• visible variant TB0906-TBGL TB0906-TBND^^A Burnt Orange 1050 Ballistic Aeronaut 45.
  • visible variant TB0906-TBND^^A Burnt Orange 1050 Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Northwest Sky (light-grey) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-CBND TB0906-CBZD^^Aeronaut 45 in Coyote 1050 Ballistic
  • visible variant TB0906-CBND^^Aeronaut 45 in Coyote 1050 Ballistic with a Northwest Sky 200 Halcyon interior
  • visible variant TB0906-CBZD^^Aeronaut 45 in Coyote 1050 Ballistic with a Zest 200 Halcyon interior
  • visible variant TB0906-WKLD^^A Wilderness (forest green) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with a colorful label.
  • visible variant TB0906-WKLD^^A Wilderness (forest green) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with an Island (blue) Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-DKYD^^A Deep Blue (navy blue) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with a Wisteria (pale purple with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-DKML^^A Deep Blue (navy blue) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with a Moss 210 Cerylon interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-DKGL^^A Deep Blue (navy blue) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with a Mountain Grey 210 Cerylon interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-DKZD^^A Deep Blue (navy blue) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with a Zest 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-DKKD TB0906-DKML TB0906-DKGL TB0906-DKOD TB0906-DKYD^^A Deep Blue (navy blue) Ballistic Aeronaut 45.
  • visible variant TB0906-UKGL TB0906-UKYD^^Aeronaut 45 in Aubergine Ballistic
  • visible variant TB0906-UKYD^^An Aeronaut 45 in Aubergine Ballistic with Wisteria 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-UKND^^Aeronaut 45 in Aubergine Ballistic in Northwest Sky 200 Halcyon
  • visible variant TB0906-UKGL^^Aeronaut 45 in Aubergine Ballistic in Mountain Grey 210 Cerylon
  • visible variant TB0906-BKPL TB0906-BK4D TB0906-BK5D TB0906-BKLD^^A Black Ballistic Aeronaut 45.
  • visible variant TB0906-BK5D^^A Black Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Acai (purple) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-BK4D^^A Black Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Sakura (pale pink) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-BKLD^^A Black Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Island (bright blue) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-BKPL^^A Black Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Persimmon (dark orange) Cerylon.
  • visible variant TB0906-BKND TB0906-BBND^^A Black Ballistic Aeronaut 45
  • visible variant TB0906-BKND TB0906-BBND^^A Black Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the End Pocket open showing the Northwest Sky (light-grey) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-RKND TB0906-RKFD TB0906-RKGL^^A Ursa (greyish brown) Ballistic Aeronaut 45.
  • visible variant TB0906-RKND^^Aeronaut 45 in Ursa Ballistic with Northwest Sky 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-RKYD^^Aeronaut 45 in Ursa Ballistic with Wisteria 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-NKGL TB0906-NKND^^A Constellation (light blue) Ballistic Aeronaut 45.
  • visible variant TB0906-NKND^^A Constellation (light blue) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Northwest Sky (light-grey) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-GKPL TB0906-GKPD TB0906-GKLD TB0906-GKFD TB0906-GKZD^^A Nebulous Grey (medium grey) Ballistic Aeronaut 45.
  • visible variant TB0906-GKZD^^A Nebulous Grey (medium grey) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Zest (orange) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-GK4D^^A Nebulous Grey (medium grey) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Sakura (pale pink) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-GKPL^^A Nebulous Grey (medium grey) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Persimmon (orange) Cerylon.
  • visible variant TB0906-GKPD^^A Nebulous Grey (medium grey) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Cerise (pink) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-GKLD^^A Nebulous Grey (medium grey) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Island (blue) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-ABND^^An Aeronaut 45 in Aubergine 1050 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0906-ABND^^An Aeronaut 45 in Aubergine 1050 Ballistic with Northwest Sky 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-MKZD^^A Mars Red (brick red) Ballistic Aeronaut 45
  • visible variant TB0906-MKZD^^A Mars Red (brick red) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Zest (orange) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-VK5D^^A Saguaro (olive green) Ballistic Aeronaut 45.
  • visible variant TB0906-VK5D^^A Saguaro (olive green) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with an Acai (dark purple) interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-PKDL^^A Raspberry (reddish-purple) Ballistic Aeronaut 45.
