The Techonaut travel bag — two sizes: 30 liters (you are here) or 45 liters — can be carried three ways: as a backpack, shoulder bag, or duffel.
It's a variation of the original Aeronaut 30 / 45. It was designed by Nik and includes many of the features you've been asking for; we added some additional features we wanted as well, including a breathable, supportive back panel and a dedicated laptop compartment.
The Techonaut 30 fits laptops up to the size of the 16" MacBook Pro or the Microsoft Surface Book 2 15". The Techonaut 45 will fit just about any laptop out there.
The Techonaut 30 is designed to meet most requirements for North American regional commuter jets and intra-European flights; it can also fit under the seat of many planes. The Techonaut 45 is designed to be a maximum-size airline carry-on bag; it’ll easily slide into the overhead compartment of a plane.
Full Description
Walk through the features of the Techonaut 30.
Three Carry Methods
The Techonaut can be carried on the back via its Edgeless backpack straps (which can tuck away when not in use), on the shoulder or cross-body with the optional Absolute Shoulder Strap, or by hand duffel-style with the Edgeless handle.
Nik's goal when designing the Techonaut was to add features that made it just as comfortable to carry as a dedicated backpack — while also retaining the same multiple-carry-method convenience that made the Aeronaut our most popular travel bag.
Suspended Laptop Compartment
Suspended off the bottom of the bag, the Techonaut's laptop compartment offers just-right padding without adding bulk or weight. Don't plan to carry a laptop? Know that most of the padding and construction of the compartment would be there regardless to offer comfort to your back and structure for the bag itself.
The Techonaut 30 will fit laptops up to the size of the 16" MacBook Pro or Microsoft Surface Book 2 15". The Techonaut 45 will fit just about any laptop out there.
Skeleton Back Panel
The name says it all: instead of the back panel being a solid rectangular piece of foam, it’s cut in a spine-like shape so that it provides all of the usual comfort with less of the weight and improves airflow. We use a soft and durable mesh finished to our specifications on the part of the back panel that’ll be in contact with your clothes to reduce the chance of abrasion. No, this new back panel won’t ensure you don’t experience any sweat whatsoever if you run through the airport or hike uphill in the summer; that’s just an aspect of wearing a backpack and, well, being human.
Wide U-Shaped Main Compartment
The Techonaut takes the amazing wide-opening main compartment that made the Aeronaut one of the most beloved travel bags ever a step further: it opens even wider, even bigger, and it's reoriented to be Hero's Journey style. You can live out of this bag (and easily find what you're looking for) without ever having to unpack it.
One end pocket instead of two increases the amount of stuff you can pack in the bag without increasing the size or weight of the bag.
Hideaway Edgeless EV50 1/2" Shoulder Straps
Conformity is overrated — except, perhaps, when it comes to shoulder straps. The edgelessness of this strap allows it to more softly conform to your shoulder; we find that this increases comfort. Yet the straps aren’t too soft: the 1/2” thick foam means the strap is robust enough to carry a heavy load.
If you plan to carry the Techonaut as a shoulder bag or in-hand like a duffel — or wear it through the airpot as a backpack and, at the terminal, tuck away the straps so it'll slide even more easily under the seat on the plane or in the overhead compartment — you'll appreciate that the backpack straps of the Techonaut can easily tuck away behind the back panel when not in use.
Edgeless Duffel Handle
The Edgeless duffel handle of the Techonaut is designed to provide comfort and cush when carrying the Techonaut in duffel mode: it utilizes the same EV50 1/2” / 12mm EVAZOTE® OEKO-TEX® foam as our Edgeless Shoulder Straps.
Since we figure most folks will primarily carry the Techonaut as a backpack or perhaps as a shoulder bag with the optional Absolute Shoulder Strap — and carry the bag as a duffel for shorter durations — we wanted its duffel handle to be as (if not more) comfortable yet somehow more minimal and lower-profile than the Aeronaut grab handle. We believe we’ve achieved our goal on both accounts: you’ll, of course, tell us what you think.
