The ultimate on-your-back student or business organizer, the Brain Bag is our Slant-6 of backpacks: it will surprise you with its utility, versatility, and longevity. Long after lesser bags have frayed their seams, blown their zippers, and popped their straps, the Brain Bag will continue to be your faithful companion. Though designed to accommodate the optional Horizontal Brain Cell or Vertical Brain Cell laptop case, it is for many users so much more than a way to carry a laptop on your back.

The Brain Bag consists of two main compartments plus four external pockets. The small top pocket on the front is perfect for a wallet and cell phone and has an inside snaphook for keys. The two vertical front pockets are large enough for water bottles or even a small thermos; inside both of these pockets are pen/pencil organizers. The left pocket has an outside flat mesh pocket for brochures, plane tickets, or even a small U-lock bike lock. Between the pockets are two lash straps for an umbrella or a raincoat, and above these straps is a heavy-duty snaphook so you can attach water bottle, coffee mug, or what-have-you.

Both main compartments can accept the Annex Clips that allow you to clip the Horizontal Brain Cell or Vertical Brain Cell laptop case securely inside the Brain Bag so you can carry your computer or your books against your back, as you like. You can actually carry two Horizontal Brain Cells or Vertical Brain Cells (or one of each), and therefore two laptops, in the Brain Bag. (If you want to carry two Brain Cells inside the Brain Bag, be sure to ask for an extra set of Annex Clips: the Brain Bag comes with one set, but you'll want two sets to carry two Brain Cells.) The Brain Bag will also accommodate the size 2XL and 2M Cache sleeves, which are designed to fit larger 17" PC laptops that won't fit in even our largest size Vertical Brain Cell.

When we got wind of the fact that many people were using the Brain Bag as an ad hoc camera pack, Tom started working with his brother Dan to design what is now the Camera I-O (Insert-Outsert), a padded case to protect your DSLR and lenses. With the Camera I-O inside either of the two main compartments of the Brain Bag, you can still carry a laptop inside a Brain Cell (Horizontal or Vertical) in the other compartment. How cool is that? The Camera I-O also works as a stand-alone, shoot-from-the-hip camera bag, but you're better off going here to read all about it. And yes, it can clip inside the Brain Bag with Annex Clips just like a Brain Cell.

Side compression straps compress the Brain Bag when it is not full and stabilize the load; you can also tuck a raincoat, hoodie, or yoga mat under these straps. The Brain Bag has a top handle made of 1/2" PORON® foam wrapped in 1000 denier Cordura® nylon fabric; the contoured shoulder straps are padded with 1/2" thick EVAZOTE® EV50 foam and are lined with ETC anti-friction knit for improved comfort; removable 3/4" sternum strap and 1-1/2" waist strap are there if you need them but are easy to remove if you don't. The back is made of Dri-Lex® Aero-Spacer® mesh and is padded with 3/8", high quality, closed-cell foam.

If the organizer pockets on the front of the Brain Bag just aren't sufficient, or if you need to carry papers, folders, etc. and keep them neat, consider adding the Freudian Slip. One side will protect those papers; the other provides extra organization for pens, business cards, and small electronics or laptop accessories.

The exterior of the Brain Bag is made of 1000 denier Cordura®; the lining is 500 denier Cordura®. Both fabrics are coated on the inside with urethane for water resistance and treated on the outside with a durable water-repellent finish, or DWR. Note that over time these surface treatments can wear, leaving your bag and its contents more exposed to rain and snow than you might like. Nikwax is designed to replenish the exterior water-repellent finish. It is also recommended as an extra precaution for your new Brain Bag if you intend to use it in extremely wet environments. Nikwax is environmentally friendly and is not tested on animals.

The Brain Bag is also available in a 1000 denier Cordura® Universal Camouflage version for military personnel or anyone else who wants or needs camouflage. This version of the Brain Bag is the same as the standard colors of Brain Bag except that the front mesh pocket is replaced with a solid fabric pocket; the back panel, shoulder straps, waist straps, and sternum straps are all still solid black.

Made in USA in the TOM BIHN Seattle factory

100% finished seams

38 reinforcing bar tacks

View customer photos on Flickr.

people who have the Brain Bag say:

A teacher reviews the Brain Bag
"Combined with the Brain Cell (I have a size 5), it gives the ultimate protection to my laptop. The construction of the bag is top-notch, from the stitching and fabric to the zippers and straps. I've read other Brain Bag users report that their bags still look virtually brand new after 4 or 5 years of hard use, and I have no doubt that is true. The bag is heavy duty in every way. As a teacher who has lots of papers and files to carry, my favorite accessory is the Freudian Slip." — posted by gmich

Camera I/O + Tripod Quiver + Brain Bag photos & review
"My work has very particular needs and quirks. I travel with bands selling merchandise and taking photos - meaning I'm gone for weeks at a time (often 2-3 or more). I live out of two bags: my Brain Bag and my Aeronaut. The Brain Bag is my "mobile office". The only time I'm not carrying it and working directly out of it, is when I'm asleep." — posted by leviathan

Brain Bag + Aeronaut = happiness
"After hearing Leo Laporte rave about his Tom Bihn bags, I rushed to the website and immediately bought a Brain Bag to hold my 17" MacBook Pro and all of the associated stuff that comes along with it. I got the recommended Brain Cell to provide added support for the laptop, and perhaps act as a carry case when I don't want the whole bag." — posted by merlyn

Brain Bag and Two Brain Cells!
"I can only say that I am overjoyed with my purchase. The Brain Bag is rugged as are the brain cells. I set about fitting both brain cells into the two major compartments. The size 1 fitted perfectly into the back compartment. I changed the clips to the lower level in the front compartment and placed the second Brain Cell into it. It fitted like a glove. Whilst my Macbook Air 11" is a little small, it fits really nicely into the brain cell. My Macbook Pro 17" fits perfectly into the size 1." — posted by paulhogden

Read more customer reviews posted in our forums.