  • visible variant TB0906-PKDL^^A Raspberry (reddish-purple) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with a Dusk (dark bluish-purple) interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-BTZD^^A Black 420 Spectron Aeronaut 45.
  • visible variant TB0906-BTZD^^A Black 420 Spectron Aeronaut 45 with Zest 200 Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-TKND^^Aeronaut 45 in Burnt Orange Ballistic
  • visible variant TB0906-TKND^^Aeronaut 45 in Burnt Orange Ballistic with NW Sky 200 Halcyon interior
  • ^^New color combination, photos coming soon.
  • detail visible^^Back panel of the Aeronaut
  • detail visible^^Back panel of the Aeronaut with backpack straps out
  • detail visible^^Locking zippers
  • Aeronaut 45
  • Aeronaut 45
  • Aeronaut 45
  • detail visible^^Features of the main compartment
  • detail visible^^Zippers in main compartment for main panel
  • visible detail
  • visible detail
  • visible detail
  • visible detail
  • Aeronaut 45
  • Aeronaut 45
  • detail visible^^The Aeronaut 45 has grab handles on either end as well as zippered end pockets.
  • detail visible^^The slash or end pocket has a single zipper pull is placed on a bias starting at the top of the bag and extending toward the center where the grab handle is as it unzips.
  • ^^There are side pockets on either side. They are each about an eighth of the total volume of the bag.
  • detail visible^^The o-rings are plastic rings that are hung or held in place by a loop of webbing sewn into the seam of the bag.
  • detail visible^^The end pocket/slash zipper is a smaller #8 zipper compared to the other #10 zippers.
  • detail visible^^Each of the side pockets and the main pocket have two zipper pulls that come together with rings at the end that a luggage lock can be slipped through to keep your bag locked closed.
  • ^^The label of the bag is offset to the right near the bottom of the main pocket's fabric lid. It features a red Farman Jaribu plane over a cityscape and the words "Portable Culture" embroidered near the bottom.
  • ^^The main compartment and side pockets have locking zippers.
  • ^^A standard TSA-compliant lock fits through the rings in the locking zipper.
  • lifestyle visible^^Person carrying an Aeronaut 45 sitting on the wall at the Venice Beach, CA boardwalk.
  • lifestyle visible^^Person carrying an Aeronaut 45 walking along the Venice Beach, CA boardwalk.
  • lifestyle visible^^Person carrying an Aeronaut 45 sitting on the wall at the Venice Beach, CA boardwalk.
  • lifestyle visible^^An Aeronaut 45 leaning against a wall on a sandy beach
  • lifestyle visible^^Person carrying an Aeronaut 45 as a backpack.
  • ^^People of different shapes and sizes from 5'1" to 6'4" wearing an Aeronaut 45 on their back.
  • visible variant TB0906-TBGL TB0906-TBND^^A Burnt Orange 1050 Ballistic Aeronaut 45.
  • visible variant TB0906-TBND^^A Burnt Orange 1050 Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Northwest Sky (light-grey) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-CBND TB0906-CBZD^^Aeronaut 45 in Coyote 1050 Ballistic
  • visible variant TB0906-CBND^^Aeronaut 45 in Coyote 1050 Ballistic with a Northwest Sky 200 Halcyon interior
  • visible variant TB0906-CBZD^^Aeronaut 45 in Coyote 1050 Ballistic with a Zest 200 Halcyon interior
  • visible variant TB0906-WKLD^^A Wilderness (forest green) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with a colorful label.
  • visible variant TB0906-WKLD^^A Wilderness (forest green) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with an Island (blue) Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-DKYD^^A Deep Blue (navy blue) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with a Wisteria (pale purple with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-DKML^^A Deep Blue (navy blue) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with a Moss 210 Cerylon interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-DKGL^^A Deep Blue (navy blue) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with a Mountain Grey 210 Cerylon interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-DKZD^^A Deep Blue (navy blue) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with a Zest 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-DKKD TB0906-DKML TB0906-DKGL TB0906-DKOD TB0906-DKYD^^A Deep Blue (navy blue) Ballistic Aeronaut 45.
  • visible variant TB0906-UKGL TB0906-UKYD^^Aeronaut 45 in Aubergine Ballistic
  • visible variant TB0906-UKYD^^An Aeronaut 45 in Aubergine Ballistic with Wisteria 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-UKND^^Aeronaut 45 in Aubergine Ballistic in Northwest Sky 200 Halcyon
  • visible variant TB0906-UKGL^^Aeronaut 45 in Aubergine Ballistic in Mountain Grey 210 Cerylon
  • visible variant TB0906-BKPL TB0906-BK4D TB0906-BK5D TB0906-BKLD^^A Black Ballistic Aeronaut 45.
  • visible variant TB0906-BK5D^^A Black Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Acai (purple) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-BK4D^^A Black Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Sakura (pale pink) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-BKLD^^A Black Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Island (bright blue) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-BKPL^^A Black Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Persimmon (dark orange) Cerylon.
