A quick look from the airport today

I’ve had this bag a couple of weeks but have been too busy to write about or photograph it. The new Tom Bihn Western Flyer sans backpack straps:

It’s riding, quite unnecessarily, on my wife’s roller. The bottom of the back pocket is zippered  — becomes a magazine pocket when zipped. This is better than knotting the strap or clipping a carabiner to the handle, neither of which works well. I paid today - for the first time ever - the cursed checked bag fee. Not fun. Don’t worry, it wasn’t my bag.

More to come on this bag and its upgrades over the original version.

Comments

[Judy]

It's so gorgeous. Sigh....

[Maria]

Brad - looking forward to your additonal review for this bag. To learn you paid a checked bag fee, there must have been a very good reason! Or being the gentleman that you are and covering the fee for your dear spouse...
Cheers!

[Dan]

Looks like a nice bag. I might be tempted to purchase
a TB bag one of these days; to add to my collection.

[Jeff]

My wife and I each have the backpack version, so it's unlikely we'll be getting the newer model. Although if your review warrants, I will be trying hard to justify it and passing the old ones down to the kids- teens and beyond. The WF has really become my favorite for trips of a week or less. I wonder if the Tri-Star will get a similar mod.

[Frank@OBOW]

The roller was actually being used by my son, who wouldn't dream of doing sink laundry (impedes his lifestyle). HIs carry-on is an old WF with the sling strap - now discontinued. I rather liked; he does too.

[Tina]

During October, 2009, I purchased the Tony Bihn Checkpoint Flyer bag for a 17" laptop. Do not bother purchasing this bag. Worked fine for a couple of months. Now, the zipper of the luggage sleeve does not stay closed when the luggage sleeve is used on the handle of a carryon.

When the zipper opens, the laptop slips to one side of the carryon. As you are walking, you will be thrown off balance when this happens unexpectedly...and your arm can be horribly twisted. :(

I considered modifying the bag...but after paying $220 for this bag, not sure if it's worthwhile. :( I've gone back to using an old eagle-creek knapsack that is not checkpoint-friendly, but it also doesn't fall off my my carryon.

Eagle Creek has a checkpoint-friendly knapsack that works well. It has a luggage sleeve that works flawlessly.

My husband and I travel a lot. We also bring our laptops. I have a 17" gaming laptop. Unfortunately, laptops with smaller displays too difficult to read when I surf the web or read email.

Peace & Take Care !

[Maria]

Tina - I would recommend you contact the Tom Bihn customer service departmetn about the problem you have encountered with the zipper. They stand by their products, especially if there is what may appear to be a defect. Good luck.

[Jose]

With all due respect for the Western Flyer, check the Large Expandable Laptop Brief from Sumdex. It’s 18.5″x14″x 6.5″(expanded). It’s polyester and only comes in black, but it’s well made and costs about $ 35.00 ($ 29.95 including shipping during the eBags Father's Day sale). Once you cut away the back compartment divider, you’ll have a two compartment bag with extra front pockets, a back magazine slot as well as a strap to slide over a roller handle and practically the same capacity and weight of a Western Flyer (sans backstraps), plus a comfortable padded handle and D rings for a shoulder strap (Throw away the one it comes with and replace with a SOS strap, similar to Tom Bihn Absolute strap for another $ 15.00). I particularly like that I can store my size 13 slippers, it being 14" tall against 12" for the Western Flyer. Jose.

[Michael W]

When I check eBags they are quoting $39.95 which they say is 50% off and I got that price by clicking through their promotional email promising free shipping....

[Jose]

Yes, the $29.95 offer only lasted three days, but you can get it at Amazon for $ 33.49 with free shipping (I just checked).

[Darcy]

Tina: Have you tried contacting us with your concerns? I've checked with our staff and we can't recall ever getting an email or phone call about the problem you're describing - from you or anyone else. :( I'm sorry that your bag isn't working for you. Please give us a call - 1-800-729-9607 - so we can help.