April 4, 2025

Bags Hold Memories

12 comments
Bags Hold Memories

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!

 

12 comments

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.

Ian - August 2, 2025

My first Tom Bihn bag was an early version of the Smart Alec. It’s proven a perfect size and configuration for trips to the beach, to work, to the grocery store, and as a personal item for many international flights, sitting at my feet on a new adventure. It’s held up extraordinarily well (although I did replace the black bungee with brighter colors) and become imprinted with many memories. I love that the new Smart Alec is out, with a luggage handle sleeve and laptop compartment; two things on my wish list. It may be enough to tempt me again.

John Scott - August 2, 2025

My Guide Bag with its side pockets has been crammed into numerous luggage racks and accompanied me on numerous hikes on Kaua’i and in Europe. Its only downside is that there is always room for something more, my Messenger bag goes with me everywhere that the pack does not and my camera lives in one of those nifty zipper bags. I am Tom Bihned to a fairtheewell.

Wendie Howland - August 2, 2025

My first Bihn bag, a smallish square black one just the right size for my iPad is still in use, complete with the care label that says, in French, “We are so sorry our President is such an idiot. We did not vote for him.” The bag, and the sentiment, are still as good as new.
My second Bihn bag is a big black and purple satchel with lots of internal pockets and convenient outside storage too. It has been with me for almost 30 years of working for others, starting my own company, and now retirement. Other than stuck external zipper it’s as good as new.
I have a small bag in brown that’s just big enough for my wallet and phone, and a big green one for my sewing and knitting when I’m not using it as a perfect weekender.
Guess I’m just a big Bihn bug.

Dave Nadal - August 2, 2025

I don’t even remember the model name, but my almost-25-year-old bag has been to Europe, Texas, Yosemite, the Redwoods, the PCH, up and down western Oregon, and all over Washington…in addition to being a daily commuter on Metro. It’s about due for another dry-cleaning, after which, it’ll look brand new again. The bag will easily outlive me!

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We're the TOM BIHN crew: we design bags, make bags, ship bags, and answer questions about bags. Oh, and we collaborate on blog posts, too.