I bought this to use as a super-minimalist bag for a quick weekend plane trip, where my Synik 30 would have been too big. Going through airport security has never been easier! While everyone else fiddled with overstuffed backpacks and rolling luggage in the security line, I breezed through at lightning speed with just this little bag. I sprang for the absolute shoulder strap, and it was well worth it – it really does lighten the load. I am a 5’3” woman and I never felt like the Pilot was too big or bulky.
For my weekend trip, I packed a shirt, pajamas, socks, and underwear in the main compartment, along with my Bose headphones and two 3D Organizer pouches in the inner pockets for liquids and makeup. One front pocket carried miscellaneous essentials and the other carried my phone, wallet, keys, and books for the plane. The water bottle pocket is a game changer. The entire bag fits under the plane seat, keeping everything at hand during the flight and also saving time not having to pull your bag down from the overhead compartment upon landing.
I didn’t travel with any technology – no laptop or tablet – and it probably would have been too much to pack all of the above with any sort of tech. But for me, it was a fun challenge to see how lightly I could pack! As a business briefcase, a personal item, or packed out for an entire weekend, the Pilot is built to last and has more organization than you can shake a stick at.
