Hello! I have bags. Let me show you them. ;D
Greetings!
I've had a couple of my photos thrown up off Twitter/Flickr this year so I figured I'd post a few more here. I first heard of Tom Bihn when I was looking for a carrying solution for my iPad when I got it last March, I was brought here when I found reviews for the Ristretto and as someone who takes his bags seriously (to the point of almost being comical to wife and friends) I gave it a go and ... the addiction has started.
I've had to slim down a bit after moving from my home back in Wisconsin, to now living in Japan for a few years. I have bags by Osprey, Ortlieb, have owned Booq, Timbuk2, BanjoBros, Camelbaks, product tested messenger bags & backpacks for my old job (I used to work for Trek Bicycles), bike specific bags handmade from Acorn Bag, and other various ones just from seeing cool stuff and wanting to try it out! I love seeing how people carry their gear in all ways, and having functional stuff really makes all the difference in the world in fighting with your needs, or just having a great time.
So that being said ... my Tom Bihn collection started with a Conifer Ristretto - sold that to my brother to fund my Linen/Olive I just picked up right before I left in September. Katy was FANTASTIC in helping me with my ... shortened time schedule and at the same time I picked up an Aeronaut for my carryon luggage. 3 sizes of padded cases, 4 clear pouches, a wallet, small cork pouch, 2 large pouches, key straps in long and short sizes, absolute straps for both, cache for my Apple keyboard, and lists on what I'm looking to pick up in the future.
My current Ristretto is with me 95% of the time I leave the house. Here in Japan having a bag if you're a guy is just the norm. What I normally would consider massively feminine from a Westerner's point of view doesn't translate over here. It's awesome. It's not just Euro-chic to carry around a sweet bag ;)
I've really enjoyed the quality of my bags so far, and their use and functionality shines when I need it the most. So ... some pics from my travels and uses of my bags. :)
My old Ristretto went to Scotland ... twice. I got engaged the first trip, married the second. You can probably guess which photos came on the first trip, and which one was the 2nd ;)
Carried my Ristretto with my every day, it carried the engagement ring in there and it didn't leave my side for 6 straight days till I was able to climb the mountain and propose.
@tombihn The Ristretto served me well on my trip! Didn't go anywhere without it! Note to self: order more pouches! by G e o cycle, on Flickr
Since I was the only one with a bag ... I because the gear hauler as we shed layers on the climb, only to put them all back on at the top of Shiehallion. Poor overworked bag!
There's a Bag in there … by G e o cycle, on Flickr
And you can sort of see the Ristretto joining us in St. Andrews - where we would get married 3 months later. Absolute shoulder strap was SUCH a good ideal! :)
Flying back to Madison tomorrow. This trip has been life changing in so many ways. :) by G e o cycle, on Flickr
One American. One Scot. One Wedding Dress. O'Hare - here we come!!! by G e o cycle, on Flickr
The Aeronaut was perfect for helping me move to Japan. I needed something that was MAXIMUM size, but kept the weight out of the bag itself. There was an 8lb difference between my old rolled case and my Bihn bag. That's 8lbs of more gear I was able to stuff in there!
Some @TomBihn love in Japan! The Aeronaut is amazing. Fits perfectly into JAL carry-on sizers! Can fit so much in here! by G e o cycle, on Flickr
Yep. That's a lot of luggage. by G e o cycle, on Flickr
(Look! Ristretto helping out as a "Personal Item")
More cream!!! by G e o cycle, on Flickr
Ristretto helping me roll the World's Largest Rolled Cake in Nagoya last month.
And the one that's on the blog right now - What's in my Ristretto! :)
What's in my bag? by G e o cycle, on Flickr
I'm in the market for some more bags. Depending on my job situation and what it requires it's going to decide whether or not I go with something like an ID or more like an Empire Builder/Zephyr. I left Trek to come here as my wife is doing a Postdoc here at Nagoya University. So I'm finishing up my resume to hopefully work as an English teacher while here. (Pardon all grammar and spelling mistakes ... heh) Also seriously considering a Smart Alec as a day-to-day backpack that swallows all. Not to mention the need for packing cubes, more pouches, and to get my wife (who can't possibly understand my addiction to bags ... hehe) some nice gear so she understands the benefits of having gear that just WORKS when you need it to, and behind the scenes.
