Garment bag help

OBOW has a reader in need of a carry-on garment bag recommendations. I used to travel almost exclusively with a garment bag but it has been years since I’ve used one. Can anyone recommend a good one? I like the looks of the Victorinox Travel Luggage Porter Garment Bag - Tri-Fold. (Siera Trading Post has it for under $90 at the moment) 

 

Below is another interesting one from US company SkyRoll, I’ll be reviewing one of these in the next month. The divas at divainacarryon like the rolling version; I’ll be testing the shoulder model.

 

 

The (unscientific) results are in...

Our “whaddaya carry” poll results are in: OBOW readers heavily prefer convertible backpack/shoulder bags and traditional shoulder bags to other types of luggage. As of today with 124 respondents, 47% go convertible, 29% shoulder their load,  and 17% roll. Duffel bags and  straight backpacks brought up the rear. I’m a little surprised rolling cases were not more popular. There’s a certain bias against them among the light travel crowd, but it’s not entirely deserved. They don’t work best for my type of travel, but it would be silly to say no intelligent traveler should use them.

 Our new poll asks “What brand of carry-on luggage do you use?” You may vote for multiple brands, but - unlike our first poll - you may only vote once. Not everyone’s brand will be found among the 19 choices so just vote OTHER if yours isn’t there…

United charges for second checked bag

According to USA Today United Airlines is now charging $25 for a second checked bag. The article offers this suggestion for skirting the fee:

…packing more in one bag without exceeding the 50-pound weight limit, packing more carry-on luggage, having a fellow traveler check the second bag (this would violate airport security rules), or bringing a bag that exceeds carry-on limits to the gate and checking it there.

Unfortunately, “packing more carry-on luggage” means more people bringing more overweight, oversized carryons which - if you’re lucky - won’t fall out of the overhead compartment and kill you. 

Me & Tom in London

Back in January I took a quick museum-hopping trip to London and good old Tom Bihn was right there with me. At least it felt that way. We took three TB bags: the Aeronaut, new Western Flyer, and a Large Cafe Bag (borrowed from my son) for everyday use.  It was my wife’s first one-bag experience. Usually we’re leading student trips and they all check bags, so she saw no point in going carryon-only. But a rare trip when she’s travelling only with me meant she could give one-bag a try. She’s sold. Skipping baggage claim and jumping straight onto a train from Heathrow was a delight. Crowded lifts, stairs, and escalators are much less hassle without a 30-pound rolling bag in tow. Ditto for wet streets and uneven sidewalks. Watching others struggle with their own personal baggage train on the Underground was further confirmation. Carrying everything on our backs or shoulders (at about 15 pounds per person thanks to her heavy textbooks) meant we could shop hotels. I wouldn’t recommend it in peak season, but we were able to get a much better rate by walking up to half-empty hotels than by reserving online. And the less you’re carrying - meaning you can turn and walk down the street - the easier it is to get a good rate.

 

Future posts will include a long-term test update on the Aeronaut, new review of the the Cafe Bag, and thoughts on winter clothing. 

Tom Bihn Western Flyer - Full user review

TOM BIHN WESTERN FLYER: Review summary – Unique, less-than-maximum-size two-compartment carry-on bag with built-in sling strap. Handmade in the USA. System design approach: packing cubes available, may be fitted with the highly-regarded Tom Bihn Brain Cell computer sleeve/bag. Versatile, may double as briefcase or everyday bag. High points: Perfect size for the ultra-light traveler or for anyone as an overnighter, adaptable to a variety of needs, low profile/high utility. Reserved good looks.

RATING: 4.5 stars, a One Bag, One World top pick.

I’m convinced that iconoclastic bag man Tom Bihn does things differently just because he can. And different is good in this case. The Western Flyer rises from the pack of bulging, cookie-cutter, maximum-legal-size carryons and heavy, over-padded, too-many-pockets laptop bags — and just sails away. Its compact profile means you can slice through the thickest crowds and navigate the narrowest aisles, then slot your bag in the slightest places. This is light travel.

 Getting acquainted

The Western Flyer is really different so it needs a full introduction. The basic shape is that of a traditional rectangular suitcase, divided into two equally-sized zippered interior compartments. At 18” x 12” x 7” it is well below the maximum carryon size of any airline I know of (Even the tiny Embraer 145 regional jet’s overhead compartments swallow the Western Flyer, and it may fit under some airline seats). The TB website lists the weight at 2.53 pounds but my luggage scale read barely over two pounds – very light indeed.

