Hi everyone.
My first 'proper' post, so thought I'd do a review of my just purchased TriStar and compare it with my much loved Aeronaut.
I live and travel in the UK/EU, and I've been a Tom Bihn customer since late 2001 - first purchase was a Brain Bag (donated to a colleague), an Empire Builder (sold on, as I move to smaller and smaller computers), several Brain Cells (why oh why no 11" Air Brain Cell?), an Aeronaut, and now, the latest, a Tri-Star.
I've travelled a lot with my bags - especially the Aeronaut, and I thought I'd try and contribute a bit to the fantastic reviews and resources that have helped me in the past.
The Aeronaut
----------------
I've used an Aeronaut for travelling on planes the last few years and loved it - it's been pretty much perfect here in strict hand baggage Europe - I can squish down the ends if need be, for the stricter airlines (looking at you, RyanAir).
I've never been asked to weigh the bag (and I've taken it with weight waaay over the allowed hand baggage limit) - it's longer shape and body moulding (and shoulder carry) means it looks like a underpacked, or at least not heavy bag.
On balance, I've found it's 'unstructured' design to have plus and minuses.
Good
For packing on non business trips, or where I needed to take a bunch of stuff, the design and size is perfect. A bit of discipline in packing, and there's an amazing amount you can comfortably carry.
Backpack straps - brilliant when you need them (running through Airports, banging through crowds, waiting in passport queues) and not there when you don't.
Love the shape and size of end pockets - perfect for all sorts of stuff.
Not so good
Packing half empty leaves it a bit 'floppy. Not a major problem, I suppose, more aesthetic.
I find myself in more business meetings where I'm en-route from hotels etc, and the Aeronaut is obviously a travel bag - to mitigate that, I decided to go with a Tri-Star.
When I had a Brain Cell for my macbook, all was good just shoving it into the Aeronaut. But since I've got an Air (and have the very good, but not bombproof, Waterfield Case), I've wanted to stick the computer between clothes for additional protection, and that's been a minor hassle when at security, or repeatedly taking the computer out for usage.
TriStar
----------
Interesting bag - just used used it for a plane ride on a budget EU flight, and in and out of cars, and a train.
I like it. It's not felt as revolutionary as my Aeronaut, but that's because I'm used to one bag travel, I think.
Definitely evolutionary though - both for my travelling style, and seeing the improvements in areas like the strap attachment points, and the new type of padding in the handles.
In fact, it's a testament to the Tristar that I just packed it, jumped on a plane and it felt just as normal and easy as the Aeronaut. I've not had to compromise on anything at all.
Pluses and minuses for me, being half way through my first week long business trip with it:
Good
Structured packing is great. For my newish need to carry a suit, shoes, 5 days of clothes and grab a laptop to use a bunch, the divided 'top' access design has been great.
Looks like a fat laptop case (a bit), so I can carry this into customers without looking like what I'm actually doing - living out of a suitcase!
Build quality - wow, as ever, absolutely awesome.
Front pockets for passport etc work as well as Aeronaut's side pocket.
Backpack straps - brilliant. Little more fiddly than Aeronaut (suspect I'm not used to location yet).
Fold flat sections - easy packing/unpacking - didn't appreciate how good this would be.
Fully loaded, this went straight under an Airbus 319 seat - packed flight, no messing around with the overheads for me!
Not so good
It packs 'fat' - it looks, when fully packed, quite wide, due to squarer design and 'busyness' of multiple zips and handles etc. and I'm wondering whether I'm going to be asked to weigh it by the budget airlines here.
Bottom horizontal pocket is superflous to my needs and the bag would have a 'cleaner front' appearance (like Western Flyer) with just two pockets.
Water bottle pocket - don't use it, and it's design means it bulges a bit to add to the illusion of width. Would prefer the old Western Flyer open pocket, so I could store easy access tickets and phone etc.
I crave the 'clean' design of the Western Flyer - looks more 'stealthy' (I can only go by photos of course).
Absolute Strap
The new design is fab - loved the old one, the curve and slightly thinner (therefore lighter) pad is great.
If you're in the US (and so not paying $$$ import), Definitely spend the $30 to get the new Absolute Strap.
Give the old one away - you'll love the new one, and you'll make someone's shoulder very happy with the old one.
What I've got in the TriStar
Obligatory packing list :-)
1st trip (20 lbs / 9kg):
Rear: 4 formal shirts, 3 tshirts, underwear, jambox speaker, book in a hasty bundle wrap
middle: 11" Air in sleeve, power brick, 3 x pouches, satnav and mount, someone else's kindle, handbag, purse, bunch of cables
Front: an Aeronaut, packing cubes and backpacks!
Pockets: passport, kindle, wallet, keys, pen etc.
Backpacked for 20 min walk, breezed into Airport, stright under seat of an Airbus A319 (Easyjet) as it was a packed flight.
Felt pretty heavy by end of night, but Absolute Strap was brilliant - good balance.
Handles were very comfy as well.
2nd trip (not weighed, but photos):
Rear: Suit, 3 formal shirts, jambox speaker, bundle wrap
Middle: 11" Air in sleeve, power brick, 3 x pouches, satnav and mount, bunch of cables
Front: 3 tshirts, underwear, pair of 43/US10.5 mens shoes
Pockets: passport, kindle, wallet, keys, pen etc.
Lighter, slimmer, more like it. Had to run through a packed Gatwick Airport - backpack mode meant I caught my train!
I took some photos (sorry, iPhone quality) - and some of the black/iberian, which I was worried would be too bright, but is in fact, very refined and looks good agains the black.
