If I was not checking a bag - I would likely do:
- one big backpack for carryon = an A30 (could be an A45 depending on how you personally pack)
- one cross-body bag: Co-Pilot in your setup (I would use an SCB or MCB as those are what I have) depending on how small your fleece jacket packs down. I would probably also want a light rain jacket or umbrella so I'd go with bags with a capacity of 8L - 12L, at least.
- Ideally a Halcyon bag for packability and because the fabric bends around me better in a cross-body format.
- Maybe a Parental Unit, though I don't have personal experience with that bag nor with the Co-Pilot. Or what about a Daylight Briefcase?
- Also I like the structure and vertical format of the Cafe Bags vs. the floppiness of the PCSB, but that is a personal preference.

- Optional: add a Daylight Backpack and/or a Shop Bag packed in the A30 for sightseeing options. (I actually like the DLBP for travel because the internal shingle pockets give me some minimal organization without having to bring a lot of pouches/stuff sacks.) Worth it to me for the slight extra weight.
- I like to be able to put my cross-body or purse-type bags into a DLBP or SB without unpacking - so that I could switch between a two-shoulder and a backpack-type carry. (E.g. I put the backpack into the cross-body or Shop Bag for museums; wear the backpack for riding public transit; use the Shop Bag for carrying groceries back to my hotel.) I like to switch it up this way a lot, so the packability of Halcyon is ideal for me.

Originally Posted by
emg823
Hello,
I will be taking my first trip to England in September and am excited to try going carry-on only. After researching Tom Bihn I have been considering the Aeronaut 45 as my main bag and the Co-Pilot as my everyday bag for sightseeing. My list for the day bag is something like this: daily spending money and credit card, sunglasses/reading glasses, sunscreen, notebook, snacks, water bottle, headphones, packable rain jacket, iPhone, lip balm, hand lotion, hand sanitizer, eye drops, guidebook pages, room for souvenirs. I'm wondering if with that list there might be room for a light fleece jacket to be stuffed into the bag too? The things I like about the Co-Pilot-it's a crossbody bag and has a zippered main compartment. I've decided to go with the crossbody bag instead of a backpack, and I prefer to have a zippered main compartment so I won't be going with the Cafe Bag. Do you think the Co-Pilot is the appropriate size for what I've described? I don't want to have my day bag be too big-so if you think there is a better, smaller option that would be great. I've thought about using the Co-Pilot as my personal item on the plane, and using the packing cube shoulder bag as my everyday bag when sightseeing. I would love your thoughts and advice! I am so looking forward to hanging stuff on the o-rings!!