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Solo New York Region backpack review

REVIEW – What can a backpack add to the general market these days? How about padded compartments for both your 11-15″ laptop as well as your 10-13″ tablet, plus a few other generous pockets? The Solo New York Region backpack offers these features, plus others to arrive at a sweet spot that may just meet your backpack Nirvana. Let’s take a deeper dive.

What is it?

A light-medium weight backpack with three main pockets, a front stash pocket, and two side mesh pockets for quick access. It’s available in Black or Grey with Burgundy interior, or with the Burgundy color outside and Grey interior. I was sent the Grey model for review.

Specs

  • Fully padded 15.6″ laptop compartment
  • Quick access pocket
  • Interior organizer section
  • Side mesh pockets
  • Back strap slide over luggage handle
  • Padded back and backpack straps for added comfort
  • Lightweight
  • Smooth nylon fabric

Design and features

This backpack has three main compartments, moving from the closest to your back to the outside. In the rear-most compartment, there is a pocket for your laptop or largest screen, as well as more room for a second slab of glass. Neither has a huge amount of padding, but the separation allows you to have these items in two spaces. I don’t think I’d pack this into a place where it would get banged onto the floor or anything like that, but for your general commute or a carry-on, it’s fine.

The middle section gives you about four inches of space with no organization. Good for a jacket, some books or files, or an organizer like my Freudian Slip with pockets to hold smaller items at various levels. Below, note I’ve got a Joby Gorilla tripod and a Hedgehog umbrella in there as well.

The next main compartment only has a single zipper, rather than the double zips on the other two, but there is great organization for your Kindle, pens, cards, keys, or your need-to-access meds and dongles. I fit my iPad Pro 10.5 here with plenty of room.


On the outermost face, with a single vertical zipper, there is a pocket that can hold two hands-full of anything you need. I use this for my phone, gloves, boarding passes, and other travel items that I need to be separated from the rest of my stuff. Moleskine, passport, charger, cables, etc. fit fine.


On the back under the padded straps, there is a padded mesh covering that allows your back to breathe during long times of carrying the bag, as well as a strap that allows you to pass it over your roll-aboard luggage handle for moving more easily going to and from your gate.
There are stretchy mesh pockets on each lower corner for drinks, earbuds, or anything else you want to be able to grab quickly. A full hand-width grab handle and a lower-center rear loop for your cycle light or a second handle for moving the bag rounds out the feature set.

What I like

  • Good organization throughout
  • Quality Materials and workmanship
  • Nothing I didn’t need

What needs to be improved

  • For a medium-weight backpack, this is just about perfection

Final thoughts

Comfortable straps and good distribution of pockets within the various compartments provide enough organization without making the available space seem too small to use. Double zippers on all of the main compartments allow ease of access to whatever you have stored there.

Price: $64.99
Where to buy: Solo NY site and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Solo.

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Solo New York Region backpack review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 24, 2019 at 11:05 am.

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Saddleback Leather Drawstring Leather Backpack review

REVIEW – I’ve found my new favorite backpack! It’s the new Saddleback Leather Drawstring Leather Backpack. It is simple in design, carries all that I need to carry, and is made with the highest quality materials and craftsmanship. Read on for all the wonderful details.

What is it?

The Saddleback Leather Drawstring Leather Backpack is a bag made out of full-grain leather which is the strongest grade of leather available. This backpack will carry your laptop (exterior dimensions up to 15” L x 10” W x 1” D or 381 mm L x 254 mm W x 25 mm D) in its interior floppy pigskin pocket and lots of other materials in the main compartment while you are out-and-about.

What’s in the box?

The Saddleback Leather Drawstring Leather Backpack comes with two information cards and two Saddleback stickers (do people ever use the stickers?).

