Gear Diary Tom Bihn Zephyr Briefcase Video Review photo

If you are looking for a serious briefcase that is tough, carries a ton, and has plenty of organizational pockets — but nimbly avoids the pitfall of looking like the stuffy, square briefcase your father carried — then you’ll want to check out the Tom Bihn Zephyr. The Zephyr is built with the quality we have come to know and expect from Tom Bihn. Materials are stellar; the design takes into account the varied ways people use their bags, and the build-quality is second to none. Oh, and as is always the case with Tom Bihn bags, the Zephyr is made in the USA and comes with a lifetime guarantee.

And here’s our video review.

Let’s look a bit more closely at a few key features,

Gear Diary Tom Bihn Zephyr Briefcase Video Review photo

The Zephyr doesn’t scream out that it is a pocket-laden bag but it is. Tom Bihn designed this bag for the person who takes his or her gear with them and needs access to various tools throughout the day.

Gear Diary Tom Bihn Zephyr Briefcase Video Review photo

While the Zephyr offers nice open space in the interior, the front section is designed to make it easy for your to be organized on the go.

Gear Diary Tom Bihn Zephyr Briefcase Video Review photo

And while the outside pockets have various sizes in order to make staying organized easier, the main interior compartment is wide open.

The bag ships with three hard plastic file dividers that “make organizing your papers a snap and that keep those important papers from getting damaged”. Personally, I found these dividers added too much rigidity and weight to the bag. I immediately pulled them out and put them away. I don’t see myself actually using them.

What does come in handy are the clips built into the interior of the bag. These clips are designed to work with the Tom Bihn Brain Cell hard-sided laptop case. My review sample shipped with one that is perfectly sized for the MacBook Pro with Retina Display. Although a bit heavy, the sleeve does a great job of protecting the pricey laptop.

Gear Diary Tom Bihn Zephyr Briefcase Video Review photo

There’s much more to the Zephyr such as

  • an open-top pocket great for storing magazines and newspapers
  • a “roll-aboard” slot on the back that allows you to safely stack the Zephyr on top of roll-aboard luggage.
  • amazingly comfortable handles

In all, the Zephyr is a soft but sturdy briefcase that means business. Yes, it is a bit on the pricey side, but for that price you get an amazingly well-constructed bag that will last years. A lifetime guarantee means this can easily be the last briefcase you ever buy. You can learn more and order yours here on the Tom Bihn website.

MSRP: $170

What I Like: Well-made; Good organizations offerings; Big enough for a large laptop and designed to work with the Tom Bihn Freudian Slip; Lifetime guarantee; Means serious business but has a softer side

What Needs Improvement: Pricey; Included paper dividers were wasted on me; Addition of Freudian Slip and Absolute Shoulder Strap push the price even higher

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

Tags: ,



Having a father who was heavily involved in early laser and fiber-optical research, Dan grew up surrounded by technology and gadgets. Dan’s father brought home one of the very first video games when he was young and Dan remembers seeing a “pre-release” touchtone phone. (When he asked his father what the “#” and “*” buttons were his dad said, “Some day, far in the future, we’ll have some use for them.”) Technology seemed to be in Dan’s blood but at some point he took a different path and ended up in the clergy. His passion for technology and gadgets never left him.


Eton Announces Rugged Rukus Bluetooth Speaker

We talk up the folks at Eton quite a bit for their excellent emergency radios and lights. If your home [...]

Microsoft’s Xbox One Initial Presentation – Technology That Will Step Behind the Curtain and Let You Take Center Stage

“The beginning of truly intelligent TV”… “A huge day for all entertainment”… These are some of the memorable quotes from [...]

The iPhone Doldrums – I Think I’m Ready for Something Different

A bit less than two years ago, I excitedly drove to my nearby Verizon store to give up my Motorola [...]

Google Wants to Pretend It Is from the ‘Land of And’

The Land of And

As noted pretty much everywhere last week, Google introduced new stuff at Google I/O. They also had a keynote by [...]

Domeo Recliner Folio iPad Case Review

A good case on an iPad is a must have; not only do you need protection but also some function [...]

FL Studio Mobile Gets Android Support – Hands-on Review

OK, I will admit to being almost entirely negative about the state of music production apps on the Android platform. [...]