_2024 is indeed proving to be a fascinating year!_ You have traveled with and reviewed convertible backpacks and I purchased my first wheeled hard side in many many years! But unlike my early years traveling corporate and having my company pay the tab for the luggage fees and the porter when my Briggs & Riley made sense..... I recently chose a polycarbonate zipperless trunk style carry-on .. and so far the clunk-clunk of the wheels haven't driven me crazy🎉
Hopefully people will understand that there are a wide variety of suitcases, carryons, backpacks, etc. and many of them will be carefully designed and well constructed, but not everyone will like the same thing. We are all individuals in different shapes and sizes, so some things that work for other people might not be our cup-of-tea. Your review makes perfect sense. 😊
People often confuse one bag travel with one bag for all types of trouble not the case. I have lightweight bags I can live for months in tropical areas and I have Heavy Duty Bags for gear. Some are backpacks and some are duffels. One bag travel just means that you're traveling with one bag therefore skirting right through the airport, ignoring baggage claim court, stopping at a cafe on the way to your hotel and having freedom!
Tom Bihn backpacks are amazing!I couldn’t carry a 45L backpack though, I would need wheels at that capacity. I have the Aeronaut 30, which is my favorite travel backpack. 30L is a sweet spot to carry a decent amount of stuff, and still be comfortable on the back.
Personally, I fluctuate between a 28/30 litre Osprey which is rather lightweight and my 40 litre heavier bags such as Tom Bihn. Both sizes have their purpose depending on season, length of stay Etc. When I want to go ballistic, I go Tom Bihn!
I'm happy to see you giving this bag and all Tom Bihn products fair and unbiased reviews. You know the type of travel your body agrees with and that's what comes with consummate traveling. Before I move to Seattle Tom Bihn just had this "dad's bag" reputation as they weren't that "pretty" .... but since I've never purchased a bag on whether or not it was "attractive" the Techonaut was one of my first bags I bought once I got to see the showroom and the many materials. 95% of my travels I use a convertible backpack such as the Technonaut. I carry duffel style when I'm boarding the flight or when I'm waiting in line at a larger airport but anytime that I am walking I have it backpack style. Tuckable backpack straps or a must in this case! Carrying heavy tech is never advised and when I have had to I would sometimes put the heavier items in a personal size rather than weigh down my back. One of the great things I've always loved about Tom Bihn bags is the choices in interior/exterior materials and this includes ballistic or lightweight. Indeed, one can customized in any way you choose! PS... just this morning I got an email from Tom Bihn that they had released a new color... KIWI! 😊
Looks like a flimsy harness for such a big bag. Osprey does a great work by adding the hiking backpack systems into the travel bags. The fairview for women is amazing. Most comfortable bag ever to carry a lot of weight. I am enjoying your videos. Thanks….
Hoping that you will do a new video on the new European carry on rules and some suggestions you have for luggage and carry on bags. It seems to impact most carry on sizes today which have a 9" depth, and the personal item bags like the Bento bag, and many others.
This was a great and fair review. I too have had back problems and just cannot wear a big heavy pack on my back, so I appreciate your comments. I don't have any TB items, but have been tempted for a long time. Probably would have several if I had the chance to go to their showroom lol. The quality of materials and workmanship is superior.
I honestly don't understand the fascination with Tom Bihn. I do have some of their products for everyday use, but for travel I prefer bags with load lifters and sturdy hip straps. If you have a great bag that fits your body, all the weight is on your hips. I will say, in my 50s, I prefer a roller bag when possible, however, they do hold less due to the wheels taking up space. It's a trade off.
I originally bought the 45L, it was sooo large I had to return it, and I exchanged it for the 30L. I loved the layout so much which is why I did an exchange vs a return. I’m only 5’2”, so unfortunately the 30L is still too large and heavy when fully packed out. I found because of the soft sided material that when you pack it, it bulges out and makes the structure even wider, which as a smaller person makes it harder and heavier to carry. It’s too spendy to be this awkward. I imagine it would be much more user friendly for taller/larger bodies people. Tom Bihn missed the mark on this one by not including load lifters. BUT, I do love the color scheme I selected.