  • visible variant TB0906-BKND TB0906-BBND^^A Black Ballistic Aeronaut 45
  • visible variant TB0906-BKND TB0906-BBND^^A Black Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the End Pocket open showing the Northwest Sky (light-grey) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-RKND TB0906-RKFD TB0906-RKGL^^A Ursa (greyish brown) Ballistic Aeronaut 45.
  • visible variant TB0906-RKND^^Aeronaut 45 in Ursa Ballistic with Northwest Sky 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-RKYD^^Aeronaut 45 in Ursa Ballistic with Wisteria 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-NKGL TB0906-NKND^^A Constellation (light blue) Ballistic Aeronaut 45.
  • visible variant TB0906-NKND^^A Constellation (light blue) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Northwest Sky (light-grey) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-GKPL TB0906-GKPD TB0906-GKLD TB0906-GKFD TB0906-GKZD^^A Nebulous Grey (medium grey) Ballistic Aeronaut 45.
  • visible variant TB0906-GKZD^^A Nebulous Grey (medium grey) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Zest (orange) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-GK4D^^A Nebulous Grey (medium grey) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Sakura (pale pink) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-GKPL^^A Nebulous Grey (medium grey) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Persimmon (orange) Cerylon.
  • visible variant TB0906-GKPD^^A Nebulous Grey (medium grey) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Cerise (pink) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-GKLD^^A Nebulous Grey (medium grey) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Island (blue) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-ABND^^An Aeronaut 45 in Aubergine 1050 Ballistic.
  • visible variant TB0906-ABND^^An Aeronaut 45 in Aubergine 1050 Ballistic with Northwest Sky 200 Halcyon interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-MKZD^^A Mars Red (brick red) Ballistic Aeronaut 45
  • visible variant TB0906-MKZD^^A Mars Red (brick red) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with the end pocket open showing the Zest (orange) Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-VK5D^^A Saguaro (olive green) Ballistic Aeronaut 45.
  • visible variant TB0906-VK5D^^A Saguaro (olive green) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with an Acai (dark purple) interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-PKDL^^A Raspberry (reddish-purple) Ballistic Aeronaut 45.
  • visible variant TB0906-PKDL^^A Raspberry (reddish-purple) Ballistic Aeronaut 45 with a Dusk (dark bluish-purple) interior.
  • visible variant TB0906-BTZD^^A Black 420 Spectron Aeronaut 45.
  • visible variant TB0906-BTZD^^A Black 420 Spectron Aeronaut 45 with Zest 200 Halcyon.
  • visible variant TB0906-TKND^^Aeronaut 45 in Burnt Orange Ballistic
  • visible variant TB0906-TKND^^Aeronaut 45 in Burnt Orange Ballistic with NW Sky 200 Halcyon interior
  • ^^New color combination, photos coming soon.
  • detail visible^^Back panel of the Aeronaut
  • detail visible^^Back panel of the Aeronaut with backpack straps out
  • detail visible^^Locking zippers
  • Aeronaut 45
  • Aeronaut 45
  • Aeronaut 45
  • detail visible^^Features of the main compartment
  • detail visible^^Zippers in main compartment for main panel
  • visible detail
  • visible detail
  • visible detail
  • visible detail
  • Aeronaut 45
  • Aeronaut 45
  • detail visible^^The Aeronaut 45 has grab handles on either end as well as zippered end pockets.
  • detail visible^^The slash or end pocket has a single zipper pull is placed on a bias starting at the top of the bag and extending toward the center where the grab handle is as it unzips.
  • ^^There are side pockets on either side. They are each about an eighth of the total volume of the bag.
  • detail visible^^The o-rings are plastic rings that are hung or held in place by a loop of webbing sewn into the seam of the bag.
  • detail visible^^The end pocket/slash zipper is a smaller #8 zipper compared to the other #10 zippers.
  • detail visible^^Each of the side pockets and the main pocket have two zipper pulls that come together with rings at the end that a luggage lock can be slipped through to keep your bag locked closed.
  • ^^The label of the bag is offset to the right near the bottom of the main pocket's fabric lid. It features a red Farman Jaribu plane over a cityscape and the words "Portable Culture" embroidered near the bottom.
  • ^^The main compartment and side pockets have locking zippers.
  • ^^A standard TSA-compliant lock fits through the rings in the locking zipper.
  • lifestyle visible^^Person carrying an Aeronaut 45 sitting on the wall at the Venice Beach, CA boardwalk.
  • lifestyle visible^^Person carrying an Aeronaut 45 walking along the Venice Beach, CA boardwalk.
  • lifestyle visible^^Person carrying an Aeronaut 45 sitting on the wall at the Venice Beach, CA boardwalk.
  • lifestyle visible^^An Aeronaut 45 leaning against a wall on a sandy beach
  • lifestyle visible^^Person carrying an Aeronaut 45 as a backpack.
  • ^^People of different shapes and sizes from 5'1" to 6'4" wearing an Aeronaut 45 on their back.

