On Travel With The New ID Bag

[Zephyrnoid]

http://www.imagometrics.com/GoBags/TB_ID.htm

[moriond]

Looking forward to seeing the full range of pictures for the New ID Bag at the imagometrics site. As Darcy notes in another recent thread on the newly redesigned Utility Tote, you do a really nice job showing the bags with contents. I noticed that the ID link for my previous favorite review site for photos of the Classic ID is now working again with all the pictures after at least 8 months when only two of the pictures were available. (As noted in this post, the continuous changes mean that the position of the front pocket in those photos is swapped with respect to more recent Classic ID bags, and the keychain fob was not detachable). Hope to see the new design photos soon.

P.S. For another set of more recent Classic ID bag comparison pics, with the steel/crimson color combination that Zephyrnoid shows, see this link mentioned by someone in another earlier post. Zephyrnoid has such good taste in colors! (Read this as: I have the Classic ID bag in the same colors he's chosen for the newly designed ID bag and want to see the differences.)

[Zephyrnoid]

I love the Black/Steel/Crimson(inside).It looks conservative on the outside only to reveal a daring, red hot inside ;) It projects understated elegance and a streamlined silhouette .


Le Jardin Botanique http://www.ville-ge.ch/cjb/

I can't wait to make the detail pictures of the pockets and contents - though we have no permanent studio these days.So please be patient.
The ID is performing beautifully on this trip. the Absolute Shoulder Strap made 2 hours of hiking around lake Geneva (Lac Leman) with a fully loaded ID bag a breeze! Not only that but the tendency for a shoulder strap to slide off the shoulder at the wrong moment is significantly reduced. The Tom Bihn Organizer pouches have turned fumbling and sorting through accessories a thing of the past. I spend a lot of time at the Starbucks near the Hotel de Bergues and several people remarked positively on the ID Bag. Considering all the tonny Coulture Luggage stores around- I took those as high compliments indeed.
My ID and I took a major drenching in the rain the day before yesterday and after a light wipedown the surface was bone dry again- Not a drop entered the bag!Ballistic Nylon is IT IMHO !
My favorite carry method has been across to opposite shoulder- sometimes I've used the waist strap to redistribute some weight to my waist. I can sense the neoprene absorbing the weight of the bag on the 'drop' as my gait is fast and furious- the bag just hops up and drops softly as the padding stretches out a centimeter or two.
I clipped my ipod w/ Video to the webbing around the bottle cinch straps- allowing for quick playlist or volume changes For the rainy spell the ipod was perfectly dry in the lined side sip pocket and thanks to the peekaboo gap, It made the 15 minute bus ride back to where I'm staying a musical one. Using a Jabra JX10 Bluetooth headset made communicating with my cellphone in the second lined pocket effortless.
Touring the town on foot I let my iogear WiFi finder dangle outside the ID bag on one of the interior lanyards- every once in a while I'd sniff the airwaves for a wireless signal.It turns out that Geneva, Switzerland is well wired- mostly with private networks- though all the hotels, McDonalds and Starbucks (they seem to be sprouting up everywhere here) have pay for use networks too. So I've grabbed take out meals from the several excellent cafe's or sandwich shops here and sat at Starbucks to work on my ID bag reports.Not many flowers this time of year but I really came for meetings and to celebrate Thanksgiving anyway.

http://switzerland.isyours.com/e/guide/lake_geneva/index.html

OK. More later... :)

Looking forward to seeing the full range of pictures for the New ID Bag at the imagometrics site. As Darcy notes in another recent thread on the newly redesigned Utility Tote, you do a really nice job showing the bags with contents. I noticed that the ID link for my previous favorite review site for photos of the Classic ID is now working again with all the pictures after at least 8 months when only two of the pictures were available. (As noted in this post, the continuous changes mean that the position of the front pocket in those photos is swapped with respect to more recent Classic ID bags, and the keychain fob was not detachable). Hope to see the new design photos soon.

P.S. For another set of more recent Classic ID bag comparison pics, with the steel/crimson color combination that Zephyrnoid shows, see this link mentioned by someone in another earlier post. Zephyrnoid has such good taste in colors! (Read this as: I have the Classic ID bag in the same colors he's chosen for the newly designed ID bag and want to see the differences.)

