The Tom Bihn Aeronaut
Iterating on the perfect bag and the death of the rolling suitcase
In this community, we're always iterating to find the best version of something right? Well, I want to wax poetically about a piece of equipment that I feel is the peak version of its archetype. It honestly is the best piece of luggage I've ever used and it's been with me all around the world.
Read on to learn why I love the Tom Bihn Aeronaut bag so much.
Who is Tom Bihn?
First things first, who is Tom Bihn? He's a designer from Seattle who has built a cult following of travel enthusiasts, and just general gear heads who lust over his products. The company is still relatively small and sews all of their bags in Seattle, Washington with mostly made in the USA fabrics. If you find yourself in the Pacific Northwest, you can pay them a visit at their headquarters to see what all the fuss is about in person. I’ve never visited HQ myself, but you can just feel the compassion and love of the craft emanating from every inch of their brand. Just check out their company philosophy.
I have a slew of Tom Bihn products. From the expensive suitcase types all the way down to the inexpensive but infinitely useful packing cubes and zipper pulls. I've even used their protective masks during the pandemic. No matter what the product is, the quality, craftsmanship, and innovation is top notch.
The Aeronaut
But I'm specifically writing today about a product called the Aeronaut. Back in the day, it was only offered in a 45L version (a liter is a common way to measure the size of a luggage bag) but today you can find both the 45L and smaller 30L version. They come in a slew of colors and fabric types that regularly come in and out of stock. You may prefer the burlier 1050 Denier High Tenacity Ballistic Nylon or opt to shed some weight with the thinner 400d Halcyon Japanese fabric (what I chose). I can only speak from my experience with my original bag purchased in 2013 that still looks brand new.
What makes the Aeronaut so special? Well it's one of those rare items that is a hybrid of several things and yet does each of them exceptionally well. It can be used as a traditional handheld piece of luggage. A rectangular duffle bag or soft-sided suitcase. You can also attach a shoulder strap and sling it over your shoulder or across your body. And maybe the most clever use is as a backpack. It conceals a pair of excellent backpack straps that allow your hands to be free while the weight is evenly distributed across your back, shoulders, and waist.
I use each of these modes equally and I absolutely love the versatility it offers me. Since purchasing this item in 2013, I haven't traveled once with a wheeled suitcase. I know they can be useful for some (my wife swears by her high-tech roller bags) but the hands-free ability of the Aeronaut makes me cringe when I think of attempting to roll a bag through tight corridors or uneven terrain like cobblestones, grass, or sand.
Say goodbye to roller bags
There are plenty of reasons to pack minimally when on a trip. Overpacking can really be a literal and figurative burden. These days when I'm traveling with my young daughter, I have to be sure to only pack the essentials and it helps to have my hands free to pick her up or carry the unfortunate required metric ton of gear necessary for traveling comfortably with a toddler.
The Aeronaut bag is perfect for the busy traveling dad, mom, or solo adventurer. While I typically prefer to have it strapped to my back when on the go, I recently found myself in the airport with my daughter's travel car seat bag occupying my backpack spot. No problem for the Aeronaut! I just clipped on the amazing "Absolute" strap and slung it across the front of my body while I lugged the carseat bag on the back. And I still had two free hands to push my daughter's stroller or carry her when she got fussy. These are things that I would not be able to do with a rolling suitcase.
Conclusion
So am I saying that everyone should run out and buy a Tom Bihn Aeronaut bag? Maybe. It's certainly not the least expensive piece of luggage on the market. If you're happy with your current setup then by all means hold onto them. But if you're in the market for something better or your old suitcases are looking shabby, I highly recommend you check it (or one of its Tom Bihn brethren) out. They often have trouble keeping particular colors and styles in stock, so you may need to wait a bit for your ultimate bag. They also have a very generous lifetime guarantee to help you feel a little better about the high sticker price.
No, I’m not being paid to write about this product either. I’ve just been singing its praises to friends and family for so long (I bought the same bag for my brother a few years back and similar Tom Bihn Daylight Backpacks for close friends in our wedding). It was time to actually write up some of my feelings and share them with all of you.
Like everything I share here, the objective is to help you incrementally improve your life through technical innovations. I can’t think of a more innovative company in the travel space right now than Tom Bihn.
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
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