Aeronaut 45

$345

Ready to Ship

Aeronaut 45 is the ultimate one-bag travel duffel — built to carry everything you need for extended trips, with maximum capacity, intuitive organization, and versatile carry options.

What Goes Into A Tom Bihn Backpack?

Each bag is handmade in the U.S. 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.

  • Aeronaut 30
  • lifestyle visible^^Person carrying an Aeronaut 45 sitting on the wall at the Venice Beach, CA boardwalk.
    Aeronaut 45

Color & Material
Available Color options

Exterior Color:
Raspberry
Interior Color:
Dusk
Exterior Material:
Ballistic
Interior Material:
210 Cerylon


Made in Seattle
Carry-on Friendly
Lifetime Guarantee

Aeronaut 45

Join the Waitlist!

Description

The Aeronaut 45 is the largest in the Aeronaut lineup, offering more capacity than the Aeronaut 30 while still meeting most airline carry-on requirements. Its wide-opening main compartment, flexible end pockets, and three-way carry design make it ideal for extended travel — all while delivering the smart organization, durability, and adaptability the Aeronaut series is known for.

This is a carousel with slides that contain product key features. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate.

Aeronaut 45 Key Features

Three-Way Carry, Maximum Versatility

Three carry options adapt to any journey — backpack, duffel, or shoulder bag — all designed to keep you comfortable and moving with ease, no matter how you travel.

Pack Easy, Adapt Instantly

Spacious main compartment opens wide for easy packing, with zip-away end dividers for extra room and a mesh pocket in the lid to keep small items in check.

Convenient Pockets, Seamless Grab

Two quick-access pockets on each end — grab earbuds to passports in a snap, even from the overhead bin.

Double Pockets, Cleaner Packing

Two roomy end pockets add much-needed compartmentalization — perfect for separating clean from dirty or shoes from clothes, fitting up to a size 12 pair comfortably.

Edgeless Straps, All-Day Comfort

Switch seamlessly to backpack mode with cushy Edgeless straps and a removable foam back panel for comfort when you want it, and a lighter carry when you don’t.

Three-Way Carry, Maximum Versatility

Three carry options adapt to any journey — backpack, duffel, or shoulder bag — all designed to keep you comfortable and moving with ease, no matter how you travel.