The shoulder straps tend to sit on the edge of the shoulder and dig into that sensitive painful area - your experience was normal! A lot of people can't wear Tom Bihn backpacks because of this.
I think these types of bags are just hard for women in general! Our upper bodies just aren’t as strong. Maybe they could make a hip bag for us?! lol. Unless you get like a 30 liter and do super minimalist packing. I love Tom Bihn and tried to do one bag packing with the Synik30 and it’s just so hard! Most people that do this a lot only pack like very light athletic clothes I’ve noticed.
Another wonderful review Lauren and I thank you. You were the first person to introduce me to the love of traveling with just one carry on bag and I'm now obsessed. Question seeing that this is all new to me. I noticed that there were no load lifters on the straps. For this size bag I've heard that's game changing. Do you think it would've helped sit better on your back and hips? Or was this bag constructed well enough to where it didn't need that additional support? Just bought my first Tom Bihn bag (daylight backpack) and am waiting anxiously for it in the mail. Using it mainly for a packable backpack. Just dipping my toes in this area to start.
I don't know what it is, but the way the top grab handle is oriented, bugs me. It's tough to carry a fully packed 45L on your back without the features of a trekking backpack. Anybody would have a problem. I have a backpack with a similar design with an upper and lower compartment and it's very functional.
I think because I have climbed mountains in thru-hiked with 50 to 60 litre backpacks laden with food AND water and accoutrement that to me a 40 L is not large at all!😅
How would you carry this backpack out the 3 different ways? Let’s talk about it!
_2024 is indeed proving to be a fascinating year!_ You have traveled with and reviewed convertible backpacks and I purchased my first wheeled hard side in many many years! But unlike my early years traveling corporate and having my company pay the tab for the luggage fees and the porter when my Briggs & Riley made sense..... I recently chose a polycarbonate zipperless trunk style carry-on .. and so far the clunk-clunk of the wheels haven't driven me crazy🎉
Hopefully people will understand that there are a wide variety of suitcases, carryons, backpacks, etc. and many of them will be carefully designed and well constructed, but not everyone will like the same thing. We are all individuals in different shapes and sizes, so some things that work for other people might not be our cup-of-tea. Your review makes perfect sense. 😊
People often confuse one bag travel with one bag for all types of trouble not the case. I have lightweight bags I can live for months in tropical areas and I have Heavy Duty Bags for gear. Some are backpacks and some are duffels. One bag travel just means that you're traveling with one bag therefore skirting right through the airport, ignoring baggage claim court, stopping at a cafe on the way to your hotel and having freedom!
Tom Bihn backpacks are amazing!I couldn’t carry a 45L backpack though, I would need wheels at that capacity. I have the Aeronaut 30, which is my favorite travel backpack. 30L is a sweet spot to carry a decent amount of stuff, and still be comfortable on the back.
Personally, I fluctuate between a 28/30 litre Osprey which is rather lightweight and my 40 litre heavier bags such as Tom Bihn. Both sizes have their purpose depending on season, length of stay Etc. When I want to go ballistic, I go Tom Bihn!
I'm happy to see you giving this bag and all Tom Bihn products fair and unbiased reviews. You know the type of travel your body agrees with and that's what comes with consummate traveling.
Before I move to Seattle Tom Bihn just had this "dad's bag" reputation as they weren't that "pretty" .... but since I've never purchased a bag on whether or not it was "attractive" the Techonaut was one of my first bags I bought once I got to see the showroom and the many materials.
95% of my travels I use a convertible backpack such as the Technonaut. I carry duffel style when I'm boarding the flight or when I'm waiting in line at a larger airport but anytime that I am walking I have it backpack style. Tuckable backpack straps or a must in this case!
