May 13, 2010 Handle-friendly Co-Pilot
Tom Bihn’s new personal-size bag now has added functionality:
Tom has updated the design of the Co-Pilot, a new personal carry-on sized travel bag made available for pre-order last month and scheduled to ship in June. The back pocket of the Co-Pilot now features a zip-open (and shut) pocket designed to allow you to slip the bag over the handle of rolling luggage, as seen in the photo below. When not being used in that way, the pocket can be zipped shut for magazines, newspapers, maps, etc. The interior of this pocket is lined with our Dyneema/nylon rip-stop fabric. All Co-Pilots - even those pre-ordered on the very first day - will have the new pocket for rolling luggage handles. - TB blog
OBOW’s first look at the Co-Pilot may be found here.
Reader Comments (5)
I could have also very well imagines a velcro solution as seen on the Andiamo Valoroso pieces. Especially for smaller bags like this one it would have been sufficient and is even easier to install and remove.
That feature makes complete sense, and I wondered the same thing. I own 4 or 5 TB bags, so I don't think anyone would consider me biased (against).
I don't have a bias against them but they often underperform in my eyes. This means that they are good, very good even. But they would have the potential to be the best with just a little extra effort yet they don't go there. It's not like engineering the perfect or close to perfect bag is sooo difficult. It's not like the automobile industry where you have a huge R&D apparatus that actually does bring real progress in materials, workmanship and technology.
I own their Aeronaut size backpack/cube and like it a lot. So when I see a piece where I think it is "to the point" and that fits in my packing needs, I'll buy it. The Braincell and Freudian slip are other products that I really like.
I do have a general bias against anything that experiences a hype or cult following. I've never tried to hide that and find it a reasonable attitude for someone who thinks critically. :) So Tumi goes under that bias, too. However, certain products, like their 26141 briefcase, are groundbreaking and so perfect that in 20 years hardly a change had to be made.
What I'm in awe of is when a company delivers a product that is like the Porsche 911 or Rolex Submariner of its category. Instant classic, hard to make better, truly innovative that inspires others and refined with much attention to detail and to what is really necessary.
I have yet to see that from TB but think the Aeronaut cube mentioned above has what it takes, it's just too 'nichy'.
I have seen it from brands like Travelpro. Even if they are not hip and decidedly mass-market, they invented the concept and classic shape of the rollaboard. That pretty much revolutionized luggage. The Plat5 is to this day one of the best carry-ons out there.
The VD-25 and VT-18 are among the very best duffels and totes on the market. There is very little (except perhaps reflective piping) that could be done to make them even better. Same for the BR235x, which could be a pound lighter but is otherwise pretty perfect.
Now when I'm going out somewhere, I prefer a Vera Bradley bag, both because they have great organization (mostly) and because they are pretty. But they don't work as well for my daily commute.
I've wanted a bag similar to the Co-Pilot as my "seat-side bag" for a while. It would have to hold my netbook, my e-reader, phone, snacks, paperwork, mp3 player, noise-cancelling earbuds, Klean Kanteen, etc. My main bag is a 22" rolling bag and I often check it. I wanted something that would fit under the seat without having to be stuffed in and that would stand up on its own. I was thinking very seriously about buying a RedOxx Gator, but wished for something with more interior organization. I have in the past used for that function a Vera Bradley Betsy bag, which stands up on its own and has lots of interior organization; however, I really wanted something with either a shoulder strap that I could wear cross-body or small handles so I could easily clip it to my rolling bag's add-a-bag feature--and both would be ideal. The Betsy bag has long handles meant to be carried on a shoulder, but it can't be worn cross-body, and when it's clipped to the bag it flops all over the place. It's like Tom Bihn read my mind, seriously; a great size, stands up by itself, has the perfect handles and a shoulder strap, plus it has the organizational features that I like.
I recognize this bag won't work for everyone, but I'm pretty psyched about it. I'm taking a road trip in early July and wondering if I preorder it, will it arrive in time, because it occurred to me it's also a perfect keep-at-the-seat road trip bag (there are four of us taking turns driving about 12 hours each way).
It's too big for me to use as a "day bag" at the destination. I usually carry a PacSafe MetroSafe 100, which holds my phone, point-and-shoot camera, wallet, and a few other things. I also carry one of those drawstring bags one can wear like a backpack in case I buy stuff or need to carry a jacket or umbrella. Again, a good system that works for me and has stood the test of several trips over the past five or six years.
Incidentally, my understanding is that the Co-Pilot design was inspired by the old travel bags that airlines and travel agencies used to give out with tours and tickets. It's certainly much more functional than a bag that is a big gaping hole with no interior organization. That's why I didn't pull the trigger on the Gator bag. However, I'm not going to say it's the perfect bag for everyone, but it's kind of bizarre to think that it wouldn't work well for anybody.