A Western Flyer in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) 630 Ballistic. A Western Flyer in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) 630 Ballistic with an Island (blue with white grid) 200 Halcyon exterior. A Western Flyer in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) 630 Ballistic with an Sakura (pale pink with white grid) 200 Halcyon exterior. A Western Flyer in Black 630 Ballistic with a monochrome label. A Western Flyer in Black 630 Ballistic with an Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon exterior. A Western Flyer in Black 630 Ballistic with a colorful label. A Western Flyer in Black 630 Ballistic with a Zest 200 Halcyon (orange with white grid) interior. The Western Flyer in Wilderness 630 Ballistic A Western Flyer in Burnt Orange 1050 Ballistic. A Western Flyer in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) 630 Ballistic A Western Flyer in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) 630 Ballistic with an Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon exterior. A Western Flyer in Ursa (greyish brown) 630 Ballistic. A Western Flyer in Ursa (greyish brown) 630 Ballistic with an Island (blue with white grid) 200 Halcyon exterior. A Western Flyer in Burnt Orange 1050 Ballistic with Northwest Sky 200 Halcyon interior. A Western Flyer in Coyote 1050 Ballistic. A Western Flyer in Coyote 1050 Ballistic with Northwest Sky 200 Halcyon interior. A Western Flyer in Navy 1050 Ballistic. A Western Flyer in Navy (blue) 1050 Ballistic with an Northwest Sky (grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. The Western Flyer in Wilderness 630 Ballistic with a Moss 210 Cerylon interior
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Western Flyer

4.8
Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 Stars (37 Reviews)

$290.00

Color:

Two-compartment carry-on travel bag with zip-away backpack straps.

26 liters / 1600 cu. in.

Add a Cache
$51.00 - 10A (2021 iPad/ iPad Air/Pro 10.5")
visible variant TB03310A TB03310B TB03311A TB03312A TB03313A TB03313B TB03313C TB03313D TB03313E TB03315A TB03315B TB03315C TB03315D TB03316A TB03317B^^A Cache on the Horizontal side.
A person holding a Western Flyer byt the main carry handle. Western Flyer with edgless shoulder straps out. Western Flyer with large Western Flyer packing cube inside. Westen Flyer with water bottle in pocket. The front face of a Western Flyer in Black 525 Ballistic. The back of a Western Flyer in Black 525 Ballistic. The side grab handle on the Western Flyer A front shot of the front pocket of a Black 525 Ballistic exterior open showing the Steel (dark grey) 200 Halcyon interior's zippered divider unzipped. A front shot of the a Black 1050 Ballistic exterior Western Flyer with a map, tablet, snacks, and a pouch with cables in the front zippered pockets. A close shot of the regular zippers of the front pockets and locking zippers on the main compartment of the Western Flyer. A close shot of the locking zippers on both of the main compartments. A close shot of the regular zippers of the front pockets and locking zippers on the main compartment of the Western Flyer. The locking zippers on a Black 525 Ballistic Western Flyer separated to show the individual openings on each of the two zippers. The locking zippers on a Black 525 Ballistic Western Flyer zipped shut to show the individual openings on each of the two zippers pairing together to create a slot for a travel lock. The locking zippers on a Black 525 Ballistic Western Flyer zipped shut and locked with a travel lock. The rear main pocket of a Black 525 Ballistic exterior Western Flyer opened to reveal an Island (blue) 200 Halcyon interior with a Cache connected to the nylon loops sewn into the interior seam. A close shot of the rear main pocket of a Black 525 Ballistic exterior Western Flyer opened to reveal an Island (blue) 200 Halcyon interior with a Cache connected to the nylon loops sewn into the interior seam and a nearby o-ring.
A person carrying a Black 525 Ballistic Western Flyer using the optional Absolute Shoulder Strap in an airport. A person carrying a Black 525 Ballistic Western Flyer using the optional Absolute Shoulder Strap on a city street. A person carrying a Black 525 Ballistic Western Flyer using the included backpack straps at a light rail station. A person carrying a Black 525 Ballistic Western Flyer using the included backpack straps as a rail car passes by. A person entering a rail car while carrying a Black 525 Ballistic Western Flyer using the included backpack straps. A person sitting in a rail car seat with a Black 525 Ballistic Western Flyer in the seat beside them. A person using a laptop while sitting in a rail car seat with a Black 525 Ballistic Western Flyer in the seat beside them. A person carrying a Black 525 Ballistic Western Flyer via the included backpack straps at a rail station platform. A person carrying a Black 525 Ballistic Western Flyer via the included backpack straps at a rail station.

TLDR

The Western Flyer is a three-way carry travel bag designed with the super organized, minimalist business traveler in mind. It is the smallest of our main carry-on travel bag options behind the Tri-Star, Aeronaut, and Techonaut. 

