Tom Bihn ID Messenger Bag

By Wayne LeFevre

Introduction

When I needed a messenger type of bag to carry papers, magazine, books and maybe a laptop back and forth to the hospital I didn’t think twice about where to get it. Tom Bihn. I already had a Tom Bihn backpack, the Smart Alec, but it was a little awkward for just the items I was carrying. After some research on tombihn.com and some correspondence with them, I found that the ID bag had recently been redesigned and would be a perfect fit. How right they were.

It finally struck me that Tom Bihn and Apple, Inc. are definitely on the same wavelength, and have a lot of the same ideals. Tom’s bags are meticulously hand crafted, with design and functionality seamlessly blending into one. The workers on the floor obviously take pride in recreating the art pieces that Tom has designed. I emphasize again something that I pointed out last time with the Smart Alec review, the craftsman on the floor aren’t in another part of the world, where workmanship can be questionable and no oversight committees are needed to make sure things are done correctly. These people work alongside the actual designer in Seattle, Washington. That not only keeps quality high with fewer QC issues, but perhaps even inventiveness and innovation can spring from such a relationship, furthering these exceptional bags.

Description

From the website,

“The ID is a mid-sized messenger bag designed to be used on its own as a messenger bag capable of swallowing everything you need throughout your day or with the addition of our Brain Cell hard-sided laptop case, a secure laptop messenger bag that cradles your laptop and its accessories.

The front flap features a large pocket lined with 200 denier nylon Dyneema® ripstop fabric (a tough, impossible-to-tear fabric) and closed by a #8 YKK Splash-Proof zipper. It's the perfect pocket for storing items you'll need quick access to, such as plane tickets or your passport.

On both sides of the ID are pockets designed to securely carry portable electronic devices such as cell phones, iPods/MP3 players or PDAs. Lined with Ultrasuede® and closed by #8 YKK "splash-proof" Uretech® zippers, these snug pockets also provide scratch-free storage for eyewear. Both pockets feature a tiny opening at the beginning of the zipper for your iPod/MP3 earbuds cord to feed through without getting scrunched. The right side of the ID features an exterior water bottle or umbrella pocket that can be cinched down with compression straps if not in use.

Under the front flap of the ID, you'll find a #8 YKK zippered pocket, and behind the front section of the bag, an open-top pouch with five organizer pockets sized perfectly for pens, your laptop power supply, and other small accessories. Three small plastic rings inside the bag offer a place to secure the key snap that will keep you from losing your keys, and give you extra spots to secure Tom Bihn Organizer Pouches to the bag.

The main compartment of the ID is wide, open, and offers easy access to your stuff. You'll have room for a couple of books, a light sweater or jacket, a notebook, magazines, and lunch, in addition to typical accessories (pens, cell phone, iPod/MP3 player, small digital camera, toiletries, wallet, checkbook, keys, etc.).

Should you choose to use the ID as a laptop messenger bag, the main compartment features removable Annex clips designed to securely connect a Brain Cell hard-sided laptop case inside the bag.”

The Brain Cell that I use is a #4, which can hold a 15” PowerBook. The fit is tight, but very capable. The size 6, which holds a MacBook, fits comfortably. Unfortunately, my size 4 Brain Cell is vertical, not horizontal, so make sure when ordering if you do get a Brain Cell, which I highly recommend for the padded protection of your laptop, that it is of the horizontal kind.

The back of the ID is foam-stiffened to protect you from feeling the stuff you put in the main compartment. The back features an open flat back pocket perfect for even the thickest of magazines or newspapers, and a removable waist strap for extra stability when you're on your bike.

You can choose between three different shoulder straps to use on your ID bag. The Standard Shoulder Strap, included, is a 1-1/2" wide heavy nylon webbing strap and features a comfortable, wide foam pad that won't slip off your shoulder and is designed to conform to your shoulder and back. For an extra $10 USD, you can switch out the Standard Shoulder Strap and replace it with the Q-AM (Quick-Adjust Messenger) Shoulder Strap. For an extra $15 USD, you can switch out the Standard Shoulder Strap and replace it with the Absolute Shoulder Strap.

My favorite strap is the Q-AM. A quick tug of the loop on the end of the strap tightens the long padded strap so the bag instantly rides comfortably on your middle back. Half of the waist strap now becomes a stabilizer strap across your chest making those long walks or bike rides a breeze.

The popular Absolute Shoulder Strap is well padded with almost a gel type consistency. It has a slight stretch to it making carrying any bag much less of a chore. I swear it makes the bag feel lighter. If you want to simply keep the same over–the–shoulder strap of the basic bag, you really will appreciate spending the extra few dollars to upgrade to the Absolute Strap. You won’t regret it.

The exterior of the ID is made of 1050 denier Ballistic Nylon (not the fake 1680 denier pseudo-Ballistic Nylon common on lesser products) and is lined with 500 denier Cordura® nylon.

Using the Bag

If Tom could design an ID with a wider main zippered pocket that you could add some internal padded dividers, it would be a perfect camera bag for a DLSR. Whenever I am not using it for a laptop, I always have my camera in the main pocket. No, it’s not padded except for the back, and it really isn’t even wide enough, but until I get a real camera bag it does nicely. I might even have to look at the new Buzz bag.

Conclusion

Anyone looking for any type of bag for your Mac, or just about anything, needs to look past your local Best Buy and Staples. The quality just is not there with those bags. Not only are they boring to look at, usually with no color, but try to get them to take the bag back when it starts to rip. Yes, you can obtain a bag at your local store for $30 USD or so, but you’ll probably be buying more than one. Tom Bihn designs these bags so they look as good and last as long as you want them to, and that is worth the extra money you might pay for. Plus, they have a Wish List implemented on their site, so you can send your better half a little nudge to their e-mail. My Wish List is under MacFevre! ;-)

Front of ID Bag with Brain Cell in main pocket.