When it comes to hidden gems, no one knows TOM BIHN bags better than the people who carry them. Earlier this week, we put out a poll on Instagram and asked you to vote on which bags deserve a little more recognition — quietly dependable, endlessly useful, and somehow still flying under the radar.
The votes are in, the tallies are complete, and the rankings are ready to share. So, without further ado, here’s how you ranked the top 5 most underrated bags.
5. The Little Bag That Could
Everyday Cubelet
It’s small but mighty. Whether you’re running last-minute errands, shuffling through a crowded train car, or weaving through a busy farmers' market, the Everyday Cubelet keeps up. Its compact size means it never feels in the way, and with just the right amount of O-rings, the Everyday Cubelet keeps your essentials right where you need them. Proof that some of the best bags are the ones quietly doing their job exceptionally well.
4. One Big Rig
Monster Truck
The name says it all. If the Everyday Cubelet is the little bag that could, the Monster Truck is the bag that absolutely will. Whether you’re shopping for a copious amount of groceries, heading to the beach, or on a weekend adventure, this tote is up to the challenge. The Monster Truck won’t break a sweat. Your shoulders, however, may have notes.
3. Frequent Flyer
Co-Pilot
The Co-Pilot may not be captain, but it definitely deserves a promotion. Compact, thoughtfully organized, and deceptively spacious, the Co-Pilot has quietly earned its wings as an underrated favorite. Whether it’s your personal item on a flight, everyday companion, or designated travel sidekick, the Co-Pilot always sticks the landing.
2. Smart By Name, Smart By Nature
Smart Alec 2.0
The Smart Alec 2.0 has a loyal fanbase for a reason. Part everyday backpack, part black hole. This underrated favorite somehow makes being prepared look effortless. Beloved by long-term fans and new TOM BIHN enthusiasts alike, the Smart Alec 2.0 feels equally at home on a commute, trail, or spontaneous weekend adventure.
1. A No-Brainer
Brain Bag
The Brain Bag took the crown as the most underrated TOM BIHN bag, and somehow it still flies under the radar. It debuted back in 1996, and there's a reason it’s still in our lineup 30 years later. Work, weekend trips, and day hikes — there’s no limit when it comes to the Brain Bag.
Honorable Mentions
While the Everyday Cubelet, Monster Truck, Co-Pilot, Smart Alec 2.0, and Brain Bag stole the spotlight, two other bags still earned plenty of love from the community.
A Slightly Smaller Rig
Truck
The smaller yet no less capable sibling to the Monster Truck, the Truck is an underrated warrior. Whether it’s your grocery bag, tool bag, beach bag, or gym bag, the Truck is there for the long haul.
Business Casual
Daylight Briefcase
One of our more overlooked briefcases in our lineup, the Daylight Briefcase is not one to underestimate. Compact yet capacious, sturdy yet lightweight, this briefcase will get you from takeoff to touchdown and coffee shops to meeting rooms quicker than you can say “justice for underrated bags!”
There you have it — your picks for the most underrated TOM BIHN bags.
Did your favorite make the cut? Or is there an unsung hero we missed? Keep an eye on Instagram for future community polls, and drop your own underrated favorites in the comments below — we’d love to hear what made your list.
I take my Brain Bag on pretty much every trip, even when I probably don’t need that much space — because you never know! I might come home with more than I left with. I’m not sure that it actually meets carry on requirements when it is stuffed full, but I’ve never had it turned away at the gate. I think I bought it 15 years ago and it still looks pretty much like new.
I love my Daylight Briefcase. It’s lightweight, holds what I need and can stand up underneath the seat when I fly leaving plenty of legroom. I’ve used it as my personal item when I fly for 2 years now.
Brain bag…if it debuted in 1996, your math needs checking. That’s thirty years. 😉
“It debuted back in 1996, and there’s a reason it’s still in our lineup 20 years later.”
1996. 2026. Pretty sure that’s 30 years 😉
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TOM BIHN replied:
No way! I graduated in ‘95, so ’96 was only 20 years ago…right? sigh Yeah, we’ll fix it. ;)
Yes, the Everyday Cubelet is underrated and super useful, for both everyday use and travel. For travel, the Smart Alec 2 is very good and almost 85% as good as the Trinity. I have used both bags for domestic and international work and non-work travel. The Trinity would seem to be especially underrated, even in your underrated-bags poll.
(Speaking of which, your poll is only a poll of the people who have not stopped using Facebook/Meta/Instagram, for the well-known set of reasons. If not too much trouble, could you please make your polls also available at other sites or in other ways, for instance, in your blog or your forums, or in an email?)
