OneBag business travel

[Fannod]

I also would love to see some Tom Bihn innovation applied to the realm of one-bagging it. I own an airbosss, and love it dearly for international travel, and for non-business travel. However on shorter, domestic trips with all the detritus of the working world, the airboss it is often 1) overkill in size 2) not easy to organize all the business stuff and 3) a little too "safari" for some clients. I pack clothes in the zip closest to my body, shove a No. 2 brain cell in the center pocket, and files and junk in the third, but it isn't as organized as I'd like. There is no getting around the fact that it's a suitcase, not a briefcase. I've thought about adding some clips and snapping a Freudian slip in the third pocket to make it a more organized solution. However, it occurred to me that at that point I'm just sticking more and more TB into a non-TB shell. So how about a thoughtfully-engineered TB design to do all this? And with style too.

[Just]

I would second that. His site is a really wonderful resource, but I think his requirement for the bag to lay flat for bundle wrapping to be unreasonable. I use the large packing cube to bundle wrap, and I've found it keeps clothes quite wrinkle free.

I agree. You can totally bundle wrap outside of the bag, even without using the packing cubes, and just put the bundle into the bag. In fact I think Doug even says that at some point.

(Am excited! Haven't had the chance to use the Aeronaut yet since I got it, but will be finally going on another trip later this month! And will be using packing cubes!)

In fact, the more I think about it, the more I think the Aeronaut in plain black would work just OK for a business trip (doing double duty as a bag and briefcase. However, I ordered mine in crimson

No one says you can't have a crimson briefcase

[mruseless]

One bag site is awesome. I've gotten some great leads to products, but I feel it misses the boat on great packing by not recommending the Aeronaut.

I would second that. His site is a really wonderful resource, but I think his requirement for the bag to lay flat for bundle wrapping to be unreasonable. I use the large packing cube to bundle wrap, and I've found it keeps clothes quite wrinkle free. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I think the Aeronaut in plain black would work just OK for a business trip (doing double duty as a bag and briefcase. However, I ordered mine in crimson

[Skylark]

After experience with both the Air Boss and TB's Aeronaut, I really like the Aeronaut 1000 times better. The padded center part of the Air Boss takes up too much of the total space leaving very little volume in the outside sections for clothing. The Air Boss is a mighty bag - i.e. Heavy. But I love the TB Aeronaut and with a cell inside you have much more packing flexibility.
One bag site is awesome. I've gotten some great leads to products, but I feel it misses the boat on great packing by not recommending the Aeronaut.

[TdeF]

[QUOTE=mruseless;4160] I would be curious to see how a Tom Bihn design would compare.[/Q]

I would be curious also.

[mruseless]

I think "from the two mentioned" means the Easy Going and the Air Boss. I'm also curious (though I don't own either of those bags.)

Oops, my bad. The disadvantage of those two is that neither one is made by Tom Bihn

Seriously, I've looked at both and their designs seemed to be a little lacking. perhaps not enough pockets, the compartments looked a little narrow, and I didn't like the "coal shute" design of the Easy Going. Anyway, I would be curious to see how a Tom Bihn design would compare.

[TdeF]

Any fully loaded maximum carry on bag is very heavy, and difficult to carry by the shoulder for any length of time.

[Just]

Yes, it does have a full length flat zippered pocket... what I was saying was that those full length pockets don't organize very well.

Nope, no trouble carrying it onto international flights. The trouble comes when a) it looks so big that my travel partner decides it's the perfect place for their stuff too, and b) I'm a small person - without backpack straps like the Aeronaut, that size bag on my shoulder would and did tire me out quick like

[apyang]

Air Boss - made in Ballistic Nylon (vs the Cordura it is in presently) would be heavier, but give the bag more structure. Also, as is the Air Boss is just three full-length and height compartments, a full length flat zipped pocket in front, full-length open flat back pocket, and small tall flat pocket on the back for passports, tickets, and such, it could definitely use an organizer pocket or two or ten, especially if it's just the 'one bag' you're taking onto the airplane. And personally I would not cry if it were just a tad smaller.

Looking at the redoxx website, it appears to already have a full length flat zippered pocket? Also,as its dimensions are already smaller than maximum carry-on size, (I'm assuming you have one), have you had any trouble carrying it onto international flights or something?

[Just]

Air Boss - made in Ballistic Nylon (vs the Cordura it is in presently) would be heavier, but give the bag more structure. Also, as is the Air Boss is just three full-length and height compartments, a full length flat zipped pocket in front, full-length open flat back pocket, and small tall flat pocket on the back for passports, tickets, and such, it could definitely use an organizer pocket or two or ten, especially if it's just the 'one bag' you're taking onto the airplane. And personally I would not cry if it were just a tad smaller.

[apyang]

I think "from the two mentioned" means the Easy Going and the Air Boss. I'm also curious (though I don't own either of those bags.)

[mruseless]

So, what should be improved from the two mentioned?

If "from the two mentioned" you mean carrying both an Empire Builder and an Aeronaut, the advantage would be only one bag to carry. If you mean the Braincell inside the Aeronaut, a briefcase like bag gives a more business-like appearance. Like it or not, sometimes appearance counts.

[TdeF]

But I also think that Tom could sell a lot of business travel bags along the lines of the Easy Going carry-on or the Red Oxx Air Boss. I know I'd buy one.

Eric

So, what should be improved from the two mentioned?

[mruseless]

My daily work requires that I carry a lot, and the Empire Builder is perfect for this. But for most of my business trips I only need a laptop, power supply, and a few papers. Sometimes I end up carrying a binder too. So perhaps I'll be fine with the Aeronaut and braincell.

But I also think that Tom could sell a lot of business travel bags along the lines of the Easy Going carry-on or the Red Oxx Air Boss. I know I'd buy one.

Eric

[maverick]

Hi,

I've carried the Aeronaut for a 5 day business trip and used the size 4 Brain Cell as my notebook bag, carried inside the Aeronaut. This worked out very well. I transferred the Absolute Shoulder strap from the Aeronaut to the Brain Cell when I arrived at my destination, and used the Brain Cell to carry my laptop, ac adapter and accessories.

You should be able to accommodate a thin folio in the outer pocket (nothing thick), but not much more. Do you need to carry a lot of files or papers? The Empire Builder is a big bag - so I'm not sure if this solution will work for you.

Maverick