Seattle-based bag manufacturer Tom Bihn has been selling his popular Western Flyer carry-on bag (in the classic hideaway backpack straps version as well as the more recent rolling luggage handle version) for several years now. The medium-sized bag, a smaller sibling to the larger Tri-Star, has been popular with light travelers as a main carry-on bag, with those looking for a hefty laptop/briefcase overnighter, and with those looking for a generously sized carry-on to complement their check-in luggage. Tom Bihn worked extensively with his fabric manufacturer in Japan to come up with a heftier version of the lightweight, slash-proof Dyneema nylon fabric he used as a liner for his travel bags. Wanting to offer a heavier version of the fabric that he could use as an exterior fabric on his carry-on bags, the result is a 400-denier weight version that is twice as thick as the 200-denier weight Dyneema (which Tom Bihn uses as a liner fabric and for lighter-weight items like the shopping bags).

The new fabric was announced through the website earlier this fall and was offered in two colors—the familiar dark gray “steel” and a new “Nordic” blue—Tom Bihn, for the first time, introduced 400d Dyneema nylon carry-on bags in his three main models: The Aeronaut, the Tri-Star, and the Western Flyer (as well as in some of his smaller products, incuding the Synapse backpack and Small Cafe Bag shoulder bag). The main selling point on the Dyneema version of these bags is lighter weight. Most of the 400d Dyneema models are roughly 20 percent lighter than their ballistic nylon counterparts. This may not seem like a big deal for some, but those on the Tom Bihn forums needing to minimize their carry-on weight in order to meet the more stringent requirements of European air carriers welcomed this announcement with great cheer. Of the three main carry-on bags Tom Bihn sells, the Western Flyer is the smallest. Shaped like the Tri-Star, the Western Flyer is smaller. Only 18″ by 12″ by 7″, it is substantially smaller than the maximum allowable carry-on size for most airlines (which is typically 21″ x 14″ x 7″), and when not fully packed, can easily pass as a larger laptop case.

The Western Flyer has two main compartments, as well as smaller pockets in the front. The main compartments open completely, allowing you to pack clothes in one compartment and electronic gear in the second, for example. backpack mcm ebayWhen I pack my Western Flyer, I typically pack clothes in the back compartment, and use the front compartment to pack extra shoes, toiletry bag, makeup bag, and other extras in organizer pouches. wolf backpack hot topicThis leaves the front zippered pockets for stashing smaller items I might need for the flight, like iPod, earphones, boarding passes, and wallet.bajet backpack ke korea I’ve been traveling regularly with a Western Flyer for a number of years. dell xps backpack price

I consider it my go-to carry-on, and although I turn to the bigger Tri-Star for dual-purpose trips (two different climates, two different types of trips rolled into one, and so on—my next one will be a week-long cruise in February followed by a half-marathon, on the same trip) and have traveled with smaller bags, I am most familiar with the Western Flyer. best 45l travel backpackI’m familiar with the size of the compartments. best 4 gallon backpack sprayerI know what I can fit into them. I know what I typically pack into the segments. So when I got my hands on the Dyneema version of the Western Flyer, there weren’t a lot of surprises. For Western Flyer fans, you can rest assured knowing that the Dyneema version is identical to the ballistic nylon version. All the zippers work the same way, the insides are still lined with (the lighter 200d) Dyneema, all the internal seams are covered.

The bag is lighter, but there’s nothing here that feels cheaper about the new fabric. While I knew the Dyneema version of the bag would be lighter, I was pleasantly surprised by some additional things I noticed during a recent test run on a Thanksgiving weekend trip: Although a lighter bag is generally a good thing, the new Dyneema version may not be for everyone. If you’re not trying to shave ounces off of your carry-on or you plan to do some traveling through rough conditions, the traditional ballistic nylon is still a better option for you. In fact, the Tom Bihn website even offers this warning: “It must be noted that while our new 400d Dyneema®/420d nylon ripstop is a very durable fabric, there is a compromise in choosing it over 1050 ballistic or Cordura® nylon: your bag will be lighter, but it won’t stand up to the all-out abuse these heavier fabrics can handle. You will need to exercise care and not drag or otherwise mistreat a bag made from 400d Dyneema®/420d nylon ripstop.

It’s a compromise many will feel worthwhile, but it’s a compromise to consider.” Also, those using a Western Flyer as their briefcase may not want to use a bag with checkered fabric, instead sticking with the more traditional black ballistic nylon. As a big fan of Dyneema as a fabric, I think the Dyneema version of the Western Flyer is a wonderful addition to the Tom Bihn line-up. But if you already own a Western Flyer in ballistic nylon, should you buy the Dyneema version? If you use the Western Flyer for mostly car travel or you fly domestically on airlines that don’t have strict weight limits on carry-ons, or if you already really like your ballistic nylon Western Flyer and you’re happy with the color you already have, I don’t know that you necessarily have to swap out bags. The Dyneema version might be lighter, but it’s not lighter on your pocketbook; it still costs $210—which is still a ding on most people’s wallets. If you’re a fan of Dyneema or really like the Nordic blue, you can recover a lot of the cost if you sell your ballistic nylon Western Flyer (say on eBay), especially if your bag uses a retired color (for example, with the yellow Solar interior), since there always seems to be people eyeing the market for such items.