Hardware specs

  • 100-Year Warranty
  • Materials: full-grain leather, pigskin lining, industrial-grade UV resistant polyester thread (or marine-grade thread – the kind used in shipping sails), and heavy-duty 316 stainless steel hardware
  • 1 large interior floppy pigskin pocket (12” H x 10.5” L or 305 mm H x 267 mm L)
  • Interior key clip strap to keep your keys easily accessible
  • Dimensions (approximate size):
    Exterior: roughly 14.25″ H x 11″ W x 6.5″ D (362 mm H x 279 mm W x 165 mm D)
    Interior: roughly 14″ H x 10.5” W x 6″ D (356 mm H x 267 mm W x 152 mm D)
  • Weight: 3.7 pounds (1.7 kg)

Design and features

The Saddleback Leather Drawstring Leather Backpack is beautiful in its design simplicity. There are no outer pockets, just a front buckle closure and the leather drawstrings used to cinch the main compartment closed.

The entire backpack is made using ~2 mm (5 oz) full-grain leather except for the pigskin lining (which is about 1 mm thick) and the floppy pigskin pocket. The bag is stitched using industrial-grade UV resistant polyester thread and the heavy-duty hardware is made from 316 stainless steel. All hardware (buckles and D-rings) are attached to the backpack using thick leather pieces that are looped through the hardware then sewn and riveted onto the bag. Places where the leather might stretch, have polyester straps sewn in between the layers of leather to prevent that from happening (Saddleback Craftmanship and Quality).

This premium backpack feels wonderfully thick, rugged, and durable; yet, the leather is supple. My bag weighs about 3.4 lbs. (1.5 kg) when empty and is one of Saddleback’s lightest bags. 

My backpack came in the beautifully rich Dark Coffee Brown color but it also comes in other colors as well (Tobacco, Chestnut, and Black). And it has that wonderful leather smell.

The back of the backpack shows that it is made out of one continuous piece of 2 mm full-grain leather.

The photo above also shows the quick-grab handle and shoulder straps. Saddleback provides removable leather shoulder pads to help make the straps more comfortable.

The shoulder straps are looped through and riveted onto a D-ring located at the top of the bag. The shoulder straps’ D-rings and the handle are anchored to the top of the backpack using three rivets per strap. 

Inside the backpack, you can also see the thick piece of leather on the backside of the bag where the handle and shoulder straps attach. That’s a total of 15 mm of leather (5/8″) to sew and rivet through. It’s mind-boggling that they are able to sew through that much leather. The handle and shoulder straps aren’t going anywhere. Period.

If you look between the leather attachment points of the shoulder straps on the outside of the bag, you’ll see an homage to Dave Munson’s (the president and founder of Saddleback) former dog Blue embossed on the leather. You can read more about Dave’s touching story of him and Blue here.

The above photo illustrates how thick the leather straps are. They are made using two layers of 2 mm thick leather sewn together, thus making the total thickness of each strap about 4 mm. 

The photo also shows how the sides of the drawstring backpack are single stitched using that awesome industrial-grade polyester thread.

Here is a close up of the stitching inside the bag. You can also see the thickness of the leather used. That thread and leather are thick! Whenever I review a Saddleback bag, I marvel at the quality of the materials and craftsmanship. All other leather bags I’ve seen pale in comparison.

The bottom of the backpack has a thick rectangular piece of leather sewn onto it.

Also at the bottom of the backpack, the shoulder straps are attached to the sides using heavy-duty metal buckles which are riveted and sewn onto the bag. You’ll also notice that the bobbin thread (as shown on the underside of the shoulder strap above) is the same thick polyester thread used for the topstitching of this bag, thus ensuring the longevity of the backpack. The front of the backpack, like the back of the backpack, is also made using one continuous piece of 2 mm full grain leather.

Opening the main compartment flap reveals the drawstrings (2 mm leather) used to cinch the bag closed. The drawstrings are tied to two D-rings that are sewn and riveted onto the sides of the bag. The other ends of the drawstrings come together through another D-ring and are fed through a leather cinch which slides up and down. The cinch works well keeping the bag closed. The above photo shows the drawstrings more closely.

Opening the backpack, you’ll notice that the back part of the bag is lined with pigskin lining which is stronger than cow leather. I really like this lining. It’s so much more durable than the cotton lining found in other bags. Additionally, using pigskin maintains the rugged style and design of the bag.