Each interior compartment is about 3.5” deep zips around three sides. Though of the same depth, the interior compartments differ significantly. Here’s how: The rear compartment has buckles (on the center wall) that will attach many of Tom Bihn’s Brain Cell armored-yet-compact computer sleeves. And they’re not just sleeves; they may be carried by a shoulder strap as stand-alone cases, adding utility for the traveler. Using an unpadded bag like the Flyer with a well-padded, removable sleeve like the Brain Cell makes for a flexible, multi-purpose solution. (We tested the Brain Cell for the 15.4” MacBook Pro), The rear compartment has semi-rigid foam padding on the outside wall. This adds structure and cushions the back when the bag is carried sling style (more on that below). The opposite compartment has a lightweight zippered nylon panel that turns it into two compartments. You can’t open the compartment like a book with the nylon panel zipped but it does give you two nice vertical sections which you can use for a pair of shoes (but maybe not bulky hiking boots), hair care stuff or toiletries, or bulky clothing items like a sweater or raincoat. The only minor hitch I experienced with the Flyer involved this panel. I hurriedly tried to zip it and boogered it up - finally freed it. This is probably normal for lightweight zippers; they just take a little more care.

The bag holds its shape and stands up nicely. This was especially convenient in our tiny London hotel room. With the long top side unzipped I could work out of the bag (which was standing against a wall) without lying if flat on the bed and opening it up. This may sound insignificant, but if you’ve ever stayed in one of those micro rooms you’ll understand.

The bag’s three front exterior pockets seem to have been specially designed to meet the challenges of the 21^st century airport experience. The open pocket with the scalloped opening is ideal for tucking boarding passes or guidebooks into. It has no closure so you must be careful of what you put in it if you are carrying the bag on your back or in crowds. The other two pockets are zippered. The smaller one is ideal for a phone, wallet, car keys, or small electronics that you want to keep handy. The larger pocket is perfect for a one-quart 3-1-1 liquid carry-on baggy. These pockets aren’t deep – so they can get tight – but that very tightness helps prevent bulging.

How does it pack?

The Flyer is incredibly versatile and I can imagine lots of uses for it, but let’s examine how it packs when used primarily as a suitcase. The two main compartments lack hold-down straps, but this is not as big a deal in a small case which will typically be tightly packed. Tom Bihn has introduced three zippered packing cubes just for the Flyer. There’s a full-size cube made of 200 denier nylon ripstop fabric and mesh which will fill an entire interior compartment, and two half-size cubes – one of fabric/mesh and one all-fabric. The half cubes are useful for holding shoes or extra clothing when the front compartment is divided by the zippered panel. I’ve found bundle packing techniques work about equally well at reducing wrinkles whether you use a bag with hold-downs or cubes. The Flyer is just large enough to use a slightly modified version of the best bundle packing method. If you wear XL-sized clothing the Flyer may not be large enough for bundle packing but for most of us some careful folding will result in reasonably presentable duds.

Carrying on regardless

There are three ways to carry the Western Flyer. There’s the old-school top handle which is nicely padded and easy on the hand. There are D-rings for attaching a shoulder strap. And I wouldn’t dream of purchasing a Flyer without the Tom Bihn Absolute Strap which is – hands down – the most comfortable shoulder strap available. The third way is the sling strap which folds and stows in a zippered compartment in the rear of the bag. The sling strap is an example of Tom Bihn’s non-traditional approach. Why the sling and why not backpack straps? Well, the sling is quick to attach and looks may have a slightly less scruffy, slightly more sophisticated look than a traditional backpack. The sling has another benefit: You can quickly pull the case around to the front of your body and access the front pockets – a nice benefit. Getting a traditional backpack off your shoulders can be a cumbersome operation. Also, the sling (which must go over the right shoulder) keeps your other shoulder available for a purse, briefcase, or computer bag. I’ve found that using a shoulder strap on top of a backpack strap is a pain. The sling solves this problem.