  • 2 main compartments of equal size and 6 O-rings
  • 3 exterior pockets in the front panel
  • Carry as a briefcase, backpack, or shoulder bag
  • Personal item carry-on friendly for most airlines

Full Description

Two Main Compartments

The Western Flyer has two main compartments of equal size. The front compartment has 2 O-rings and a vertical divider that zips out of the way if it's not wanted. We recommend storing your clothes in a Western Flyer Packing Cube which is designed to fit in these compartments. Either half of the divided front compartment can fit a pair of shoes in a Packing Cube Shoulder Bag. The undivided back compartment also has 2 O-rings and is an ideal place to store your laptop in a Cache. 

3 Front Exterior Organizational Pockets

On the left are two horizontal zippered pockets with an O-ring in each. One of the O-rings includes an 8" Key Strap, which is useful for tethering and keeping track of your keys or your AirPods. On the other O-ring, you can attach our Mystery Organizer Pouches or Ghost Whale Organizer Pouches. The top zippered pocket spans the full height of the bag and the bottom pocket goes about halfway.

On the right is a curved zippered pocket that is useful for storing a boarding pass when unzipped partially. Unzip it entirely, it's an expandable water bottle pocket. The bellows that make the pocket expandable can be snapped up so your water bottle doesn't fall out, or unsnapped to allow greater access to the pocket. 

Ways to Carry the Western Flyer

Backpack

Want to carry the Western Flyer like a backpack? Untuck the hideaway backpack straps (same as those on our Aeronaut and Tri-Star) from the back compartment and snap on the bottom of the straps. They're our Edgeless Shoulder Straps and feature a 3/4" removable sternum strap and an optional (not included with this bag) 1" removable gatekeeper waist strap. Both the sternum and waist straps are simple webbing straps designed to help distribute weight and stabilize the bag to your body. 

Shoulder Bag

The attachment points for an optional shoulder strap are offset on the Western Flyer to provide the best balance and comfort, should you carry the bag with a shoulder strap. We recommend using the Absolute Shoulder Strap with the Western Flyer if comfort is your primary concern. You also have the option of using any shoulder strap you already have that attaches to D-rings. 

Briefcase

A single comfortable, padded handle made from PORON® foam sits directly above the center of gravity for maximum comfort, stability, and balance.

What's Included

8" Snaphook/Snaphook Key Strap

As with most of our bags, we've included a key strap. 8" long from tip-to-tip, a snaphook on either end. Good for attaching your keys to.

Cord Zipper Pulls

A set of pulls to extend, quiet, or replace your metal pulls.

What's Optional

Absolute Shoulder Strap

If you want to shoulder carry, the Absolute Shoulder Strap is the best choice for the Western Flyer. 

Western Flyer Packing Cube

We recommend organizing your clothes and shoes in a Western Flyer Packing Cube. Cinch it down with the included tie-down straps for extra security.

Packing Cube Shoulder Bag

You can also store your shoes in a Packing Cube Shoulder Bag and store it on either half of the divided compartment. The Packing Cube Shoulder Bag will fit up to a size 12 in men's.

Freudian Slip

Love organizing and want even more pockets? The Tri-Star/Western Flyer Freudian Slip adds an additional eleven organizational pockets to your bag. One side of the Freudian Slip has two folder pockets that can fit folders/papers horizontally or vertically. The other side has two flat zippered pockets, four pen slots, two pockets sized for your wallet or phone, and a credit card slot. 

Cache

The Western Flyer can accommodate a wide range of devices. If you plan on putting a laptop or smaller tablet in the interior banded open-top pocket, we recommend adding a Cache. 

The Western Flyer has two main compartments of equal size. The front compartment has 2 O-rings and a vertical divider that zips out of the way if it's not wanted. We recommend storing your clothes in a Western Flyer Packing Cube which is designed to fit in these compartments. Either half of the divided front compartment can fit a pair of shoes in a Packing Cube Shoulder Bag. The undivided back compartment also has 2 O-rings and is an ideal place to store your laptop in a Cache. 

On the left are two horizontal zippered pockets with an O-ring in each. One of the O-rings includes an 8" Key Strap, which is useful for tethering and keeping track of your keys or your AirPods. On the other O-ring, you can attach our Mystery Organizer Pouches or Ghost Whale Organizer Pouches. The top zippered pocket spans the full height of the bag and the bottom pocket goes about halfway.

On the right is a curved zippered pocket that is useful for storing a boarding pass when unzipped partially. Unzip it entirely, it's an expandable water bottle pocket. The bellows that make the pocket expandable can be snapped up so your water bottle doesn't fall out, or unsnapped to allow greater access to the pocket. 