The inside of the bag is wonderfully spacious. Sewn into the back of the bag is a floppy pigskin pocket to store a laptop. This pocket measures 12” H x 10.5” L (305 mm H x 267 mm L) and does not have any padding to protect a laptop. The rest of the bag is wide open space – there are no other pockets or slots. There is, however, a key clip strap to hold your keys in place so they don’t wander around in the bag.

Here you can see the key clip strap and the metal claw hook used for your keys.

Performance

These are all the materials I was able to fit into the Saddleback Leather Drawstring Leather Backpack. They include the following:

  • Pencil case
  • Zipper pouch (contains sticky labels, eraser, small ruler)
  • Padded laptop case (contains my 13” Lenovo Yoga 730 laptop, my mouse, my charging cable and USB-C wall charger, and my Satechi multiport adapter)
  • A whiteboard
  • Two full 1” binders

My padded laptop case fit perfectly inside the floppy pigskin pocket. This pocket will even accommodate a laptop with outer dimensions of up to 15” L x 10” W  x 1” D (381 mm L x 254 mm W x 25 mm D). All of the rest of my materials fit well inside the main compartment.

The backpack was pretty full with all of my materials in it and so it didn’t need a lot of cinching to close the main compartment.

With all of my stuff in the backpack, it weighed 15.4 lbs (7.0 kg).

The flap has enough adjustment to close the bag when it is full.

The Saddleback Drawstring Leather Backpack is pretty comfortable when carrying it around town in my opinion, although I have not carried it around for a long duration. It lies flat against my back (and my husband’s back as shown above) and the leather shoulder pads do help to make the shoulder straps more comfortable, especially when carrying a lot of weight.

What I like

  • Made of the highest quality materials: full-grain leather, pigskin lining, industrial-grade UV resistant polyester thread, and heavy-duty 316 stainless steel hardware
  • All stress points are reinforced with rivets
  • In areas where leather may stretch, they sew in hidden polyester straps between the leather layers to prevent that from happening
  • Simple design (I didn’t use the exterior side pockets much on the other Saddleback backpack I reviewed)
  • It carries a lot of materials and yet seems small and portable, even for someone my size (5 ft tall)

What needs to be improved

  • I do wish there was one small front exterior pocket to stick my phone or other small items into it
  • Its rugged good looks may not suit your particular style
  • It’s expensive

Final thoughts

The Saddleback Leather Drawstring Leather Backpack is now, hands down, my favorite backpack. I love the simple design with its spacious main compartment and the floppy pigskin pocket that holds my 13” laptop (Lenovo Yoga 730) with its bulky padded laptop case. This pocket will even accommodate a larger laptop with outer dimensions of up to 15” L x 10” W  x 1” D (381 mm L x 254 mm W x 25 mm D).

In addition, every time I review a Saddleback product I am truly amazed by the high quality durable heavy-duty materials that they use as well as how well each bag is designed and assembled. You just can’t question the quality of their bags, which are second to none. They use full-grain leather, pigskin lining, industrial-grade UV resistant polyester thread, heavy-duty 316 stainless steel, all stress points are reinforced with rivets, and they sew in hidden polyester straps between the leather layers to prevent leather from stretching. I love knowing that I won’t ever have to replace this bag.

The only things that I can think of that might not be to your liking is the price and the style. However, I have come to understand that if you want a really well-made leather product that will last you a lifetime, you will have to pay this kind of a price tag.

Price: $399.00
Where to buy: Saddleback Leather
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Saddleback Leather.

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Saddleback Leather Drawstring Leather Backpack review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 7, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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The new Timbuk2 Especial series is made for weathering the storm

NEWS – Rain can be a drag if the wet gets into your gear, but Timbuk2 has you covered. The Especial Messenger was introduced a few years ago for the hardcore bike commuter, and 2019 brings us some new designs to protect your stuff from gnarly weather forecasts.