Is the sling strap comfortable? It depends on how heavily you’ve packed the bag. Under 15 pounds isn’t bad; over 15 pounds gets a little uncomfortable. The sling material is padded but still can cut into your collar bone or shoulder. Varying the length of the strap from time to time helps. It would be nice - but probably not cost-effective – to make the sling strap from the same stretchy material as the Absolute Strap.

NOTE - Something I didn’t originally notice is that, while the sling is meant to go over the right shoulder, it also works passably well as a shoulder strap on the left shoulder. This may help shift the burden if carrying a heavily-loaded bag. Just remember the sling isn’t tacky like the Absolute Strap, so it’s more likely to slip off when used on the left shoulder. In sling mode it can’t slip off - provided you stay upright!

I prefer the shoulder strap to the sling, but the sling is great for airplane boarding since it narrows your profile and makes that long shuffle back to economy easier. Again, I wouldn’t purchase it without the shoulder strap. Most travelers will use both methods – shoulder and sling – at one time or another. The sling strap folds and tucks neatly away in its own zipped pocket and the buckle on the bottom of the case disappears into a hidden fold. Another nifty point is an elastic pocket on the sling for a cell phone – nice touch.

Stealthy and speedy

The sling strap is part of what makes the Flyer so agile. The slim profile is another. To be honest, most soft-sided bags will bulge about two to three inches in width when fully packed. Since the Flyer starts at seven inches it bulges to more than nine. Maximum-size carryons often bulge to 11 or 12 inches. The bag’s 18” x 12” x 7” dimensions mean that, whether you carry on the hip or the back, the Flyer doesn’t add significantly to your width. This means less bumping and quicker transit. In London, the Flyer was a perfect for crowded Underground trains and escalators.

The slender Flyer looks more like a briefcase than a lumpy pack or suitcase. This means that if you arrive in a city before hotel check-in time and have a few hours to kill you can take your luggage with you for sightseeing or shopping without looking like a pack mule or a lost tourist.

Multi-tasking

How many uses might the Western Flyer have? That’s hard to say. It can be a primary one-bag solution for the ultra-light traveler, an overnighter for anyone, a highly-protective laptop bag with the addition of a Brain Cell, or a jump bag to keep packed with essentials for spur-of-the-moment, unexpected trips. Technicians might find it to be a good catch-all bag for tools, parts, and cables. Beauty queens might fill it with their coiffure kit. And some folks might make it an everyday briefcase or book bag.

The Flyer will hold enough clothes for a long trip for those who launder as they go. I found the Flyer to be fully adequate for a four-night trip to London in the dead of winter – which required bulkier clothing than I’d normally carry. The bottom line is this: If you often have much room to spare in your maximum-sized carryon the Flyer will probably work for you. Even if you often fill up a max-size bag, switching to a smaller bag may be just the thing you need to make you carry less. And you’re unlikely to regret carrying less.

I’ve resolved not to travel regularly with a laptop until I can get one in the three-pound range. Mating a slender Vaio or wispy MacBook Air with the Flyer would be an incredible combo that would allow you to travel with a computer and several days worth of clothing at under 15 pounds in one bag. That’s an enticing idea.

Bihn-built

Tom Bihn’s handmade bags are neatly finished and don’t look overbuilt even though they are. Heavy, hidden, well-turned seams are the norm. The look is modern without being flashy, cool without being trendy or cheap. The USA-made 1050 ballistic nylon has a nice stiffness which helps the bag hold its shape, and it has high abrasion resistance. The zippers are a gasketed waterproof-type. While not as silky smooth as regular heavy-duty zippers they make the bag virtually rainproof. What would you expect from a bag that hails from Seattle? And an excellent warranty means the bag might last as long as you will.

Size: WF vs. Aeronaut Dollars and sense

The Western Flyer is available direct from the Tom Bihn factory store for $150. The $25 Absolute Strap is a must, and I guarantee you’ll use it on another bag when you’re not using the Flyer – it’s that good. A packing cube or two at about $15 each is also a good idea, so the total cost of a well-equipped Western Flyer is about $200. This isn’t cheap, but it may be a good investment for the serious traveler. It’s hard to put a price on the time and aggravation a well-chosen bag may save.

Did I mention?

• The WF is available in only three colors: crimson, steel (gray), and black.

• The zip-divided compartment is excellent for shoes (might not be adequate for a large pair of hiking boots though).

