Everywhere you go these days you can see people carrying bags with their laptops in them. I’ve noticed that the more popular type is the Messenger style of bag, the kind that hangs off your shoulder, and that you’ll see the bike messengers carrying all around. There are many brands to choose from, and as with anything there are cheaply made ones and there are well made ones. Today for review I have one of the well made ones, actually very well made, it is the ID Messenger Bag from Tom Bihn. This bag can be a Messenger bag alone, or can also be a laptop carrying case with the addition of the Tom Bihn Brain Cell. So this is sort of a double review, of the Tom Bihn ID Messenger Bag and the Brain Cell laptop case. Read on to learn more about one of the best bags out there today…
Tom Bihn ID Messenger Bag and Brain Cell Review
Reviewed by: Kristofer Brozio AkA Dracos
Sponsor: Tom Bihn
Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info:
Tom Bihn – Mid-sized MessengerBag: ID
Price: $130.00
Available Colors:
– Steel/Wasabi
– Steel/Crimson
– Steel/Steel
– Sage/Deep Blue
– Crimson/Steel
– Kiwi/Steel
– Grape/Wasabi
– Hunter/Steel
Description:
The ID is a mid-sized messenger bag designed to be used on its own as a messenger bag capable of swallowing everything you need throughout your day or with the addition of our Brain Cell hard-sided laptop case, a secure laptop messenger bag that cradles your laptop and its accessories.
The front flap features a large pocket lined with 200 denier nylon Dyneema ripstop fabric (a tough, impossible-to-tear fabric) and closed by a #8 YKK Splash-Proof zipper. It’s the perfect pocket for storing items you’ll need quick access to, such as plane tickets or your passport.
On both sides of the ID are pockets designed to securely carry portable electronic devices such as cell phones, iPods/MP3 players or PDAs. Lined with Ultrasuede and closed by #8 YKK "splash-proof" Uretech zippers, these snug pockets also provide scratch-free storage for eyewear. Both pockets feature a tiny opening at the beginning of the zipper for your iPod/MP3 earbuds cord to feed through without getting scrunched. The right side (looking at the bag facing you) of the ID features an exterior water bottle or umbrella pocket that can be cinched down with compression straps if not in use.
Under the front flap of the ID, you’ll find a #8 YKK zippered pocket, and behind the front section of the bag, an open-top pouch with five organizer pockets sized perfectly for pens, your laptop power supply, and other small accessories. Three small plastic rings inside the bag offer a place to secure the key snap that will keep you from losing your keys, and give you extra spots to secure Tom Bihn Organizer Pouches (optional;) to the bag.
The main compartment of the ID is wide, open, and offers easy access to your stuff. You’ll have room for a couple of books, a light sweater or jacket, a notebook, magazines, and lunch, in addition to typical accessories (pens, cell phone, iPod/MP3 player, small digital camera, toiletries, wallet, checkbook, keys, etc.).
Should you choose to use the ID as a laptop messenger bag, the main compartment features removable Annex clips designed to securely connect our Brain Cell hard-sided laptop case inside the bag. The Brain Cell is available in eight different sizes and provides the ultimate in laptop protection with soft, thick foam padding, hard, corrugated plastic walls, and a suspension system. We recommend using our Laptop Bag Fit Guide to determine which size of Brain Cell is right for your laptop.
The back of the ID is foam-stiffened to protect you from feeling the stuff you put in the main compartment. The back features an open flat back pocket perfect for even the thickest of magazines or newspapers, and a removable waist strap for extra stability when you’re on your bike (motor or push). For added visibility when using the ID while on your bike, we offer the Cat Eye reflector which can be attached to the front of the bag. Though the ID is designed to be used as a messenger bag with a shoulder strap, we’ve added a comfortable grab handle on the back top of the bag that allows you to carry it like a briefcase.