We’ve got three new bags in the series for 2019. The Especial Scope (shown in the picture) is a top-loading pack with a waterproof external admin panel that can expand from 24 to 36 liters of carrying capacity. The Especial Shelter is a monster roll-top pack with a 48 liter capacity. The Especial Stash is a new 20 liter messenger bag design with a beefed-up shoulder strap for comfortable carry. Each bag features extra waterproofing, magnetic clasps, reflective hits for biking, a padded and waterproof 15″ laptop compartment, and an external mesh pouch for your water bottle or U-lock. The color scheme is urban-cool black on black.

We have an assortment of Timbuk2 packs and messengers in my house; I’ve been a fan for a long time. I never got my hands on the original Especial Messenger but it gets consistently great reviews for its design and use of high-end hardware/materials. It looks like those elements have been carried through in the new series. Each bag in the lineup retails for under $200. Check them out on the Timbuk2 web site!

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The new Timbuk2 Especial series is made for weathering the storm originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 23, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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SERK Duo-entry Drawstring Backpack review

REVIEW — Everyone’s seen those nylon drawstring bags that look like a modern replacement for a hobo’s bindlestiff. Usually they’re just cheap, single-compartment sacks used to tote a change of clothes, but Rever Brand offers an evolution on that design with their SERK Drawstring Backpack. Read on to see how it stacks up.

What is it?

The SERK is an upgrade to the iconic drawstring backpack design, utilizing durable materials, waterproof insulation and a unique duo-entry design that isolates wet and dry items.

What’s in the box?

  • just the backpack itself

Hardware specs

  • Duo-entry design to separate dry and wet or dirty items
  • Waterproof oxford canvas exterior construction
  • Tear-resistant ripstop nylon
  • 1/4″ diamond braided nylon ropes
  • Weather-sealed coated zippers
  • RFID protective storage compartments
  • Leather accents
  • 14 liters capacity

Design and features

The SERK drawstring backpack looks a lot like a premium drawstring gym bag, but hides a pleasant surprise. While other bags offer one single large chamber for toting around clothes and shoes, the SERK proves a separate, waterproof compartment accessed from the bottom of the bag. This allows an isolated area for storing wet or dirty items or shoes while keeping the rest of your stuff clean.

The rear view side that lies against your back.

Additionally, the SERK has several internal pockets and two small RFID protected external pockets that can be accessed by weather-sealed zippers, perfect for storing your phone, wallet and other items that need to be quickly accessed.

The side pockets, while easily accessed wearing the pack, are indeed fairly small. I had a hard time fitting my entire hand inside to fish smaller items out. Phones and wallets should be a snap to get out, but anything that may find its way into the very back of the pocket like a pen or pack of gum may be hard to nab quickly.

Smallish side RFID protected pockets for your phone, wallet, earbuds or whatever will fit.

This bottom entry compartment is separated from the main compartment with a zipper in the bottom of the bag, allowing it to be rolled up and stored until needed. That was a clever touch to keep that part out of the way when using the bag in the conventional way.

There’s the hidden bottom compartment on the underside of the bag.

I would say this bottom compartment works well in keeping wet stuff from spreading to other clothes/material in the main chamber. It’s a great place to store damp towels, dirty shoes, even food or cold bottles that would collect condensation. This compartment, when expanded into the main chamber, will place the items within it alongside your belongings in the main space, so some adjusting and moving things around is necessary to keep the bag from feeling too “thick.”

And here’s the zipper that allows the bottom compartment to expand into the main chamber.

The SERK’s outer material is a thick, slightly stiff, waterproof canvas. It’s much more durable than a typical gym bag, though I found it does take some adjusting to conform to the curve of your back and shoulders. It’s not uncomfortable, but I never got to the point where I didn’t feel like I had something on my back, if that makes sense… I was aware of that material, stretching and moving around with it on my back, and it made me wonder if I’d get annoyed with it after wearing the bag all day, or if I’d eventually get used to it.

The top opening, when fully expanded, is very large.

It’s worth noting that the bag itself isn’t totally waterproof, as in you couldn’t drop it into a lake and have everything be all right, seeing as there is obviously a big hole at the top of the pack where the drawstrings pull it closed. I couldn’t get it to close any tighter than the circumference of a small egg. I think that’s good enough for most, just don’t get caught in a downpour.

