Aeronaut for Business Travel: Convince Me

[Mark P]

All,

My apologies if this topic has been covered elsewhere: I'm new to the forum, and relatively new to Tom Bihn products.

Here's my question: Will the Aeronaut work as business travel bag for trips lasting a week or longer? To be specific, asssume I'll need to pack at least four pairs of trousers + 6-8 long-sleeved dress shirts (in addition to miscellaneous other travel/business gear). Can you adequately pack this amount of dress clothes in an Aeronaut so that they arrive (relatively) wrinkle free?

The Air Boss seems an appealing option for this sort of travel. But I'm inclined to go with Tom Bihn since, well, it's Tom Bihn. A little guidance on this would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

[KarlJ]

All,

Here's my question: Will the Aeronaut work as business travel bag for trips lasting a week or longer?

It's relative to how you mean "work", but I'd say yes it would in most cases.

... Can you adequately pack this amount of dress clothes in an Aeronaut so that they arrive (relatively) wrinkle free?

That too, is pretty do-able. It's easy once you know how.

The Air Boss seems an appealing option for this sort of travel. But I'm inclined to go with Tom Bihn since, well, it's Tom Bihn.

I think they are both outstanding bags. Both begged to be packed to nearly mind-blowing limits. The Air Boss seems a little aloof and overkill unless it's packed to capacity. The Aeronaut can handle those times when you don't need to be maxed out.

[Mark P]

Hi Karl,

You say its easy to pack dress clothes in the Aeronaut so that they arrive wrinkle free "once you know how." Care to share the trick? Thanks.

[blackfungi]

the tristar is the better bag for your needs i think.

[Fat Crip]

Hi Karl,

You say its easy to pack dress clothes in the Aeronaut so that they arrive wrinkle free "once you know how." Care to share the trick? Thanks.

If you search 'bundle packing' on Youtube.com, you'll find a number of videos. The secret is to roll rather than fold. In bundle packing you roll everything together so that there are no 'hard' folds. Sadly, YouTube is a bit of a mixed bag, so you'll have to mix and match to see what works for you. E.g. much as I totally respect Maverick's videos as the best of the best, I disagree with the use of the Eagle Creek style suit holder. I find that you get a lot of creases on the inner clothes, so I prefer to use an interlocking style round a 'core' of underwear, electrical things etc. But, it seems to work for him as a seasoned regular traveler, so what do I know?

As a young man I used to use this method with a rucksack and my girl friends' parents were often surprised to find that the scruffy, unshaven scrote that would turn up for the weekend could transform in to a smart 'gentleman' in a tweed suit, ironed shirt, silk tie and polished brogues for church on Sunday! Some of them thought I might actually be respectable ... little did they know!

Eric

[yeti]

I prefer to use an interlocking style round a 'core' of underwear, electrical things etc. Eric

I find that this method works best for me too (as a core, I use a small packing cube to hold underwear/socks) I found this page helpful: http://www.onebag.com/pack.html

There's a diagram you can click on near the bottom of the page that illustrates the bundle-wrapping method.

I don't have an Aeronaut (yet), but I'm pretty sure it has tie-down straps in the main compartment that can hold such a bundle in place.

[Fat Crip]

I don't have an Aeronaut (yet), but I'm pretty sure it has tie-down straps in the main compartment that can hold such a bundle in place.

Current ones do!

[mjgoode]

Doable. I've got an assortment of packing cubes, but the one thing that always goes with me to keep my shirts tidy is an Eagle Creek folder:

http://www.eaglecreek.com/packing_solutions/packing_folders/Pack-It-Folder-15-41068/

The 15" version fits well. I have the 18" version but haven't used in inside the Aeronaut. I'm not exactly a light packer but even I have done many a week on the road using an Aeronaut / Ego combination.

Regards,


Matthew

[udsa67]

I sold my Aeronaut+Western Flyer and bought a Tristar+Imago.

I found the Aeronaut unwieldly especially in long airport walks and after a while (albeit 2 years) I just stopped using it. I still like the concept of a carry on rather than wheels, and the Tri-Star I can already see is the keeper. I can get an Eagle Creek Garment Sleeve in there easily and there is never the temptation to overpack it.

I did do 3 weeks in Tokyo once with the Aeronaut but that's a Roppongi-induced blur...

[Crusader]

usda67: You mentioned that you can fit an eagle creek garment sleeve in the Tri-Star, but I thought that the garment sleeve was too big to fit in the Tri-Star. Do you have pictures showing how you fit it? I would be much more interested in the Tri-Star over the Aeronaut if I knew it would fit.

[udsa67]

hmmmm sure although bear with me as i've not uploaded pics here before.

pic 1 is obviously the empty tri-star, pic 2 i've overlaid the sleeve no problem. that particular 'pack-it' sleeve is good for 2 suits and a bunch of shirts.

it's worth pointing out that the same sleeve was too large for the aeronaut without scrunching it up at both ends...that used to p155 me off.

after the novelty wore off, i found lugging the aeronaut on business trips made me look and feel like a backpacker next to the rest of the (in asia anyway) populace with their sleek looking tumi gear. i don't aspire to be one of them but the fact that i own a TB product means i appreciate premium gear, and the tri-star's way better design (IMO) means i can feel sleek too. well as sleek as you can look when you're a 5-7 guy with a bright blue and solar business bag.

[Crusader]

Thanks for posting those pictures. What size packing folder is that? I'm surprised/impressed that you could fit two suits and a "bunch" of shirts in it.

[Mark P]

Any thoughts on whether an 18" Eagle Creek folder will fit in the main compartment of an Aeronaut?