The ID rides your shoulder with a 1-1/2" wide heavy nylon webbing strap and a comfortable, wide foam pad that won’t slip off your shoulder and is designed to conform to your shoulder and back. For an extra $15.00, you have the option of switching out the standard ID shoulder strap and pad and replacing it with the Absolute Shoulder Strap. The Absolute Shoulder Strap, which combines a soft, durable neoprene pad with comfortable stretch backing, has a unique patented internal control-stretch system that has given it a well-earned reputation as the best shoulder strap available. We find both the standard strap and the Absolute Shoulder Strap extremely comfortable. You may be more inclined to switch to an Absolute Shoulder Strap if you carry a very heavy load or if you’re already a fan of the strap or already own one after using it with our Empire Builder Briefcase, Brain Cell Laptop Case, and other bags.
The exterior of the ID is made of 1050 denier Ballistic Nylon (not the fake 1680 denier pseudo-Ballistic Nylon common on lesser products) and is lined with 500 denier Cordura nylon.
Specs:
-The ID turns into a protective laptop messenger bag with the addition of our Brain Cell hard-sided
laptop case.
-Two side pockets, sized for your iPod/MP3 Player or cell phone, lined with Ultrasuede and closed
by #8 YKK "splash-proof" Uretech zippers.
-Exterior: 1050 denier Ballistic Nylon Interior: 500 denier Cordura
-#9 YKK zippers; #8 YKK Splash-Proof zipper on front flap pocket and side Ultrasuede pockets.
-15.75 x 12 x 5.5" / 400 x 310 x 140mm
-Weight: 2 lb., 5 oz.
-1275 cu in / 20.9 Liters
-Made in the Tom Bihn Factory in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A
Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info Continued:
Tom Bihn – HardSided Protection: Horizontal Brain Cell
Price: $50.00
Available Colors:
– Crimson
– Olive
– Steel
– Deep Blue
– Black
– Wasabi
Description:
The Brain Cell is available in Size 1 for the 17" MacBook Pro, Size 4X for the 15.4" MacBook Pro, and Size 6 for the 13" MacBook. For all other laptops, consult our Laptop Bag Fit Guide.
The Brain Cell takes laptop protection a step further. Cradled in 8mm thick soft foam padding, your laptop hangs suspended in a 4mm hard corrugated plastic insert that protects from the front, back, and bottom. The sides are protected by dense cross-linked closed-cell polyethylene foam. This offers the toughest protection you can get for your laptop in a case that is still light and minimalist. It closes on the top, like a cereal box, with two padded flaps that seal with Aplix strips (like Velcro, only longer-lasting.)
The Brain Cell will clip securely inside of the Empire Builder, Brain Bag, Smart Alec, or the ID, turning them into great laptop bags.
Please note: If you own one of our bags purchased before November 2003, you may need snaps instead of clips for your Brain Cell. If there are snaps inside of your bag, then please use the comment field on the order form to let us know that you need a Brain Cell with snaps.
For use on its own, the Brain Cell features an open-top, snap-closing front pocket of heavy-weight stretch mesh to accommodate your power supply, cables and/or external drive. The Brain Cell also features webbing handles and "D" rings to accept a shoulder strap. Each of the should strap attachment points is sewn with six rows of stitching. The shoulder strap isn’t included. You can add your own, or choose between our Absolute, Terra Grip or the Simple shoulder straps.
Note that in order to take full advantage of the Brain Cell’s suspension system, it must be carried in the horizontal, or "landscape" format. The laptop protection that the Brain Cell provides is severely compromised if you use the Brain Cell vertically. If you require a protective laptop case to use in a vertical or "portrait" format, please see our Monolith.
We build the Brain Cell in 7 different sizes to fit virtually every laptop on the market.
Specs:
-Hard-sided case provides optimum protection
-Aplix hook and loop closure on top makes it easy to access your laptop
-500 denier Dupont Cordura
-Heavy-weight stretch mesh front pocket.
-Weights:
Size 1: 1 lb. 2 oz.
Size 2: 1 lb. 3.7 oz.
Size 2XL: 1 lb. 6.55 oz.
Size 3S: 1 lb. 2 oz.
Size 4: 1 lb. 0.2 oz.
Size 4X: 1lb 0.1oz
Size 5: 14.2 oz.