For something that is made to be slung quickly on one’s back, I managed to accidentally pull the knotted nylon ropes through the d-rings a couple of times. That could easily be remedied with another (or thicker) knot at the end of the ropes, but the default size of that double-knot can be pulled through without much strength.

Speaking of those straps, they’re definitely not as comfortable as most typical backpacks I’ve used. It is recommended that the content weight not exceed 4kg (about 9lbs). That doesn’t seem like a lot of weight for such a heavy-duty pack. While the diamond-braided ropes can withstand 700lbs, I think the weight limit recommendation is there for comfort’s sake. It takes some fine-tuning to get the dual straps to rest on your shoulder with equal distribution.

You probably won’t want to overstuff this bag.

Funny thing about those ropes, I remember reading on the original Kickstarter page for this product that they could be removed from the bag and unraveled like paracord in an emergency situation, because of their high tensile strength. I suppose this is true, provided you were later able to feed a new cord back into the bag! That’s just a fun extra feature worth noting.

Here is the expanded bottom compartment inside the main chamber.

If you wanted to use the SERK as your daily commuter bag, as I did, once you get a laptop and a few other items in there, you might not have room for too much more before going beyond that weight limit and causing some discomfort on your shoulders. It definitely can be used as a work bag, the design even encourages it with pockets for a laptop, notebook and tablet, and padding on the bottom of the bag itself. I’d just caution against too much weight so that the straps don’t dig in to your shoulders.

Best for light loads, I would say. And tough, to boot.

What I like

  • Isolated compartment keeps dirty, wet items separated
  • Much more durable than typical nylon gym bags
  • Can be used as a commuter bag as well

What needs to be improved

  • Rope knots can come loose
  • Bag material can be a bit stiff
  • Side pockets are quite narrow, hard to fit hands inside

Final thoughts

The SERK backpack stacks up to be a great replacement for that nylon gym bag, and could be an excellent day bag for hitting the beach or park. But you might find it a little lacking for the serious work commuter.

Price: $40.95 in gray or $44.95 in black
Where to buy: The SERK drawstring bag can be purchased directly from Rever Brand’s website.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Rever Brand.

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SERK Duo-entry Drawstring Backpack review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 18, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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Tom Bihn Shadow Guide Backpack and Accessories review

REVIEW – A few years ago Tom Bihn introduced us to the Guide’s Pack, which was heavy on heritage-inspired looks and loaded with features for the outdoor wanderer. This week we’re looking at the Shadow Guide, which you can think of as it’s city-dwelling cousin. It’s just as rugged and functional, but a bit more streamlined for adventures that don’t involve mountains and hiking trails. To the review!

What is it?

It’s a 31-liter klettersack-style backpack.

Hardware specs

  • 21.7″ high by 12.6″ wide by 9.4″ deep
  • 31 liter capacity
  • 525 denier 2×2 ballistic nylon exterior
  • 210 denier 2×2 ballistic nylon exterior
  • 1050 denier HT ballistic nylon base
  • YKK Zippers
  • Duraflex, Nexus and Woojin hardware
  • 2 lb, 10 oz total weight

What’s in the box?

In addition to the bag, the package includes a removable sternum strap, a removable waist strap, and an 8″ key leash. You also get a set of zipper pulls, cinch straps, and a drawstring in bright red that you can use to swap out the black versions that ship with the pack.

Design and features

Streamlined simplicity is the name of the game with the Shadow Guide. While it shares the form factor with its off-road cousin, this profile is sleek and focused. And very, very black. Check out the views:

What’s with the red, you ask? The Shadow Guide ships with all-black straps and elements, but also includes a set of bright red straps and zipper/drawstring pulls are included if you want a pop of color. It’s easy to change them out. I actually prefer the red accents, because they break things up a bit. Here’s a shot of the extra straps, after I swapped out for the red ones:

While the Guide’s Pack includes a whole bunch of external attachment points and lash tabs for add-ons, the Shadow Guide ditches all of that. There’s a single loop at the base of the bag to attach a blinky light, and that’s it.

