Bag and store it on either half of the divided compartment. The Packing Cube Shoulder Bag will fit up to a size 12 in men's.

Freudian Slip

Love organizing and want even more pockets? The Tri-Star/Western Flyer Freudian Slip adds an additional eleven organizational pockets to your bag. One side of the Freudian Slip has two folder pockets that can fit folders/papers horizontally or vertically. The other side has two flat zippered pockets, four pen slots, two pockets sized for your wallet or phone, and a credit card slot. 

Cache

The Western Flyer can accommodate a wide range of devices. If you plan on putting a laptop or smaller tablet in the interior banded open-top pocket, we recommend adding a Cache

Materials

Zippers

#10 YKK Racquet-Coil water-repellent zippers with lockable sliders on main compartments
#8 YKK Racquet-Coil water-repellent zippers on face pockets

Shoulder Straps

Edgeless EV50 1/2” / 12mm shoulder straps (EVAZOTE® OEKO-TEX® foam)

Handle

PORON® foam handle

Other Components

Tough Duraflex®, Nexus, and Woojin buckles and related components

Specs

Dimensions

17.9" (w) x 12" (h) x 7.1" (d) / 455 (w) x 305 (h) x 180 (d) mm

Weight

1050d high tenacity ballistic nylon: 2 lb 10 oz / 1200 grams
525d high tenacity ballistic nylon: 2 lb 8 oz / 1130 grams

Volume

26 liters / 1600 cu. in. (ASTM Standard Measure)

Total O-Rings

6 (2 in the front main compartment, 2 in the back main compartment, 1 in the top front zippered pocket, 1 in the bottom front zippered pocket)

4.8
Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
Based on 24 reviews
100%would recommend this product
24 reviews
  • Mark
    Verified Reviewer
    Bought For Myself
    7 months ago
    Bought For Myself
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    TB: The cure for bad bags. WF is outstanding.

    Next time you’re out, watch how often people struggle with packs, bags, purses, luggage. TB ain’t like that. My prior experience with TB products has been great—stylish but discreet, comfortable, and functional as heck. Tough and precise even in the details where truth is found: high quality fabrics, thread, nylon, zips, clips, foam, grommets, snaps, etc., and careful assembly so it won’t break or disintegrate with use. The WF is as great as the TriStar, just smaller. I use one or both of the very comfortable backpack straps to carry it a distance, then take 10 seconds to tuck them away before entering transportation or buildings. Backpack in the open, handheld in close spaces. The top or end handles are great to smoothly sling into storage bins or to place on a table. No humiliating roller carry-on struggles, no sloppiness of unstructured bags, no snaggables on the outside. Internal O-rings—brilliant idea, strong materials. I rarely use the water-bottle pocket, but for some reason am glad it’s there. I removed the exterior label and replaced the metal zipper pulls with dark paracord and the great TB nylon ends. One bright contrasting paracord pull on the waterbottle zip helps you find your bag, helps someone find you, and you can tuck it out of sight. I recommend 1050 or ballistic nylon to keep shape with large or small load. When my bags get dirty, I soak them in a sink with some Tide, rinse, then spray the outside with a garden hose. Still look new.

  • Greg H.
    Verified Buyer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, High Quality Craftsmanship, Compact, Versatile, Made in USA
    2 years ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, High Quality Craftsmanship, Compact, Versatile, Made in USA
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    This Bag Rules the Skies, Rails, & Roads

    The Western Flyer has become my favorite go-to bag for one bag travel. Mine is Ballistic Nebulous Gray/Halcyon Island. So far, it has handled 5-day, 7-day, and 9-day trips, on planes, trains, and automobiles. No kidding. The most recent was a combo trip on which I flew from California to Chicago [on a pizza mission], stayed for a few days there, and then took the California Zephyr back home. Even in a full sleeper compartment, the train is not flush with storage space, but the WF plus TB-fitted packing cubes was perfect. Here’s what went into the WF on this past trip, with room to spare:

    1. Western Flyer packing cube containing all shirts, underwear & socks, and one pair pants [all Merino wool]

    2. TriStar small packing cube containing Montbell rain shell and Patagonia NanoLoft jacket

    Earthrunner Elemental Sandals [in disposable shower caps for dirt isolation][

    3. Pack Towl [original]

    4. Laundry Bag [which I never seem to use]

    5. Eagle Creek Spectre dop kit [includes several non-toiletries, like clothesline, laundry detergent, corkscrew, no-knife Leatherman]

    6. Tom Bihn Clear Organizer as my 311 [though TSA pre-check generally avoids need]

    7. Tom Bihn Packing Cube Shoulder Bag holding snacks, teabags, collapsible water bottle, Merino Buff, playing cards, Ghost Whale Organizer for charger & cables, small playing cards, lens shade for iPhone, Bose QC noise canceling ear buds [for non-AirPod systems]

    8. iPad Air + Magic Keyboard [a bit of a luxury, because of all the time on…

  • hpy
    Verified Reviewer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Comfortable, Compact, Versatile, High Quality Craftsmanship, Durable
    1 year ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Comfortable, Compact, Versatile, High Quality Craftsmanship, Durable
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Love it.

