Hello:

After reading the reviews and brosuing the various sites I amy trying to desicde between the Red Oxx Sky Train and the Tom Bihn Aeromaut. Unfortunately I am having a hard time determiing which bag is best for me. I am looking for a carry-on that can take me through Europe for 1-1/2 weeks and still be used for business trips 3-5 days. Once you figure in the Absolute Strap and two cubes for the Aeronaut the cost between the two units is basically the same.

Which of the two bags (Aeronaut / Sky Train) would you recommend & why?

Thank you for your assistance.

Steve

Funny you should ask. While I've been waiting for the Sky Train review to appear here -- hi, Brad :) -- I decided to order both for myself and see which makes the most sense for the traveling I do. Now I won't be taking both on a trip, so there may be some practical nuances I miss (e.g., which stuffs better into an overhead bin), but I will be using various packing methods to see which accommodates enough stuff for a 2-week non-tropical trip (assuming laundry services are available), carrying each bag a mile or so via shoulder- and backpack-straps, crunching the contents, and seeing on balance which will work better for me. Then I'll return the "loser" to its manufacturer (at a slight cost in postage). I should add that I've ordered the Aeronaut with some Bihn packing cubes, and I already have an Absolute Strap from an earlier Bihn purchase (a Zephyr that I like very much). I should have some results in early August.

Have you had a chance to do this head to head comparison? I would be very interested in the results.

Cheers,
Brian

I've used the Tom Bihn that includes back straps. For all, but not most, of my trip, I would have preferred the RedOxx without the straps, The straps just get in the way and could be used for packing other items,

Overall, the RedOxx is built more ruggedly, The Tom Beihn is good but Red Oxx excels in this department from material to zippers.

Tom Biehns' "end caps" were a nice idea but got in the way more than helped. The limited space left after the end caps made traveling with a suit nearly impossible,

Bottom line: RedOxx has more usable space, superior quality whereas the Tom Beihn struck me as a very good gym back but not an extended travel bag. Still, both bags made it through some difficult situations and you'll not be disappointed with the build quality of either one,

I have my Sky Train review almost completed - should be posted this week. Some of what I'll have to say will back up what Scott has said, though I prefer the Aeronaut for leisure travel.

I've used the Aeronaut for the last 4 years now (in the fantastic Hunter Green - no longer available), and have packed just about everything in it. I especially like the end handles as they allow you to hold the bag in a vertical position when moving in the airplane aisle. Also, I prefer a slimmer profile, which I think rests against your body better. I don't own the Sky Train, but to me, the Aeronaut back straps seem more contoured and a bit more substantial. I'm not sure about the Aeronaut being less rugged: it has yet to split, crack, or fail in anyway. I have a Tom Bihn Brain Bag - used almost continuously for 9 years, and it has yet to pop even a seem.

I use the bundle packing approach with the Aeronaut all the time. What I do - even before I got the Aeronaut specific packing cubes - is to pack underwear, socks, T-shirts into a smallish mesh bag. I wrap my pants, shirts, etc. around it. And then I put the whole lot into a larger mesh bag (e.g., laundry mesh bag) and then into the Aeronaut. I sometimes wish it came with internal compression straps but to be honest, it's never really made any difference if I use some enclosing mesh bags. A large suit jacket can pose some challenges, but then again, you might be better off wearing the bulkier items as most travel specialists advise anyways. The Absolute Shoulder strap is a must! The end pockets can fit my shoes - size 11 dress shoes. I think size 12 would be the absolute maximum. I also find that after I've packed the Aeronaut, there often is some space "up top" above the packing cubes that I can shove a rolled up sweater, a gadget bag (e.g., power cords, mouse), or camera lenses.

I own a RedOxx SkyTrain, and recently completed a 2 week business trip carrying the following:

- Suit
- 3 dress shirts
- 1 pants
- Assorted shirts, socks, underwear, ties
- Laptop + power cord + GPS
- Shoe trees
- Quarter cube for toiletries

I never had a problem fitting this bag in the overhead compartment, no matter how small the plane. It also always fits under the seat when necessary. Total weight under 15 pounds, with a lot of this weight dedicated to the laptop (a 12" iBook).

I really wanted to get the Aeronaut, but the design of the SkyTrain (large compartment, compression straps for bundle wrapping) is much better for packing a suit. Wearing a suit is out of the question, since it will wrinkle terribly and you definitely risk getting it soiled while traveling. The Aeronaut is probably much better for general travel, as long as you pack inside packing cubes.

A comment on the bulging: This is definitely something to think about, since it leaves the outer pocket of the SkyTrain largely unusable. I ended up keeping it empty for the most part.

@Ozone: The SkyTrain has an "end" handle as well for carrying vertically. Maybe the AirBoss doesn't, but SkyTrain does for sure.

I don't own any of the Bihn bags, but I absolutely love my SkyTrain. I use cubes, but only small ones, and only for toiletries and other small items. I don't like the idea of giving up weight and space to the cubes themselves.