The Shadow Guide is a klettersack-style design. It’s a top-loader with a drawstring closure, covered with a lid that keeps the elements out of your bag. There’s also a second grab handle under that lid, so you can hang the bag if the lid is open. Very, very clever.

The lid snaps into place with two cinch straps and clip buckles. These straps are also adjustable so that you can tighten things up based on how much you are carrying:

The lid itself opens to a big pocket that measures roughly 9″ by 9″ by 3″, with the zippered opening facing towards you (or down if you’re not fully packed out). This configuration, coupled with a zipper hood, prevents rain from getting into your stuff.

On the underside of the lid are two smaller mesh pockets that each measure roughly 6″ by 4″ each for collecting your smaller things like pens, keys, pocket knives, and the like.

The main compartment is a vast cavern of open space that measures 12.6″ wide by 21.7″ tall by 9.4″ deep. There are no compartments or pockets in there. It’s wide open for maximum packing versatility.

Simple, right? Not exactly. Tom Bihn designs are all about systems for customization and flexibility. Let’s take a deeper look at how it carries, and how you customize the bag to meet your needs.

The Carry System

Tom Bihn has mastered the art of comfortable, adaptable carrying systems. The Shadow Guide incorporates elements of outdoor technical packs (like it’s country cousin) to make this happen.

We start with the back panel, which is composed of two elements. A mesh upper back panel promotes breathability, while a ballistic nylon lumbar pad provides comfort where the base hits your back. This pad also extends to the bottom of the bag to protect your gear from dropsies.

Behind that padded back panel is an internal frame made from a single piece of high-density plastic with a single (removable) aluminum stay that can be adjusted to match the curve of your back. This frame has 6 “fins” that insert into the slots seen in the picture below, allowing the frame to flex as you twist and move. You can also remove the frame entirely if that works for you.

The shoulder straps themselves are curved and padded with adjustments for just about any body type.

The hardware is chunky and built to last. Here’s a close up of the sternum strap hardware, as well as the hydration loop that comes in the package. These can both be removed completely if you don’t need them.

You’ll find a 1″ waist stabilizer strap included in the package, which is probably all you’ll need for regular daily carry. If you are hiking or traveling with heavy loads, you can also upgrade to the Shadow Guide Padded Hip Belt. Comparison pictures below:

The Shadow Guide has a pair of loops cleverly tucked in behind the shoulder strap attachment points at the base of the bag that will accommodate either belt with rugged clips.

This all adds up to a ridiculously comfortable carry system no matter how you choose to use it. And despite all of that technical functionality, it adds minimal bulk and weight to the bag. It’s got serious chops as a hiking bag, but you won’t look like a misplaced Sherpa that got lost at the office when you head into work.

The Accessory System

One of the strengths of Tom Bihn’s design philosophy is customization. While the bag is built to last forever, Tom recognizes that your carry needs will probably change on a regular basis. The Shadow Guide is made to adapt to these changing needs.

If you carry a laptop, Tom Bihn makes a sleeve called the Cache that can connect to attachment points in the main compartment of the bag. The Cache comes in sizes to accommodate just about every laptop and tablet out there, and the Shadow Guide handles them all. If you upgrade your laptop or carry different laptops at different times, you can swap them right into your bag. You can also swap that Cache out to other Tom Bihn bags. It’s all about flexibility.

The other killer feature found in all Tom Bihn bags are the “O” rings, which allow you to attach all sorts of straps and accessory pouches. You’ll find 5 on this bag: 2 in the main lid pocket, one in the smaller lid pockets, and two on the back of the main compartment of the bag. Tom Bihn includes one of their key straps with the bag, which allows me to hang my keys in multiple places:

Tom Bihn makes dozens of varieties of accessory pouches for just about every need which clip to the “O” rings. I’ve got a collection of these I’ve gathered over the years to sort out all my small stuff, so I can customize my pockets to whatever I am managing that day.