Size 7: 12.2 oz.
-Available in 9 different sizes to fit a wide range of laptops
-Made in Seattle, Washington, USA.
A Better Look at Things
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There is no packaging really for the Tom Bihn ID Messenger Bag and Brain Cell, everything came shipped to me in a brown cardboard box from the Tom Bihn factory is Seattle. So we’ll just jump right into looking at the bag itself, then we’ll take a closer look at the Brain Cell as well.
As you can see from the picture the bag I received for review is black with accents of gray on the outside. If you go to the Tom Bihn site, this bag is actually the ‘steel/’crimson’ colored bag, as you’ll see the inside is a crimson red color. The ID is made from 1050 denier Ballistic Nylon and is lined with 500 denier Cordura nylon, so it’s built to last a long time and protect the things you put inside of it.
There is a small identifying tag on the top left corner, with the Tom Bihn name and logo, under that is a zipper pocket. The part we are looking at is actually the top flap of the ID Messenger Bag.
That flap is held securely closed with a large locking clasp, or buckle of sorts.
Under the flap on each side of the front of the bag are two more small, padded pockets, with zipper closures. All of the zippers on the ID Messenger Bag are heavy duty, and seem to be very tough and durable.
On the far right side of the ID bag is a pocket for carrying a beverage such as a bottle of water, it is expandable, and also features belt like straps to secure the beverage in place.
A Better Look at Things
Continued:
The back of the Tom Bihn ID Messenger Bag, has a few features as well.
One of the cool features on the back is the extra strap, the strap can be used to secure the bag to your body while traveling on a bike or however, so the bag does not move around. The strap is heavy duty, adjustable and features a large clasp.
On the top of the bag is a small heavy duty handle, to carry the bag easily, similar to a brief case.
Moving back to the front and opening the top flap up, we can see the crimson red coloring on the inside of the ID bag, this also allows access to many other pockets and compartments.
There is a large open pocket that features many various compartments for all sorts of things, this pocket does not have a zipper closure on it, allowing for quick and easy access to the things you use the most, like pens, pencils etc.
Inside the pocket is also a type of lanyard with clip attachment for keys or whatever else you might want to attach to it.
A Better Look at Things
Continued:
On the front of the bag under that flap we find yet another zippered compartment. The Tom Bihn ID messenger bag does feature a lot of different pockets and little compartments, more then enough for everything you’ll need to take with you.
The main compartment of the ID is large and spacious, it can be used like this or the Brain Cell with your laptop inside can be inserted into the main compartment.
The ID Messenger Bag features a nice heavy duty strap with a padded shoulder piece as well, the strap is adjustable and can be removed as well. The strap can also be tucked into the pocket on the back of the bag to keep it out of the way.
The ID Messenger Bag is exceptionally made, just by holding the bag and feeling its weight you can tell it is a quality product. The material of the bag is nice and thick, and feels very strong and durable, this is one bag that will last for a long time, even with rough use and abuse. The seams are tough, you won’t have to worry about breaking any of the seams on this bag, you can cram it full and not worry about the seams coming apart. The zippers either have a nice large metal pull tab or a nylon string attached to them making them all very easy to use, making for quick access to the items contained inside.
Let’s move on to taking a closer look at the Brain Cell…
A Better Look at Things
Continued:
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Brain Cell, rather odd name for a laptop case, but oh well… The Brain Cell I received for review is crimson and black in color to match the ID Messenger Bag. The Brain Cell is surprisingly lightweight for all the protection that it provides your laptop, I was actually shocked when I picked it up by just how light it is.
From the specs:
Cradled in 8mm thick soft foam padding, your laptop hangs suspended in a 4mm hard corrugated plastic insert that protects from the front, back, and bottom. The sides are protected by dense cross-linked closed-cell polyethylene foam.
The Brain Cell itself is really heavy duty protection for your laptop, it features lots of padding and hard sides as well. The front of the Brain Cell has a large expandable pocket that is secured by snaps or buttons.
