What Are Your Tom Bihn Bag Acquisition Strategies?

[timarelay]

Hi, timarelay. Do you have the large shop bag? That could serve as a carry-on overnight bag for clothes and such (put them in a plastic or other bag that can be closed at the top).

Nope, I only own the original shop bag. A large shop bag would work, but I'd really love to have a bag that closes. I've traveled with a tote bag before, and it suffices but leaves something to be desired.

I might eventually buy a large shop bag anyway though, for other reasons. I just need to think of good enough ones!

[gmanedit]

Hi, timarelay. Do you have the large shop bag? That could serve as a carry-on overnight bag for clothes and such (put them in a plastic or other bag that can be closed at the top).

[timarelay]

Now that I finally have my Synapse, I'm actually not really waiting to buy anything in particular. I have my Synapse, my shop bag, and my cafe bag. Maybe someday I'll splurge on a small cafe bag, but I think my medium is a good size. And perhaps someday I'll decide my laptop deserves a proper case.

Beyond that, I think my next purchase, somewhere down the line, will be a bag I can pack for short trips (a weekend to a week long) and use as a carry-on, but I'm not a big fan of my current options (I essentially want a smaller Aeronaut), so I'm going to wait and see what comes out next.

In other news, I just realized that my boyfriend moving to Seattle next fall means more likelihood that I can revisit the store again someday!

[ex machina]

Oh, I'm so sorry for those of you who DON'T live in the Seattle area and have to wait for your packages in the mail! Ah, instant gratification is mine, I say... one day a month. (Boo for that.)

I am actually planning that my first real vacation will be to Seattle, and I will plan it around visiting the Tom Bihn factory. I expect this will happen within the next two to three years. I think it will be a real hoot, and when I get close to a set date, I will be asking for tips in the travel section.

[Heidi Jill]

I'd really love to have the Aeronaut in either red or sapphire, but I don't travel much at all. Doesn't stop me from wanting it, though!

[aiethabell]

Acquisition strategy? What acquisition strategy? I see it, I want it, I usually get it!

Oh, you mean do I: A) check the blog page for upcoming open dates? B) flip page after page deciding on the monthly Tom Bihn fix (this month's 3 of the new luggage tags and the large shop bag in Steel, along with 4 more I-never-have-enough key straps, plus who knows what else - probably in Indigo - will jump off the walls at me and shout buy me, lady!) C) plan my eco-friendly bus/train/light rail connections so I don't drive more than 2 miles from my house instead of the whole 65-mile round trip and D) make sure my credit cards are ready to be severely abused (my Amex loves Tom Bihn).... does all that count as strategy?

Oh, I'm so sorry for those of you who DON'T live in the Seattle area and have to wait for your packages in the mail! Ah, instant gratification is mine, I say... one day a month. (Boo for that.)

[Bag Lady]

As I understand it, TB will be/is designing a gym-type bag for sometime in 2010. I may have misunderstood however - I'll wait for it anyway!!

Thanks, rabergnc, I'll be waiting too! :-)

[rabergnc]

Pray tell, what is the gym bag?

As I understand it, TB will be/is designing a gym-type bag for sometime in 2010. I may have misunderstood however - I'll wait for it anyway!!

[Bag Lady]

So, I am mentally reviewing how I could use it, rethinking my aversion to backpacks, and contemplating a change in my style of bag usage.

ex machina, I'm wondering it you plan to use the Synapse as a form of transporting items or using it during transit?

I've read a marvelous thread in this Forum somewhere about the distinction between transport vs transit which was quite well-thought out. I've decided if I do get the Synapse or any other backpack it can only be used during transporting since it is not easy to quickly pull items out of it.

I guess that's why I love messenger style bags like the Cafe Bag or the Imago since items can be retrieved without any hassles while still wearing the bag; I carry my bags mostly in the transit mode.

[Bag Lady]

On the positive side, I am eagerly awaiting the gym bag on the horizon - my next likely purchase!!

Pray tell, what is the gym bag?

[rabergnc]

I know what it's like to be tempted by the bags. I recently purchased, against all common sense and history, the Synapse. I did this knowing I have had a bad shoulder for years. I piloted it for a couple of weeks around the house with varying loads typical of what I normally carry. Sadly, my shoulder, while healed, simple does not have the load bearing capacity for a backpack - nor the range of motion to easily remove the pack without a lot of wincing! The Synapse had to be sent back - too bad I really liked the design functionality and color (navy/solar). I now just have to find solace in the Tri-Star, Western Flyer, ID, and numerous pouches, cubes and the like I have.

On the positive side, I am eagerly awaiting the gym bag on the horizon - my next likely purchase!! By the way, luggage tags are on the way.... at long last!!

[ex machina]

3. Synapse in Olive/Solar. I am not in general attracted to backpacks, since they make me feel/look like a turtle but I am hypnotized by its beauty! I love the sleek tapered front and stealth-like splash proof zippers, I love how you can fit a 1L Sigg, and I like the little wing-like side pockets for my multiple pens and iPhone. Perhaps this could be my workout bag, although that seems too lowly a function for such a smartly designed bag.