• With a Brain cell in the rear compartment, about half of that section’s capacity is lost.

  However, there’s still plenty of room for computer stuff or printed material. You can also stow some flat stuff in the rear pocket that stows the sling strap.
  

• The front zippered pockets have o-rings for attaching TB’s key snaps and small pouches.

• The ends of the case sport low-profile padded handles that make it easy to retrieve the case from luggage compartments.
  

(Still to come: more pictures, Western Flyer in London, Tom Bihn Aeronaut test update, reviews of the Tom Bihn Cafe Bag and Brain Cells) *Thanks to Tom Bihn for the top set of pictures

London calling: not so fast

News of the imminent, widespread return of the personal item to carry-on travelers in the UK has been greatly exxagerated:

A plan to ease the one-piece cabin baggage restriction for airline passengers in January could lead to mass confusion, airport officials say.

The Department for Transport has said more than one piece will be allowed after 7 January, provided airports have purchased improved security scanners.

Yet airport operators say it is also up to airlines to decide if they want more cabin baggage on board flights. - BBC

Did you catch the poison pill? UK airports must have the new 3D-imaging x-ray scanners in place to allow the personal item. I’ll bet that means the change will come slowly to Heathrow and who-knows-when everywhere else. In the meantime assume that one bag really means ONE bag. 

Denierly going ballistic

Do you know the difference between Cordura and ballistic nylon? What’s “denier”? This thread from the Tom Bihn forum is very helpful in explaining the mystery of common luggage fabrics. One point is made that I can back up from personal experience: Don’t just buy by the numbers. Good American-made 1050 ballistic nylon is much better than the supposedly heavier Asian “1680” stuff. One of my co-workers bought a 1680-weight laptop bag from Amazon and it was frayed in only a few months.

Coming attractions

Coming my way in the next week are two exciting new bags that have engendered a good bit of discussion - the Red Oxx Sky Train and the production version of the Tom Bihn Western Flyer. The carry-on traveler’s options are increasing all the time and this specialized market is being driven largely by customer feedback and demand. And that’s a good thing. Wal-Mart doesn’t really care what you think. The much smaller travel goods manufacturers are typically very responsive.

MEI Executive Overnighter - Reader Review

(Thanks to OBOW reader Paul for this review of a bag we haven’t yet seen: the MEI Executive Overnighter - photos below) 

MEI Executive Overnighter - First impressions

Summary:

Well-designed 3- zip carry-on, similar to the Tough Traveller Tri Zip. Comfortable, well thought out shoulder straps. Hold-downs in main compartment. Outside snug straps to lessen bulge. High quality materials, handmade in the USA. Excellent packability.

Suggested improvements (note: I can personally live without these, but the Red Oxx Air Boss has addressed these items correctly and they would really work wonderfully with this product):

- make the front ‘outer’ pocket fully unzip (similar to the rear )

- The photos on the MEI website show the side handle(s) as two webbing loops, sewn down the side of the bag, meeting and joined by a leather ‘snap’ wrap (a la the Air Boss). However, the version as supplied shows a arrangement identical to the Voyageur, a molded plastic and web handle that is (heavily) sewed to the side of the bag (on top of one end of the outer snug straps). I don’t believe this is a bad design - I’m not seen any complaints in my research - but the other design would seem to bear the packed load better. I would perhaps suggest returning to that design. Time will tell if this is an issue or not.

- Add a discreet handle on either (or both) end(s) of the bag, to facilitate extracting from an overhead storage bin.

Like many readers of OBOW, I am a frequent carry-on business traveler in search of a well-made bag that will carry all of my business kit. My requirements were narrowed down to a carry-on sized, 3 compartment bag, that not only can be carried by a handle or shoulder strap, but has backpack straps, which I use frequently and is a prime requirement of mine, both for business and leisure travel. For biz travel, my Victorinox 2-zip carry on worked adequately, except that I could not include my laptop inside the bag - so I carried a separate laptop bag, which is what I wanted to eliminate.

In short, I researched and reviewed the alternatives as much as I could, and dropped them one by one. The current king, the Red Oxx Air Boss, would have been perfect, save that it did not have the backpack straps (I also eliminated the new Sky Train, both because it’s a 2 compartment zip - like the Victorinox - and I was not pleased with the non-ergo backpack strap design). I next considered the Tough Traveller Tri Zip, but after the excellent review on OBOW, reading Maharashii’s forum on his carry on search, and reviewing the basic backpack strap design, I eliminated it. I also eliminated the Easy Going Carryon, due to lack of backpack straps.

