Synapse 19

for the pocket obsessed - look no further.

one can never have too many pockets. however, this bag may have too many pockets. i say that because i ran out of things to pack. i didn't have to bring an extra bag with me because everything fit - with room to spare. also, the bright pink lining ensures i can SEE EVERYTHING! my whole life i've been waiting for this bag, and my only regret is waiting so long to get my little hands on one. and by little, i mean in stature. i am 5'1 120lbs and it's ME SIZED. you're probably reading this thinking 'this person has clearly lost it', but you too can be in love with a backpack - just find the right bihn for you.

My everyday

I can’t say enough about this bag as it’s now my go to everyday bag. It’s that sweet spot that’s not too big and not too small. The straps are adequate enough for comfort for this size bag. The only thing I’d imagine people might say is a con is no frame sheet, but that’s one of the selling points of the bag is to make it light. Plus you can add something for a pseudo framsheet if you want. The organization is spot on! I like that the water bottle pocket is in the middle for weight distribution and the side pockets are within reach when you swing your bag over one shoulder. The bottom outside pocket holds a lot more than it appears. Since the bag lacks shape, I like that if you pack light then it looks slim and vice versa if you need to pack it out it can accommodate. I’ve been rotating bags a lot for my daily carry but I feel like this one just may consistently be the one I’d use.

Really the gold standard

I had a cafe bag way back in Santa Cruz in the early 90s, but this is my first backpack. The quality and thoughtfulness of design are exceptional. I managed to fit enough stuff to fill my old 26 liter North Face in this 19, and was still able to access all of it easily and still feel relatively streamlined. I do wish it had some more attachment points on the shoulder straps, so I could hook my phone or id holder there, and on the upper exterior of the pack to hang a hat or jacket up high, but those are minor improvements.