TriStar or Aeronaut?? The decision is making me crazy!!!

[Katy]

Doctor Who! I am surprised Google didn't know. At the risk of sounding like a sci-fi junkie (which I am definitely not, although I don't mind the odd William Gibson novel from time to time), Doctor Who is an English sci-fi character who, as one of the Time Lords, travels through time and space in a time machine called a TARDIS. It has chameleon like features that enable it to blend in with its surroundings (in the TV series it appeared as a small old fashioned English police box - think something like a telephone box with no windows) but for present purposes its key feature was that it was much larger on the inside than it appeared from the outside. . Check out the original BBC series - it is delightfully eccentric and clunky (and loved by its fans for being so)!

<3<3<3<3<3 The new Doctor Who series is also absolutely wonderful .

[DQBunny]

<3<3<3<3<3 The new Doctor Who series is also absolutely wonderful .

I LOVE the new series, especially the current Doctor. New goal: To get close enough to the TARDIS set one day with one of my Tom Bihn bags to get a picture. If I visit the Doctor Who Experience, I can get away with this! I also carry River Song's sonic in whatever Bihn bag I carry for the day. Darcy even posted a picture of that on the blog a few weeks back!

[Katy]

I LOVE the new series, especially the current Doctor. New goal: To get close enough to the TARDIS set one day with one of my Tom Bihn bags to get a picture. If I visit the Doctor Who Experience, I can get away with this! I also carry River Song's sonic in whatever Bihn bag I carry for the day. Darcy even posted a picture of that on the blog a few weeks back!

Oh! That was your photo!?? I squeeled with excitement when I saw it! The new series is awesome! I also love Matt Smith! But, not nearly as much as I loved David Tennant. I just LOVED the Doctor and Donna combination (I should probly stop talking about this or I'll start crying!! UGH! That season finale!). I haven't seen any of the classic Who episodes but hope to someday.

I absolutely support your new goal (actually...can you take me with you!?)! AND Now that the Doctor Who Experience has moved to Cardiff, you can also take Torchwood related pictures with your bag!!

In other news, I'm really hoping for a sonic screwdriver for my birthday this year. Or a Tardis cookie jar..

[Katy]

This is killing me.... I've been researching and reading reviews now for WEEKS trying to decide on a new bag. My #1 requirement is the bag needs to be born & bred in the good ol' USA (Tom Bihn -- CHECK! ) #2 is I really want a convertible bag (w/backpack straps) so I have as many carry options as possible. #3 is I don't want to ever check a bag on a flight - no matter what.

I'm a tech/business traveler so I need business casual clothes and a good bit of tech gear. That includes, not only a laptop, power brick and various cables, but also sometimes the need for a screwdriver, a cable labeler, cable ties, velcro and other such things. I'm not opposed to carrying a 2nd bag as a "personal" item for tech stuff, but I'd rather not whenever I can help it. My typical trip is 2-4 days, I'm rarely away from home for a week or more. I drive a lot, and fly maybe 2 or 3 times a month.

Having said all that, I REALLY REALLY love the Aeronaut, but it doesn't seem like it would be as flexible/versatile for my needs. For instance, looking at the TriStar, it seems like I could just carry that into a customer site with me, and nobody would think I was just carrying my luggage around with me (especially if it was black or steel). Or, I could check into my hotel, hang up my clothes in the closet, and then carry the TriStar as my computer briefcase. With the Aeronaut, it seems like I would need some other means of carrying my laptop and tech gear with me after I've checked into the hotel. I don't think the Aeronaut seems like a good "briefcase"/tech bag to lug into a business casual situation with a customer.

I really wish I could justify spending the money on BOTH bags right now , but I can't. And I just read the TB blog post yesterday about the Aeronauts selling out, and being on back-order! C'mon folks, I'm dyin' over here!!!

So, for all you folks out there with experience using both bags, can you help me make this crazy tough decision?? Am I wrong on my thoughts about the Aeronaut?? Can it double as a tech/computer bag in a pinch? I really like the style and extra space of the Aeronaut, and I worry that I won't be able to get everything I need in the TriStar.

I never thought buying a new bag would be such a hard decision.....

Have you made your official decision? I think the Tri-Star will handle all of the items you listed with ease .

[dmauder]

dmauder, now that you've made your decision for Aeronaut, I'll chime in about my Tristar. ;-) Took it for a 3-day trip this weekend, and I just LOVE the organization of this bag.

What makes you think I've actually made a decision....????

[dmauder]

Have you made your official decision? I think the Tri-Star will handle all of the items you listed with ease .

Not really Katy, but I think you're right... The TriStar seems like the better choice for my needs. And then I need a nice 2nd bag for those times when I have to pack clothes for for a week or so, and my tech gear won't fit in the primary bag. I also fully concede that once I see/feel/experience a Tom Bihn bag, I'm sure I will want to buy more. So, if I get the TriStar now, why not get the Aeronaut later and let my wife use it for leisure/personal travel...? Right??