What I settled on is the MEI Executive Overnighter. This seemed to fit my requirements, (although the MEI website is somewhat limited on details, and shows only 2 photos) so based on reviews of the MEI Voyageur I decided to purchase.

Dimensions (approximate per my measurements):

Length 19.5 “

Width 11”

Height 14”

Rear Compartment 6”

Mid Compartment 3.25”

Front Compartment 1.75”

First impressions are very favorable. The bag is very nicely constructed, in 1000 D Cordura with a lighter internal material in black. (A note here about MEI customer service: Ahmed, the owner was excellent, calling me on a number of occasions to keep me abreast of the status, and on one occasion to tell me that the fabric in the khaki color I ordered was actually delivered to him in ‘taupe’ - a sort of medium brown / bronze - and he offered me the choice of this or another color. I elected to go with the taupe, and am very pleased with the appearance. It’s distinctive enough to be very recognizable at a glance but still understated, the way I prefer. I can say that I am very pleased with their service.)

The rear compartment is 6” deep and is the primary place where clothes go. In a ‘test pack’ I conducted, based on my usual 10-14 day complement of ‘business casual’ attire, it swallowed everything with room to spare. Also, there are 2 compression straps that snug everything tight against the inner wall (which is reinforced with a layer of foam). I use both packing cubes and Eagle Creek folding squares, which I definitely recommend.

The mid compartment is 3.25” wide and is perfect for carrying my Dell laptop, in it’s Tom Bihn Brain Cube (another excellent product….) with plenty of room for PC accessories packed in a Eagle Creek ‘half cube’, along with my gym shoes in a shoe bag. (A hint for TSA inspections: I was ‘inspected’ twice on previous trips until I figured out that the blocky Dell power supply was the object of the TSA search. Now, I not only put the laptop in the inspection bin but also the half cube with the power supply. Bingo, no more rifling through my bag.)

The front compartment is 1.75” in width, and I put one of my 2 folding squares there (with room left over for thin/small odds and ends) which adds a bit of protection for my laptop (as if it needs more than the Brain Cell). However, I could easily place this in the back and save this room for my book, magazine / newspaper, etc. that I generally carry for amusement. In addition, there are some smaller zip-pockets inside this compartment that can hold some smaller odds and ends.

On that score, there also is a fill length zip lengthwise across the front, that creates another space perfect for the aforementioned magazines, airline tickets etc. This pocket sits to the outside when the bag is carried via the shoulder strap.

As to the backpack straps, they are a duplicate of those on the Voyageur, with a nice sternum strap. The only difference is the waistband is a pair of webbing straps, with a large plastic clip to connect them together, different from the Voyageur design of 2 padded ‘wings’ either side of the waist. Not as comfortable, but saves a lot of space that I personally like. The straps are easily the most comfortable of the designs I have experience with, although slightly thicker than most.

The bag came with a nicely designed shoulder strap, with a thick pad and length adjustment from both ends of the strap. I currently have a strap with a gel-based pad that I prefer, but the included one is better than most I’ve seen provided as standard.

The bag comes standard with a MEI-made suiter accessory, but Ahmed indicated that he currently did not have any of them in stock and will send this accessory to me as soon as they become available, so I cannot currently comment on that function. However, the bad requires no modifications to use it and no extra charge.

All in all, I feel that this bag is a high quality, practical alternative in this market, given the limited amount of available products in the 3-zip category. For me, this bag is better overall than the Tri Zip, although the Air Boss has some features (not to mention it’s truly bulletproof construction, which really seems to be in a class above) that would adapt to this bag beautifully.

 

Update on March 29, 2008 by Frank@OBOW

Click on the photos to see a larger version. These illustrate Paul’s comments below:

 

Update on July 7, 2008 by Frank@OBOW

Here are pictures of the updated EO from Skip:

“Here are some new shots of the MEI Executive Overnighter I got.  I tried to get shots of the changes…showing that all 3 compartments open out flat, the new second pocket on the outside, the new handles on the end (cool pattern on the fabric), the “key clip”, etc.”

