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,
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.
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.
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.
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