    I have owned my Black Halcyon Western Flyer since the fall of 2019. It is a well made, functional, and versatile piece of luggage. It can serve as a main travel bag, a personal item to accompany another bag if not overstuffed, or even a briefcase, albeit a large one.

    My typical use for the bag is as a main bag for trips lasting up to a week. For the sake of reference I am a 5'8" man and my wardrobe doesn't vary too much during the course of a trip. I try to travel with a single pair of shoes (Size 11) if possible. Bringing multiple shoes with the packing list described below usually means another larger travel bag or a car trip where the shoes can just hang out in the car and not in the luggage. I usually bring along a TB Daylight Briefcase for tech stuff, etc. so I don't need any room in the Western Flyer for that.

    In the large main compartment I put 2-3 pairs of jeans/pants/shorts plus 4-6 lightweight (e.g. broadcloth) button front shirts. The shirts are bundle wrapped and all is placed inside a Halcyon TB Daylight Backpack which does double duty as a packing cube while in transit and day pack when out and about sightseeing, etc. during the trip.

    In one side of the split main compartment, I put socks, underwear, t shirts, etc. Inside a Halcyon TB Shoulder Bag Packing Cube. I have never used this as a shoulder bag, but I could see it providing some additional organization for the Daylight Backpack.

    I also have some REI expandable packing cubes approximately the same…

  • Dani M.
    3 years ago
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    My favorite travel bag!

    I love the Western Flyer! This is my absolute favorite bag for business or short trip travel. It's compact, fits plenty for me for a 3-4 day business trip (including shoes, a computer, and a hair dryer!), and fits under the seat in front of you on an airplane. Fits on the overhead compartment of even small regional flights also. I also find it very comfortable to carry, I always use the backpack mode. I use a packing envelope from eagle creek in the back compartment, and that works perfectly for all my business clothes, plus the 15in laptop I can usually add a curling iron, comb, and sonicare toothbrush there too (long skinny things, basically). The front compartment is used for shoes, hair dryer, toiletries, etc. I often add my kindle in the large front pocket. Husband also loves to borrow this bag for short trips. I also own an aeronaut45, but use it mostly for longer trips with the family, and use that to pack my stuff plus my toddler's.

  • Eric M.
    Verified Buyer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, High Quality Finishings, Sewn in USA, High Quality Craftsmanship, Versatile
    1 year ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, High Quality Finishings, Sewn in USA, High Quality Craftsmanship, Versatile
    Rated 4 out of 5 stars
    Almost Perfect

    The build quality on this bag is simply amazing (like all Tom Bihn products) and will be a trusty companion for years to come. The zippered front compartment is extremely useful to separate my items, and like how perfectly the small Western Flyer packing cubes fit on each side of the zippered sections. This will be perfect for me if I am taking a 1 to 2 day business trip, or if I need a little extra room and need an extra bag. The only reason I didn't give the bag 5 stars is the lack of a dedicated laptop compartment. Having to use the cache to hold my laptop isn't ideal. These days most people travel with laptops even when going on vacation and not having a dedicated spot is a really big miss in my opinion. The biggest selling point for me was the size and being able to easily fit it under an airplane seat, along with the versatility to carry it as a backpack or over the shoulder. Overall I am very impressed with the Western Flyer and will be using it for years to come.

Reviews LoadedReviews Added
Lifetime guarantee image

Sewn in Seattle

Our bags are designed and sewn right here in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.

That allows us to be control freaks in the best way possible; we have direct control and oversight of the quality of our materials, our products, and the jobs and working environment that we help create. It also offers us a unique spontaneity: when we have an idea for a new product or accessory, we can design it, figure out how to build it, add it to our website and be ready to ship it out our front door all within just a few weeks. How cool is that?

Intrigued? You can find out more about the unusual way we do business on our Company Philosophy page.

THE BIHN Guarantee

Everything you buy from us here at TOM BIHN is satisfaction guaranteed. We’ve been in business since 1972 and we stand behind what we make.

If something goes wrong and it's our fault, we'll fix it for free. Repairs due to normal wear and tear or due to other things that are not our fault will be performed, when possible, at a reasonable charge right here in our Seattle factory where your bag was made. Defects in materials or workmanship are uncommon and almost always evident while the product is still new. Keep in mind that bags and packs are often subject to extreme wear in everyday use: do not expect them to last forever. Only true love lasts forever! You can expect a TOM BIHN product to give years and years of hard service.

Ready to Grab
the Western Flyer?

Add To Cart