You laptop slides into the Brain Cell from the top and is secured by Aplix, which is heavy duty form or brand of velcro, made to last much longer than standard type velcro. On the side of the Brain Cell are eyelets to attach an optional strap as well.
On the back of the Brain Cell there are two small nylon loops that are made to be used with the ID Messenger bag or other Tom Bihn bags. These hooks are used to secure the Brain Cell inside of the bag, in the next section I’ll show you just how that works.
Installation, Testing and Impressions:
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Since this is a bag after all and not a piece of hardware that I can actually test, I’m going to go through the ‘installation’ process or putting my stuff in it.
So to start the installation process, and since I am using my laptop with the ID Messenger bag, the first thing to do is get my laptop into the Brain Cell laptop carrier.
It is a tight fit getting my laptop in there, but really it is supposed to be, you don’t want your laptop sliding around really. Your laptop just slides right in and then you close it with the velcro closures.
Earlier I mentioned the loops on the Brain Cell, here is what they are used for, essentially you can lock the Brain Cell into the ID Messenger Bag. Inside the ID, are this little clip locks that slip thought he loops on the back of the Brain Cell and the lock to secure it in place.
In the unzippered compartment I put my pens, USB drive, and other things that I would like to have easy access to. I organized everything so that the most often used things are accessible when I open the main flap of the ID, which I would do to get to the laptop.
Inside the main compartment with the Brain Cell there is still plenty of room for my laptops external power supply and extra battery.
In the small zippered compartments on the front of the ID, I put my card reader, USB extension cable and a little USB FM Radio.
In the pocket on the flap I put my GPS unit, and its external antenna, there it is basically out of the way, but still readily accessible when needed.
And in the pocket on the back of the ID I stuck my mousepad, those coffeshop tables can get dirty and I don’t want my mouse getting stuck to the table!
I probably have 30 assorted things in the ID Messenger bag and there is still plenty of room for more stuff in there if need be. I’m amazed at how well Tom Bihn utilized the space of the ID, with all the pockets and compartments you can fit lots and lots of stuff in there, and keep it organized as well.
As for actual testing, well I can tell you that the Tom Bihn ID Messenger Bag is very comfortable to wear on your shoulder to carry all your stuff around with. The bag is very roomy, even with my laptop in it, there is still plenty of room for lots of other stuff. The many zippered pockets are great for organizing things the way you need them to be for easy access. I own a laptop style backpack, from Spire, and it is larger in size, but yet just doesn’t seem to have the space that the ID messenger Bag does. I transferred everything over to the messenger and I’ve got plenty of room left over for more stuff, while my backpack just seemed full. The strap of the ID Messenger bag is also more comfortable than the straps on my backpack, the ones on my backpack were thick and padded but just weren’t that comfortable for long term use, but the strap on the ID feels more comfortable, even with the bag loaded with all my stuff. To carry my laptop around, I’ve always had a backpack style bag, to me it just seemed easier, and somehow a backpack was just the way to go. Now that I’m older though, I look at the backpack and think that it seems a bit unprofessional, while the messenger style bag is more professional looking, that’s just my impressions of it though, I’m sure you have your own…
Summary:
Doing a review of a product like this is kind of hard to really convey just how great the product is, sure I can tell you what it’s like, and I can tell you how great I think it is, but to really understand you need to get one for yourself, trust me you won’t be disappointed. The Tom Bihn ID Messenger Bag is stylish and made of top quality materials, it is designed with comfort and usefulness in mind. The addition of the Brain Cell just makes the ID much more useful, and just a better product overall. I can easily recommend this product to anyone looking to purchase a top quality laptop carrying case…
DragonSteelMods gives the Tom Bihn ID Messenger Bag and Brain Cell a 5 out of 5 score and our Recommended Award as well.
Pros:
-Very well made out of top quality materials
-Lots of pockets
-Lots of space for everything
-Superb protection for your laptop (Brain Cell)
-Comfortable to wear/carry
-Stylish
Cons:
-None really…
I would like to thank Tom Bihn for the chance to review the Tom Bihn ID Messenger Bag and Brain Cell and for their support of DSM.