So that's about it, hello and I'll be continuing to see you all around. ;D
-Jon
じゃ、また！
I've had a couple of my photos thrown up off Twitter/Flickr this year so I figured I'd post a few more here. I first heard of Tom Bihn when I was looking for a carrying solution for my iPad when I got it last March, I was brought here when I found reviews for the Ristretto and as someone who takes his bags seriously (to the point of almost being comical to wife and friends) I gave it a go and ... the addiction has started.
I've had to slim down a bit after moving from my home back in Wisconsin, to now living in Japan for a few years. I have bags by Osprey, Ortlieb, have owned Booq, Timbuk2, BanjoBros, Camelbaks, product tested messenger bags & backpacks for my old job (I used to work for Trek Bicycles), bike specific bags handmade from Acorn Bag, and other various ones just from seeing cool stuff and wanting to try it out! I love seeing how people carry their gear in all ways, and having functional stuff really makes all the difference in the world in fighting with your needs, or just having a great time.
So that being said ... my Tom Bihn collection started with a Conifer Ristretto - sold that to my brother to fund my Linen/Olive I just picked up right before I left in September. Katy was FANTASTIC in helping me with my ... shortened time schedule and at the same time I picked up an Aeronaut for my carryon luggage. 3 sizes of padded cases, 4 clear pouches, a wallet, small cork pouch, 2 large pouches, key straps in long and short sizes, absolute straps for both, cache for my Apple keyboard, and lists on what I'm looking to pick up in the future.
My current Ristretto is with me 95% of the time I leave the house. Here in Japan having a bag if you're a guy is just the norm. What I normally would consider massively feminine from a Westerner's point of view doesn't translate over here. It's awesome. It's not just Euro-chic to carry around a sweet bag ;)
I've really enjoyed the quality of my bags so far, and their use and functionality shines when I need it the most. So ... some pics from my travels and uses of my bags. :)
My old Ristretto went to Scotland ... twice. I got engaged the first trip, married the second. You can probably guess which photos came on the first trip, and which one was the 2nd ;)
Carried my Ristretto with my every day, it carried the engagement ring in there and it didn't leave my side for 6 straight days till I was able to climb the mountain and propose.
@tombihn The Ristretto served me well on my trip! Didn't go anywhere without it! Note to self: order more pouches! by G e o cycle, on Flickr
Since I was the only one with a bag ... I because the gear hauler as we shed layers on the climb, only to put them all back on at the top of Shiehallion. Poor overworked bag!
There's a Bag in there … by G e o cycle, on Flickr
And you can sort of see the Ristretto joining us in St. Andrews - where we would get married 3 months later. Absolute shoulder strap was SUCH a good ideal! :)
Flying back to Madison tomorrow. This trip has been life changing in so many ways. :) by G e o cycle, on Flickr
One American. One Scot. One Wedding Dress. O'Hare - here we come!!! by G e o cycle, on Flickr
The Aeronaut was perfect for helping me move to Japan. I needed something that was MAXIMUM size, but kept the weight out of the bag itself. There was an 8lb difference between my old rolled case and my Bihn bag. That's 8lbs of more gear I was able to stuff in there!
Some @TomBihn love in Japan! The Aeronaut is amazing. Fits perfectly into JAL carry-on sizers! Can fit so much in here! by G e o cycle, on Flickr
Yep. That's a lot of luggage. by G e o cycle, on Flickr
(Look! Ristretto helping out as a "Personal Item")
More cream!!! by G e o cycle, on Flickr
Ristretto helping me roll the World's Largest Rolled Cake in Nagoya last month.
And the one that's on the blog right now - What's in my Ristretto! :)
What's in my bag? by G e o cycle, on Flickr
I'm in the market for some more bags. Depending on my job situation and what it requires it's going to decide whether or not I go with something like an ID or more like an Empire Builder/Zephyr. I left Trek to come here as my wife is doing a Postdoc here at Nagoya University. So I'm finishing up my resume to hopefully work as an English teacher while here. (Pardon all grammar and spelling mistakes ... heh) Also seriously considering a Smart Alec as a day-to-day backpack that swallows all. Not to mention the need for packing cubes, more pouches, and to get my wife (who can't possibly understand my addiction to bags ... hehe) some nice gear so she understands the benefits of having gear that just WORKS when you need it to, and behind the scenes.
So that's about it, hello and I'll be continuing to see you all around. ;D
-Jon
じゃ、また！
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