After using this bag for several weeks, I am already convinced that it is the perfect bag for me. As background, my previous EDC bag was a Filson Original Briefcase that I bought in 2019. I used it for 5 years and finally sold it earlier in 2024 due to some "needs" (wants haha) that are perfectly addressed by the Pilot:
1) Needs to "stand up" on its own, instead of being leaned against something
2) Dedicated thermos storage
3) Zipped pockets for storage of smaller items
4) Lighter colored fabric to find stuff in darker environments
5) Light weight but rugged
6) Rolling luggage handle pass through (I travel frequently for work)
The Pilot delivers on all of these in spades. Time will tell how rugged this is but Tom Bihn's customer service, similar to Filson's, is top notch. The ONE thing that I would suggest to Tom Bihn is to add a snap to the rolling luggage pass through so that when it isn't in use, the back flap of fabric can be snapped to the main body of the bag. This would clean up the overall look and improve the bag, in my humble opinion.