Tom Bihn also makes bigger accessory pouches for larger items or toiletries. I have two of these that I hang from the “O” rings in the main compartment. They sit high in the compartment so that I can flip them out as needed, with no fishing in the bottomless cavern!

See that grey/black pouch in the clip? That’s one of the new 3D Organizer Cubes. It’s 7″ by 4″ by 1-1/2″, and includes “O” rings on each side so that you can attach it to one of those key straps. It’s the perfect size for my MacBook power brick, cable, Magic Mouse and USB-C Adaptor.

It’s also got it’s own hanging hook if you want to use it as a toiletry organizer or Dopp kit.

This extensibility makes the Shadow Guide a true multitasker. I keep my laptop gear, iPhone accessories, work accessories, and personal stuff in separate accessory pouches. I can pop out the pouches I don’t need in moments and I am ready to go. If I switch between bags (I have a Tom Bihn briefcase as well), I can quickly transfer my gear without worrying that I forgot something. The options and combinations are endless.

Performance

The Tom Bihn Shadow Guide will never be mistaken for a slick, lean business pack. It’s a big bag, made for carrying your life on your back. But I love the streamlined simplicity, and I think it works just fine for the business commute. It excels as a multitasking commuter that can switch gears for travel, as a weekend companion, or for outdoor adventures.

Here’s my typical daily carry. I’ve got the MacBook Pro in it’s own sleeve, my iPad, my coffee making kit, and a whole boatload of office and gadget accessories:

I drop this in the bag, and it’s not even half full! I could fit my gym gear, a packed lunch, and a sweatshirt in there and still have room for more:

On a normal workday, I’ll ditch the sternum straps and waist strap. I’m 5’10” and 195 pounds for reference.

I haven’t done any hiking with the Shadow Guide yet, but I plan to. Here are some shots with the padded hip belt and sternum strap in place:

For all the goodness in the Shadow Guide, it’s important to note that the simplicity and add-on customization isn’t for everyone. If you like your bags to come pre-packaged with laptop compartments and all kinds of organization built in, this won’t be your thing. It also doesn’t have any external attachment points for hydration bottles and additional gear, but that’s what you’d get the Guide’s Pack for.

There is one other design element we should talk about, and that’s the zipper configuration on the lid. That big space is marvelous, and the “O” rings are great for adding pouches… but the zip does point towards the ground unless you are fully packed out. This means that little items run the risk of falling out if you’re not careful. If you’re not using accessory pouches, you’ll want to plan accordingly.

What I like

  • Perfect size for travel or hiking
  • Also perfect for carrying a days worth of work gear & gym clothes
  • Simple, easy configuration
  • Carry system is extremely comfortable and adaptable
  • Built to Tom Bihn’s quality standards; the build, materials, and construction are among the best in the business
  • Amazingly light at under 3 pounds

What needs to be improved

  • Little built in organization — may not appeal to those who don’t like purchasing extra accessories
  • The zip for the main pocket on the top lid points towards the ground — be careful with your packing and unpacking!

Final thoughts

You may notice that I didn’t dive into materials and construction on this review, and there’s a reason for that. It’s a Tom Bihn bag, and that means you’re getting the best in the business. Materials, construction, and assembly are flawless. It’s a bag you’ll buy for life; I have several Tom Bihn bags that are more than 10 years old, and still look (and function) like I bought them yesterday. You can see more about the construction details on their web site.

And that leads to my conclusion on this bag. If you’re looking for one bag that could do it all, the Shadow Guide may be the answer you are looking for. It’s got buttoned-down good looks, ample size without being ridiculous, and customization options to take you wherever you need to go. It will adapt to your needs as they change with simple precision. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Note that this is a limited edition bag, and is currently showing as unavailable on Tom Bihn’s web site. Hopefully, they’ll make another run of them. We’ll see!

Price: $220.00
Where to buy: Go to the Shadow Guide product page on the Tom Bihn web site.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Tom Bihn

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Tom Bihn Shadow Guide Backpack and Accessories review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 27, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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