If a gear item is inexpensive, light, and comes in handy for multiple uses, it’s right up our alley here on the Practical Travel Gear blog. This Tom Bihn packing cube backpack is far from ergonomic and it’s not much more then a few pieces of cloth, two straps, and two zippers, but sometimes less is more.
The idea of this bag is that you use it as sort of a giant packing cube in your suitcase/bag, then when you’ve unpacked you can use it as a daypack, a shopping bag, or whatever. I’m kind of ambivalent about packing cubes though and confess than I only have one with me on my current tw0-month trip for the summer.
Instead I just jam this into a corner or lie it flat between layers of clothing. Then after arrival I use it almost daily it seems. I can ball it up when I’m not using it and it doesn’t add any extra weight to what I’m already carrying when I come back from the store loaded down. And it can get loaded down if you want it to: it holds a respectable 16 liters (975 cubic inches).
It has two compartments: one smaller one on the bottom and the main one on top. It’s made of lightweight but very strong nylon and has heavy-duty zippers. Made in the USA, but it lists for only $35. Nice. It comes in black or yellow.
There’s one more use for this bag that I’ll be taking advantage of on the way home. You can pack souvenirs in it when you come back with more than you left with and need an extra bag for the plane.
You can only get it direct from Tom Bihn though (keeps the overhead down), so check it out online.
See our other Tom Bihn product reviews:
#1 by Kara Williams - July 16th, 2009 at 06:49
Love me some Tom Bihn. I have the medium cafe bag in plum, and get many compliments and “who makes that?” questions from friends and other travelers.
#2 by Beth Blair - July 16th, 2009 at 07:06
I heart Tom Bihn bags, too. Talk about quality. I’m certain my Imago messenger bag will last forever.
#3 by Jeannie - April 8th, 2011 at 20:42
I really like this idea of using it in travel, take it out of the suitcase and use it everywhere I go.
And I always seem to need an extra bag when I come home! Thanks for reviewing this.
#4 by Summer Davis - May 2nd, 2011 at 09:44
Hi!
I love this bag! I travel a lot so I’am always on the look out for good travelling bags. Back then, I used strollers, but they are kind of a hassle because I can’t really carry them, while I am going around. I can see that this is easy to carry and is big enough to fit my things. I would just like to ask if this is waterproof?
Thank you!
Summer
#5 by Tim L. - May 2nd, 2011 at 11:56
Summer, follow the link at the end for the full specs.