On some flights, I’m torn between taking a backpack or a shoulder bag as a carry-on.  Now, I don’t have to choose— thanks to the versatile and extremely well-made Tri-Star travel bag from Tom Bihn.

I can use the Tri-Star as a backpack.  Or tuck the backpack straps into a compartment and carry it like a briefcase.  Or snap on a strap and it transforms into a shoulder bag.

Finally, I can have it all in one bag!

My first impression of the Tri-Star is a bag that is well-built, with a lot of thought going into the design.  Just introduced by Tom Bihn, it’s made of tough ballistic nylon with splash-proof zippers, which should keep your belongings dry even if a thunderstorm pops up.

At 19″ wide, 13″ tall and 8″ deep, the Tri-Star is big enough to carry what most travelers would need for a short trip.  Yet it’s slightly below the maximum size allowed as cabin baggage on most U.S. airlines.

The Tri-Star is even designed to meet the size requirements for going through London’s Heathrow airport, which for many travelers is a painful experience with baggage sizers.

That’s an important point, since most carriers these days are charging additional fees for checking bags unless you fly enough to reach their elite levels like silver or gold or platinum.  Packing everything you need in a carry-on also saves lots of time waiting for checked bags to be delivered at luggage carousels.

(Tom Bihn also makes a slightly larger carry-on bag, the Aeronaut, for those who need a few extra inches of room.)

So let’s take a quick tour.

Starting on the outside, the Tri-Star has four zippered pockets on the front.  One is handy for keeping boarding passes and this pocket also has a cleverly-designed snap pocket to hold a water or soft-drink bottle.  (Just remember to buy the drinks after going through security.)

The other exterior pockets can keep your passport, wallet, keys and other small items within easy reach.  There’s also room for sunglasses, a book or even a Kindle reader.

Inside, the Tri-Star is divided into three main compartments.  The center compartment is ideal for business gear, with clips for an optional pouch, the Brain Cell, to give your laptop added protection.  Another option is the Freudian Slip, which gives you extra pockets for organizing files, papers, pens and other small items.

The front section can be further split into two compartments with a zippered divider, good for carrying an extra pair of shoes and more.

The rear compartment is made for clothing, with tie-down straps to help keep your wardrobe wrinkle-free or plenty of room for packing cubes.

There are grab handles on the sides, making it easier to retrieve the Tri-Star from an overhead bin.  That’s a nice feature and, again, shows the thoughtful planning that went into the design.

Tom Bihn offers many accessories for the Tri-Star and the company’s full line of bags.  These include packing cubes, clear organizers, key straps and two varieties of shoulder straps.

The Tri-Star comes in a choice of four colors: indigo, crimson, steel and black.

Tom Bihn bags are made in the good ol’ USA, in Seattle, and include a lifetime guarantee covering manufacturing defects, but not normal wear and tear.

They are more expensive than some bags—the Tri-Star is $240, plus whatever accessories you can’t live without. But the company chooses not to use cheaper materials and believes it can maintain better quality control by not farming out manufacturing overseas.

I’ve bought plenty of cheap bags in my time and been disappointed by their design and durability.  So I’ve learned better quality is often worth the difference in price.

Overall, it’s refreshing to see a company like Tom Bihn that cares about its products and customers.  The Tri-Star is a five-star winner.