July 22, 2007 Clash of the carryon titans
Okay, so I’m going to get asked: Which is the best carryon – the Red Oxx Air Boss (left) or the Tom Bihn Aeronaut (right)? The answer: Both. The explanation: Almost any light traveler will find that one of these finely crafted, heavy-duty, American-made bags is ideal for them. They are different, but each is excellent in its own way. That’s not a cop-out; that’s a fact. Designing carry-on luggage is an exercise in compromise. From Red Oxx and Tom Bihn we have two designs that make the most of the size, shape and weight constraints of the carryon. I’ve done hands-on evaluations of both in the last two months and I’ll have a lot to say about the Aeronaut, plus the MEI Voyageur in the next week. A full review of the Air Boss has already been posted, but look for another post that carefully compares the Red Oxx with the Aeronaut. Hopefully our observations will help the serious traveler choose the bag that’s best for their travel needs and style.
Reader Comments (10)
I just purchased an Air Boss to replace my Rick Steves carry-on. Already I see that it is just what this military business traveler needs. I did a test pack for my trip from the Middle East through Heathrow to the US. I'm able to get everything into the Air Boss to meet UK's one bag only rule. Thanks for the great blog.
Thanks Garry - I had the same great experience flying through Heathrow and Glasgow with the Air Boss. I forwarded your comment to Red Oxx owner Jim Markel, a former military man who will be happy to know you're pleased.
Look. At the $100,000 price point, a BMW is a piece of junk; at the $20,000 price point it's a terrific value. If you want to spend $450 for a Tumi or $200+ for an AirBoss or Aeronaut that's up to you. But for $100, after comparing the aforementioned bags and others, I decided on the Rick Steves Convertible. The deal maker for me was the nifty laptop slot which is absolutely the easiest slide in/out system of them all. Max protection, no need for a "BrainCell" or any other such gear and super convenient to yank out whether at the airport security check or at the local Starbucks hotspot.
Doug Dymont complains about the lack of a suspension system by which I assume he means no hard back for backpack mode, but in fact the back support has extra body padding and works just fine for its purpose (no one's stopping anyone from stuffing a packing board back there either if it's such an issue). He also bemoans the extra pockets which I consider a convenience (where there's danger of theft no one says you have to fill them) and also the expansion zipper, which he thinks adds weight and saps strength. Nonesense. This bag is overbuilt if anything. And if you're stuffing it to the gills you've missed the whole point of one-bag travel anyway. Having said that, though, I like the versatility of the expansion for the occasional, unexpected travel or nontravel use.
Bruce - Your points are well taken. I'd like to look at the new version of the Rick Steves bag. I had the eBags knock-off of the Steves bag and it started coming unsewn after two trips. I think the American-made bags are still an excellent value at around $200. "And if you're stuffing it to the gills you've missed the whole point of one-bag travel anyway." - is a great point.
I have to second the comments posted by Bruce. I have a previous generation Steves bag for leisure travel and a Victorinox WT Weekender (expandable 2 zip) for my business travel. I selected both after much web research (and hands on when I could) and even though I certainly am impressed with both the Air Boss and the Aeronaut (I live just north of Seattle, 10 minutes from Rick Steve's travel store and 1/2 hr from Tom Bihn's south Seattle factory, that sure helped in getting some hands on at the products) I just couldn't justify the price(s). I wouldn't have bought the Vic 2 zip except I was able to get it on sale on the web considerably cheaper than list price. Both are well made (admittedly not in the US), lightweight, and serve me brilliantly in their respective travel functions.
All that being said - I AM very interested in reading the upcoming article on both. I have to confess to really wanting the Aeronaut... it IS beautifully made.
Looking forward to the comparison article. I'm kicking myself for not hearing about Tom Bihn's until now - I was working in Seattle for 3 months earlier this year and would have loved to viewed the items.
Question really. After much agonizing/research I want to get either the Air Boss or the Aeronaut. Repeated readings of the review seems to indicate that the center compartment of the Air Boss is basically for computer/electronics which I don't have and would make the center area of less value since it doesn't have tie downs. Thoughts/comments?
I've had the Air Boss for a year, as well as the Red Oxx Slimline briefcase (looks like they're calling it the Metro now). Awesome bags, both of them. I fly weekly, domestic only. I've flown on NWA RJ's occasionally, and this year they started mandating "only one bag on board" these 50-seaters. To get around that, I shove my overstuffed Slimline into the center of the Air Boss before boarding. It's a tight fit, but it gets me onboard without gate-checking a bag (I despise giving up my bag) and as soon as I'm at my seat I pull it out. Slimline under the seat, Air Boss overhead. It would be too heavy to carry this way routinely with all that weight on one shoulder.
