Timbuk2 Aviator

Our thoughts

Timbuk2 was founded 25 years ago in San Francisco. Since the start, the company has been producing quality carry-on bags and products.

The Timbuk2 is a stylish carry on which is designed to be just as appropriate in on the streets of Hanoi as in a corporate office. The Aviator has a sleek and distinguished look which stands out from the field of rather drab "greys on blacks" look of carry-on only bags.

Timbuk2 is convertible into a duffle bag which is a crucial feature for any cramped travel like in busy subways or trains. Carry-ons that can only be in a very "strap heavy" backpack mode are super annoying in confined spaces. The extra straps get caught on people, door handles, and pretty much everything you don't want a backpack to get caught on.

One of my most funny and frustrating experiences was when my carry on backpack straps grabbed onto two other travelers bags when I was taking my bag down from the ceiling rack on a bus. All three bags came tumbling down. Luckily nobody got hurt, and the other people were cool with it, but that could have been bad.

The Timbuk2 lack a million pockets like a lot of recently released carry on bags so packing cubes are required if you like a more organized bag. Also, being a floppy bag, packing cubes help keep the structure more rigid and more likely to holds its shape when standing up. Sometimes, bags without structure will flop over when you rest them down to grab a piece of paperwork. Packing cubes help add structure.