Tom Bihn Western Flyer as the only bag: 11 days Montreal/NYC in September

[Lani]

I have used my SE strap on my PCSB, and IMHO it's anemic. I wish I had gotten the simple strap when I ordered the PCSB.

Yeah the Side Effect bag is pretty narrow. It might still work with the PCSB, but it's too narrow for me to use with it.

You know what I'd really like to see, though? The shoulder strap in different colors! Like all the colors you can get as a key strap.

[dorayme]

I have used my SE strap on my PCSB, and IMHO it's anemic. I wish I had gotten the simple strap when I ordered the PCSB.

[Just]

I wasn't planning on carrying any great weights in the PCSB... And even the simple strap would have added too much weight!

[Lani]

Actually I would have used the strap that came with the Side Effect if anything

....but that's only an inch wide!!!! Wow!

[Just]

You can go with just a simple strap. TB's shoulder strap wrap is great but I think the simple straight isn't narrow enough to accommodate it. Timbuk2 makes a less padded pad that fits the simple strap, I think.

Actually I would have used the strap that came with the Side Effect if anything

[Lani]

Especially since I nixed the Absolute Strap for the WF, I couldn't use the PCSB for daybagging...

You can go with just a simple strap. TB's shoulder strap wrap is great but I think the simple straight isn't narrow enough to accommodate it. Timbuk2 makes a less padded pad that fits the simple strap, I think.

[Just]

Yes Maria, I have the WF with the backpack straps. I usually prefer using the backpack strap(s) since I have yet to be able to pare down the weight to where using a shoulder strap isn't awkward balance-wise. Yes, the Coach bag was a smaller one and it went into the Western Flyer

dorayme - the trip was 100% pleasure. I did pack the dress pants, the belt, and the nice-ish Banana Republic shirt just in case we were going to go to fancy restaurants but it turned out we didn't. We stayed in a hostel (HI-Montreal) and a guesthouse (Leo House in NYC) and went wandering around on mass transit, walking EVERYWHERE including up mountains, rented some bicycles and rode around, did the usual tourist thing with attractions and museums, bar-hopped, relaxed in some lounges, sang karaoke, etc. Especially since I nixed the Absolute Strap for the WF, I couldn't use the PCSB for daybagging... but it's usually relegated to duty as a laundry bag anyway. The PCBP also helped in this regard since I had more than just my own laundry to take to the laundromat, so I threw everything in there and breezed to the cleaners. Originally the PCBP was intended to be an "oops I bought too much" bag in the case I would check my WF but I was more disciplined than I had thought

Badger - I'll try to take more Hawaii pics. Maybe I'll even make my way to Mililani and unintentionally get your auntie in a shot!

Lani - Yes! Salux is the way to go! It does get all the gunk off (and it's so gross if you see all that dead skin as it goes down the drain). And as far as those who think it's too abrasive, just don't scrub as hard

[Lani]

Salux Washcloth

OK of ALL the things you listed in your wonderful packing list, THIS ONE is the item that made me happiest of all.

I'm so happy someone else likes using Salux washcloths!

Ever since I could remember (read: a young kid), I've ONLY used Salux washcloths. My parents used it when we lived in Japan. They are the greatest invention since sliced bread, and if I use anything else (including loofahs and body brushes), I still feel icky. There's nothing like the invigorating scrubbing feeling of Salux!

Ahhh Salux, let me espouse its benefits!!

• It's not a regular fabric, but a special nylon that's like fine netting. The secret to Salux is this fabric.
• The nylon fabric is not at all absorbent, so it dries in a snap -- literally. When you're done showering, you can either hang it to dry, or take an end and start whipping it in the air, and all the water droplets will fall out! You can also roll it into your bath towel and wring it dry and it will be completely dry. If you have to pack up right away, just fold it and put it in a little sandwich-sized Ziploc baggie.
• This is one of the few wash cloths I know that will foam up bubbles like you've never seen. The nylon netting acts as a bubble machine! Just a couple of swipes from a bar of soap or a couple of squeezes from liquid body wash and you're good to go. Just mush it up a bit and you get enough bubbles for a full washing
• The fabric is long and narrow. This means you can take the ends into each hand and completely scrub your back by yourself!!!!!!
• This wash cloth takes up no space at all. You can pack this into the tightest spaces in the smallest bag and it will fit just fine.
• This wash cloth also takes up no weight at all. So even if you're trying to limit how much weight you carry, you can take this one.
• The scrubbing action of this wash cloth makes you feel sooooo clean. You can see all the dirt and grime (literally) rinse off and go down the drain. This is particularly good if you're traveling and spending time outside (and wanna get all the gunk off).
• Some people think it's too abrasive -- I don't! But the easiest way to fix that is to use a little extra soap and get it more lathered up. You'll feel less of the netting that way.

