Why is "2-way" the choice now?

Hello everyone.
I'm Tobe, the developer of WIM.

Looking out the window, I see the cherry blossoms starting to bloom,
and I'm excited for the start of a new travel season.
The recent crowdfunding campaign successfully completed all deliveries, and I'm finally able to take a breather.

And now, there's something I'm thinking about again.
It's, "Why did I spend two years and several million yen
on this 2-way bag that, at first glance, seems 'indecisive'?"

From my upbringing to the inspiration for development,
I've put everything into words, right down to the core of WIM.
I believe that if you read it to the end,
you'll understand the "freedom of movement" we aim for.

"Cheap, fast, and light" – Travel was always about backpacks.

September 2001.
I was born half-Japanese, half-Vietnamese,
and grew up in an environment where overseas was always close by, from a young age.

I've traveled to over 20 countries and used countless bags.
Sometimes they were reliable companions, and sometimes they were burdens on my movement.
From those past experiences, I came to one conclusion.

"For travel, a backpack is the only choice."
Why am I so sure?
Because I'm the type who wants to travel "cheaply, quickly, and lightly" above all else.

The option of "LCC x carry-on"

These days, more and more people are smartly using LCCs (low-cost carriers)
to travel frequently on a budget, aren't they?
I'm one of them.

Of course, the extensive services of full-service carriers like JAL and ANA are appealing.
However, considering the overwhelming cost-effectiveness of LCCs, a little inconvenience is a minor issue.
It's like, "Seats are a bit cramped? No in-flight meals? ...So what!" lol

Rather than spending money on travel, I want to spend every extra yen eating delicious food at local stalls,
or on experiences that can only be had there.
That was my travel philosophy.But to cleverly use LCCs, there's one "golden rule."
That is, don't check your luggage.

Even if you get a cheap ticket,
checking luggage incurs an additional fee of several thousand yen.

Moreover, after arrival, you might have to wait 30 minutes, or even over an hour,
at the baggage claim carousel, and in the worst case, there's a risk of damage or loss...
That's why I think the correct answer for achieving "the cheapest and fastest freedom" is to carry on your luggage with an LCC
and be the first one out of the airport when you arrive.

However, a big hurdle stands in the way here.
That's the "7kg wall".

The carry-on weight limit for LCCs is strict, usually up to 7kg.
It's always nerve-wracking when they weigh it at the check-in counter, isn't it? lol
But a typical carry-on suitcase itself actually weighs nearly 3kg.
"What, the case alone uses up nearly half the limit?" Don't you think?
Plus, a trolley can be a hindrance on stairs or in crowds.

That's why, for me, going with a backpack weighing around 1kg was the "right answer" to carry the most luggage
and move most freely.

In the end, my shoulder breaks. I'm not enjoying the trip.

You might think, "Well, then a backpack is fine."
I thought so too.
But backpacks have a major drawback.

They are "extremely tiring".

The long walk to the boarding gate that seems endless.
The queue before customs, like a giant snake.
And once you finally arrive, moving around an unfamiliar city.

7kg. Imagine that weight.
Imagine continuously carrying the heaviest bowling ball (16 pounds / approximately 7kg)
packed in a backpack for several hours.

That's beyond tough—it's "despair."
When I finally arrived at the hotel, I wanted to head out into the city right away,
but I was so exhausted I just crashed on the bed.

Because of this fatigue, I missed one potential sightseeing spot.
Am I really enjoying this trip to the fullest?

I found myself looking enviously at people effortlessly rolling their suitcases
along the long airport corridors, thinking, "How nice..."

"A backpack is definitely light, but a trolley is easier.
It would be great if I could switch between them in one second, depending on the situation."

This selfish desire of mine is the origin of WIM's development.

If it's a half-hearted "2-way," I don't need it.

If I were to create a 2-way bag, there was one thing I absolutely refused to compromise on.
That was "the speed of switching."

No matter how much a bag claims to be 2-way,
if switching takes too much time or effort,
it will undoubtedly end up being used in only one way.

My goal was to make it so that you could switch anytime, anywhere, in an instant.

After two years of trial and error, I arrived at our proprietary caster storage technology, "Disappearing Casters."

One hand, one second. Instant on ⇔ off.
Suddenly, a long staircase with no escalator appears.
Long-distance movement within the airport due to a gate change.

It's this "speed" that allows you to keep up with such sudden environmental changes without stress.

And another commitment was its lightness at "1.9kg."
We've reduced the weight by approximately 40% compared to a typical carry-on trolley.

The handle uses a "single bar" while maintaining strength.
We also repeatedly reviewed the materials and thoroughly eliminated unnecessary decorations and functions.

This "disappearing caster" and "lightness" are what achieved
the overwhelming "ease of switching."


With this, you get...

① Stairs or unsanitary toilet floors: "Backpack" without hesitation
② Long passages at stations or airports: Quickly set it down and use as a "trolley."
③ Late-night/early-morning departure: "Backpack" to avoid making noise in residential areas.
④ After returning home: Just store the wheels, no cleaning needed.
⑤ Motorcycle or bicycle: With a "backpack," go anywhere.

This is no exaggeration, the "freedom of travel"
really improves remarkably.

And the energy you have when you arrive at your destination is completely different.
You can immediately say, "Alright, let's go sightseeing!"
I truly want everyone to experience this!

So, where shall we go next?

With this bag,
I feel I have finally completed my ideal travel style. 

Also, through crowdfunding,
I was truly overjoyed to realize that "so many people shared the same problem."

"Cheap, light, yet easy."

I want to enjoy ambitious travels with all of you.
Through such journeys, why don't we make our lives richer and more fulfilling?

Going forward, I will also share practical usage tips based on my own travel experiences,
as well as useful information to make your travels richer and more interesting.

Please look forward to it!
Thank you for your continued support of WIM.