I really liked the smaller straps on the SkyTrain, but that may be because I'm small :) They were very comfortable and easy to stow when I didn't need them.

So my 2c goes to Red Oxx.

Well, since everybody likes the SkyTrain so much, I had to take another look at it, and I'll agree that it might better suit the bundle wrapping technique. I personally admit that I'm not crazy about the clear tubing used for handles: looks out-of-place to me, but hey, they do seem functional and are definitely "not your usual business luggage"!

I have to disagree with Viet however saying that wearing a suit must definitely leave one terribly wrinkled. It all depends on the suit material and cut. I deliberately buy suits, shirts, and pants that have a much finer and wrinkle resistant weave. I've often worn jackets and suits and stepped off the plane or train looking quite acceptable. I think that if your clothes wrinkle that badly from just wearing them, you're going to have trouble regardless of your bag or packing method.

As for getting them dirty in travel, well, I admit I usually spill food or drink more often at the business dinner than on the plane! Better pack a bib...

Here's one from an older traveler. Eleven years ago we bought two Borneo Bags from Magellan's. They aren't made or sold anymore. Our bags have been to Scotland five times, India once, Netherlands once, Tibet and Changdu once. They still have lots of life in them and will last until I am too old to travel. They're unstructured with backpack straps, a shoulder strap, end and side handles and two ourside flat pockets. We've had no problem meeting carry-on requirements. Somebody needs to bring them back. Also check Duluth Pack for some neat Made In American personal item size bags. I've use these for years too.

I'm hoping that the new Tom Bihn TriStar will end this debate for me. I looked at the Aeronaut, Air Boss, and Skytrain, and here's my opinion, for what its worth.

The Aeronaut's end pockets are somewhat useful, but the way the main compartment opens is a real pain, especially when packing larger items or a large bundle.

The AirBoss and Skytrain are better suited to business travel, since they open flat and use the available space better.

The Aeronaut has the best backpack straps (The AirBoss doesn't have backpack straps).

I ended up buying the Aeronaut. I'm happy with it, but want something different for business travel.

I have had a bag with similar layout and size to the Aeronaut for almost 20 years. It's a Mandarina Duck from the Tank series. Still looks good. Just some plastic liner from the handle fell off.

I agree that this layout is not super practical especially for packing suits. When you put shoes in the side pockets it makes the rest of that space hardly usable in my eyes. The spaces are just too different. If you just want to stuff it like a pita bread, then it holds a lot of things. Would be alright for one huge bundle in the center and some extras in the side pockets. The problem is on mine I cannot fit a pair of dress shoes into one side pocket. So I barricade both pockets, each with one shoe.

Look into the MEI packs. There backpack straps look very good. Otherwise, for business packing needs and looks, I recommend the Briggs Riley 235x. But it doesn't have a backpack function.

I own both an Air Boss (not a Skytrain), a Patagonia MLC and an Aeronaut, and I think this thread misses two things about the Aeronaut.

First, while it is not the best choice for packing a suit, there are internal snaps which, when undone, allow the main compartment to push into one of both of the end pockets, making the central compartment bigger.

Second, there are lots of little design tweaks in the Aeronaut which make it carry and "hang" better. It doesn't bulge, even when fully packed. It stays slim. It carrys well, both on the shoulder, the back and in the hand. (The odd shape of the opening to the main compartment is partly responsible--there is a reason it is the way it is.)

It took me a while to get used to the layout of the Aeronaut, but because of the thoughtfulness of the design, I find I use it more and more, and leave my other bags at home.

bb

I have been going back and forth between these bags and I am pretty much convinced that I am going to get the Aeronaut. Firstly from what everone says I like the fact it keeps it form better. Looking at the bags I think it also has a really nice look and the options on how to carry it. Plus I have heard as a backpack it is very comflortable, same with the shoulder strap.
I do have some concerns about the two side pockets and having less usable space in the main compartment but at the same time I can see the value of separating shoes and some other things.

the only thing that has held me back slightly from ordering one is I am not sure if a 15 inch macbook pro would fit in the main compartment if I wanted to use it strictly as a one bag carry one for those few flights were you are are only allowed ONE item.

Shane... I will allay your fears. I just stuffed my old 17" Powerbook (including a neoprene case around it) into my wife's regularly sized Aeronaut and yes, it does fit into the main compartment. Now you do have to unsnap the inner straps in the main compartment. These little straps "compress" the backside a little bit so that the Aeronaut conforms to your waist a little better, but you can unsnap them to get a little more room. The problem that I can possibly see is if you're stuffing the main compartment to the limit - because the 17" laptop fills the full length of the main compartment, you might not be able to get the Aeronaut to bend naturally as it wants to and you might not be able to pack every little nook and cranny.

I would think this should be less of a problem with a 15". Me? I went and picked up a 1st generation MB Air on demo sale a few months ago. One of the best decisions I ever made...

thanks Ozone. this is making the choice easy now....