Back when I bought the Air Boss, I also ordered just about every remotely similar bag listed on onebag.com. In addition to the Air Boss, I ended up keeping the Steeves Convertible as well as the MEI Voyageur, but sent back the Tough Tri-Zip and a couple others.
My business trips are 3 nights max, and I'm a very light packer, so I've often thought the Air Boss would be more perfect for me if it were only 2 compartments, losing one of the side compartments. So the Sky Train is interesting enough that I just now ordered one, and also emailed Genuine Gear to order a MEI Exec Overnighter. I have concerns about the comfort of the Sky Train back straps since my new weekly plan is to keep my Slimline encased in my "one bag" throughout my plane trip, then carry just the briefcase daily for business on the road.
The shoulder strap on the Air Boss is quite comfortable, but I think my back would enjoy a backpack solution better. I've taken the MEI Voyageur to Mexico a couple times so I know how ridiculously comfortable the MEI back straps and hip belt can be. If the straps on the MEI Exec Overnighter are similar, the Sky Train might get sent back pretty quickly. I love the Red Oxx bullet-proof quality, but I'm looking for comfort first. I walk through some large terminals regulary.
I'm not really a bundle packer. The Air Boss is perfect for my folding technique. Pair of slacks folded in half, then t-shirts (folded store-style) and underwear and socks held by one strap. Other strap holds down 3 long-sleeve business shirts (folded neatly, plus I use Nordstrom's SmartCare shirts, and a 10-minute steaming in the hotel bathroom makes them look perfect). All of this is packed in one compartment, and the other side compartment usually stays empty. Center holds running shoes and wadded-up shorts and swimsuit, as well as GPS and webcam and other small gadgets I don't need in my daily briefcase. (Of course, when I want to stuff my briefcase in the center, all that stuff moves to the empty side compartment temporarily).
I've never been enamored of the Aeronaut. I'm sure it's a fine bag, but the shape of the compartments just doesn't look like it would be as flexible or useful for me. For example it would be impossible to squeeze in my briefcase, however briefly, when necessary to sidestep silly carry-on rules like NW Airlink implemented this year.
I also browsed ebags.com looking as some of the other bags mentioned by commenters on this and other posts. The Victorinox, Columbia, and Patagonia carry-on bags all look good, and I guess they're all pretty new since I don't remember seeing them when shopping a year ago. I have a Victorinox backpack with average comfortable straps, and based on the reviews the Patagonia MLC straps are probably comfy. My gut says the MEI Exec Overnighter might be the ticket for me though, based on my love of the Voyageur.
Thankfully, I have a wife who understands my luggage fetish, and approves of me ordering several bags at a time with the intent of keeping only one. And she wasn't upset last year when I ordered 7 and kept 3 of them, since she used the Steeves bag for a Mexico trip and loved it.
I've both emailed and called MEI, and have not heard back from them for 10 days. Very frustrating, since I really want to try their Executive Overnighter.
In the meantime, I ordered a Sky Train. I'll be sending it back. The straps are cumbersome in use. The velour lining causes the straps to "roll up" or coil when sliding it on, due to friction on the shirt sleeve. This is especially bad if you're wearing a winter coat. The rolled strap isn't obvious until you walk a few paces and the rolled strap edges start to dig into your shoulder. And even after straightening out the straps, they're just not very comfortable for more than 10 minutes or so.
Also, I wanted to be able to slide my briefcase into the bag for carrying through terminals. But the only compartment large enough is the main rear compartment of the Sky Train. This would work fine except the other compartment doesn't have clothes tie-downs.
So for now I'm using a Victorinox Standard Overnighter bag ($99 at ebags). The straps are wide, flat, and comfortable enough with the nearly 25 lbs I'm carrying (including the bag itself and the stored briefcase), and it's big enough to hold my 3 days worth of clothes without expanding the main compartment its extra 2 inches, and my briefcase fits in the other compartment.
When I emailed Red Oxx explaining why I was returning the Sky Train, I asked them to study MEI's bags to see how to make a comfortable backpack strap. And I'll give the Sky Train another try when version 2.0 is released.
I wanted to ask if anyone can comment on the Rick Steves convertable carry on, as far as using it for business travel? Does the one compartment work in this environment? How would you compare it to the Air Boss, or the Tri Zip? Or, since I've just seen it's review, the new MEI Executive Overnighter?