Carrying heavy tech is never advised and when I have had to I would sometimes put the heavier items in a personal size rather than weigh down my back.
One of the great things I've always loved about Tom Bihn bags is the choices in interior/exterior materials and this includes ballistic or lightweight. Indeed, one can customized in any way you choose!
PS... just this morning I got an email from Tom Bihn that they had released a new color... KIWI! 😊
Looks like a flimsy harness for such a big bag. Osprey does a great work by adding the hiking backpack systems into the travel bags. The fairview for women is amazing. Most comfortable bag ever to carry a lot of weight. I am enjoying your videos. Thanks….
Hoping that you will do a new video on the new European carry on rules and some suggestions you have for luggage and carry on bags. It seems to impact most carry on sizes today which have a 9" depth, and the personal item bags like the Bento bag, and many others.
This was a great and fair review. I too have had back problems and just cannot wear a big heavy pack on my back, so I appreciate your comments. I don't have any TB items, but have been tempted for a long time. Probably would have several if I had the chance to go to their showroom lol. The quality of materials and workmanship is superior.
That’s pretty unique, I love the contrasting colors. Makes me rethink the hard sided carry on. It’ll Surely fit in the bag sizers, being squishy.
I honestly don't understand the fascination with Tom Bihn. I do have some of their products for everyday use, but for travel I prefer bags with load lifters and sturdy hip straps. If you have a great bag that fits your body, all the weight is on your hips. I will say, in my 50s, I prefer a roller bag when possible, however, they do hold less due to the wheels taking up space. It's a trade off.
I originally bought the 45L, it was sooo large I had to return it, and I exchanged it for the 30L. I loved the layout so much which is why I did an exchange vs a return. I’m only 5’2”, so unfortunately the 30L is still too large and heavy when fully packed out. I found because of the soft sided material that when you pack it, it bulges out and makes the structure even wider, which as a smaller person makes it harder and heavier to carry. It’s too spendy to be this awkward. I imagine it would be much more user friendly for taller/larger bodies people. Tom Bihn missed the mark on this one by not including load lifters. BUT, I do love the color scheme I selected.
The shoulder straps tend to sit on the edge of the shoulder and dig into that sensitive painful area - your experience was normal! A lot of people can't wear Tom Bihn backpacks because of this.
I think these types of bags are just hard for women in general! Our upper bodies just aren’t as strong. Maybe they could make a hip bag for us?! lol. Unless you get like a 30 liter and do super minimalist packing. I love Tom Bihn and tried to do one bag packing with the Synik30 and it’s just so hard! Most people that do this a lot only pack like very light athletic clothes I’ve noticed.
Another wonderful review Lauren and I thank you. You were the first person to introduce me to the love of traveling with just one carry on bag and I'm now obsessed.
Question seeing that this is all new to me. I noticed that there were no load lifters on the straps. For this size bag I've heard that's game changing. Do you think it would've helped sit better on your back and hips? Or was this bag constructed well enough to where it didn't need that additional support?
Just bought my first Tom Bihn bag (daylight backpack) and am waiting anxiously for it in the mail. Using it mainly for a packable backpack. Just dipping my toes in this area to start.
100% load lifters would have been amazing. It was definitely low and heavy.
I don't know what it is, but the way the top grab handle is oriented, bugs me. It's tough to carry a fully packed 45L on your back without the features of a trekking backpack. Anybody would have a problem. I have a backpack with a similar design with an upper and lower compartment and it's very functional.
I think because I have climbed mountains in thru-hiked with 50 to 60 litre backpacks laden with food AND water and accoutrement that to me a 40 L is not large at all!😅
What are your thoughts on the new Carry On regulations for EU Air Carriers…
Carry On (21.6x15.7x7.8)
Personal Item:
(15.7x11.8x6)
beginning 8-2-24?