Pack Easy, Adapt Instantly

Spacious main compartment opens wide for easy packing, with zip-away end dividers for extra room and a mesh pocket in the lid to keep small items in check.

Convenient Pockets, Seamless Grab

Two quick-access pockets on each end — grab earbuds to passports in a snap, even from the overhead bin.

Double Pockets, Cleaner Packing

Two roomy end pockets add much-needed compartmentalization — perfect for separating clean from dirty or shoes from clothes, fitting up to a size 12 pair comfortably.

Edgeless Straps, All-Day Comfort

Switch seamlessly to backpack mode with cushy Edgeless straps and a removable foam back panel for comfort when you want it, and a lighter carry when you don’t.

Three-Way Carry, Maximum Versatility

Three carry options adapt to any journey — backpack, duffel, or shoulder bag — all designed to keep you comfortable and moving with ease, no matter how you travel.

Pack Easy, Adapt Instantly

Spacious main compartment opens wide for easy packing, with zip-away end dividers for extra room and a mesh pocket in the lid to keep small items in check.

Convenient Pockets, Seamless Grab

Two quick-access pockets on each end — grab earbuds to passports in a snap, even from the overhead bin.

Double Pockets, Cleaner Packing

Two roomy end pockets add much-needed compartmentalization — perfect for separating clean from dirty or shoes from clothes, fitting up to a size 12 pair comfortably.

Edgeless Straps, All-Day Comfort

Switch seamlessly to backpack mode with cushy Edgeless straps and a removable foam back panel for comfort when you want it, and a lighter carry when you don’t.

Reviews

5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
Based on 158 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 157 Total 4 star reviews: 1 Total 3 star reviews: 0 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
158 reviews
  • A
    Amanda
    5 years ago
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    the best and only bag

    I bought my Aeronaut in 2014. Since then, it's traveled to every continent except Antarctica, spent lots of weekends at my mom's house, and ferried gym clothes to and from work a billion times. It still looks brand new, and I am not easy on my belongings. The interior is some kind of magical clown car -- the challenge with this bag isn't running out of room, it's making sure you don't shove so much stuff into it that you can't carry it anymore. I have a pile of packing cubes, which makes it easy to live out of this bag no matter how much you've crammed into it -- I usually don't bother unpacking, as it's easy enough to just grab the cubes out of the main compartment. I almost always wear it as a backpack; I bought the hip strap last year, which is nice but not essential unless you're carrying really heavy loads. Wearing it as a backpack also distracts gate agents from checking its weight -- it looks so reasonably sized when you're wearing it, even if it's full of bricks. I've yet to be forced to check this bag. (Maybe I shouldn't jinx this bag.)

    I tell everyone about this bag. I watch videos of people packing their Aeronauts on YouTube just for fun. It's the best bag for people who travel like me: you can run through the airport with it, you can hold it on your lap on overnight bus trips, you can use it as a pillow when you have to sleep on a dock, you can carry it up ten flights of stairs, and you'll look sort of professional the whole time. What a win.

  • N
    Nancy
    Verified Reviewer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Durable, Good Storage Size, Versatile, Unique, Compact
    4 years ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Durable, Good Storage Size, Versatile, Unique, Compact
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Going on 6 years

    I am 5’ tall and don’t weigh that much, backpacks are extremely hard to find and fit. The compact size of the Aeronaut is almost a perfect fit. Off season travelling requires rain ware, warm clothes and light clothes. It all fits! I am also the family Sherpa most of the pharmacy goes in my bag, sunscreen, laundry detergent, hydration packs… still fits. I have even succeeded to carry 4 pairs of shoes.

    Now, please create a super light convertible day backpack that can become a purse (like a mail bag). This way I can get on the plane with two items my Aeronaut on my back and the purse in the front. When backpacks are not allowed in the museum change over to the purse by hiding the straps. Going out for supper… switch to purse. Walking in an open air market switch to backpack. I am sure you can create the ultimate bag.

