What Goes Into A Tom Bihn Backpack?
Join the Waitlist!
I bought the Small Café Bag to carry personal items during a trip to Taiwan. I didn’t want to haul around a 25L backpack everywhere, especially when I was hopping on subways, taxis, and scooters, so I wanted something lighter and more convenient.
The bag turned out to be perfect: roomy enough for my daily essentials, but slim and low-profile so it never felt bulky or in the way. It was easy to carry through hot and humid weather and quick to swing up front and center when I needed something inside.
Now that I’m back from the trip, I’ve kept using it as an everyday bag. It’s become one of those rare purchases that transitions well from travel to daily use.
Loving the bag! I use it as an everyday bag I hate having my pockets jammed full. It fits every book i’ve tried so far, including Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson, and still holds my assortment of things I need to carry everyday like my planner, wallet, medicine, keys, and airpods. with a thicker book you will have less space for other things but have not run into that problem yet. The front zipper pocket is hard to use when the bag is full but that’s every bag just cause it’s pushing into the zipper pockets space. Would recommend for a everyday compact sling type bag :)
Love this crossbody bag for traveling! It’s just the right size and holds a bunch of “stuff”! I traveled out west with my dad and had so much fun!
I have carried a Small Cafe Bag off and on for too many years to count. It isn't my EDC because I prefer backpacks for walking long distances, but this is a nice weekend or vacation bag. I snapped this one up because of the Saguaro/Moss combo. Saguaro is more like Verde, IMO, than the actual cactus. I really, really love it paired with a yellow/green interior. I'm sad to see that most of the other Saguaro items that will be offered have orange or red interiors, which clash in weird ways, but the combo I have was definitely worth it. It's a stunning color, and I'd be very tempted to buy anything else that was offered in Saguaro/Moss. As to the item itself: I've done vacations with other versions of the Small Cafe Bag and find that, paired with a Freudian Slip, and with the zippered pockets, it can be very secure for walking around a city all day. The wide strap makes it reasonably comfortable for a shoulder bag, and my experience has been that it is often allowed in museums where a similarly sized backpack is not.
It's my new man purse (murse)
I'm tuff on my stuff, very. It's been abused and washed many times with no fraying or fuzzy. Holds a water bottle, phone, wallet and the pick up from the dispensary, with a separate compartment to keep it dry. I always use the clip for my keys, because I misplace them, alot. Perfect for a day at the flea market or roadtrip. At 60 it will be the last murse ill need to purchase. Thanks Tom
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 last, made to move with you.
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.
