Anyone use a Co-Pilot as a purse?

[cucciasv]

I've been using my Co-Pilot (black/steel) as Murse for a couple of years. I alternate with my Ristretto for iPad (steel/iberian). I use an iPad constantly, and of course, both are perfect.

My B.A.S. (Bihn Acquisition Syndrome) kicked in once again last week. After having purchased an Aeronaut (steel/ultraviolet) and a Brain Bag (steel), I ordered yet another co-pilot on Friday! (Arriving 5 days, this Friday - oh, the pain).

THIS Co-pilot is in Iberian Dyneema/steel. I love the Iberian Dyneema ... wish I had some underwear or T-shirts made in this fabric! This Co-pilot will strictly be used as a "tech and cable bag" for my Apple consulting and teaching gigs. I have all kinds of cables, adapters, do-dads, and other things to carry. I've been using a tool bag kind of thing but it's too bulky ... besides, it's a good excuse to assuage my B.A.S.

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Someone please help me!
I have BAS (Bihn Acquisition Syndrome)!!

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[dorayme]

I like Opal.
My cork Swift is Corky, and my Black LS is Cesar Desparado, my Black Bag.
The others are currently unnamed, but definitely not unloved and used. Yes, it is true that when you add more bags, they may all get a little less use. It's not like cheating though, think of it as life preservation. They will last much longer by occasionally getting a break. They also won't be lonely. It all works out in the end.

Oh and Heynurse, yes, you made a magnanimous mistake! Maybe you can make it up to your wife by placating her with some Tom Bihn of her own, a Cafe bag or Little Swift goes a long way towards healing wounds. . .

[Hollie]

I love that way of looking at it! They will last longer, and have friends. Yes, with friends we all last longer, don't we?

[Lani]

I use my dyneema co-pilot as kind of a hybrid purse/briefcase, and really love it.

I, too, have the Dyneema version, and I use it as a purse/briefcase when I need to carry a little more than my Packing Cube Shoulder Bag will carry. It's awesome!

[Hollie]

The do Dyneema versions of things feel that different? The first time I saw the fabric on the website, over a year ago, I didn't like it very much, but it's really grown on me. I love the Dyneema interior of my Synapse. I'm curious what an all-Dyneema bag is like.

[dorayme]

The all Dyneema versions are very packable, but the piping that is sewn in gives them body enough to stand on their own. They are also extremely light, and as you have observed, the fabric is slick.

I understand your sentiments on all Dyneema bags, at first I wasn't a fan either. Then I got my first shop bag. The rest is history. I really like Dyneema as an exterior fabric now. Fwiw, though I like the all Dyneema co-pilots, I chose steel ballistic /uv Dyneema. I wanted to use my co-pilot as a micro briefcase. I preferred the ballistic exterior for that "look".

If I were carrying it as a purse, I would possibly prefer Dyneema, because to me the Dyneema ones look less like luggage/briefcases.

[Heynurse]

I flip flopped for a long time between the imago and synapse. Ended up going with the imago. The dyneema is what lit the fire for the synapse. I love it on the bags as well as the pouches. In fact if I had to do it over again I probably would have not gotten the small Padded OP and got an all dyneema one, my cables and shuffle would have been safe in one and the padded now seems overkill and adds a little to much thickness. I love the clear dyneema too, I do find the clear a little, sticky?? Not sure right word but I notice it grabs a little more on the bag and other pouches, any one else notice this?

[Heynurse]

Ohhhhhh how about a cache wrapped in dyneema!

[marbenais]

I've used the Co-Pilot as a purse of sorts. Since I'm quite short, it does look more like a briefcase on me than a purse!

I have the Black Ballistic with Steel Dyneema version -- I wish Ultraviolet had existed when I bought my Co-Pilot, because I want the Black/Ultraviolet one so much! If anyone ever wants to trade . . .

[dorayme]

Heynurse, yes, the clear urethane is sticky. Where it bothers me the most is when one of my clear OP, clear cubes, or clear bottomed yarn stuff sacks come into contact with my Swift or Little Swift pockets. I've learned to turn the fabric side of one towards the other clear surfaceof the other to prevent sticking.

For a while, Tom had a slightly "cloudy" urethane vs. the crystal clear they are using now. It wasn't sticky, but it also wasn't as aesthetically pleasing. I have some, and personally didn't mind the look (kind of like powder was inside the pouch) because of the property of not sticking to itself, but in the end that isn't the fabric that is being used, so there is a reason why, and I live with it.

My personal solution is to buy all fabric choices when it's an option vs. the clear items. It was novel at first to have clear for organization purposes, but now I use the color, texture and size to know what the contents are. Still, I wonder if the all fabric quarter cube and 3d cube that were proposed on the whishlist will be considered. . . All Dyneema pockets in the swifts would also be nice.

[Hollie]

The all Dyneema versions are very packable, but the piping that is sewn in gives them body enough to stand on their own. They are also extremely light, and as you have observed, the fabric is slick.

