I bought a Tom Bihn Grab Bag in late 2021, and my only regret so far is that I didn’t get more.
I mainly use my Grab Bag to organize tech gear when travelling and in between, but I have also used it for hand tools and accessories on occasion.
Tom Bihn is a USA-based bag and accessory manufacturer that uses domestic and imported materials and components.
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The Grab Bag is back, this time in a slightly larger size and in “mystery” colors.
Basically, the company uses “scraps and roll-ends” to make these bags, and so you never know what you’re going to get. You can add a note about color preferences when ordering, but there’s no guarantee it can or will be honored.
The Grab Bag is truly appropriately named, with two large carrying handles and additional grab loops at the sides. There are also lugs for an optional shoulder strap (sold separately).
It has a #8 Racquet-Coil water-repellent zipper with metal slider and can be opened from either end.
You can fill it with pretty much anything, although I tend to avoid putting sharp-pointed tools in soft bags like this.
The large size, the only size available right now, measures 9.4″ W x 5.3″ H x 4.1″ H, and has a storage capacity of 2.5 liter (165 cubic inches).
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Tom Bihn’s shtick, aside from making quality bags of all kinds, is that their products often promote bag-in-a-bag organization. Are you familiar with “packing cubes?” It’s kind of like that.
These Grab Bags can be used to hold smaller bags, or it can be a smaller bag used to organize gear in a large bag. Or they can be used by themselves.
I bought a couple of large Grab Bags recently, and while the colors aren’t ideally suited to my tastes, they’re inoffensive. I still wish I bought more of the slightly smaller one a few years ago.
Tom Bihn bags aren’t inexpensive, but I’ve also found they’re reasonable, especially since all the design and sewing work is done in the USA.
The company says:
Our bags are designed and sewn right here in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.
That allows us to be control freaks in the best way possible; we have direct control and oversight of the quality of our materials, our products, and the jobs and working environment that we help create.
I bought my first Tom Bihn bag in 2018, and I really didn’t like it. I sent it back, only having to pay return shipping. I ordered a bunch of smaller organizing pouches, sacks, and accessories with it at the time, and loved those.
I would not consider the Grab Bags to be tool bags, but they’re gear bags that can work well for tools and all kinds of stuff.
The large-size Mystery Grab bags are $36 each, plus shipping. This seems like a lot for a pouch, but isn’t a lot of a Tom Bihn bag.
The design is rather basic, with a single large-mouth opening, but the handles and grab straps adding to their versability.
Here’s the difficult part.
Should YOU buy one? I cannot easily recommend the Mystery Grab Bags, especially with the color and materials remaining a “mystery choice.” Mine will hold tools, at least some of them for some of the time, but they’re not tool bags.
That said, I would ABSOLUTELY buy them again.
After a couple of purchases and a few of very positive interactions with their customer service, I’m an ardent fan of the brand.
I like the bags and brand, and felt the pricing is reasonable (for a Tom Bihn product).
But I don’t know if YOU will strongly benefit from buying one. They’re not the best for tools or harsh environments. What they’re great at is hauling stuff, either standalone, or within other bags.
That has been my only hesitation about recommending Tom Bihn products; they work well for ME for tools, supplies, and what-not, and in the context of my working environments. But I don’t treat them in the same way as I would a dedicated tool bag. While very durable and high quality, the materials they use are generally thinner and lighter than far less expensive pouches or small bags you can find at the hardware store.
I’m still figuring out how I’m going to use my new large Grab Bags. They’re not always in stock – I saw them about a month ago, made a note to place an order the next morning, and found that they had sold out. A week or so after that, they were back in stock, and I placed my order.
So, rather than wait until I can describe my use of the new bags, I thought I’d give you the heads-up now, while you can still buy one if interested.
I hope you can appreciate why I find it difficult to recommend them without heavy qualifications, at least in the context of tool or jobsite suitability; the price is high and material too thin for throwing around a construction site.
But for everyday use, I bought more and am sure I’ll have zero regrets as I squeeze many years of use and convenience out of them.
I know… some of you are going to say “$36 plus shipping for THAT?!” Yep. I’ve looked for alternatives, but nothing matches the convenient form factor of the one I bought a few years ago.
If you’re shopping solely on price point, and I do the same when it’s fitting, there are plenty of alternatives out there.
These Klein zippered tool bags are 2 for $15 at Amazon.