Backpack

Want to carry the Western Flyer like a backpack? Untuck the hideaway backpack straps (same as those on our Aeronaut and Tri-Star) from the back compartment and snap on the bottom of the straps. They're our Edgeless Shoulder Straps and feature a 3/4" removable sternum strap and an optional (not included with this bag) 1" removable gatekeeper waist strap. Both the sternum and waist straps are simple webbing straps designed to help distribute weight and stabilize the bag to your body. 

Shoulder Bag

The attachment points for an optional shoulder strap are offset on the Western Flyer to provide the best balance and comfort, should you carry the bag with a shoulder strap. We recommend using the Absolute Shoulder Strap with the Western Flyer if comfort is your primary concern. You also have the option of using any shoulder strap you already have that attaches to D-rings. 

Briefcase

A single comfortable, padded handle made from PORON® foam sits directly above the center of gravity for maximum comfort, stability, and balance.

8" Snaphook/Snaphook Key Strap

As with most of our bags, we've included a key strap. 8" long from tip-to-tip, a snaphook on either end. Good for attaching your keys to.

Cord Zipper Pulls

A set of pulls to extend, quiet, or replace your metal pulls.

Absolute Shoulder Strap

If you want to shoulder carry, the Absolute Shoulder Strap is the best choice for the Western Flyer. 

Western Flyer Packing Cube

We recommend organizing your clothes and shoes in a Western Flyer Packing Cube. Cinch it down with the included tie-down straps for extra security.

Packing Cube Shoulder Bag

You can also store your shoes in a Packing Cube Shoulder Bag and store it on either half of the divided compartment. The Packing Cube Shoulder Bag will fit up to a size 12 in men's.

Freudian Slip

Love organizing and want even more pockets? The Tri-Star/Western Flyer Freudian Slip adds an additional eleven organizational pockets to your bag. One side of the Freudian Slip has two folder pockets that can fit folders/papers horizontally or vertically. The other side has two flat zippered pockets, four pen slots, two pockets sized for your wallet or phone, and a credit card slot. 

Cache

The Western Flyer can accommodate a wide range of devices. If you plan on putting a laptop or smaller tablet in the interior banded open-top pocket, we recommend adding a Cache. 

Materials

Exterior Fabrics

U.S. high tenacity 1050 denier ballistic nylon
— or —
bluesign® certified High-Tenacity 2x2 Ballistic nylon

Interior Fabrics

bluesign® and OEKO-TEX® certified 200 denier Halcyon/nylon ripstop

Zippers

#10 YKK Racquet-Coil water-repellent zippers with lockable sliders on main compartments
#8 YKK Racquet-Coil water-repellent zippers on face pockets

Shoulder Straps

Edgeless EV50 1/2” / 12mm shoulder straps (EVAZOTE® OEKO-TEX® foam)

Handle

PORON® foam handle

Other Components

Tough Duraflex®, Nexus, and Woojin buckles and related components

Specs

Dimensions

17.9" (w) x 12" (h) x 7.1" (d) / 455 (w) x 305 (h) x 180 (d) mm

Weight

1050d high tenacity ballistic nylon: 2 lb 10 oz / 1200 grams
525d high tenacity ballistic nylon: 2 lb 8 oz / 1130 grams

Volume

26 liters / 1600 cu. in. (ASTM Standard Measure)

Total O-Rings

6 (2 in the front main compartment, 2 in the back main compartment, 1 in the top front zippered pocket, 1 in the bottom front zippered pocket)

Lifetime guarantee image

Sewn in Seattle

Our bags are designed and sewn right here in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.

That allows us to be control freaks in the best way possible; we have direct control and oversight of the quality of our materials, our products, and the jobs and working environment that we help create. It also offers us a unique spontaneity: when we have an idea for a new product or accessory, we can design it, figure out how to build it, add it to our website and be ready to ship it out our front door all within just a few weeks. How cool is that?

Intrigued? You can find out more about the unusual way we do business on our Company Philosophy page.

THE BIHN Guarantee

Everything you buy from us here at TOM BIHN is satisfaction guaranteed. We’ve been in business since 1972 and we stand behind what we make.

If something goes wrong and it's our fault, we'll fix it for free. Repairs due to normal wear and tear or due to other things that are not our fault will be performed, when possible, at a reasonable charge right here in our Seattle factory where your bag was made. Defects in materials or workmanship are uncommon and almost always evident while the product is still new. Keep in mind that bags and packs are often subject to extreme wear in everyday use: do not expect them to last forever. Only true love lasts forever! You can expect a TOM BIHN product to give years and years of hard service.