Note that, because of the design of the original Aeronaut handle, it was effectively anchored at four corners in such a way that it did not “lift” much from the bag itself; the Techonaut handle, to achieve its goals of comfort and minimalism, is anchored at two points, and may slightly lift away from the bag if your Techonaut is packed very full. That doesn’t impact the utility of the handle or experience of carrying the bag (and of course the handle itself is robustly secured with multiple bartacks) but we thought we’d mention it because it behaves a little different than the original Aeronaut handle.
Rolling Luggage Handle Pass-Through
Some of us use rolling luggage: maybe because we need to pack more formal attire for a work trip, photography gear, or just because we find it more comfortable. Good thing the Techonaut's back panel has a pass-through that allows you to slide it over the handle of your rolling luggage.
There are, of course, different sizes of rolling luggage with different handle lengths and widths. That said, the Techonaut 30 and Techonaut 45 should fit over most rolling luggage handles.
One End Pocket
Whereas the Aeronaut had two end pockets, the Techonaut has one. Here's why: removing one of the end pockets saved some weight and increased the overall capacity of the bag. Think of it this way: instead of the fabric and build that went into that second end pocket, you've got more space in the bag for more stuff. It also means the main compartment is that much bigger and opens up even wider.
Need to fit a really big item in the main compartment, or just don't want the division of the end pocket? You'll see that there's a zipper inside the main compartment that creates the division between it and the end pocket: simply unzip it and you've got one very big packing area.
Quick-Access Pockets
Nik included three quick-access exterior pockets on the Techonaut.
The pocket on the right side of the bag is sized to fit a Passport, phone, wallet, and keys.
The pocket on the left side of the bag is the biggest; it can fit some water bottles or stuff like an umbrella or jacket.
And the pocket on the top of the bag can also fit stuff like a (smaller) water bottle, umbrella, or jacket.
Exterior Grab Handles
For your convenience, you’ll find two exterior grab handles on the Techonaut in addition to the Edgeless duffel carry handle. These grab handles work great for pulling the Techonaut out from under the seat of a plane or from the overhead compartment. They're also handy for steadying the bag as you insert your laptop in its compartment or even hanging the bag on a coat hook.
Removable Sternum Strap + Waist Strap
As with all of our major backpacks, we include adjustable and removable sternum and waist straps with leave-no-trace hardware: if you don't like or don't use your waist or sternum strap, remove them and leave (almost) nothing behind. There's also an optional 1" Padded Hip Belt and an optional Techonaut Internal Frame.
Design Lab Label (Pre-Order Only)
The Design Lab edition label is rectangular and slightly smaller than our original label. It has a black background with dark grey text in the foreground; the text is TOM BIHN followed by Design Lab. Next to Design Lab, there are three dots — the therefore sign.
The intention behind Design Lab is to create a stage for our spontaneity, creative inspiration, and need for exploration. It’s not so much experimental — we wouldn’t release something that didn’t meet our own standards and tests — as it is a way to celebrate the joy of design. Design Lab is our attempt at recognizing spontaneity and creativity, all balanced by thoughtfulness, thoroughness, and conscientiousness.
Some Design Lab offerings might be offered just once or they may become permanent additions to our bag line-up. Your next question might be: will the Techonaut be offered as an in-stock bag after this pre-order? The answer is: yes. Everyone here at TOM BIHN is so crazy about this bag that it seems likely that at least some of you will be, too.
What's Included
We include the following accessories to give you a good amount of options for your new bag right out of the gate.
A Key Strap is a strip of webbing with plastic snaphooks on the end. The 8” Key Strap in Black that’s included in most of our larger bags is, for many, the gateway to a world of organization via Key Straps and Organizer Pouches. All the members of the Key Strap family are intended to make locating things in your bag easier and more instinctive. Pulling out a small item or pouch tethered to a strap is easier than rooting around aimlessly in the depths of your pack; you can also rest assured that anything hooked to a strap is much less likely to fall out or otherwise be left behind. You can find more Key Strap colors and varieties on the Key Strap page.