 

 

 

 

 

TSA says be neat or be delayed!

Messy packers, you and the TSA have issues:

WASHINGTON — Airline passengers, who already are required at airport checkpoints to remove their shoes, take off their coats and carry only small bottles of liquids, now have a new task: Pack neatly.
In anticipation of the most popular holiday for travel in the USA, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today launches a campaign urging travelers to eliminate clutter in carry-on bags. Pack in layers. Keep items neat.
Messy travelers could spend more time in line if their carry-ons are cluttered because such bags are more likely to be pulled aside and searched by hand, TSA spokeswoman Ellen Howe says. - USA Today

From the TSA site:
—
Here’s how to SimpliFLY your overall security experience:

• Pack an organized carry-on bag using layers – a layer of clothes, then electronics, more clothes, and then other items like toiletries. This will help security officers see what’s in your bag.
• Have your boarding pass and ID ready for inspection when you get to the checkpoint.
• Remove your coat and shoes and place them in a bin.
• Place any oversized electronics (laptops, full-size video game consoles, DVD players and video cameras that use cassettes) in a separate bin. iPods and other smaller electronics can stay in your carry-on bag.
• Follow the 3-1-1 rule for liquids and put your one quart baggie separately in the bin.
• When in doubt, leave it out. If you’re not sure about whether you can bring an item through the checkpoint, put it in your checked bag or leave it at home. Click here to see the list of prohibited items.
  —
  

I’m guessing packing cubes are OK, but probably the more translucent the better. Some of us will take a little umbrage at being told to “neaten up,” I’ll bet. Here are some TSA example photos (left good, right bad, if the shoe fits wear it!):

 

Heavy bags = unhealthy spines

An orthopedic and sports medicine specialist says choose carefully if you’ve got a big load to lug:

 

Design is more important than you think. If you’re hauling a heavy load, look for a bag that carries most of the weight near your spine, or the center of your body, which means less stress, (Dr. Robert) Pedowitz says. His top recommendation is a dual-strap bag.
Messenger bags are OK if you carry most of the weight on your butt as opposed to one side. Large purses and bags that you carry on one shoulder or by hand are the worst offenders, Pedowitz says. “They can strain your hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder,” he says.

 

 I believe the magic number for normal- and small-framed people is around 15 pounds. Exceed that weight for long (on your shoulder) and you’re in for some real discomfort unless you have wheels or a real backpack with with a good suspension system. The story referenced above mentions college students who struggle with 20-pound laptop and messenger bags. Portable computers are indeed the chief offender these days; they always add 4-12 pounds. If you must travel with one you’ll be hard pressed to to keep your total carried weight much below 20 pounds. 

More one-bag rule news from the UK

It sounds like the UK will ease its one-bag/no personal item rule in early 2008, but there is some waffle room for the authorities and some bureaucratic hoops involved: 

”From 7 January airports will be able to seek permission to let more than one item of hand luggage be taken on board flights by passengers.

Size restrictions on liquids and cabin luggage will remain and Ms Kelly said it was “not about relaxing” security.

In order to be able to relax the “one bag rule”, airports will have to apply to the Department for Transport and prove they have the necessary screening measures to handle extra cabin luggage.” - BBC

UK one-bag rule on the way out!

UK PM Gordon Brown has good news for the carry-on traveler:

Releasing a government report to the House of Commons, Mr. Brown also said British airports would begin relaxing their rules on hand luggage so that in some airports passengers would be able to take two carry-on bags beginning in 2008. Since a foiled plan to blow up trans-Atlantic planes in the summer of 2006, passengers at British airports have been restricted to one carry-on bag. - The New York Times

Less is more: the svelte Western Flyer from Tom Bihn

Sometimes maximum legal carry-on size is more than you need, and if you go ultra-light it’s almost always more than you need.  Tom Bihn is preparing a new smaller carry-on entry in response to customer requests and his own travel experience: the Western Flyer, a trim, versatile, innovative bag that can ride on the shoulder or function as a sling bag - sort of like a one-strap back pack:

