Best Minimal Travel Bags: Tom Bihn Synapse 25 Review

[@CaseyHardman]

I wasn't about the looks until I saw it in person. It's not for everyone, but I'm in love with it now. lol Was "eh" about no external water bottle holders, but I've grown into the internal centered pocket. I have the older design with the thin straps and they seem average. I agree about the lack of air channels and airflow in the back panel. I can see it getting sweaty in the summer. I got mine with the frame and can't imagine using the bag without it. I'm not a fan of floppy bags, which is why I went with the S25 over the CHZ22. I'm still amazed by the organization. I can't seem to figure out how to fully utilize the front bottom panel, as it's just magically enormous. lol I have a few of their pouches and they work really well for what I use them for. I kinda wish the main compartment had a smidge more organization, but I just have my 10.5" iPad Pro in a Tom Bihn cache, so the lack of a laptop sleeve isn't a big deal for me. I only use the cache because it keeps the iPad off the ground and the main sleeve is too loose to really use. I know it is known to be a solid minimal travel bag, but I personally feel like it's a better EDC pack. I much prefer to use my Tortuga Setout Divide for one-bag travel. Overall I love my S25 and even though it's priced a little higher than other bags with more features, it's definitely a niche bag that you either love or hate. Tom Bihn is also just a fantastic company in general. I'll gladly pay a premium to support them!

[@dannypacks]

Thank you for watching and I’m definitely glad to finally have been able to experience the synapse after hearing about it from so many people! That’s awesome to hear it has been working out so well for you and that was definitely a good idea to get it with the frame sheet! I am also continuously amazed with pockets, they just seem to always have plenty of space and although I don’t know which style of water bottle pocket I prefer I have been surprised with how fine I’ve been with the center pocket on this one haha Tom bihn definitely seems like a cool company overall and hopefully I can try out more of their stuff in the future! :)

[@buitrung_]

Do you think the frame sheet is a must have? The synapse frame is out of stock, so if it’s crucial to have it, I have to go up to synik, but I like the lighter synapse better. Really torn between those 2. What do you think?

[@dannypacks]

Thank you for watching! Both are great bags, between the synik and the synapse some of the differences that might be worth noting are that the synik opens fully clamshell, it includes the frame sheet and compression straps and it has a laptop sleeve and luggage passthrough. With regards to the frame sheet, i think it depends on what you’ll be carrying, without the frame sheet you may feel some of the items poking into your back. I found that if I had my laptop or something like a book it helped, not sure if that would be a dealbreaker for you

[@hannimorejon9574]

I couldn't find your laptop sleeve, could you share a link? yours seems more protective than Tom's Cache :)

[@dannypacks]

Thank you for watching! That laptop sleeve is from a company called Standard Luggage Co and is included with their travel backpack. I was looking through their site and it doesn’t look like it’s sold separately tho. Hope that helps and please let me know if there are any additional questions I can help answer!:)

[@stfuerik]

do you feel like the synik holds its shape better than the sypanse. is the newer version less of a turtle shape?

[@dannypacks]

Thank you for watching and good question! Since the Synik includes the frame sheet I would say it does hold its shape better but if you buy the separate frame sheet for the synapse my guess is they would be pretty close. I would say the new version however still has a pretty turtle like and rounded shape. Hope that helps a bit and please let me know if there are any additional questions I can help answer about the bag!:)

[@GarretTheShadow]

Great review! I’ve been looking for a while for an EDC/personal item for one bag flights/occasional hike backpack and the Synapse is at the top of the list. My main concern is the comfort as otherwise it fits all my other criteria. The closest to Tom Bihn’s bags for me is the Cotopaxi Allpa 28l but reviews say that one is not comfortable either. Are there any other comfortable backpacks with lots of organizational pockets like Tom Bihn?

[@dannypacks]

Thank you for watching and I’m glad the video was helpful! The synapse is definitely tough to beat as far as organization and I find it pretty comfortable but the synik feels a bit better since it includes the frame sheet. Other bags with good pocketing to consider might be the evergoods CPL24, north face surge, or the 5.11 rush 12

[@jenniferblanchard4856]

How tall are you for reference of watching you with the backpacks on.

[@dannypacks]

Thank you for watching! I am 5’11”

[@jenniferblanchard4856]

Thank you! Trying to get a guage for the size of backpacks you wear!!! That helps out tremendously!@@dannypacks

[@yvandermeer]

Very informative review, thank you! For size reference, I'm curious: how tall are you?

[@dannypacks]

Thank you for watching and I’m glad the video was helpful! I am 5’11” :)

[@cameronfeezee4989]

you said "not as comfortable as others..." comfort is my goal, which is your most comfortable one?

[@dannypacks]

Thank you for watching! Comfort is always a bit tricky as it’s fairly subjective, I know there are many people that love the edge less straps on the Tom BIHN bags and I do find them comfortable but personally I prefer straps that have more of a meshy material and feel and where the padding is a little softer so my ideal straps are in bags like the Tortuga Outbreaker laptop backpack, triple sight design axiom 24 and I also like the straps on the Aer tech pack 2 and the north face Borealis. Hope that helps a bit and please let me know if there are any additional questions I can help answer about the bags!:)

[@cameronfeezee4989]

@@dannypacks THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

[@OccupiedMuffins]

For the price, having to buy things seperately to make a 25 liter bag with no seperate laptop compartment is ridiculous.

[@luismedina8502]

It looks like it's really tough to get to the stuff in the bag. I will keep using my old dependable Wenger Pegasus with structure and many pockets, on sale at Amazon for $59.00

[@dannypacks]

Thank you for watching and for the suggestion! I hadn’t heard of that one yet so I’ll have to check it out!:)