Aeronaut and Swift

[mrae]

I'd like to find out from those of you who fly often whether there will be any problem with using the Swift as my personal bag along with my Aeronaut as my carry on..
I considered other options for personal item, such as a gator but I'm planning on bringing my knitting with me and the Swift is my most multipurpose bag given that.

Thanks for any advice.

[Darcy]

I can't imagine you'd have any problem using the Swift as your personal bag and the Aeronaut as your carry-on. I've recently used a Smart Alec or Western Flyer as my personal bag and the Aeronaut as my carry-on with no problems, and both of those bags are several times larger than the Swift.

[BJ Nemeth]

Agreed. If I can use a Brain Bag or a Smart Alec as my "personal item," then the Swift should be a no-brainer.

[moriond]

Hi mrae,

I actually used this combination for international travel a couple of weeks ago -- well, I was using my LUX instead of my Swift, because the dark fabric pocket of this now-retired Swift predecessor is better for carrying a wallet than the clear plastic pockets of the Swift.

I usually use a larger personal item for a carryon, but nearly always take along my LUX packed inside my Aeronaut when I travel. This time, I decided to repack things so that my personal carryon item had an even smaller profile than usual for international flying, and used the LUX and the Aeronaut as my two bags. The Swift is the same size as the LUX, so you should have no problems, unless they've decided to add knitting needles to the list of hazardous items!

[aiethabell]

I use my Swift with my Air Boss all the time, with no problems getting them on board.

There is one problem, though. I'd make sure all your loose stuff is packed into packs, pouches, and stuff sacks, or on lanyards inside the Swift, because it does have an open top. It's all too easy to have something slide out if it's under the seat in front of you, and if it's in the overhead when someone else moves stuff around to make room, well... if anything's loose it could go all over.

Also, there seems to be more in-transit theft lately. Put all money in the bottom, even under something else if need be. With the clear sides, the top pockets are the last place I'm putting any loose small bills or change. I've found a mini Cordura or Dyneema pouch holds money or a bus pass very well. Clip it onto the inside pocket o-ring with a lanyard and your money's safe. You could always get two minis - a clear one for flashing your driver's license or pass and a second solid one for money. (A small holds most credit-card-holders, a medium holds most handhelds, checkbooks, or a knitting gauge.) The double-sided small packing cube is wonderful! I have two. If you're not a shoehorner in your 3-1-1, you can fit it into one side of the small cube and put your dry toiletries in the other side. Of course, you'd still have to pull out your 3-1-1 for the checkpoints.

Think of it this way: if you don't already have the cubes, pouches, lanyards, and extra stuff sacks, you can use them for all sorts of knitting things even if you're not on the road.

[Jim]

smart alec and western flyer

Darcy...you mention using the smart alec and western flyer as carry on bags. In your opinion, if you used one of these bags as you main travel bag, which one would you choose? I am trying to take one quite small bag on a trip to Italy, and those are two of the ones I would consider. Thanks for any help you can give...

[mrae]

I use my Swift with my Air Boss all the time, with no problems getting them on board.

There is one problem, though. I'd make sure all your loose stuff is packed into packs, pouches, and stuff sacks, or on lanyards inside the Swift, because it does have an open top. It's all too easy to have something slide out if it's under the seat in front of you, and if it's in the overhead when someone else moves stuff around to make room, well... if anything's loose it could go all over.

Also, there seems to be more in-transit theft lately. Put all money in the bottom, even under something else if need be. With the clear sides, the top pockets are the last place I'm putting any loose small bills or change. I've found a mini Cordura or Dyneema pouch holds money or a bus pass very well. Clip it onto the inside pocket o-ring with a lanyard and your money's safe. You could always get two minis - a clear one for flashing your driver's license or pass and a second solid one for money. (A small holds most credit-card-holders, a medium holds most handhelds, checkbooks, or a knitting gauge.) The double-sided small packing cube is wonderful! I have two. If you're not a shoehorner in your 3-1-1, you can fit it into one side of the small cube and put your dry toiletries in the other side. Of course, you'd still have to pull out your 3-1-1 for the checkpoints.

Think of it this way: if you don't already have the cubes, pouches, lanyards, and extra stuff sacks, you can use them for all sorts of knitting things even if you're not on the road.

Thanks- I'm going to get the cube. What kind of lanyards are you using? I called about getting a couple of Tom Bihn lanyards and they said they don't sell them separately.

