Unknowndivide may earn a commission from purchases made through links in this post.
Plenty of backpacks look sharp on a shelf and fall apart in daily use. The Tom Bihn Synapse 25 is built the other way around. It is a compact, carefully organized pack made in Seattle, with a layout that makes sense the moment you start filling it. It works for a commute, a weekend away or a day on the trail, and it is small enough to slide under an airplane seat.
Who makes it
Tom Bihn has been designing and making bags since 1972 and became an official company in 1982. The bags are made at the company's factory in Seattle, Washington, and each one comes with a lifetime guarantee against defects in materials or workmanship, along with a 60 day return window.
The Synapse family is one of the brand's core lines. The original Synapse 19 was designed as a do everything pack for everyday carry, light travel and day hikes. The Synapse 25 is the larger version, made for people who liked the 19 but needed more room.
What it is
The Synapse 25 is a 25 liter backpack. Its main compartment opens with a half zip, and the front of the bag carries five exterior pockets, each with its own volume, so a full water bottle in one does not squeeze the contents of the others. The signature detail is a 32 ounce bottle pocket set right in the middle of the bag rather than on the side, which keeps the weight centered on your back.
Inside, nine O-rings give you places to clip keys, pouches and small items so they do not sink to the bottom. Cache loops let you secure a laptop sleeve for computers up to 16 inches. Here are the main specs from the maker:
- Volume: 25 liters, or 1,526 cubic inches
- Dimensions: 13.4 x 20 x 9.1 inches
- Weight: 1 pound 11.9 ounces in 420 denier Spectron, up to 1 pound 15.8 ounces in 630 denier ballistic nylon
- Main zipper: number 10 YKK water repellent coil zipper with a metal slider
- Straps: padded, contoured shoulder straps with a removable sternum strap and waist strap
- Made in Seattle, Washington
Why it is cool
The center bottle pocket is the clever part. Side pockets tend to pull a bag off balance and can let a bottle slip out when you set the pack down. Putting the bottle in the middle keeps the load even and makes the bag feel smaller than it is.
The exterior pockets also change the way you pack. Instead of one big cavern where everything gets lost, you have a set of small zones for chargers, snacks, a notebook and a rain shell. Combined with the O-rings inside, it is the kind of layout that rewards people who like to know exactly where their things are.
Finally, there is the build. Materials like ballistic nylon and Spectron ripstop, water repellent zippers with metal sliders and a lifetime guarantee all point to a bag meant to be carried for many years, not replaced every couple of seasons.
How to use it
For a daily commute, put your laptop in the main compartment against the back panel, keep a water bottle in the center pocket and use the front pockets for small items you reach for often. Clip your keys to an O-ring so they are always in the same spot.
For travel, the Synapse 25 can act as your personal item. Pack clothing in the main compartment, keep travel documents and a phone charger in an exterior pocket and use the waist strap to steady the load when you are walking through a terminal. On a day hike, the sternum and waist straps help keep the bag close to your body.
Care
Empty the bag and shake out crumbs and grit from time to time, since sand is hard on zippers. Spot clean the fabric with a damp cloth and mild soap, then let it air dry. Avoid soaking the bag or putting it in a dryer. If anything ever fails because of a defect, the lifetime guarantee is there to help.
Who it is for
The Synapse 25 is for commuters, one bag travelers and anyone who likes an organized carry. If you want a smaller pack, the Synapse 19 offers the same idea in a 19 liter size. If you need a big travel bag, a larger carry on may suit you better. For most daily needs, though, the Synapse 25 hits a very useful middle ground.
Comparing packs? See our guide to the best carry on travel backpacks, the Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip, the Topo Designs Rover Pack and the Fjallraven Kanken. For more, visit our everyday carry hub.
