More PIX needed

[goldrush76]

If there is one thing that the site needs is more *detailed* pics of the inside of your bags, and their pockets, EMPTY so we can see everything. I have been trying to figure out a bag now for about 2 months. My laptop has finally been ordered, and one of the reasons I simply have not made up my mind with Tom Bihn bags yet is because I really am not sure what I'd be getting. I realize that there is a 60 day guarantee, but who wants to go through that exchange if it can be avoided?

Right now I am waiting to see a competitors new bag in a local store (here in NYC) when it hits the shelves, supposedly next week. After that, then I'll have to make up my mind, likely between that and perhaps the Tom Bihn ID bag (most likely choice if i was to go with Bihn).

All that would have been (most likely) easily avoided if I could just get a better idea of what I'm buying. Seeing the bag (at least IMHO) itself is more important that showing me all of the color changes (by far).

Since the only store is in California, and there are no other retailers that sell the bags, it is tough (with any site really) to make some types of purchases online. In this case, the bag is practically an extension of myself, so I'm not flippant about my purchase to say the least.

Just wanted to give some constructive criticism. I believe that the bags are high quality, and that they can be FAR better represented. Right now, a lot of people just think they are expensive, and move on. Descriptions, no matter how verbose, will not make up for a lack of being able to see it in person, or at least a reliable photo representation.

[Darcy]

I agree we need more pictures of the bags.

If you take a close-up picture of the interior pockets of the large bag, it can be hard
to get the rest of the bag in the picture so you have some perspective of where the pockets are in the bag. That said, we are working on getting more pictures of the bags on the site.

Are there any particular interior shots you're looking for? I'll put those on the top of the priority list.

And just for future reference, we currently have two retail stores in Washington State -- one in Port Angeles and one in Seattle.

[Cobos]

I've done some interior shoots of my own ID bag to show off how much stuff you can actually get into it. They don't show any of the pockets very well and I'm not a very good photographer, but if there are anything in particular you want details of I can try to take a picture ?
Anyway the pictures I did do, you can find the pictures here.

Cobos

[goldrush76]

Where did I get the idea that you are based in California? LOL. I must be dreaming. Maybe it's because it seems that every company under the sun is based in Cali? Maybe a misnomer. lol. Maybe I just said that because I want to move to San Francisco. lol.

As for shots. With the ID. People have a LOT of good things to say about that bag. However, regarding its photos... good that you have what is there, because it's more than what most of the other bags have got to say for themselves, BUT.... the frontside shot doesn't do it much justice is the thing... I can see from overhead that there are pockets and stuff, but the front shot makes the bag look flat with a key fob hanging off the corner, lol. Maybe that's the only thing under the flap? Or is there another panel where those pockets are?

Maybe I'm just crazy, but for some reason, I just felt like I couldnt get a really good idea of the bag. I am totally obsessive-compulsive when it comes to shopping for bags, lol. I can't bring my girlfriend with me, she doesn't have the type of patience that I do for this type of stuff. With her, if she likes it, she buys it. With me, I always have some specific idea of what I think I need. LOL. And sometimes I won't really know the right thing until I see it.

As for the Super Ego, there is nothing at all. I read in one of the other threads that there will be an Ego bag arriving. Any dates on this? Or at least a volume that you could give me? Bigger than the ID? Smaller than the ID? Equal?

Next, the Hipster. Looks like a nice, functional, smallish bag that one could still get a decent amount of stuff into for a day. My laptop will fit in that thing. A closer shot of the pockets (either with or without stuff in them) and an overhead would be good. At the moment, like the ID, the front shot of it only gives a vague idea of whats there.

The Buzz: whats in the second pocket? We already know that a small laptop will fit in there (unfortunately not mine, even at 12.2" x 10 x 1 according to details).

Transcontinental : There is nothing there except one basic pic, and then some of the color swatches?? Why not just show the actual bag in the different colors like all the other ones you've done :-) But you've definately got to open that thing and show us what's in there.

Courier Laptop : No open shots on that one either

Brain Bag: same deal, no open shots.

Seattle Messenger: same deal..

Smart Alec & Empire Builder : probably have *just* enough to get by.

All descriptions : done well :-) but never a substitute for pictures or seeing in person obviously.

Next,
When people click on the "Detail" icons, and get simply an enlarged version of the same picture... it's not really too helpful. That's not detail, thats just a bigger picture :-)

Also, can the Absolute Strap/Terragrip be attached to *any* of the shoulder bags (i would figure so)? If so, I must suggest putting that option on all applicable pages. Right now the option is only listed on the brain bag page (odd) , and also the accessories page (I think). You'd probably sell more of those if they were more visible, as I'm thinking about adding the Absolute if I purchase the ID (though I don't know about the padding on the ID bag atm).

I hope this hasn't been too harsh, but I figured I'd prefer to try and help the company, and also at least try to purchase a good product, instead of feeling disgruntled and walk away. lol. Tom Bihn is still one of my top options.

I'd be more than happy to give any further feedback on whatever other things you are trying to work on.

[Cobos]

Did you look at any of the pictures I posted ? After looking at them again I'd say picture 3 and 4 does give you a feel for those pockets. And as I mentioned above if you want some specific picture of any of the ID pockets I can surely help.