No other wash cloth will do!


I knew you could buy them online, but it looks like you can actually buy it from Original Salux Japanese Nylon Beauty Skin Wash Cloth/Exfoliating Towel now!

Everybody -- go get one!!

PS: These wash cloths never give out. I've actually used the same Salux wash cloth now for TEN YEARS.

[Badger]

Great photos. Hell yes to slippers.

I kept scrolling down as I looked at your blog, and was happy to see the photos of Honolulu. My parents are from Hawaii and my auntie lives in Mililani, and we were just there this past summer.

Can't wait to hear about China.

[dorayme]

Thanks for sharing, and what a great exercise. I agree, sounds like you are going to be ready for China! I have the WF backpack version and havent had the opportunity to fly with it yet, but as you demonstrate, it holds a lot more than just an overnight's worth of things! I can easily see using it as you have, for medium trips when I don't bring along my laptop. If I may ask, what was the nature of your trip? What kinds of activities, events did you do, and did you use the PCSB and PCBP a lot, or were they predominantly used for organization in your bag?

I don't have the backpack, but do have the shoulder bag. I took it to a museum this past weekend and found my contents traveling more than I would have liked. I used organizer pouches within, but they didn't stay where I put them. How did your packing cube travel bags work out for you!

[Maria]

I want a Western Flyer!

Impressive (and well organized!) list.

Did you have your Coach bag as a personal item? Or was that just a small bag to put into the WF too?

I just checked your blog and recognized the Coach bag in one of the pictures and see it's one of the smaller ones.

Is your WF the style with the back-pack straps?

[Just]

It's all in here:



Inside the Tom Bihn Packing Cube Backpack:
black Icebreaker Meridian short sleeved shirt
black ExOfficio Kizmet Camper 1/2 sleeve shirt
striped white BR shirt
grey pants
black Banana Republic dress pants
black Columbia shorts
5x ExOfficio Give-N-Go Bikini Brief, 1x Jockey bikini brief
1x VS bra
2x Teko socks, 1x dress socks
pink plaid shorts
black Nike Dri-Fit tank
Packtowl
1x ziploc gallon sized bag
2x ziploc 2-gallon sized bags

Tom Bihn Packing Cube Shoulder Bag:
light grey/clear slippers (aka flip-flops) in plastic bag

3-1-1 bag:
Olay moisturizer/sunblock
mini A&H toothpaste
mini H&S shampoo
sunblock
Blistex
NIVEA lip balm

Tom Bihn 3D Clear Organizer Cube:
travel toothbrush
Dr. Bronner's tea tree soap bar
Soap container
Salux Washcloth
face washcloth

Tom Bihn FOT Pouch:
Brookstone nail clippers
Band-aids
Immodium, Tylenol Cold, Benadryl

Tom Bihn Small Organizer Pouch:
Wet wipes

Tom Bihn Passport Pouch:
Passport
Colored Key Strap

Tom Bihn Clear Mini Organizer Pouch:
Thumb drives

Tom Bihn Kit:
Memory cards
Camera
Camera charging cables
iPhone backup power supply

Coach bag:
sanitary napkins

Trip info printed out and put into folder, Extra copy of passport
Wallet
handkerchief
black belt
Surefire flashlight
Flashlight extra battery
sunglasses
TB cleaning cloth
Laundry line
iPhone
iPhone bumper
iPhone charging cable
Murder on the Orient Express mass-market paperback
Luggage lock for hostel locker

Grand total (weight): 14.5 pounds

Pictures and more on the blog linked in signature.