[Darcy]

Thanks- I'm going to get the cube. What kind of lanyards are you using? I called about getting a Tom Bihn lanyard and they said they don't sell them separately.

I'd guess aiethabell is talking about using a Key Strap as a lanyard: I'm sorry that wasn't offered to you on the phone. What length would you want -- 16", I'm assuming?

[mrae]

I'd guess aiethabell is talking about using a Key Strap as a lanyard: I'm sorry that wasn't offered to you on the phone. What length would you want -- 16", I'm assuming?

Yes. That size. I thought she was talking about the lanyard that comes as an option with the Guardian and asked if I could get a couple of extra ones when I ordered that- among other things on my list. Thanks for clarifying.

[Darcy]

If you'd like the lanyard that can be purchased with the Guardian Light, we can certainly arrange that! Just let me know. But I think that the Key Strap might work better.

[Darcy]

Darcy...you mention using the smart alec and western flyer as carry on bags. In your opinion, if you used one of these bags as you main travel bag, which one would you choose? I am trying to take one quite small bag on a trip to Italy, and those are two of the ones I would consider. Thanks for any help you can give...

That's a tough question. If I was going to carry the bag mostly on my back, I'd choose the Smart Alec. If I wanted to carry the bag on my back at times but also have the option of carrying it briefcase style or as a shoulder bag, the Western Flyer. And my preferred method of carrying the bag would depend on what kind of trip it was. To Alaska? Definitely the Smart Alec, because I would also hike with it. To Las Vegas for a trade show? The Western Flyer.

[moriond]

Hi mrae,

I use my Swift with my Air Boss all the time, with no problems getting them on board.

There is one problem, though. I'd make sure all your loose stuff is packed into packs, pouches, and stuff sacks, or on lanyards inside the Swift, because it does have an open top. It's all too easy to have something slide out if it's under the seat in front of you, and if it's in the overhead when someone else moves stuff around to make room, well... if anything's loose it could go all over.

I agree with aiethabel that with the Swift you want your contents to be organized in pouches and cubes. I was using two small sized Cordura organizer pouches and a mini-pouch. For air travel with my Aeronaut and personal carry-on item, the most useful cubes I've found are the large and small size travel packing cubes in dyneema, and the clear quarter packing cube. I assume that's the cube the aiethabell is talking about when she says

The double-sided small packing cube is wonderful!

The clear quarter packing cubes are also really good for carrying small electronics, like small laptop hard drives. Although these should pass through the airport X-ray machines inside your bags, I've found it easier and faster to stash such components in one of these cubes and pull it out with my laptop at the security checkpoints. It just makes everything go faster since they can see what's in the cube through the clear plastic sides.

If you're not a shoehorner in your 3-1-1, you can fit it into one side of the small cube and put your dry toiletries in the other side. Of course, you'd still have to pull out your 3-1-1 for the checkpoints.

I stick the 3-1-1 in the end pocket of my Aeronaut. It's very easy to unzip the pocket and extract/replace items for security checks. The end pocket of the Aeronaut is also where I'll pack a small umbrella or light jacket in the event of changeable weather.

If you'd like the lanyard that can be purchased with the Guardian Light, we can certainly arrange that! Just let me know. But I think that the Key Strap might work better.

I used one of the lanyards made of cording that were being tested a while ago. It's just under 16" long. I like this better than the Key straps. You can also add a few pouches to a mini carabiner (about 2" long) hooked to an O-ring.

[backpack]

I use the Convertible Packing Cube inside my Swifts, it is opaque so can hold what you want to keep secure.

There are two o rings on the sides of the Swift and they can be used to secure the Convertible Packing Cube inside the Swift, it's Dyeema fabric looks exactly like the inside of the Swift and can be looked at by others as an inside pocket.

In there you can stash the small things that could fall off or your bag such as your wallet.

I always use a passport pouch and numerous opaque and clear pouches of various colors and sizes (a great organizing tool) along with many key straps to hold my stuff.

I know that if the pouch of that color and size is not there, I am missing x item.

I just went on 2 extended road trips and I brought everything I needed with me because I did the pouches inventory, while packing.

With numerous stops on the way, it was imperative that everything unpacked one day could be repacked fast the next.

Fast packing never happened before I used Tom Bihn products.

[mrae]

Thanks everyone. I'm ordered some key straps and also the light with lanyard to see what that one is like.
Thanks Darcy for your offer to help me buy an extra lanyard if I decide to do that.
I think the key straps will work.