Some folks prefer metal zipper pulls. Others prefer cord pulls. So, what to do about that? We think the best solution (in most cases) is to offer metal pulls and include a starter pack of Cord Pulls with most bags. The most popular solution is to weave the Cord Pulls through the metal pulls, effectively silencing them without having to remove them. A video demonstrating various Cord Pull options and more colors/varieties of Cord Pulls can be found on the Cord Zipper Pulls page.
An adjustable and removable sternum and waist straps with leave-no-trace hardware: if you don't like or don't use your sternum strap, remove it and leave (almost) nothing behind.
A simple webbing waist strap that can offer extra stability when running to catch a bus, plane, or train. It can also add a small measure of support for a heavy load (for a truly supportive hip belt experience, please see the optional 1" Padded Hip Belt.) Also features leave-no-trace hardware.
One pair of Tie-Down Straps
Our included tie-down straps are an alternative to packing cubes: use them to compress and secure clothing in place to help keep it wrinkle-free. They're removable so if you don't want or need to use them, you can leave them behind.
The Skeleton back panel structure of the Techonaut adds a surprising amount of support even without an internal frame. Add a laptop in the laptop compartment and there's even more support. When the crew tested fully loaded Techonauts here at the factory, pretty much everyone found the internal frame for the Techonaut 30 unnecessary. With the Techonaut 45, it was 50/50: half of folks preferred carrying the bag with the frame, half preferred it without the internal frame. Still, we heard from many folks who wanted an internal frame option nonetheless... so here you go!
You can view all of our packing cubes, pouches, toiletries bags and other organizational options at the link above. Want a guide to what works best with the Techonaut 30 and Techonaut 45? Check out our blog post Techonaut: Packing Cubes & Organizational Options.
Three Carry Methods
The Techonaut can be carried on the back via its Edgeless backpack straps (which can tuck away when not in use), on the shoulder or cross-body with the optional Absolute Shoulder Strap, or by hand duffel-style with the Edgeless handle.
Nik's goal when designing the Techonaut was to add features that made it just as comfortable to carry as a dedicated backpack — while also retaining the same multiple-carry-method convenience that made the Aeronaut our most popular travel bag.
Suspended Laptop Compartment
Suspended off the bottom of the bag, the Techonaut's laptop compartment offers just-right padding without adding bulk or weight. Don't plan to carry a laptop? Know that most of the padding and construction of the compartment would be there regardless to offer comfort to your back and structure for the bag itself.
The Techonaut 30 will fit laptops up to the size of the 16" MacBook Pro or Microsoft Surface Book 2 15". The Techonaut 45 will fit just about any laptop out there.
Skeleton Back Panel
The name says it all: instead of the back panel being a solid rectangular piece of foam, it’s cut in a spine-like shape so that it provides all of the usual comfort with less of the weight and improves airflow. We use a soft and durable mesh finished to our specifications on the part of the back panel that’ll be in contact with your clothes to reduce the chance of abrasion. No, this new back panel won’t ensure you don’t experience any sweat whatsoever if you run through the airport or hike uphill in the summer; that’s just an aspect of wearing a backpack and, well, being human.
Wide U-Shaped Main Compartment
The Techonaut takes the amazing wide-opening main compartment that made the Aeronaut one of the most beloved travel bags ever a step further: it opens even wider, even bigger, and it's reoriented to be Hero's Journey style. You can live out of this bag (and easily find what you're looking for) without ever having to unpack it.
One end pocket instead of two increases the amount of stuff you can pack in the bag without increasing the size or weight of the bag.
Hideaway Edgeless EV50 1/2" Shoulder Straps
Conformity is overrated — except, perhaps, when it comes to shoulder straps. The edgelessness of this strap allows it to more softly conform to your shoulder; we find that this increases comfort. Yet the straps aren’t too soft: the 1/2” thick foam means the strap is robust enough to carry a heavy load.
If you plan to carry the Techonaut as a shoulder bag or in-hand like a duffel — or wear it through the airpot as a backpack and, at the terminal, tuck away the straps so it'll slide even more easily under the seat on the plane or in the overhead compartment — you'll appreciate that the backpack straps of the Techonaut can easily tuck away behind the back panel when not in use.
