The New Pilot Available for Pre-order in January 2014!

[tangfj]

tangfj - Is that a Black Dyneema Tri-star/Western Flyer packing cube or a Steel Dyneema one? The top picture looks like a Black Dyneema one.

Pics attached below...

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5596[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5595[/ATTACH]


Cheers!

It's steel. The lighting was just weird.

[Mausermama]

I slipped my iPad into my PCSB right after I saw your posting. Brilliant! I wish I had the new cache with the rails, but it's not in the budget at present. It's nice to be able to slip it in and out of the Pilot. My other case is a velour-ish zip case that functions quite nicely, but it has a lot of "grip," so the PCSB works well to control that factor.

I also have the PCBP for my WF. I will look at utilizing the potential on my next trip, which is coming up in less than a month.

[tangfj]

I plan on using the PCSB as my essentials bag while flying. I'll keep my iPad, earphones, backup battery charger, etc. in there. When I get on the plane all I'll have to do is remove the PCSB from my Pilot and put it in the seat pocket and I'll be ready to go. I already do this with my side effect but I will probably do the same thing as mentioned in this thread (http://forums.tombihn.com/bag-review...ocket-bag.html) to attach my PCSB to the seat pocket in front of me for easy access for longer flights.

[fernando]

I would love integrated backpack straps on the pilot.

[TavaPeak]

I agree! Or perhaps Tom could design a nifty backpack strap doodad that could be used on Pilots, messengers, etc.

Sometimes folks loop their messenger bag straps through a carry handle to improvise backpack straps, but this is not a comfortable solution. (Yes, I tried it on the Pilot - it didn't work for me if the Pilot was packed full.)

[Trailhiker]

tangfj - Is that a Black Dyneema Tri-star/Western Flyer packing cube or a Steel Dyneema one? The top picture looks like a Black Dyneema one.

Pics attached below...

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5596[/ATTACH]


[ATTACH=CONFIG]5595[/ATTACH]


Cheers!

It has to be the lighting.
Look at the color value of the black zipper.
If it were black dyneema it would be almost the same.

[tangfj]

It has to be the lighting.
Look at the color value of the black zipper.
If it were black dyneema it would be almost the same.

I already replied a few posts above. It's steel.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[moriond]

I plan on using the PCSB as my essentials bag while flying. I'll keep my iPad, earphones, backup battery charger, etc. in there. When I get on the plane all I'll have to do is remove the PCSB from my Pilot and put it in the seat pocket and I'll be ready to go. I already do this with my side effect but I will probably do the same thing as mentioned in this thread (http://forums.tombihn.com/bag-review...ocket-bag.html) to attach my PCSB to the seat pocket in front of me for easy access for longer flights.

@tangfj I like using the Double Carabiners instead of the S-Biners, as I commented (without an attached picture) in the http://forums.tombihn.com/bag-review...ocket-bag.html thread). See my posted picture in the Double Carabiner, 4 Thumbs Up! thread for an example of the way the Double Carabiners can swivel for the best attachment.

My only comment on the PCSB vs. the Side Effect as a seat pocket bag is that the 200d Dyneema fabric and longer length makes this bag flex more when supported by Carabiners or S-biners unless you are carrying an item that fills the length of the PCSB. (I do like the PCSB as one of the ways for carrying an iPad, but I generally now carry my iPad in a cache in the Little Swift as outlined in my response in the iPad Air Sleeve thread.

Another suggestion: you might want to post some of the nice combinations you've outlined here (e.g. Pilot in (Tri-Star/Western Flyer sized) Packing Cube BackPack, and said PCSB rolled up to fit in a Size #1 Travel Stuff Sack) in the Going marsupial! TB bags that fit inside other TB bags thread. I'm not always good at updating other related threads like that myself, but essentially any of the combinations that fit into other bags that were similarly sized to the Pilot, like the Imago, will work for the Pilot. Hence, the PCSB match shown in my picture in the Diaper Cube for Imago? thread works with the Pilot, as you've found, and so does the fit of the Eagle Creek Specter II cube shown in the Windbreaker/light rain jacket in pouch? thread as an alternative to using the Large Packing cube for the Pilot.

Also, to give credits to many others who posted earlier in this thread, WMW40 noted the sizing of the PCSB wrt Pilot in post #346 (dated 2/04/2014)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5492[/ATTACH]
Shoulder strap packing cube on top of Pilot.

MelissaL noted the fit of the Eagle Creek Specter Cubes in post #398 (dated 2/10/2014)

This Pilot is sick!! I am able to fit more than I imagined and the Eagle Creek large packing sac, which can fit a change of clothes, fits like a dream in the Pilot. I am more than happy with this bag and so glad I splurged on the absolute strap.

Shoulder strap packing cube on top of Pilot.[/QUOTE]

HTH.

moriond

[Anniegill]

Awesome write up and research Moriond. Thanks. Loved reading all about that. What fits in what! Has given me one more reason to crave a PCBP!! Now what color???
Annie

[bchaplin]

Is @MelissaL talking about the large Eagle Creek Specter Cube or Sack? They are similar but not identical in shape.

[moriond]

Is @MelissaL talking about the large Eagle Creek Specter Cube or Sack? They are similar but not identical in shape.