Home Depot has a Husky utility sack for $10.
There are plenty of less expensive options.
Mitherial
The “travel the world with. a single carry-on bag” crowd is absolutely fanatical about the Tommy Bihn carry on size bag (despite its considerable price). I like the design, but prefer something with wheels when traveling.
These bags look interesting; it’s the kind of thing that would be nice to see in person
Stuart
“One Bag” travel.
Tom Bihn’s backpacks and travel bags have a lot of compartments with deliberate and thoughtful placement. I definitely see appeal in them, but I usually have a heavy personal bag when flying, and so it’s much more convenient for me to have a rolling carry-on.
Farmerguy
I own several TB bags and have used it for one bag international travel very well. I have a grab bag and lots of organizer pouches and their craftsmanship has been second to none. Tom designed great bags and a great travel culture community.
Tom himself is retired and the company was bought out by a family office a year or two ago. They doubled down on the FOMO marketing tactic and good luck buying all the things at the same time as half are sold out/”in production”/”working on other bags”. Well built product and hard to purchase sometimes.
Stuart
The “in production” part has always been a sore point, but they seem to have been consistent.
I’d like an insert for a smaller bag I bought a while ago. I went with the thinner fabric, and it makes the bag more floppy. I could also use more organization, so it’s time for the pricey insert. But, the insert was sold out when I placed recent order, and is still sold out with no ETA.
Smaller companies do tend to build in batches. I bought their tool/pen holder in 2022. It had been “retired” for a few years already, and disappeared again after I got mine. I’m not sure that counts as FOMO.
Farmerguy
An “almost 8 figure company” as the buyout need article said is not that small. The FOMO can also be seen how they retire and cycle colors and “there may never be another batch” gets a lot of impulse buys. The color palette TB offers is second to none and offer the rare runs. Look at the 2nd hand market’s premium on their retired designs and color ways. “Last batch” really drives them sales. They make it hard to be a customer and yet they are still in business is my compliment to their business acumen over the years.
AC
Whats this carry on bag? I’m curious, but so many options, not sure which is the beloved model.
TomD
Probably the Techonaut but that’s a pricey backpack https://www.tombihn.com/collections/travel-bags/products/techonaut-30?variant=40265614753981
It’s getting close to the price of this: https://saddlebackleather.com/leather-duffel-bag-baby though I could see why someone might like all the pockets
Farmerguy
I am guessing the Aeronaut, the predecessor without a laptop compartment, Well built bags that eBay is a good option to search.
mark
Id urge you to watch vids & pay close attention to the dimensions, liter capacity, & interior complexity. Imo that tends to differentiate TB products.
For example they make the “daylight” backpack (simple inside, light, little smalle)” and the “paragon” (little larger to fit laptops, padded for laptops, more structured, better straps for laptop weight).
Those two bags kinda look the same in the thumbnails, but are a lot different in their function + price.
mike ricchino
Backpacks are so much better as a globe trotting luggage.
Dragging a wheeled bag down cobblestone streets built during the roman empire is miserable.
I have always wanted the (apparently discontinued ) Smart Alec. but the synapse 22 is supposed to be great too.
Mark M.
They make nice stuff but there’s no way I’m spending $34+ and not get to choose the color or material. And a bit pretentious on their end to even structure the deal that way, but America.
What I’m more sold on is the size and utility of that design. My go-to has been canvas “tanker” or mechanic bags by Rothco and similar. Super handy, about $20, and (gasp) the color and material aren’t for someone else to decide on.
Stuart
When I bought my first one, there were color choices.
These are supposedly made from scrap and roll-end materials. It’s a simple design meant to reduce material waste, but I found it served my dynamic needs spectacularly well to where I kept thinking “I need more of these.”
They’ve had other Mystery color products before, and honored my color preferences for those.
It’s a weird type of product. You either need it or you don’t. And if you need it, is the price justifiable?
For me? Yes. For others who might not immediately say “that’s PERFECT”? No.
Ct451
Purses for men seems like an emerging market. Not for me but good luck to them.
John
Murses have been around for a good while. Seinfeld or Friends episode back in the day.
Stuart
They’re called “EDC bags” now.
IronWood
“It’s a European carryall!”
Stuart
You can add a shoulder strap to almost anything these days.
I wouldn’t add a strap to this, but you can.