Edgeless Duffel Handle
The Edgeless duffel handle of the Techonaut is designed to provide comfort and cush when carrying the Techonaut in duffel mode: it utilizes the same EV50 1/2” / 12mm EVAZOTE® OEKO-TEX® foam as our Edgeless Shoulder Straps.
Since we figure most folks will primarily carry the Techonaut as a backpack or perhaps as a shoulder bag with the optional Absolute Shoulder Strap — and carry the bag as a duffel for shorter durations — we wanted its duffel handle to be as (if not more) comfortable yet somehow more minimal and lower-profile than the Aeronaut grab handle. We believe we’ve achieved our goal on both accounts: you’ll, of course, tell us what you think.
Note that, because of the design of the original Aeronaut handle, it was effectively anchored at four corners in such a way that it did not “lift” much from the bag itself; the Techonaut handle, to achieve its goals of comfort and minimalism, is anchored at two points, and may slightly lift away from the bag if your Techonaut is packed very full. That doesn’t impact the utility of the handle or experience of carrying the bag (and of course the handle itself is robustly secured with multiple bartacks) but we thought we’d mention it because it behaves a little different than the original Aeronaut handle.
Rolling Luggage Handle Pass-Through
Some of us use rolling luggage: maybe because we need to pack more formal attire for a work trip, photography gear, or just because we find it more comfortable. Good thing the Techonaut's back panel has a pass-through that allows you to slide it over the handle of your rolling luggage.
There are, of course, different sizes of rolling luggage with different handle lengths and widths. That said, the Techonaut 30 and Techonaut 45 should fit over most rolling luggage handles.
One End Pocket
Whereas the Aeronaut had two end pockets, the Techonaut has one. Here's why: removing one of the end pockets saved some weight and increased the overall capacity of the bag. Think of it this way: instead of the fabric and build that went into that second end pocket, you've got more space in the bag for more stuff. It also means the main compartment is that much bigger and opens up even wider.
Need to fit a really big item in the main compartment, or just don't want the division of the end pocket? You'll see that there's a zipper inside the main compartment that creates the division between it and the end pocket: simply unzip it and you've got one very big packing area.
Quick-Access Pockets
Nik included three quick-access exterior pockets on the Techonaut.
The pocket on the right side of the bag is sized to fit a Passport, phone, wallet, and keys.
The pocket on the left side of the bag is the biggest; it can fit some water bottles or stuff like an umbrella or jacket.
And the pocket on the top of the bag can also fit stuff like a (smaller) water bottle, umbrella, or jacket.
Exterior Grab Handles
For your convenience, you’ll find two exterior grab handles on the Techonaut in addition to the Edgeless duffel carry handle. These grab handles work great for pulling the Techonaut out from under the seat of a plane or from the overhead compartment. They're also handy for steadying the bag as you insert your laptop in its compartment or even hanging the bag on a coat hook.
Removable Sternum Strap + Waist Strap
As with all of our major backpacks, we include adjustable and removable sternum and waist straps with leave-no-trace hardware: if you don't like or don't use your waist or sternum strap, remove them and leave (almost) nothing behind. There's also an optional 1" Padded Hip Belt and an optional Techonaut Internal Frame.
Design Lab Label (Pre-Order Only)
The Design Lab edition label is rectangular and slightly smaller than our original label. It has a black background with dark grey text in the foreground; the text is TOM BIHN followed by Design Lab. Next to Design Lab, there are three dots — the therefore sign.
The intention behind Design Lab is to create a stage for our spontaneity, creative inspiration, and need for exploration. It’s not so much experimental — we wouldn’t release something that didn’t meet our own standards and tests — as it is a way to celebrate the joy of design. Design Lab is our attempt at recognizing spontaneity and creativity, all balanced by thoughtfulness, thoroughness, and conscientiousness.
Some Design Lab offerings might be offered just once or they may become permanent additions to our bag line-up. Your next question might be: will the Techonaut be offered as an in-stock bag after this pre-order? The answer is: yes. Everyone here at TOM BIHN is so crazy about this bag that it seems likely that at least some of you will be, too.