“The Western Flyer is a small carry-on bag similar to the Aeronaut in function. It’s volume is about 25 liters or a little more than half the Aeronaut’s volume. Rather than convert to a backpack as the Aeronaut does, it has a sling-bag strap, like the Buzz. This strap is designed to be worn cross-body on the right shoulder; it zips away when not in use. A Poron padded handle and two heavy metal “D” rings (for an optional shoulder strap) allow you to carry it the conventional ways too. The Western Flyer has three exterior pockets (two zip closed) and two equal-sized main compartments (like the Brain Bag). The front compartment can be further divided in two with a zip-out divider, creating two compartments well sized for shoes. The back compartment has webbing loops so you can use annex clips to secure a Brain Cell (horizontal or vertical; we’ll let you know soon which sizes fit, not all for sure). Matching packing cubes will follow shortly. The Western Flyer is made of 1050 ballistic nylon in crimson, steel or black; lined with Dyneema/nylon ripstop. Ships late December or early January, we hope! [Available for pre-order before then]” — posted by Tom Bihn in the Forums

I have a prototype of this bag in my possession but have not had time to evaluate it fully. My first impression is that it’s a tremendous design and I can imagine about twenty ways people (not just travelers) will use it. My wife has already taken it on an overnight trip and she really liked the zipper divider mentioned above. I couldn’t envision its usefulness, but for her it was perfect for dividing her hair stuff and cosmetics. This bag is a chameleon and I’m guessing Tom will enjoy hearing about all the ways people will use it. I can see it as a primary one-bag solution for the really light traveler, a carryon for people who check bags, an overnighter for practically anyone, and - properly equipped - as an everyday laptop/briefcase thought that’s not its intended function. The Tom Bihn blog has a few pictures. I won’t photograph my prototype since I don’t think it is fully representative of the final design.

(Photo) from Tom Bihn blog)

 

Brain Cell gets brawnier

Tom Bihn has announced an upgrade to his highly-regarded Brain Cell laptop case/sleeve: an extra layer.
—
“FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TOM BIHN Brain Cell Laptop Case Adds Memory Foam

SEATTLE, WA — November 7th, 2007

The TOM BIHN Brain Cell laptop case has gained a reputation for offering
the best protection one can get for their laptop short of using a heavy
metal briefcase. The Brain Cell cradles laptops in 8mm thick soft foam
padding, suspends them in a 4mm hard corrugated plastic insert that
protects from the front, back, and bottom, and protects them at the
sides with dense cross-linked closed-cell polyethylene foam.

And now that protection is even better. All Brain Cells now have an new
fifth layer of protection: 12mm thick premium memory foam, manufactured
to our specifications in the U.S.A. The layer of memory foam is fixed to
the corrugated plastic floor of the Brain Cell, separating the bottom of
the foam sling from the corrugated plastic shell. The memory foam acts
as an extra layer of cushion as well as an effective shock absorber.”

—

The nifty Brain Cells clip in to many Tom Bihn bags and lots of travelers use the Brain Cell to tuck a laptop into an unpadded bag or carry-on luggage. The come highly recommended from a variety of users.

Multi-tasking with the Air Boss

Here’s a tale from a traveling photographer who has decided that his next camera bag will not be a camera bag:

My solution is not a camera bag at all. I’ve looked at Moose Peterson’s bags and I think he comes close to my needs. But I want a bag I can throw my laptop into and not be forced to strap it to the side. Or at least I want the option to do either. The bag that I think comes closest is a Red Oxx Air Boss. The Air Boss, some GearWraps, and a thin sleeve for my laptop will protect my gear against bumps and save me 5+ pounds. And it’ll fit into bins.

RED OXX seems to make some of the most bomb-proof travel kit out there. On a side note, be careful with the words “bomb-proof” when travelling. An airport security officer recently remarked on my Stormcase as I threw it on the belt. He said it looked tough. I said it was “bomb-proof.” He suggested I not say that again. Momentary lapse in judgement - it had been a long, long day.

He makes a great point that I learned many years ago as a photojournalist: Padding wastes space and creates uneccessary bulk. Use specific padding (like wraps) or improvised padding (like clothes your taking anyway) to maximize efficiency. And a quality laptop sleeve - like those from Tom Bihn -  can turn any bag into a computer bag.

 See our review of the Air Boss here.