Koko The Talking Ape
Just another option: make your own bags. You can use the legs of worn-out pants. Cut off the leg below the knee, turn it inside out, sew the cut opening shut, turn it right side in, then sew a strap halfway around the edge of the other opening, leaving the two ends of the strap sticking out a little. Attach the two halves of a quick release buckle to the strap ends. To close it, roll up that opening and buckle the strap closed, like on a dry bag for rafting. . Takes two minutes, literally.
Cotton/poly is more durable than denim, and it keeps a little plastic out of landfills.
Stuart
Every year I say “maybe this will be the year,” as I price out a sewing machine that can handle thicker materials and webbing, but I have too many things going on all the time.
Peter Fox
My preferred small bags for keeping stuff organized and easy to carry around for projects are the older and long discontinued County Comm Gaffers bags.
Drawstring closure if you want or just use as an open top bag. Perfect size to gather the tools and parts for most small projects I get involved in. very durable with strong handles, They work great when hung from a tower rung or ladder when working above ground.
Wish I would have bought more when they were around. They were only about $10 or $12 when they were available. I have not found anything else quite like them.
JDsantos
I’ve been a fan of their handy little thing bag. Price is what it is, making things in the US isn’t cheap and they’re good quality.
mark
Especially textiles.
mark
MAN I love my tom bihn stuff. It’s a bit intangible how good some of the designs are. If your the type who has stuff and is like “I could mod this to make it a little better” – it feels like tom bihn already did that for you on some of their stuff and you just are happy with it.
That being said, brand new designs from this point on are not being created by the same people as most of what is currently available and being produced. The same people are manufacturing the items in usa, just the designers aren’t Tom & these 2 other ppl anymore.
Tom Bihn sold the biz a year or two ago I think and while the new ownership isn’t changing much and quality has NOT gone down, it’s early on in the current designers’ time there.
Most recent but was a “monster truck”. 630D cordera ballistic nylon, burnt orange color (beautiful), semi rigid plastic (just right) sewn into the bottom so it doesn’t get floppy like other totes/beach bags of this size, made in USA, poron foam handles, taped seams, prong attachment points. 38 liter capacity. All for $75.
I really tried and I couldn’t find something similar for significantly less than didn’t have something missing compared to Tom BIHN.
Their “absolute shoulder strap” has this EPIC tension system that is like magic for a heavy duffel bag.
I’ve been running their stuff for maybe 5-6 years now. I’ve never even had a thread come loose.
You talk to a real person, normally in less than 24 hours if you email them. Not some software-gated Convo. No your emailing like, Melissa, direct.
I hope they can keep up their magic going forward.
Stuart
They changed some of the fabric combinations in recent years. Color choices have always changed a bit, but I was able to buy certain bags in the thinner material. Now, they seem to have moved to ballistic nylon for more of them, exclusively.
It’s always hard to tell what’s due to the change in ownership.
The Truck and Monster Truck bags are excellent – I consider them “buy it for life.” I bought and tested them for tool and supplies use, but as with these grab bags there were too many qualifications, starting with the price.
Steve
Flowfold is a company I can recommend. They use recycled sail material to build their stuff. Pretty affordable, too. Made in Maine!
I also like Specops Brand. They’re military focused but they will have closeout sales now and then and their gear is about as tough as it gets. I bought a ton of stuff for pennies on the dollar when the Army did away with the ACU patterned uniforms.
IronWood
I love this site for articles like this. Never heard of Tom Bihn, even though they’re located just down the road! Cruised around the website and ordered the small travel tray. I’ve been looking for something like a collapsible dog dish to use for trash and parts doing boat and equipment wiring jobs. The travel tray should be perfect for that and has a drawstring to pack it out.
Charles
I’ve had Tom Bihn bags for over 15 years now and the quality and design is top notch, but I’m not sure that I would use them for tools – says the guy who has three Egos (the name of an older bag), four Super Egos, a Tristar, empire Builder, two daylight briefcases and more accessories than you can shake a stick at.
Be very careful on eBay as the pricing is all over the place. Just today, I saw somebody selling a Daylight briefcase (a very nice minimalist bag with no padding but lots of organization) for $200 plus $60 shipping bacause it was one of the old colors. I can roll the bag up and put it into an express mail envelope for what $10? And the bag now sells new for $96.it was $70 when I bought it just pre pandemic.