Hello, I just received my new WF yesterday and am already in love. However, I'd like to buy another bag to use at my seat as a personal item on trips where I put the WF in the overhead compartment. I'm leaning towards the Co-Pilot, but wanted to see if any other WF owners have a recommendation on a bag that pairs well with the WF. I first thought about the Pilot but I think that might be too big/similar in size to the WF itself.
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The way I look at, is that if I'm carrying 2 bags, I want them to be different "modes". There is linear/flat packing, like the WF and there is "throw it into a bucket" packing for things that aren't ideal for that linear packing (like shoes or odd shaped items). Also I look at carry: if one is going to be carried as a backpack, then I'd want something over the shoulder or cross body as my second bag.
So with all that in mind, what about a shop bag or a Pop Tote. Both will accomodate all those lumpy items (lunch! your purse! another pair of shoes!).
Both work in either carry mode for the WF (hand carry or backpack) because both can be hand carrried or carried on the shoulder.Getting to the point with too many bags to list them all. Current daily carry is my Black Halcyon Zeitgeist with a Cobalt Cerylon 3DOC as my "purse"/ -
Welcome to the Forums LizEsq !
sturbridge covered it, especially the two different carry modes
Only thing I'd add is that whilst the Pilot is similar looking sort of to the WF, the size is different enough that it won't really look/act the same, if that's what you were wondering.
And, we always have to ask, what colour did you get?
The whole of life is just like watching a film. Only it’s as though you always get in ten minutes after the big picture has started, and no-one will tell you the plot, so you have to work it out all yourself from the clues.
-Terry Pratchett, Moving Pictures
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Thank you both for the advice! I'll have a look at the shop bags and Pop Totes.
My Western Flyer is Deep Blue with Northwest Sky lining; I wanted to get it in Aubergine to match my Sidekick, but it wasn't in stock. The Deep Blue is a beautiful color, though!Comment
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Just checked out the Pop Tote and I love it, except the dimensions exceed the Icelandair personal item allowance (15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9), which I'll be flying on in a few weeks (and am using as a justification to buy new bags).Comment
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You can always underpack... But if it's too out of your comfort zone, then I'd go for the PilotThe whole of life is just like watching a film. Only it’s as though you always get in ten minutes after the big picture has started, and no-one will tell you the plot, so you have to work it out all yourself from the clues.
-Terry Pratchett, Moving Pictures
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That's true; I can make sure there's room to squish it down if slightly oversized. I've heard horror stories of how strict they are and was trying to make sure there was no question that I'm compliant with the baggage allowance.
Your comment that the Pilot won't look/act the same as the WF makes me feel better. For the sake of $20, I feel like I should go with the Pilot instead of the Co-Pilot, as it's still within the stated dimensions. I just didn't want to be wasting money on 2 super similar bags that may be awkward to carry at the same time!Comment
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You might try loading up the Western Flyer and taking a walk with it, to decide if you will carry it more often on your back or on your shoulder. This might help you decide about the carrying mode of your personal item. To simulate a Pilot, try a heavyish purse or bag and do some walking around with both. I definitely think the Pilot and Co-Pilot are great at-seat bags, because they pretty much always fit underneath.----
All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.
Edmund BurkeComment
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Excellent advice, I'll do that! Thank you.Comment
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Deep Blue/NW Sky!
I have the exact same color WF.
Ultra super mega shameless plug, but I'm going to include this link to a blog I wrote about the 3 bag system I use for most my trips:
Portable Culture Portrait: Three Favorites with Eric Widuger (tombihn.com)
The blog post specifically mentions the TS, SK and SZTSB, but it mostly explains the idea of carrying a backpack, crossbody and tote as a 3 bag "system" for plane travel. I like it because you can choke down to fit everything in the TS when you don't need/want to carry the crossbody and tote, and when you need everything, the TS will stash in the overhead and you can fit the SK and SZTSB under the seat - the combined carrying capacity of all 3 bags is more than the largest bags TB makes (the A45 and T45).
The CP and WF were the 2 bags I used for years of plane travel and probably have the most experience with, but occasionally I size down on the crossbody (to an SK) and size up on the carry on (to a TS).
If you plan to use the WF for flying, assume backpack mode, which frees you up to carry a crossbody personal item.
Whatever small stuff you need quick and easy access to, keep worn on your front side in the CP.
Anything you aren't touching until you unpack at the hotel, stuff it in the WF, worn on your back.
I prefer the CP over the Pilot. The placement of the main compartment's interior pockets allows you to load the bag in a way that keeps it self supporting and able to stand up on its own without tipping over.
For me (a six foot tall, average build male) the Pilot is too rectangular and wide a bag. The CP is a nice square shape and will tuck under the seat in front of you stood upright - meaning you can still put your feet on both sides of it to stretch out while having easy top side access to the bag while seated.
My vote would be the CP worn crossbody and the WF worn as a backpack - I has also used a Side Kick in lieu of the CP when flying basic economy so I can fit everything into the WF and it still qualifies as a "personal item."
Ever try squeezing into an airport bathroom stall with a big carry on worn over the shoulder and resting on your hip? Super awkward. Backpack mode makes it much easier to squeeze through crowds (and bathroom stall doors!) at the airport.Last edited by Chicagoan; 03-07-2023, 11:34 AM.I own a LOT of Tom Bihn bags, but here are the ones I'm using right now:
EDC: SH
Day Hiking: ADX26
Car Travel: T45, MT, MYD
Plane Travel: CP, WF, SZTSB
Here's a blog post I wrote about my 3 favorite bags:
https://www.tombihn.com/blogs/main/portable-culture-portrait-three-favorites-with-eric-widugerComment
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Thank you! I could read this type of blog post all day long, and your analysis is super helpful.Comment
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Thank you kindly, LizEsq!
FYI, I did review the Co-Pilot in a separate forum post:
Chicagoan Reviews His Favorite Bag: The Co-Pilot - TOM BIHN Forums
The CP is easily my favorite bag Tom Bihn makes, and the one I've used most often for EDC (every day carry).I own a LOT of Tom Bihn bags, but here are the ones I'm using right now:
EDC: SH
Day Hiking: ADX26
Car Travel: T45, MT, MYD
Plane Travel: CP, WF, SZTSB
Here's a blog post I wrote about my 3 favorite bags:
https://www.tombihn.com/blogs/main/portable-culture-portrait-three-favorites-with-eric-widugerComment
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Well, I ordered both a Pilot and Co-Pilot today so that I can load them up and see which one I prefer, with plans to return the other. PLEASE HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKE SURE I RETURN THE OTHER! Lol.Comment
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Hi LizEsq You’ll be able to check for yourself which bags works better for you. But I agree with Chicagoan that if you don’t need the extra space I like the way the Co-Pilot carries closer to my body compared to the Pilot, especially if I want to access contents while wearing the bag. But it’s really a question of what you need to carry that will determine things for you. I’ll just mention that the Small Western Flyer Packing Cube works as a packing cube for the back compartment of the Co-Pilot.
There’s a very old thread from 2014 where I showed this Packing Cubes for Co-Pilot
https://forums.tombihn.com/forum/tom...s-for-co-pilotComment
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Great, thank you!Comment
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