Review: Tom Bihn – The Checkpoint Flyer Laptop Bag

I have two Bihn Cafe bags that are old enough to call "vintage". They are *very* well-made. After 10yrs+ of daily use, not a snag in the nylon or seam come undone. Would love me some new Bihn, but so not necessary.

"I think Tom Bihn is really on to something with the “checkpoint-friendly” concept."

I think Tom Bihn is really on to something with the way they get exposure advertising for the just the price of a bag.

"it’s somewhat cumbersome to actually get your laptop out of the bag if you don’t have much space, since you need to unclip the three compartments to get to the laptop case zipper."

Disagree, it's easy to get the laptop in and out of the bag.

I just unzip the side of the laptop compartment, and slide the laptop out the side.

I never unclip the bag except at the checkpoint.

$220 for the bag? I'd a kept the bag and not do a review.

Made in the USA? No, thank-you...

I don't like the look of the bag, looks kind of ugly but thats in the eye of the beholder.
I do like backpacks since you can run through an airport if needed and also walk longer distances without getting strained.
I swapped my old Tumi backpack to a new T-Pass model and I am very satisfied with it. T-Pass works great in the US but gets me only strange looks in Europe or Asia and I have to take my laptops out regardless. You can argue about price but I used my last one 10 years and it is still usable. Here is what I currently use :

http://www.tumi.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4063098&prodFindSrc=paramNav

YYZ and BKK could care less about the checkpoint friendly bags. You still have to pull the laptop out even after I tried to point out the logo on the bag.

My husband has a Tom Bihn medium cafe bag I bought him years ago that he uses whenever he travels - that thing has been through hell and back and it still looks new.

Say what you will, but I can attest (with no free product!) that Tom Bihn makes great, long-lasting stuff.