  • C
    Collin
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, High Quality Craftsmanship, Durable, Good Storage Size
    3 years ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, High Quality Craftsmanship, Durable, Good Storage Size
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    My top travel bag after 9 years

    I originally bought the Aeronaut 45 for a trip to Italy. It's been around the US, Canada and Europe and has also been my daily gym bag for most of the past 10 years. There is very little wear after all of that time. Stitching is still strong. All of the hardware is working in good shape.

    Each time I travel with a soft carry-on this one wins out because it's the perfect size for a week of clothes. I've fit it on European trains and small overhead bins.

    The best feature is a dedicated shoe compartment. The boxy shape makes packing easy and has only a few, useful pockets. Shoes on the left, rolled clothes in the middle and smaller items on the right and I'm done. The zippered sleeve takes longer items like tickets easily with a passport, and the non-zipper sleeve will take a small water bottle. The grab handles on the ends have proven to be amazingly useful. If needed, I slide my laptop into the strap storage pocket, and it's better protected than some of my dedicated laptop bags.

    The bag will collapse when it only has a few items in it. I use other bags when I have a small number of items to carry, so I usually don't have this problem. The new models feature an optional back panel to fix that problem.

    This bag is an excellent value. It was expensive but it has given me more use than any other bag.

  • CZ
    Carlos Z.
    Verified Buyer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, Sewn in USA, Good Storage Size, Versatile
    2 years ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, Sewn in USA, Good Storage Size, Versatile
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Perfect Travel One-Bag

    Everything you need to pack for your trip -regardless of length- will fit in the Aeronaut 45. This bag was the only one I traveled with, including an empty small day bag inside, for while at my destination.

    I never owned previous models, so I cannot make a comparison to the previous iteration of shoulder straps, but these edgeless straps were extremely comfortable.

    I was amazed at how much I could fit into the Aeronaut 45. The main compartment had a stuffed Western Flyer Packing Cube, along with several other medium and large pouches for electronics, cables, and miscellaneous items. I also threw in my MacBook Pro 13” and iPad Pro 11” with Apple Keyboard in the main compartment. The side compartments were perfect for shoes, and additional items of clothes. The zippered pockets at both ends housed earphones, and several small pouches.

    Because of how much this bag can fit, it can definitely get heavy, especially you one-bag it. Additionally, being 5’7” it felt like I was backpacking when roaming around the airports. This is when cinching the shoulder straps to the appropriate fit, plus cinching the sternum strap tightly helped immensely with distributing the weight much better.

    One-bag traveling with the Aeronaut 45 -as packed as it was- beats traveling with a duffle bag, which I have done several times. The Aeronaut 45 on your back is infinitely more comfortable than carrying a duffle bag around airports and/or public transportation.

    One thing I will add is that the…

  • J
    Jim W.
    5 years ago
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    The Aeronaut is a lifetime purchase you'll never regret.

    I've had my Aeronaut for more than a dozen years, and I've taken it on hundreds of trips (both business and personal), and yet it shows very little wear. I've used it so much that my average Aeronaut cost per travel day is somewhere between a dime and a quarter.

    For me, this bag hits the sweet spot between a big, open duffel bag and a highly structured bag with lots of small organizing pockets. The open space in the center allows you to pack some large things if you need to--the most unusual cargo I can recall carrying on an airline is the large free-form bowl my dad carved out of a mesquite burl back in the 1960's. On the other hand, it has just enough pockets to provide some structure and to be my home away from home.

    I always pack mine in the same way. I set the bag down with the handle towards me. That way, when I unzip the main flap, it flops towards me. My CPAP machine and socks go in the right, toiletries and underwear on the left. Outer clothes and a pair of sandals/shower shoes in the center, a light and other electronics, etc. in the flap pocket. For air travel, my documents go in a passport pouch in the end pocket. Magazines/newspaper/full-size document folders (rarely carried) go in the backpack strap pocket (be careful converting to backpack mode--they will go flying if you whip out the straps!). A wet umbrella or rolled rain jacket slides under the handle.

Quality Designs Since 1972

Designed with obsessive attention to detail, we pride ourselves in offering bags in unmatched quality and durability—whether you're commuting, traveling, or navigating daily life. Built to endure, made to move with you.

The BIHN Guarantee

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.