Usually I get a bag to fit the niche, but sometimes when a bag calls out to me, I buy the bag and determine niche later. (Wait a minute, I think I just realized my problem!) Great thread, by the way! :-)

I too, am not a backpaker, but the Synapse in Dyneema is giving me serious pause in reconsidering such. Such a light weight well designed bag in the amazing Dyneema material is very tempting. So, I am mentally reviewing how I could use it, rethinking my aversion to backpacks, and contemplating a change in my style of bag usage.

Sometimes, in regard to Tom Bihn's lines, it feels like I am tempted to buy a cat because there is a cat food that is so well made I want to have a use for it. I haven't used a backpack in years, but here I am seriously re-evaluating my luggage usage because of a bag so well made and brilliantly conceived.

What's a body to do?

[Bag Lady]

Now the rule of thumb for this thread is what bags are you planning to buy, and what niche will they be used to fill for you.

Ay, there's the rub, I have too many niches to fill, that's why I have so many bags! Honestly, I sometimes look at my friends wistfully as they carry their one bag day in, day out, at night, out to dinner, to the movies, to go shopping, for travel, and as they serenely step out into the world with their one bag in hand, seemingly oblivious to all the other options out there that drive me into a tizzy! Why do I feel this urge to find the right bag for each occasion? And of course, there are a lot of occasions in my life! (Justifications, justifications!)

Ok, so the next three on the list:
1. Medium Cafe Bag in Steel/Olive already on its way! along with TB wallet and Mini Cork Pouch to be used in an experimental way. I had tried out the MCB in Linen/Olive during the summer, wasn't a big fan of it, but now can't get it out of my mind. Esp. now that it's winter, the SCB just doesn't cut it in terms of capacity, what with the need to tuck in a knit hat and gloves. The Linen color while gorgeous scared me away because its light color would show dirt more (?) so I ordered the Steel, another fave color of mine, which will show beautifully with ...

2. the Western Flyer or Tri-Star in Steel/Solar for all travel needs, whether for one-night or 5- nights, whether by plane or car. I know the MCB in Cordura Steel may not be the same exact color as the Ballistic Steel, however, I think together they will look very smart.

3. Synapse in Olive/Solar. I am not in general attracted to backpacks, since they make me feel/look like a turtle but I am hypnotized by its beauty! I love the sleek tapered front and stealth-like splash proof zippers, I love how you can fit a 1L Sigg, and I like the little wing-like side pockets for my multiple pens and iPhone. Perhaps this could be my workout bag, although that seems too lowly a function for such a smartly designed bag.

Usually I get a bag to fit the niche, but sometimes when a bag calls out to me, I buy the bag and determine niche later. (Wait a minute, I think I just realized my problem!) Great thread, by the way! :-)

[notmensa]

Bag dilemmas...

Hi,
Love the topic for this thread!

I'm drooling over:
- the Synapse, but can't decide between Indigo, Plum and Dyneema.
- a punch / wasabi Cafe bag, but can't decide between small and medium
- the Imago in Steel / Steel / Cayenne with Absolute strape, but can't figure out when I'd use it if I've got a Synapse and Cafe Bag
- a Side Effect in punch, though if I've already got a SCB in punch, do I need it?!
- Passport pouch, packing cube shoulder bag and shopping bag in Solar
- the yet-to-be-released diaper changing pad, which I really hope to need one day!!

So many options...!

My other constraint is the (reasonable) $55 shipping to Australia. Makes it less cost-effective to do frequent small orders.

Em.

[MagicTiki]

@MagicTiki: I use my bags daily too, but my bag needs change as well. When I have classes I am using more bags than when I don't. I try to set my bags to have it that I have dedicated bags for each subject, or a big enough bag for classes that fall on a night with two subjects, to carry both. I carry in my EDC cafe bag the stuff I need in every class (e.g. pencil pouch). This way I just grab that bag for study or class when I need it. Between semesters the bags lie dormant waiting. I like that when I have the need, the bags are there. I also like that they are bags I can rely on. I also have the #1 car sticker (x2), its on my Moleskin.

Nice choice for the sticker!

I have a similar strategy. I swap often between my ID and my Brain Bag based on the daily needs, and I have all my accessories in various pouches (or on straps) so that I can make the quick change in a few minutes. Love that!

Having said that, I am finding these days that sometimes my ID is just too big for my needs (like shopping, f'rinstance, or traveling with checked bags where I just need a small carry on). I am looking VERY hard at the large cafe bag for this purpose. It's November, and my annual TB itch is returning.

On a side note, how often do we all find ourselves discovering new needs that just have to be fulfilled with that missing Tom Bihn bag? I think that's my strategy: "But Honey, I really need [insert bag name here] because I am just finding that I have to [insert need here] too many times...!"