Remember the time when we were still searching for the perfect partner? And we eventually did. We got our first 45L North Face Terra backpacks through R.O.X. and took those babies for a spin around Asia for 6 months. But after our homecoming, I realized how I can actually survive with much less on my back.

The moment I saw the Tri Star travel bag by Tom Bihn on Pinay on the Move's site, I was smitten! I knew I had found my perfect sole mate! You're probably thinking: "Seriously? How excited can you really get about a piece of luggage?"

Very excited as a matter of fact! I wanted him so badly I drooled on my computer screen for weeks hoping to have him as my very own. I tried joining Pinay on the Move's giveaway, but didn't get lucky that time. I just had to email them to make my wish come true. And it did.

It had been sitting on the foot of my bed for months waiting for the right trip. When I got the opportunity to travel to the US a few weeks ago, I knew it was time. Tom, as I fondly call him (in the same fashion that I call my DSLR, Gabe) was coming with me for the ultimate relationship test: 2 weeks of high speed, all over the place traveling. Here's are the 10 things I love about Tom:

1 He's very cool and stylish. I requested for the Steel Solar bag and I just love the contrast of the colors that peek through the insides. And he's beautifully hand-made with rich materials. The stitching is so perfect- he's a work of art! Sure, he's no grungy backpacker's companion. But for a few weeks of business or pleasure travel, he's The One!

2 He's eye candy. A lot of people have stopped me to ask where I got my bag. Tom is not only stylish, he's an eye catcher. He's quite a rarity in the luggage world- for his size and design, people easily take notice.

Wrinkle proof clothing because of the straps

3 He makes room for me. Tom has 3 main compartments: 1) the front for your kikay kit and shoes; 2) the middle for your laptop, camera and even your gibson 500t, for my musically inclined friends 3) a rear for your clothes that won't wrinkle with tie down straps. The front of the Tri-Star features four zippered pockets which consist of a curved zipper with a safety flap that could hold your cellphone or travel documents. I used the other three horizontal zippered pockets to hold my long haul flight survival kit (more on this in another post), sunglasses and wallet that you can attach to a key holder in the middle pouch.

I can fit my life into this bag!

4 He thinks of my comfort. When I first tried Tom as a shoulder bag, I was surprised at the comfort. I then realized that the strap was made of an elastic, flexible material that stretched and bounced with me as I moved. The handles are made of Poron-foam pads which makes them easy to carry around. As a backpack, the weight is evenly divided and the smooth texture of the material makes it back-friendly.

5 He's very adaptable and versatile. You can use it as shoulder bag or backpack (with hidden straps). The backpack straps are padded and contoured and feature a removable sternum strap and an optional removable waist strap to help distribute weight and stabilize the bag to your body. And in case you get caught in unfriendly weather, the fabric is treated to be water-resistant and comes with #8 YKK splash-proof Uretek zippers to keep the weather outside where it belongs.