You'll be the most popular person in the strip search line

The SKEENER from Skooba Designs will make you the hit of the airport. Is this the first tongue-in-check messenger/laptop bag? From the Skooba site:

This is a courier-style laptop bag with a unique graphic treatment that is bound to turn some heads. The front flap of each Skreener is printed with an actual X-ray of items typically found in laptop and travel bags—computer, phone, music device, batteries, cords, and much more. The designers at Skooba actually “shot” these genuine X-rays themselves and reproduced them in a choice of 3 different flap themes and colors. They may not be enough to bypass airport security, but they certainly will entertain. Yet despite the fun cover treatment, the bags are all business, with Air Square laptop protection, dual audio pockets with individual earphone ports (one for music, one for phone), an expandable main compartment, and over a dozen other pockets and compartments for organizing office, school or tech accessories.

The bag: $119. The resulting cavity search: Priceless. 

Something new in the air: Sky Train from Red Oxx

The Red Oxx Air Boss has a new “second cousin” with backpack straps:

“Designed for the leisure traveler going to Europe or beyond. The ability to transition from plane to train keeps you moving on and not waiting for lost luggage.

Red Oxx teamed up again with web author and travel expert Doug Dyment of OneBag.com fame to develop this new carry on bag. Utilizing 2 main compartments, the Sky Train Carry On features 1 outside zippered pocket. The main compartment has tie downs that cinch down to the closed cell foam securing your clothing. These tie-downs work to keep your slacks and dress shirts wrinkle-free until you can hang them up in the hotel. Easily holds three pairs of slacks and three blouses with room for a light jacket as well.” — this information from the Red Oxx website. 

We heard about this new bag months ago and look forward to having a look at one. I’m told there will be more photos up on the Red Oxx site within the next week.

Surveying the Empire (Builder)

NotebookReview.com sizes up the Tom Bihn Empire Builder briefcase and likes what it sees:

“On the subject of construction, this is another area where the Empire Builder truly shines. The bag is impeccably constructed with tight seams and very sturdy stitching. Both the nylon and Cordura materials have a great feel to them and I think they would take a lot to rip or tear through. Each of the three main zippers is of the heavy duty metal kind and is uncoated, so they do jingle about when walking. But as a tradeoff, they’re so sturdy that under normal usage there’s no fear of these things breaking off at any point before the end of time. Additionally, all of the exposed zippers are covered in a rubbery material that lies flat when the zipper is closed. This has the effect of making the zipper seams highly water resistant (although not water proof).”

The E.B. (which Tom says took three years to design) would make an excellent personal item bag for the carry-on traveler who needs to carry a computer - meaning practically everyone. If the E.B. is a little to large or  too corporate for you check out its little brother the Zephyr, or its hip cousins the ID, Ego, and Super Ego. These are all rugged well-designed bags. And they’re cool too.

Here are more reviews for the Empire Builder: OhGizmo!, Gagdets for Legal Pros, & Apple Matters

Trolling for luggage

Some may consider ebags.com the Wal-Mart of luggage. They are the big box superstore to be sure, but they have a surprising variety and you can’t argue with the price. I would rather direct you to small American luggage manufacturers, but that’s not where everyone is going to turn. So here are some interesting options for the light, carry-on traveler gleaned from the thousands upon thousands of eBags offerings:

• eBags Weekender Convertible - at  $60 you shouldn’t expect this carry-on backpack to last a lifetime, but it is a stunning value. I began light travel with this bag and it always impresses me when I pick it up.
• The Great Conversion by Columbia - a $100 maximum carryon-sized pack available in shocking safety orange. Like the Weekender above it has very helpful compression straps.
• Victorinox Standard Traveler 3.0 Standard Overnighter - a trim convertible pack that expands to near maximum carryon size - $120
• Victorinox Mobilizer NXT 3.0 Standard Issue 2-Zip Expandable Overnighter - gee, Victorinox must pay their marketing people by the word! This is a classy, heavy, heavy-duty, traditional shoulder bag/suitcase (hah - lots of words). Now on sale for $199. A poor man’s Tumi.
• Filson Large Carry-On Bag - nothing says “I’ve got a lot of money and I’m not afraid to spend it on fishing and hunting trips” like a Filson. Seriously, Filson makes good stuff. I own a good bit of their clothing. Made in the USA, $375.
• Patagonia One Bag - love the size, loads of versatility. $128 (Nan - thanks for the reminder)
  

More to come…