Monthly Archives: September 2008

I’ve been on the look out for a while now for a new bag for a while now. I’ve got a few; A targus bag with more pockets than a mutant kangaroo, but that’s heavy and hurts my back/shoulders no matter how I hold it. The Macromedia Man Purse from Devcon ’01 (I think it was), which is great for my Macbook Air, but has no padding whatsoever, since “laptop bags” weren’t as en vogue as they are now.

Neither of which really “did it for me”

I had only a few requirements.

1. Rolly luggage pass through

2. good shoulder strap

3. enough pockets to hold my shiz

4. doesn’t weigh 3-4 pounds, empty.

I did a lot of googling, asking friends, etc. The most helpful site I found was someone else on the hunt for a bag.

I narrowed my search to what he had found since his requirements very closely matched mine, at least in part. The bag he chose wasn’t a good fit for me. I need a few more pockets and storage. I don’t need to carry a home office, but since Tom and I travel a fair bit, I like to have all my cords, cables, adapters, etc. so I need some room. But don’t want one of those laptop bags that requires wheels.

Once I narrowed my search to the manufacturers he had selected, i expanded beyond messengers. The Tom Bihn Zephyr fit the bill!

The Tom Bihn site while attractive could use some work, as far as UX. Most bag sites, don’t give enough information really.

Pictures of the pockets, as well as the main compartment, etc would defintiely help in narrowing the search.

One thing I really liked was that the rolly pass-through, has a zipper allowing it to become a back pocket, which is nice, since when not traveling, a rolly pass-through isn’t super useful, LOL.

Tom Bihn defintiely charges a premium on bags, which is understandable, they’re very nice. One thing I don’t so much dig, is that everything is an ‘optional add on’. Like shoulder straps, main compartment dividers, special laptop sleave, etc. Kinda weird.

I will say, the shoulder strap feels like they grabbed a cloud, stitched it to a nylon strap and sold it, it’s very cushy and comfortable. We’ll see how it does with travel later this week, when I head to New Jersey!

I could defintiely use 1 or 2 more larger pockets, for my power strip, eyeglass torpedo, and yo-yo. but I can make due easy enough.