Mouse over (or click) the squares above to see
colors and detail views.
The Empire Builder is the result of three years of product development
and 30 years of bag building experience. It is uniquely styled,
superbly functional, and built to endure years of abuse. The
asymmetrical front flap closes with a sturdy 2" side-release buckle and
has three pockets: a horizontal zippered pocket to fit DVDs or small
electronics; a vertical zippered pocket to provide quick access to a cell
phone; and a diagonal, open-top pocket for a plane ticket or any similarly
sized accessories you need quick access to. Under
the front flap, there is a large, zippered front pocket that extends almost the length of the bag
, and behind that pocket, a large pouch that features 3-D pockets for your PDA, cell
phone, and pens, plus a small plastic ring that offers a place
to attach either the key snap that will keep track of your keys for you or a
Tom Bihn Organizer Pouch (optional; order here). The rest of the pouch offers more open space
for you to store your gear.
The main compartment
unzips low on the sides, exposing a "bellows" that allows access to the
depths of the bag. The front, back, bottom, and sides are padded and
stiffened by 1/4" (6mm) closed-cell foam to protect contents and
maintain sharp looks.
Inside the main compartment, the Empire Builder
comes with three hard plastic file dividers that make organizing your
papers a snap, and keeps those important files from getting damaged.
The dividers stay put inside the bag, but are easily removed if you
don't want them. You can also order extra file dividers for even greater organization.
Also in the main compartment, you will find clips for the optional Brain
Cell laptop case, so you can turn the Empire Builder into a sophisticated
and highly protective laptop briefcase. The Brain Cell is available in eight different sizes
and provides the ultimate in laptop protection with soft, thick foam padding, hard, corrugated
plastic walls, and a suspension system. We recommend using our Laptop Bag Fit Guide to determine
which size of Brain Cell is right for your laptop.
The back of the Empire
Builder features a "roll-aboard" slot on the back that allows you to
safely stack the Empire Builder on top of roll-aboard luggage. The
slot zips shut at the bottom so it can be used as a pocket when you're not
using it to fit on a roll-aboard, plus there
are two small pockets on either side of the slot for a cell-phone or pens.
Did we mention the handles
yet? They are amazingly comfortable — constructed of Ballistic nylon
rolled around high-quality, 0.5" thick Poron® foam; they lie naturally
together at the top of the bag, so there's no fishing around for your
grip. Of course, you can always add the Absolute
Shoulder Strap when the load gets too heavy. The Absolute Shoulder Strap,
which combines a soft, durable neoprene pad with comfortable stretch backing,
has a unique patented internal control-stretch system that has given it a
well-earned reputation as the best shoulder strap available.
The Empire Builder is made out of 1050 denier ballistic nylon and 500 denier Cordura®,
and features #10 YKK Uretech® splash-proof zippers for the main compartment and exterior pockets.
A smaller version of the Empire Builder — the Zephyr — is also available.
1050 denier ballistic nylon and 500 denier Cordura®
Overall dimensions: 18.25" x 12.75" x 7" / 465 x 325 x 180mm
Weight: 3lb., 4.85 oz.
1700 cu.in. / 28 liters
#10 YKK Uretech® splash-proof zippers on main compartment and exterior pockets.
Features a "roll-aboard" slot on the back; when not in use, zips
shut and creates an extra pocket.
A smaller version of the Empire Builder — the Zephyr — is also
available.
Made in the TOM BIHN Factory in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.