Here's the thing... My wife & I are on a mission to purchase only "Made in USA" products, and also slowly replace current items with Made in USA products. But I don't want to go broke doing it! My "foreign made" luggage is pretty much shot after just shy of 5 years of tech/business travel. The only bag I still really like is my North Face Surge backpack, but I'm not opposed to selling that at a garage sale and replacing it with a quality American-made backpack or messenger bag.

[Maria]

In other news, I'm really hoping for a sonic screwdriver for my birthday this year. Or a Tardis cookie jar..

Sorry to be off topic, but this one looks good:

Doctor Who: 11th Doctor: New Sonic Screwdriver @ Forbidden Planet

[DQBunny]

Sorry to be off topic, but this one looks good:

Doctor Who: 11th Doctor: New Sonic Screwdriver @ Forbidden Planet

I have that one as well. I keep it at work. It's a bit too tall to fit comfortably in the front pocket of the Ristretto.

[gmanedit]

Doctor Who: 11th Doctor: New Sonic Screwdriver @ Forbidden Planet

Very disappointed to learn that it doesn't actually do anything. It's not even a screwdriver.

[Katy]

Very disappointed to learn that it doesn't actually do anything. It's not even a screwdriver.

Ahem.

ThinkGeek :: Doctor Who 11th Doctor's Diecast Sonic Screwdriver... Screwdriver

[jea]

Just a few months ago I was analyzing this same choice-- between the Aeronaut and the Tristar. I also mainly travel for work, although usually for longer periods (5-7+ days), and without much in the way of tech gear beyond a laptop or iPad and the resulting cords. I went for the Aeronaut in the end, and have been very happy with the choice. On some trips I've used the Aeronaut plus a laptop bag, and in others gone just with the Aeronaut. In either case I NEVER check a bag. I agree that the Aeronaut clearly looks like a suitcase, and may not be as good for a client meeting that you want to bring your bag to. However, I do think that the Aeronaut's classy look can make it a good match in general for the business traveler, and it wont look out of place with a suit or blazer (although I definitely carry it with the shoulder strap, not the backpack straps, in more formal situations).

If its essential for you to have a single bag that can pass for a larger laptop bag in meetings, then the Tristar may be the way to go. But if you want an all-around versatile piece of luggage, that can be used in the maximum number of circumstances, and which you may occasionally pair with a briefcase, then the Aeronaut may be your best option. Personally, I would like to eventually have both the Aeronaut and a Western Flyer, but we can all dream...

[leviathan]

I have both bags and they serve wonderfully in two different scenarios. The Aeronaut is for my long hauls - trips of 2-3 weeks or more. I stuff that poor thing to the absolute max capacity and it never fails. But I also often do shorter trips 5-10 days in which case the Tri-Star is perfect. The Tri-Star works great for the wife and I for weekend adventures, too. We'll head to the beach for 2 1/2 days, where we only really need a couple changes of clothes.

What you really should decide is how expandable you need your bag to be. The Aeronaut is cavernous - great for bulky items like sweaters or coats or shoes. The Tri-Star is more suited for easily compacted clothing - t-shirts, pants, etc.

Maybe my bags are seasonal "Yes, quite. I summer in my Tri-Star and winter in my Aeronaut. Ineed [monocle]"

[Maria]

Maybe my bags are seasonal "Yes, quite. I summer in my Tri-Star and winter in my Aeronaut. Ineed [monocle]"

Oh love this! And coming from me, who sees nothing wrong with having multiple TB bags, and even the same bag in different colours....I'll have to "borrow" this quote Leviathan!

[jea]

Forgot to add the link to my Aeronaut review, which may be helpful as you think through all the amazing things an Aeronaut can do!: http://forums.tombihn.com/bag-review...-aeronaut.html.

[dmauder]

Hi All: I REALLY appreciate all the info and advice everyone has provided in helping me make the decision... I think my wife hit the nail on the head when she said the only reason I haven't ordered a bag yet is because I'm a cheap a$$. She's probably right... It's a BIG deal to me spending this much on a bag, and I want it to be the "perfect" one. Either way I go, with all the accessories I want/need, I'll be pretty close to $400.

I'm super bummed because all the color choices I wanted for the Aeronaut are on back order. But also, after weighing all the pros & cons, I think the TriStar is the better choice to be my first TB bag. It will let me truly experience one-bag travel for 2-4 day trips and still have all my tech gear with me. Of course, I MUST have the absolute strap, the backpack packing cube, couple of smaller packing cubes, 3-1-1 bag, snake charmer, etc, etc.... I'll skip the brain cell this time and just put my laptop in a neoprene sleeve. Seems to make more sense, especially since I get a new laptop every 3 years (through work) and don't want to spend $60 on a new brain cell every time if I have a different sized laptop.

As soon as I get myself to actually click the "order" button, I'll let ya'll know what I got. Now, I have to decide.... steel/solar, or navy/solar. Ugh!