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4.8
Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
Based on 37 reviews
97%would recommend this product
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37 reviews
  • Sarah T.
    Verified Buyer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, High Quality Craftsmanship, Durable
    2 months ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, High Quality Craftsmanship, Durable
    Rated 4 out of 5 stars
    Airplane personal carry-on for 3 week trip

    My driver to the airport remarked positively about the Western Flyer on both pick-up and drop off. I imagine he handles a lot of luggage. I wanted the WF so I could manage my baggage myself, and so chose this item with backpack straps and clamshell design. I needed something to complement my roller case that I typically put in the overhead, and the WF seemed like it would be good for my laptop, iPad, chargers, passport, plus additional clothing. It held a lot, but I wish it had more pockets and a side pocket for a bottle, not the top pocket it says can hold a water bottle. I found getting my laptop and iPad out for security inspection awkward. Yes, I should have bought the extra sleeve, but detaching sleeves is one more thing to deal with in a crowded airline security line. I really couldn’t make the compartment that had a dividing zipper work for me when I was using the WF as a backpack. I just left it unzipped. I used the mystery pouch for storing some jewelry, and that was fine, but would it be possible to have the pouch with an elastic cord that allowed you to take it out without detaching? The good news about the WF was that the airlines (mostly British Airways) did treat it as my personal carry-on, and I could also bring my roller case aboard. I purchased the shoulder strap for added flexibility, but as I am short, I found the backpack straps worked better. The materials and workmanship are excellent, and the concept of add on containers to be fastened to…

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  • Gwynne H.
    Verified Buyer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Good Storage Size, High Quality Craftsmanship
    2 months ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Good Storage Size, High Quality Craftsmanship
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    An excellent carry-on choice

    The usual impeccable design and construction is married to the perfect size for EU budget carry-on rules. At the time of writing it's exactly the right size for Easyjet under seat carry-on (less than 45 x 36 x 20 cm); Aeronaut 30 and Tristar being sadly too big. Nevertheless the two main compartments can hold a surprising amount of stuff whilst importantly retaining the overall shape of the bag. An excellent choice for this use; bonus points for the three main means to carry and the end grab handle makes under-seat retrieval so much easier.

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  • A.L.
    Verified Buyer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts High Quality Craftsmanship, Sewn in USA, Compact, High Quality Finishings, Unique
    2 months ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts High Quality Craftsmanship, Sewn in USA, Compact, High Quality Finishings, Unique
    Rated 3 out of 5 stars
    A Classic, In Need of an Update

    I’m a Class of ’24 Bihn-ion, using the Western Flyer (WF) for about 3 months. Sadly, it’s a 3-star bag that I find myself passing up for other luggage in my collection. The 1050 Ballistic Coyote colorway is beautiful – rich depth of color and smooth yet supple and durable hand feel. The rectangular shape provides more usable space than the Synapse line, and it I can pack in more than the 26L would imply. Dual flat compartments are nice for separating business clothes from shoes and notebooks.

    I’m always happy to pack the bag up and get on the road with it, until about 20 minutes into my adventure. When loaded out between 18-20 lbs., I notice the edgeless straps dig into my shoulders. The bag never felt close enough to my body or high enough on my back. The straps need to be wider and firmer. Frankly any bag over 25L should come with load lifters but no bag in the TB lineup comes with that option. The WF also doesn’t have an option for a padded waist belt.

    The WF is probably better as a road/car companion. If you use it like a travel backpack in an airport or city commuting on transit, I think you’ll be let down. Unfortunately, I don’t think TB offers a bag with the WF’s redeeming qualities that ALSO solve the problems I experienced.

    Any bag lover can relate to the feeling of a bag “speaking to you,” and if this one does that, go for it! I guess, sometimes we make excuses for the things we love. The WF will be in my collection but there are better options for 2–5-day…

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  • Daniel O.
    Verified Buyer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts High Quality Craftsmanship, High Quality Finishings, Thoughtful Design, Versatile, Compact
    3 months ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts High Quality Craftsmanship, High Quality Finishings, Thoughtful Design, Versatile, Compact
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Bought for recent vacation. Excellent

    We purchased two of these for recent trip that required smaller carry on bags for sub-trip around Europe. These were prefext and lightweight, and when using your accessories, they made our trip much more enjoyable.

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  • Michael L.
    Verified Buyer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts High Quality Craftsmanship, Durable, Good Storage Size, Versatile, Thoughtful Design
    3 months ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts High Quality Craftsmanship, Durable, Good Storage Size, Versatile, Thoughtful Design
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Great Bag

    Great bag. Multiple ways to carry. Strap, book bag, as briefcase. Blue interior makes it easy to find items in pockets. Solid construction. Wished there was a dedicated space for laptop as oversized bag means device might move around. I like that is large and will fit under seat on plane. I can use this for travel as personal item and carry to work everyday.

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