Cobos

[goldrush76]

Thanks for the pix Cobos! You should apply for a job with Tom Bihn!
I'd ask you for some pix from the front so I can get a better look at the pockets under the flap and in the first compartment... that is... if there is more than one main compartment? I could never figure that out. But don't worry about it too much. I am waiting at least until next week to place any order so I get to look at something else in person as well.

You could tell me about the shoulder strap on the ID though. Is it comfortable? Padded enough? Would the Absolute Strap as a replaecment be a good choice?

[Cobos]

There you go... pictures enough of the outer pockets I beleive.
Please note that the black cloth is a college jumper while the other ones are XL size tees. Again the pictures should show what you need but I doubt I win any prices for artistic composition
Yes there is an outside pocket on the flap, an outer open compartment with lots of pockets (where the soda and PDA is), and the main compartment with zippers and hoops for the Braincell. There is also the magazine pocket in the back and the zippered pocket ON the outside compartment wall (where I got the CD's and remote #2).


I feel the padded part of the Id is good for about 3-4kg any more than that and I don't feel comfortable, but as I mentioned in another post I'm not used to shoulder bags. My girfriend used the ID on our last trip and carried like 9kg or so without problems. I've never tried the Absolute strap but I beleive that is more comfortable than what is included on the ID.

Cobos

[goldrush76]

Diet Coke. YUCK! :-)
Great work there Cobos! Definately a help. Absolutely a 9.25 / 10 on artistic composition! Okay, maybe that is overkill, but you still did a good job :-)

And what are you walking around with remote controls for? I assume simply used to model the pockets. Though, I won't be carrying any remotes with me.

[Cobos]

Well I hate diet cokes myself, but they are courtesy of my SO which likes them, these are also diet vanilla which are extra special since you can't get them in Norway. I intended to use a Norwegian plastic bottle but realised that a standardized soda can would probably be better for foreigners

As you might have guessed I picked whatever I found around the living room that would sort of fit and show of the pocket. And the searching wasn't exactly helped by the fact that we are moving and the living room is a total disaster. But the CD's are good and the PDA is the one I still use. And those are genuine keys

Cobos

[Darcy]

The Absolute Shoulder Strap can be attached to the Empire Builder, Brain Cell, Monolith, and eM2 case. The TerraGrip and Simple Shoulder Straps can be attached to the Brain Cell, Monolith, and eM2. The straps don't work on the ID or any of our other shoulder bags.

Thanks for letting me know what pictures you'd like to see of the bags! I'll work on taking some. And thanks, Cobos, for the pictures you took -- they are good pictures!

The pictures on the Web site of the Trager products (Hipster, Courier, Transcontinental, Seattle Messenger) are the pictures Trager provided us with.

[goldrush76]

Darcy, I'd like to suggest then, that the bags could be easily (I'd like to imagine easy, even though I'm not a production/design major, lol) modified in their next production run (or 2 or 3 down the road) to accomodate the Absolute & Terra straps. They look like really nice straps!!!! How hard could it be to put the same D-rings / clips / adapters / whatever, on all of the shoulder bags? I'm curious. :-)

[eristick]

I have to agree that the one thing that I like less about my ID (there's nothing that I dislike, per se!) is that I couldn't use an Absolute or TerraGrip strap with it.

Not to hijack the thread back to my current Bihn-obsession, but will these straps be possible on the Aeronaut?

[moriond]

goldrush76,

The Absolute and Terra straps are not compatible with the ID bag strap design widths. The ID bag also has a coordinated waist strap (which I personally don't use), and you adjust the shoulder strap's length the first time you use it. (I've also used the Absolute strap with the Brain Cell and Empire Builder, and I like it a lot).

Darcy, I'd like to suggest then, that the bags could be easily (I'd like to imagine easy, even though I'm not a production/design major, lol) modified in their next production run (or 2 or 3 down the road) to accomodate the Absolute & Terra straps. They look like really nice straps!!!! How hard could it be to put the same D-rings / clips / adapters / whatever, on all of the shoulder bags? I'm curious. :-)

Here are links to a few relevant posts in this forum on the subject of this strap:

• Tom response on why the Absolute strap can't be used for the ID Bag
• Cobos' description of the ID bag strap adjustability in another forum thread
• My reference to the ID bag strap in another forum discussion, giving preliminary design wish lists for the carryon bag that will be the Aeronaut (scroll down to see eristick's comments just below that post)

Finally, you can often find photos of products in "rave" posts in the forums. These often give you an idea of how well the bag works in use (and a lot of the subtler details, like how the use of a contrasting color for the interior makes it easier to find things, really come across). Here's one source of photos for the ID bag that I liked.

(Note: the site is in an Italian magazine, and doesn't seem to be active right now, so I ran this link through an internet archive source and an Italian-to-English translator and Tiny URL to shorten the link. The original link from 2+ years ago was http://www.techup.net/main/article_read.asp?id=149 You can do a google search on "techup.net tom bihn ID bag" and click on the cached version to recover the page if the above link doesn't work).

You may also note that the airplane ticket pocket on the current ID bags is shifted with respect to that site's photos. That was in response to a forums post by Siv. Just another example of how the designs keep getting better.

[Darcy]

Excellent information from moriond.

We are working on a few new shoulder strap designs. Stay tuned!

[Zephyrnoid]

I vote for either wireframe diagrams or 3D renderings as they are much easier to 'read' for spacial relationships than actual pix. dimensional 'call-outs' would be gr8 too.