Bags are more than just practical accessories; they are keepsakes of our memories and experiences–companions in our daily adventures. Every scuff, tear, stain, and forgotten item tucked inside the innermost pocket tells a story of where they’ve been, and more importantly, where you’ve been.
From a dusty, old Synik 30 with crumpled school papers shoved into the creases to a brand new Techonaut 30 that is about to make its first plane ride, bags have a unique way of preserving memories and moments in time. Bags hold memories, both in the tangible objects they carry and in the emotions they evoke. They’re the unsung companions of life’s adventures.
At TOM BIHN, our bags are made to last a lifetime–there to see every moment, big and small. We have folks leave reviews saying that it’s more likely you’ll get tired of the bag before it breaks–it will be there with you throughout all of your adventures, whether you like it or not! All of our products have a lifetime warranty so that any mistakes on our end will be fixed without charge, ensuring that your bag will always be by your side.
Sometimes, it is the physical keepsakes within the bag that transport you back in time–an old concert ticket, a receipt from your first date, or a faded photograph of your childhood pets. And sometimes, it is the scuffs and stains that remind you of every adventure. The stain on the bottom? Maybe it came from the cobbled streets of Rome, where you set your bag down outside a bustling café, to have a moment of peace with your espresso and cornetto. The scuff on the handle? Maybe it came from when you were running through the airport, trying to get to the gate before the boarding doors closed. Or the loose threads along the zipper? Maybe it came from when the cat used it as a pillow, kneading too hard at the seams.
Other times, it’s the texture of the fabric–the rough texture of a Ballistic or the smooth sheen of Halcyon that evokes a sense of nostalgia and transports us back to another chapter of our lives. Perhaps it’s X-Pac that reminds you of last July’s wildflower hike at Mt. Rainier, or the crinkle of Cerlyon that evokes memories of sprinting through crunchy autumn leaves to the bus stop.
You never forget your first TOM BIHN bag. For me it was a Techonaut 45--Verde with an Acai interior. That bag has seen me through late-night flights and early-morning departures. It has been crammed into car trunks for road trips across the states, soaked in unexpected downpours while I walk home from a friend’s house, used as a makeshift container to keep my cap and gown unwrinkled for my college graduation, and stuffed so full I had to sit on it just to get the zipper closed.
With my Techonaut bag slung over my shoulder, I navigated the bustling streets of New York, dodging honking taxis and weaving through the maze of sidewalk food carts. My bag was packed with all the essentials for a week of unplanned adventures.
It’s been crammed with remnants of my childhood—a collection of well-loved stuffed animals, a stack of books–both read and unread, and my old Nintendo DS, its battery dead as I drove home from a family emergency.
This bag, which now lives under my bed alongside boxes of trinkets and shoes, reminds me of all of my adventures and accomplishments. In the grand scheme of things, two years of owning a bag is not a long time, but time moves fast. Every time I pull it out from under my bed, I dust it off, examine the faded baggage tag on the top handle, and stuff it again for my next adventure and do it all over again.
Our bags are made with durable and sustainable materials to ensure that they will be with you through every single moment. Whether it holds memories of a baby's delivery day or a child's first day of college, a TOM BIHN bag will be there for every moment in between.
Life is full of so many stories, and we are incredibly lucky to have our bags be part of any one of them.
Share your stories in the comments below! We'd love to hear about the moments in your life–big and small–where your TOM BIHN bag was by your side!
Cheers to many more memories!
Daniel - August 10, 2025
I fondly recall purchasing a Western Flyer at the factory store back in 2014, complete with the packing cube backpack. While the Pilot briefcase bag started my Tom Bihn journey, the Western Flyer has been with me on every trip – upwards of 60 flights per year, 600+ days living out of it, and over 1 million flight miles across 5 continents. The inside shows its age but the outside somehow still looks new. Amazingly, not a single component has failed, even with it packed to 120% capacity every trip. At this point, the bag is a core component of my adventures, and a trip wouldn’t feel right without taking it.