What's Included
We include the following accessories to give you a good amount of options for your new bag right out of the gate.
A Key Strap is a strip of webbing with plastic snaphooks on the end. The 8” Key Strap in Black that’s included in most of our larger bags is, for many, the gateway to a world of organization via Key Straps and Organizer Pouches. All the members of the Key Strap family are intended to make locating things in your bag easier and more instinctive. Pulling out a small item or pouch tethered to a strap is easier than rooting around aimlessly in the depths of your pack; you can also rest assured that anything hooked to a strap is much less likely to fall out or otherwise be left behind. You can find more Key Strap colors and varieties on the Key Strap page.
Some folks prefer metal zipper pulls. Others prefer cord pulls. So, what to do about that? We think the best solution (in most cases) is to offer metal pulls and include a starter pack of Cord Pulls with most bags. The most popular solution is to weave the Cord Pulls through the metal pulls, effectively silencing them without having to remove them. A video demonstrating various Cord Pull options and more colors/varieties of Cord Pulls can be found on the Cord Zipper Pulls page.
An adjustable and removable sternum and waist straps with leave-no-trace hardware: if you don't like or don't use your sternum strap, remove it and leave (almost) nothing behind.
A simple webbing waist strap that can offer extra stability when running to catch a bus, plane, or train. It can also add a small measure of support for a heavy load (for a truly supportive hip belt experience, please see the optional 1" Padded Hip Belt.) Also features leave-no-trace hardware.
One pair of Tie-Down Straps
Our included tie-down straps are an alternative to packing cubes: use them to compress and secure clothing in place to help keep it wrinkle-free. They're removable so if you don't want or need to use them, you can leave them behind.
The Skeleton back panel structure of the Techonaut adds a surprising amount of support even without an internal frame. Add a laptop in the laptop compartment and there's even more support. When the crew tested fully loaded Techonauts here at the factory, pretty much everyone found the internal frame for the Techonaut 30 unnecessary. With the Techonaut 45, it was 50/50: half of folks preferred carrying the bag with the frame, half preferred it without the internal frame. Still, we heard from many folks who wanted an internal frame option nonetheless... so here you go!
You can view all of our packing cubes, pouches, toiletries bags and other organizational options at the link above. Want a guide to what works best with the Techonaut 30 and Techonaut 45? Check out our blog post Techonaut: Packing Cubes & Organizational Options.
Duraflex®, Nexus, and Woojin buckles and related components
Specs
Weight
400d Halcyon/420d nylon ripstop exterior: 2 lb 2.6 oz / 980 grams
525d Ballistic: 2 lb 8.6 oz / 1150 grams
1050d Ballistic: 2 lb 11.6 oz / 1235 grams
1000d Cordura®: 2 lb 8.9 oz / 1160 grams
Total O-Rings
6 (1 in the mesh flap pocket, 1 in the top pocket, 1 in the left pocket, 1 in the right pocket, 2 in the bottom pocket)
Dimensions
19.7" (w) x 12.6" (h) x 8.0" (d) / 500 (w) x 320 (h) x 205 (d) mm
Volume
1835 cubic inches / 30 liters (ASTM Standard Measure)
Straps
.5" / 13 mm padded and contoured backpack straps with .75" / 20 mm removable sternum strap with removable 1" / 25 mm waist strap included
Laptop Compartment
Maximum: 16” x 10” x 0.75” / 405mm x 255mm x 19mm
Choosing an Exterior Fabric
You like choices and we like to give you choices! That's why the Techonaut is typically available* in four different exterior fabrics. Our Materials Glossary explains each fabric in great detail, but here are some quick facts that may help you decide which to choose. And we're always here if you have questions: emailus@tombihn.com
You want a lighter weight alternative to traditional nylon fabrics that has remarkable tear strength and good abrasion resistance.
You're looking for a fabric with a modern, "technical" appearance.
You have pets: 400d Halcyon doesn't collect pet hair, reducing your monthly lint roller costs.
525d High Tenacity Ballistic Nylon
Weave:
2x2 “ballistic” weave
Fibers:
525 denier type 6,6 (high tenacity) filament nylon, twisted
Coating:
heavy urethane
Made in:
South Korea with Canadian yarn
Choose this fabric if
You want your bag to be soft and supple yet tough as nails.