My first 'proper' post, so thought I'd do a review of my just purchased TriStar and compare it with my much loved Aeronaut.
I live and travel in the UK/EU, and I've been a Tom Bihn customer since late 2001 - first purchase was a Brain Bag (donated to a colleague), an Empire Builder (sold on, as I move to smaller and smaller computers), several Brain Cells (why oh why no 11" Air Brain Cell?), an Aeronaut, and now, the latest, a Tri-Star.
I've travelled a lot with my bags - especially the Aeronaut, and I thought I'd try and contribute a bit to the fantastic reviews and resources that have helped me in the past.
The Aeronaut
----------------
I've used an Aeronaut for travelling on planes the last few years and loved it - it's been pretty much perfect here in strict hand baggage Europe - I can squish down the ends if need be, for the stricter airlines (looking at you, RyanAir).
I've never been asked to weigh the bag (and I've taken it with weight waaay over the allowed hand baggage limit) - it's longer shape and body moulding (and shoulder carry) means it looks like a underpacked, or at least not heavy bag.
On balance, I've found it's 'unstructured' design to have plus and minuses.
Good
For packing on non business trips, or where I needed to take a bunch of stuff, the design and size is perfect. A bit of discipline in packing, and there's an amazing amount you can comfortably carry.
Backpack straps - brilliant when you need them (running through Airports, banging through crowds, waiting in passport queues) and not there when you don't.
Love the shape and size of end pockets - perfect for all sorts of stuff.
Not so good
Packing half empty leaves it a bit 'floppy. Not a major problem, I suppose, more aesthetic.
I find myself in more business meetings where I'm en-route from hotels etc, and the Aeronaut is obviously a travel bag - to mitigate that, I decided to go with a Tri-Star.
When I had a Brain Cell for my macbook, all was good just shoving it into the Aeronaut. But since I've got an Air (and have the very good, but not bombproof, Waterfield Case), I've wanted to stick the computer between clothes for additional protection, and that's been a minor hassle when at security, or repeatedly taking the computer out for usage.
TriStar
----------
Interesting bag - just used used it for a plane ride on a budget EU flight, and in and out of cars, and a train.
I like it. It's not felt as revolutionary as my Aeronaut, but that's because I'm used to one bag travel, I think.
Definitely evolutionary though - both for my travelling style, and seeing the improvements in areas like the strap attachment points, and the new type of padding in the handles.
In fact, it's a testament to the Tristar that I just packed it, jumped on a plane and it felt just as normal and easy as the Aeronaut. I've not had to compromise on anything at all.
Pluses and minuses for me, being half way through my first week long business trip with it:
Good
Structured packing is great. For my newish need to carry a suit, shoes, 5 days of clothes and grab a laptop to use a bunch, the divided 'top' access design has been great.
Looks like a fat laptop case (a bit), so I can carry this into customers without looking like what I'm actually doing - living out of a suitcase!
Build quality - wow, as ever, absolutely awesome.
Front pockets for passport etc work as well as Aeronaut's side pocket.
Backpack straps - brilliant. Little more fiddly than Aeronaut (suspect I'm not used to location yet).
Fold flat sections - easy packing/unpacking - didn't appreciate how good this would be.
Fully loaded, this went straight under an Airbus 319 seat - packed flight, no messing around with the overheads for me!
Not so good
It packs 'fat' - it looks, when fully packed, quite wide, due to squarer design and 'busyness' of multiple zips and handles etc. and I'm wondering whether I'm going to be asked to weigh it by the budget airlines here.
Bottom horizontal pocket is superflous to my needs and the bag would have a 'cleaner front' appearance (like Western Flyer) with just two pockets.
Water bottle pocket - don't use it, and it's design means it bulges a bit to add to the illusion of width. Would prefer the old Western Flyer open pocket, so I could store easy access tickets and phone etc.
I crave the 'clean' design of the Western Flyer - looks more 'stealthy' (I can only go by photos of course).
Absolute Strap
The new design is fab - loved the old one, the curve and slightly thinner (therefore lighter) pad is great.
If you're in the US (and so not paying $$$ import), Definitely spend the $30 to get the new Absolute Strap.
Give the old one away - you'll love the new one, and you'll make someone's shoulder very happy with the old one.
What I've got in the TriStar
Obligatory packing list :-)
1st trip (20 lbs / 9kg):
Rear: 4 formal shirts, 3 tshirts, underwear, jambox speaker, book in a hasty bundle wrap
middle: 11" Air in sleeve, power brick, 3 x pouches, satnav and mount, someone else's kindle, handbag, purse, bunch of cables
Front: an Aeronaut, packing cubes and backpacks!
Pockets: passport, kindle, wallet, keys, pen etc.
Backpacked for 20 min walk, breezed into Airport, stright under seat of an Airbus A319 (Easyjet) as it was a packed flight.
Felt pretty heavy by end of night, but Absolute Strap was brilliant - good balance.
Handles were very comfy as well.
2nd trip (not weighed, but photos):
Rear: Suit, 3 formal shirts, jambox speaker, bundle wrap
Middle: 11" Air in sleeve, power brick, 3 x pouches, satnav and mount, bunch of cables
Front: 3 tshirts, underwear, pair of 43/US10.5 mens shoes
Pockets: passport, kindle, wallet, keys, pen etc.
Lighter, slimmer, more like it. Had to run through a packed Gatwick Airport - backpack mode meant I caught my train!
I took some photos (sorry, iPhone quality) - and some of the black/iberian, which I was worried would be too bright, but is in fact, very refined and looks good agains the black.
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