[Zephyrnoid]

Return Voyage Update...
Coming back home the ID Bag lived under my airline seat and was visited often for the retreival of various and sundry contents. The laptop was in and out several times on the trans Atlantic leg. The usual air travel needs were so easy to grab from under my feet. Reading glasses, Blindfold, Meds,Paperback, iPod and Travel toothbrush, Travel Papers and electric razor all got used. The first leg of my journey as delayed- causing me to make a mad dash to catch my connection. So between terminals I sprinted and bolted up escalators- while the Absolute strap on the ID bag took this abuse and sucked it up like a sponge! Squeezing in between the narrow aircraft gangway was much easier with the ID in hand and infront of me. I had pity on one person that kept banging into the seats with his wheeled carry-on. I can't wait to see the upcoming Ego- for now, the Super Ego and ID Bag make a perfect set for Medium and large loads.

[Zephyrnoid]

That plastic Thingy on the ID

I couldn't figure out what that plastic belt loop on the bottom of the ID bag was and you know- I was TOO EMBARRASED to ask. then I read this...

"Tom Bihn has also thought to give the ID a waist strap that keeps the bag in place as you where it while riding or running for a train. Provision has been made to allow for a Cat Eye flasher to be attached to the bag for extra visibility by motorists at night and Tom Bihn has made the ID available in several eye catching colors that will you similar attention during day rides."

Now I have to strap a flasher on mine!:)

[Zephyrnoid]

Two new updates on the ID.
1) Fully loaded in now weighs in at exactly 20lbs! It feels like 5 pounds thanks to the Absolute strap. Soon I will shoot pictures of the contents.
2) I have two wishes for a future iteration and they are minor for sure.
- The bottle pouch could be about 2-3" taller to accomodate tall Nalgene flasks like my CamelBak bottle. This would hold the flasks a little more securely.
- I've gone nuts attaching pouches to available strapping since I ran out of interior storage about a month ago. You'll see what I mean when I post pics. So my second wish is to have some MOLLE/PALS webbing in strateging locations on this and other Tom Bihn bags- that may go beyond urban commuter duty.
This could also give rise to a whole line of add-on pouches for outer surfaces of our fav Tom Bihn luggage...but that's a discussion that should be in > Product Suggestions.

[Zephyrnoid]

I've updated the ID bag review with detail pictures and Bird's Eye Views of the contents laid out.
I must say. The ID bag holds a LOT of toys...err, I mean TOOLS!

http://www.imagometrics.com/GoBags/TB_ID.htm

[Zephyrnoid]

New use for ID Bag...
Scroll to Bottom of This Page...

http://imagometrics.com/FLReviews/Tosh10.9encl.htm

[Zephyrnoid]

Update. ID bag is no longer carrying the 10.9" HD Monitor. I've just finished the smaller 7.2" Monitor and it's now carrying that with a lot more space for cables etc. Seriously considering cutting off the waist belt.:eek:

[Zephyrnoid]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/zephyrnoid/72_DIY.jpg

[PM4HIRE]

Small plastic bag

What is the small bag labeled "DATREX"?

[Zephyrnoid]

Search "datrex water" in Google. It's emergency water packaged in a sealed pouch with a shelf life of 10 years. Good for an emergency so I litter my go-bags & car with them. Obviously they don't go far but if you take meds to survive, you need some water. I also stash bottled and boxed water around in case. I once administered First Aid to a person that has gone hiking with NO food or water in her pack. She was close to fainting actually. One 2oz GUI energy gel packet and one Datrex water got her up and going in 15 minutes.
I'm not a 'survivalist' just a human that knows how to survive.

What is the small bag labeled "DATREX"?

[PM4HIRE]

Can you recommend an energy gel packet to carry?

[Zephyrnoid]

I use GU energy gel because certain of their flavors contain NO CAFFEINE. I'm highly allergic to Caffeine.There are many brands that are great, try some and decide which one is right for you. Watch for ingredients that don't agree with you. BTW- Lara Bar is a favorite energy bar on this forum:p

Can you recommend an energy gel packet to carry?

[pretzelb]

Be wary of the espresso flavored gel from Gu or Cliff. I once picked up a free one during the Mercy Island Half and I nearly gagged. I will admit that it had an espresso flavor (so it wasn't faulty advertising) but why anyone would want that in a gel packet is beyond me. But it would explain why they were giving those away.