Reviewing a product designed for rigorous day-in, day-out use can be difficult, because there’s no real way to tell how durable it is without using it for an extended period of time.
With that in mind, here’s an update to my December, 2007 review of the Tom Bihn Empire Builder bag:
It still rocks.
The zippers still work perfectly. The shoulder strap hasn’t frayed in the slightest. The black metal fixtures are still black. The interior dividers still function exactly as they did 18 months ago. None of the colors have faded.
I use this bag five days a week, hauling my 15″ MBP, books, power cord, pens, Moleskine, and assorted paraphernalia to and from work (on foot, not sitting in a car seat), to client meetings, and so on. It’s been on planes and trains (no boats yet), and it takes it all in stride.
This bag gets two thumbs waaaay up, particularly now that I’ve been putting it to hard use for over a year and a half.
3 Comments
I Googled “review tom bihn empire builder” and your reviews popped up on the first page of results. Excellent review. I would love to see you demonstrate this bag on YouTube. (I’m window-shopping for travel luggage, business accoutrements and outdoor gear, and Tom Bihn is on my list.) Thanks again for your reviews.
Walt,
Thanks for the kind note. Since luggage and other carrying gear tends to get a lot of use it makes sense to look carefully before leaping. A video is a great idea. Actually I’m surprised more luggage/gear makers don’t use video to demonstrate their products.
If I get the time I’ll post a video. No promises, though.
Cheers,
Erik
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