Good question, because you can use either in the main compartment of the Pilot. The large cube works better if you want to primarily use the compartment with clothes, as an alternative to the Pilot's Large Packing Cube. The large Pack-It Sac has the same height and width dimensions (14" x 10"/ 36 x 25 cm), but is flat, instead of having the 3" depth of the large Pack-It Cube. So the large size Pack-It Sac might work better if you wanted to only insert a few items, and devote more of the main compartment space to a laptop in cache, or 3D organizer cubes/Side Effects in the two pockets. The triangular clip in the upper right corner of the Large Pack-It Sac can be secured to the o-Ring above the pocket on the right side of the center dividing wall. The Small Pack-It Sac (8" x 6"/ 20 x 15 cm) is nicely sized for the front left pocket. When inserted with the triangular clip attached to the o-Ring, so that the zipper can be accessed along the left side of the open pouch, the side edge of the Small Pack-It Sac sits about level with the top of the UltraSuede fabric used for the pocket. You can also clip the Small Pack-It Sac to o-Ring of the right front pocket, but then you want to swivel the Sac around to get easy access to the zipper.

I'll quote my comments about the Eagle Creek Specter II Pack-It cubes from an earlier post in this thread (#402 dated 2/10/14)

@taminca Here are the specs:
Specter cube
DIMENSIONS
14 x 10 x 3 in / 36 x 25 x 8 cm

Pilot Large Packing Cube:
Dimensions: 14.8" x 11" x 2.5" / 375 x 280 x 65 mm
Weight: 4 oz / 110g
Volume: 425 cubic inches / 7 liters (ASTM Standard Measure)

The Pilot Large Packing Cube is designed to leave room for the cache on rails in the back pocket. The light-weight Sil nylon of the Specter 2 cube also leaves you with some leeway for "squashability" of what you insert.

What people may also find interesting is that the Small Pilot Packing Cubes can also fit well into the front pocket of the Cadet -- it's just about the height if that pocket, and fairly slim, in order to,fit in the left and right front pockets of the Pilot and still leave room for accessing the inserts for holding pens and your Phone or glasses (right pocket), of your iPad Mini or other tablet (left pocket)

Pilot Small Packing Cube
Dimensions: 10.8" x 6.3" x 2.4" / 275 x 160 x 60 mm
Weight: 2 oz / 65g
Volume: 125 cubic inches / 2 liters (ASTM Standard Measure)

HTH.

P.S. A couple of further notes: the Eagle Creek Specter 2 cubes are nice for ultra-light packing, but the Sil-nylon fabric is so thin that they basically take their shape from the contents that are stuffed inside. The smooth texture makes them easy to slide out. The Dyneema packing cubes hold their shape better, especially when not completely filled, so I generally prefer to use them in my travel luggage, especially since they fit more exactly. The web loop on the packing cube also makes it easier to pull out, since the Eagle Creek cubes have handles "on top " (which would face the side of the Pilot when inserted). But for the Pilot, the Eagle Creek Cube fit is a pretty good match.

Another comment is that the Large Packing Cube for the Pilot is also a good fit for the interior of the Synapse 25. It's bigger than the Tri-Star Medium and Western Flyer Small Packing Cubes, both of which can be used inside the Synapse 19 (and Synapse 25):

Tri-Star Medium
TB0948 12.8" x 11.3"x 2.4" / 325 x 288 x 60mm 3.2 oz / 90gr

Western Flyer Small
TB0955/TB0956 11.7" x 8.6" x 3" / 298 x 218 x 75mm 3 oz / 85gr

This information should probably go into another separate post/thread about packing cubes so it can be easily accessed. I was looking these up for atarango1, who wanted to know which Eagle Creek cubes could be used in her Tri-Star in place of the Dyneema packing cubes designed for that bag. Generally, I mostly use the Eagle Creek quarter cubes, which are intermediate between a 3D Organizer Cube and a Side Effect in size.

HTH

[MelissaL]

Is @MelissaL talking about the large Eagle Creek Specter Cube or Sack? They are similar but not identical in shape.

I was referring to the regular pack-it Sac not the Specter Sac.

[moriond]

I was referring to the regular pack-it Sac not the Specter Sac.

Did you mean this Eagle Creek Large Pack-It Sac? (It's the same size as their Large Specter II Sac).

ETA: All these suggestions of items that work well as accessories for the Pilot are very helpful, so keep them coming! I'll note that while the TB Large Organizer Pouch can also be used in the main compartment of the Pilot, it's a little bit taller (14.5" x 11.2" / 370 x 285 mm) than either of these Eagle Creek large pack-It Sacs (both 14" tall), so the snaphook sits fairly high, and tethering directly to an o-Ring is a little less convenient than with the Pack-It Sacs. The Large Specter II Pack-It Sac uses triangular clips similar to the triangular yarn guides on the Tom Bihn Yarn Stuff Sacks, only mounted on a swivel base (like the Double Carabiners used with the Knitting Tool Pouches), and this design makes it easy to attach these sacs (and the small Specter II Pack-It Sacs) to o-Rings in the different compartments.

[bchaplin]

Thanks, MelissaL. The "sack" I linked to actually worked for me. I was able to take my gym clothes in the Pilot; very convenient. Thanks for the tip.

[Espresso]

It seems I took to long to decide and most of the Dyneema bags are on back order.

Any chance of Dyneema steel/solar popping up in upcoming batches?