April 4, 2025

Bags Hold Memories

1 comment
Bags Hold Memories

Bags are more than just practical accessories; they are keepsakes of our memories and experiences–companions in our daily adventures. Every scuff, tear, stain, and forgotten item tucked inside the innermost pocket tells a story of where they’ve been, and more importantly, where you’ve been. 

From a dusty, old Synik 30 with crumpled school papers shoved into the creases to a brand new Techonaut 30 that is about to make its first plane ride, bags have a unique way of preserving memories and moments in time. Bags hold memories, both in the tangible objects they carry and in the emotions they evoke. They’re the unsung companions of life’s adventures.

At TOM BIHN, our bags are made to last a lifetime–there to see every moment, big and small. We have folks leave reviews saying that it’s more likely you’ll get tired of the bag before it breaks–it will be there with you throughout all of your adventures, whether you like it or not! All of our products have a lifetime warranty so that any mistakes on our end will be fixed without charge, ensuring that your bag will always be by your side. 

Sometimes, it is the physical keepsakes within the bag that transport you back in time–an old concert ticket, a receipt from your first date, or a faded photograph of your childhood pets. And sometimes, it is the scuffs and stains that remind you of every adventure. The stain on the bottom? Maybe it came from the cobbled streets of Rome, where you set your bag down outside a bustling café, to have a moment of peace with your espresso and cornetto. The scuff on the handle? Maybe it came from when you were running through the airport, trying to get to the gate before the boarding doors closed. Or the loose threads along the zipper? Maybe it came from when the cat used it as a pillow, kneading too hard at the seams.

Other times, it’s the texture of the fabric–the rough texture of a Ballistic or the smooth sheen of Halcyon that evokes a sense of nostalgia and transports us back to another chapter of our lives. Perhaps it’s X-Pac that reminds you of last July’s wildflower hike at Mt. Rainier, or the crinkle of Cerlyon that evokes memories of sprinting through crunchy autumn leaves to the bus stop.

You never forget your first TOM BIHN bag. For me it was a Techonaut 45--Verde with an Acai interior. That bag has seen me through late-night flights and early-morning departures. It has been crammed into car trunks for road trips across the states, soaked in unexpected downpours while I walk home from a friend’s house, used as a makeshift container to keep my cap and gown unwrinkled for my college graduation, and stuffed so full I had to sit on it just to get the zipper closed. 

With my Techonaut bag slung over my shoulder, I navigated the bustling streets of New York, dodging honking taxis and weaving through the maze of sidewalk food carts. My bag was packed with all the essentials for a week of unplanned adventures. 

It’s been crammed with remnants of my childhood—a collection of well-loved stuffed animals, a stack of books–both read and unread, and my old Nintendo DS, its battery dead as I drove home from a family emergency.

This bag, which now lives under my bed alongside boxes of trinkets and shoes, reminds me of all of my adventures and accomplishments. In the grand scheme of things, two years of owning a bag is not a long time, but time moves fast. Every time I pull it out from under my bed, I dust it off, examine the faded baggage tag on the top handle, and stuff it again for my next adventure and do it all over again.

Our bags are made with durable and sustainable materials to ensure that they will be with you through every single moment. Whether it holds memories of a baby's delivery day or a child's first day of college, a TOM BIHN bag will be there for every moment in between.

Life is full of so many stories, and we are incredibly lucky to have our bags be part of any one of them. 

Share your stories in the comments below! We'd love to hear about the moments in your life–big and small–where your TOM BIHN bag was by your side!

Cheers to many more memories!

 

1 comments

Kelly I. Mendoza - April 4, 2025

I appreciate the post about the many memories evoked by a bag. I was reminded of the many trips to other countries with my Techonaut or Western Flyer, as well as my daily commute bag, the Synapse 25. The lyrics of a song by the Mexican singer Emmanuel kept popping in my head. “Aqui en esta bolsa me cabe la vida, con ella a la espalda soy libre otra vez.” (My life fits in this bag; with it on my back, I am free again.).

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