Sylvia - August 4, 2025
I was looking for the lightest bags I could bring to Spain, as I wanted to travel light to help my parents if needed. After conducting numerous internet searches and watching YouTube videos, I came across the Packing Cube Shoulder Bag. I got a Taiga one and immediately fell in love with the color, design, and its lightweight nature. I used it as a cross-body bag, and it held everything I needed most days, allowing me to worry only about sightseeing and enjoying a wonderful trip to various Spanish cities with my parents. I brought it with me to Europe a few months later, and it continued to perform wonderfully; however, I also realized I needed a larger backpack for when I needed to carry more. I came back home, and my TB journey started in full. While I love Ultraviolet and Original Black colors, as well as many other bags such as the Zeitgeist, the Smart Alec, the Daylight Backpack, the Bantam, among others, I continue to admire both Taiga and the simplicity of the PCSB.
Heather - August 4, 2025
My first bag was a Tristar, bought after my first solo trip with a baby. I realised that I needed a good rucksack to manage the pram as well as our luggage through the train trip to the airport. I’d been reduced to using an old student backpack belonging to my husband that first time.
Fortunately, my parents were visiting my godmother in the US that year, so I got her to take delivery and my folks to bring the Tristar home (plus, I think, a Freudian Slip, and a Small Cafe Bag)
The FS did excellent duty as an entertainment system for the kid for several years (books and colouring stuff, mostly). I’ve since added more bags and converted at least 3 other people, that I know of.
We got a Brain Bag after my husband managed to break one of the zips on his Synapse 19 by carrying and then fought over who would get to use it so much that I nearly bought another one. We are currently traveling with the Tristar and the Brain Bag, plus a Maker bag, Luminary 12, an Icon, and an Everyday Cubelet. And at least three pouches
Dear lord, I sound like I’m obsessed
Clayton Clearman - August 3, 2025
My first Tom Bihn purchase was the brain bag, and I’ve since purchased the 22 Liter in the same color (burnt orange). The wife and I travel as light as possible when we get gone. The bags have been game changers, and they look damn good too. Never before was I ever stopped and complimented walking through an airport. It’s happened multiple times because of these beauties. However that’s a side note. What we appreciate most is the functionality and quality of our Tom Bihn’s. They have a toughness that provides peace of mind. Keep going, y’all!
Gigi - August 2, 2025
My first Tom Bihn was a small travel tray. I live in Australia so I ordered my TT and had it sent to a friend in the states who I was going to be visiting. My TT arrived without issue but in the 6 weeks before my arrival my friend managed to misplace my little Tom Bihn, She had somehow forgotten that I had ordered it and added it to her donation pile of unwanted items. Thankfully the little TT was saved from the Goodwill at the last minute and I was able to use it as I had intended to as a small project bag for my knitting. It is the perfect size for socks, it can hold a couple of balls of yarn, some small needles, a thread cutter and miscellaneous notions.
My little TT has been on multiple planes, trains, and automobiles and even on a trans Pacific cruise, San Francisco to Sydney, and I have socks to show for nearly every trip.
Sadly, right before another big international trip, I left my little TT, filled with a brand new sock project, on a Queensland Rail train. When I finally accepted that I had done such a foolish thing I emailed the lost property department and waited to hear back. I told myself no one would actually steal knitting, I mean who would even know what to do with it? Alas, I had to go on my travels without my TT and the substitute bag and project were nothing but a frustrating reminder of my loss.
When I returned to Australia I called the lost property department hoping someone had turned my little TT in. Imagine my surprise when I was told it had been found! My little TT was returned to me (for the second time) 100% untouched, and thanks to the Tom Bihn quality and construction, nothing was damaged or disheveled. I couldn’t believe it. My faith in humanity, and destiny, had been restored and my socks, now referred to as my Lost Tom Bihn Socks, are one of my greatest treasures.
Daniel - August 10, 2025
I fondly recall purchasing a Western Flyer at the factory store back in 2014, complete with the packing cube backpack. While the Pilot briefcase bag started my Tom Bihn journey, the Western Flyer has been with me on every trip – upwards of 60 flights per year, 600+ days living out of it, and over 1 million flight miles across 5 continents. The inside shows its age but the outside somehow still looks new. Amazingly, not a single component has failed, even with it packed to 120% capacity every trip. At this point, the bag is a core component of my adventures, and a trip wouldn’t feel right without taking it.