I understand your sentiments on all Dyneema bags, at first I wasn't a fan either. Then I got my first shop bag. The rest is history. I really like Dyneema as an exterior fabric now. Fwiw, though I like the all Dyneema co-pilots, I chose steel ballistic /uv Dyneema. I wanted to use my co-pilot as a micro briefcase. I preferred the ballistic exterior for that "look".

If I were carrying it as a purse, I would possibly prefer Dyneema, because to me the Dyneema ones look less like luggage/briefcases.

Isn't it funny! I wonder how many other people didn't like the Dyneema at first, but then it grew on them? I love it now.

I'm getting the Black/UV now for the purse idea, but with full knowledge that if the new Co-Pilots come out with some great Dyneema color (especially if that color is the Ultraviolet), I'll probably switch it up to the Dyneema and use the Black/UV one for an organizing travel bag. For now I think the Black/UV will work, since I'm 5'9" and can make any bag look petite.

I'm really starting to understand Bihn Acquisition Syndrome!

[dorayme]

I'm really starting to understand Bihn Acquisition Syndrome!

That BAS will sneak up on you. . . We all want to find better ways to carry our stuff, be organized and look great. All of those can be accomplished with a great bag! Once you actually have one in your hands, feel the quality, functionality, craftsmanship and see the colors and textures in real life, it's easy to see solutions in other areas of our lives being filled in a similar manner. At least it has been for me.

Enjoy your new Co-Pilot, they have been called the messenger bag version of the Synapse because of the front organizer panel. Like other Tom Bihn bags they also have the built in black hole technology, they appear pretty small outwardly, but on the inside they hold a ton. Black/UV is a gorgeous combo.

[gochicken]

Well the really dorky thing is that I sort of feel like I'm cheating on my Synapse by getting the Co-Pilot.

Black/UV is THE combination for me also!!! I bought the Synapse mostly because it was the only bag at the time in that color combination, even though I was sure I really didn't need it. It has proved to be most versatile and now I wonder how I ever got along without it. Enter the Black/UV Co-Pilot...... I didn't really need this bag either, but it came in Black/UV and so I caved (with a little help form Dorayme's glowing endorsements). I think of it as my Non-Backpack Synapse. It's so perfect for traveling, it keeps me so organized, it's just the right size (small, but holds a lot!), and it's so lovely in versatile black on the outside, pretty UV on the inside.

I think of my Co-Pilot as a brother or cousin to my Synapse. After all they are the only two Black/UV bags available, and they really do perfectly compliment each other, allowing me to be more organized in more areas of my life on the go, whether at home or traveling, looking business-like or casual.

[backpack]

Love Dyneema, love it in Steel, absolutely breathtaking in UV.

Regular nylon is the epidomy of casual, mass produced, low quality stuff.

But Dyneema that's another story, it is lightweight and strong, can be casual and dressed up and it is a lifesaver for packing and organizing.
That I already knew.

A couple of days ago, I moved the content of my Large Cafe Bag onto my UV Dyneema Synapse and UV Dyneema Large Shop Bag for things that needed quick retrival.

I had to walk a hilly terrain, on an empty stomach, in 88 degree weather and... I enjoyed it! Thanks to my UV Dyneema beauties.

I have grown quite fond of the pair during the summer, canicular weather and light fabric go together wonderfully.

Because most of my errands trips were in a car, in the evening when it had cool down to less than the mid hundreds to high nineties, I could afford to bring my beautiful Plum Large Cafe Bag in addition to the Synapse and Large Shop Bag.

I knew that it would be too much for public transport and was nervous about finding a solution.

Thanks to the wonderful O rings on the Large Shop Bag, I can transfert my trusty Pouches from the Large Cafe Bag and keep my organization intact and essential things within reach.

It should be noted that most of my Pouches are Clear and I have never had any problem with stickiness in any of my Swifts or between Pouches and between Pouches and Stuff Sacks, all of which have a Clear Bottom because most of them are Steel and I need to find out fast, if the Steel Stuff Sack I am grabbing is the one holding my mobile needlework project.

It might be due to the fact that I pack loose in contrast to Dorayme and Maverick who pack their bags very tightly in the most organized and streamlined way possible in a way I can only dream of.

If I tried to pack that way, Mr Bean and Inpector Closeau situation would arise at the most innapropriate moment.

I am truly fond of all my Tom Bihn Inc bags but I am very happy that I share a great fondness for the Synapse with many of TB forum members.

[Lani]

My personal solution is to buy all fabric choices when it's an option vs. the clear items. It was novel at first to have clear for organization purposes, but now I use the color, texture and size to know what the contents are. Still, I wonder if the all fabric quarter cube and 3d cube that were proposed on the whishlist will be considered. . . All Dyneema pockets in the swifts would also be nice.

I so wish I could buy the 3D organizer pouch in non-clear all Dyneema! I'd also love LOVE a Dyneema Side Effect.

On my wish list, since it doesn't even require designing a brand new design. #sigh.