You want a fabric that's stately enough to be at home at work, the mountains, or a nice hotel.
You don't want your bag to collect pet hair or abrade your clothing.
1050D High Tenacity Ballistic Nylon
Weave:
2x2 "Ballistic" Weave
Fibers:
1050 denier type 6,6 (high tenacity) filament nylon
Coating:
medium urethane
Made in:
U.S.A
Choose this fabric if
You want a super-tough fabric – originally designed for use in bullet-proof vests.
The weight of your bag isn’t a huge concern (though it’s worth noting that 1050d Ballistic is still lighter than cotton canvas or leather).
You want a smooth surface that won’t collect pet hair or sweater fuzz, slides easily into and out of the overhead bin, and fits in whether you're traveling for work or leisure.
1000 denier Cordura®
Weave:
plain weave
Fibers:
1000 denier type 6,6 texturized nylon, discontinuous surface fibers that mask surface damage caused by abrasion
Coating:
medium urethane
Made in:
U.S.A.
Choose this fabric if
You want a durable, canvas-like, natural-feeling fabric, and don't mind the slightly rough or abrasive texture.
You appreciate that it's been the outdoor industry's go-to, classic pack fabric for the past four decades.
You don't care about your bag collecting pet hair or lint.
*There may be times when one of the exterior fabrics mentioned here isn't available. Even with our best efforts, the demand for our bags occasionally outpaces our production capabilities: at times, some products, color combinations, or fabrics might be temporarily unavailable or "In Production." See the In Production color combinations as a guide to what our factory crew is making and what will be available next.
Our bags are designed and sewn right here in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.
That allows us to be control freaks in the best way possible; we have direct control and oversight of the quality of our materials, our products, and the jobs and working environment that we help create. It also offers us a unique spontaneity: when we have an idea for a new product or accessory, we can design it, figure out how to build it, add it to our website and be ready to ship it out our front door all within just a few weeks. How cool is that?
Intrigued? You can find out more about the unusual way we do business on our Company Philosophy page.
THE BIHN Guarantee
Everything you buy from us here at TOM BIHN is satisfaction guaranteed. We’ve been in business for over 30 years and we stand behind what we make.
If something goes wrong and it's our fault, we'll fix it for free. Repairs due to normal wear and tear or due to other things that are not our fault will be performed, when possible, at a reasonable charge right here in our Seattle factory where your bag was made. Defects in materials or workmanship are uncommon and almost always evident while the product is still new. Keep in mind that bags and packs are often subject to extreme wear in everyday use: do not expect them to last forever. Only true love lasts forever! You can expect a TOM BIHN product to give years and years of hard service.
…but hopefully useful for someone considering the Techonaut. I pre-ordered the Techonaut 30 and 45, both in Taiga / NW Sky. I was hoping to find a worthy successor to my favorite travel bag of all time, my trusty Aeronaut 30 in Original Halcyon / Monarch. For me, the Techonaut just didn’t work out, for three main reasons. First, while the Techonaut added some really creative organization to the same basic form factor, it actually made me appreciate the symmetry and simplicity of the Aeronaut even more. Geometry in travel bags is really important to me. The Techonaut is meant to have a more vertical orientation and I found that I had to either pack the main compartment full (which seems slightly deeper than the A30) or cinch down the load so that the contents didn’t collapse to the bottom the bag. In this respect, I appreciate the geometry of the A30 more (shallower and wider). Although I haven’t used the Techonaut on a trip, I anticipate that its packed geometry would be too deep, creating a “turtling” effect on my back. Second — and this was the real deal breaker for me — the backpack straps are too long. I love the edge-less straps on my Synik 22 and on the Techonaut, but even all the way cinched down, the Techonaut sits too low on my back. I’m only 5’4” so this issue likely won’t apply to anyone taller than me, but I tend to “ruck” with my travel packs and knew this would really bother me on an actual trip. Finally, Taiga / NW Sky didn’t resonate with me. I was really…
