Tom Bihn vs. Osprey
As mentioned in a previous post, I have spent the last 10+ years traveling with the Tom Bihn Aeronaut. I love this bag but man, it's heavy, especially now that I am Old.
Enter the new challengers: Osprey Daylite 35L and the Fairview 40.
Image 1: Everything I would like to put in my bag. This is not practical, you don't have to tell me.
- Passport pouch
- 4 packing cubes: underwear (7 underwear, 4 socks, 2 bras); bathing suits (2) & athletic wear (top & shorts); shirts (5) and sweaters (2); pants, skirt, shorts, and PJs (1 each)
- Toiletry bag
- Green pouch (meds, first aid kit, jewelry, eye mask, etc.)
- Electronics
- Sunglasses
- iPad
- Headphones
- Mesh laundry bag
- Tevas
- Purse
- Day pack
- Cards
- TRTL neck pillow
- Water bottle
- Playing cards
- Towel
Image 2: The bags all packed, with anything I couldn't fit off to the side.
Top left: Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45, with everything in it and room to spare. Total weight: 10.0 kg
Top right: Tom Bihn Aeronaut 30, no towel or purse (purse contains passport pouch, iPad, headphones, water bottle, playing cards). A30 weight: 8.65 kg, purse weight: 1.65 kg
Bottom left: Osprey Fairview, no water bottle or neck pillow. Bag weight: 10.4 kg
Bottom right: Osprey Daylite, no towel, green pouch, or purse (containing the same stuff as in the A30 picture, except the water bottle). Green pouch items were relocated to the mesh pocket. Bag weight: 7.85 kg, purse weight: 1.3 kg
Image 3: Bags open. Clockwise from top left: Aeronaut 45, Aeronautics 30, Daylite, Fairview
Image 4: Me wearing the bags. Clockwise from top left: Aeronaut 45, Aeronautics 30, Daylite, Fairview
Verdict: The Aeronauts are absolutely superior bags when it comes to packing and living out of them. There’s so little unpacking and repacking; everything is just right there when you want it. Unfortunately, when fully packed the A45 feels like it weighs ten thousand pounds. It just haaaangs off my shoulders, even with the hip belt (the Aeronaut hip belt is a scam, don’t do it). That’s rough for 10 kg.
The A30 sits higher and is a much more comfortable carry (to a degree not justified by the ~1.3 kg weight difference), but necessitates carrying the purse and its contents separately — not necessarily a HUGE deal, but sometimes inconvenient, especially on days when the big bag is left in a locker somewhere. I also have to stuff my Tevas in the backpack strap pocket.
I can’t think of a real use case for the Daylite for me, to be honest. The outer pockets are useless if the bag is fully packed. It’s shaped weird. It is cute, though, and would probably pass as a personal item. If I didn’t already have the A30 I’d probably keep this, but I do, so this one’s going back. Big plus: water bottle holder! Also super lightweight — I got this close to the increasingly common 7 kg weight limit, despite being a massive overpacker.
The Fairview is unfortunately so comfortable and so stupid looking. This bag was the heaviest, but it felt the same as carrying my regular work bag, which feels like black magic. I hate the way this bag looks, and I’m not wild about the way it packs, but it does hold a lot of stuff and I feel like I could walk for miles while wearing it. I also wish it had a spot for a water bottle, but I’ve lived without that for a long time. Could probably put the TRTL in those exterior straps. I guess I’m keeping it? But with, like, a little resentment. I just hate the aesthetics.