A Side Effect in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) Ballistic with Zest (orange with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) 525 Ballistic with Acai (dark purple with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) 525 Ballistic with Island (blue with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) Ballistic with Tidal (pale blue with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) Ballistic with Solaris (yellow with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) 525 Ballistic with Sangria (red with light red grid) 210 Cerylon interior. A Side Effect in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) 630 Ballistic with Persimmon (dark orange with orange grid) 210 Cerylon interior. A Side Effect in Nebulous Grey (medium grey) 525 Ballistic. A Side Effect in Wilderness (forest green) 525 Ballistic with Tahoma (white with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Wilderness (forest green) 525 Ballistic with Island (blue with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Wilderness (forest green) 525 Ballistic with Moab (oxblood red with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Wilderness (dark blue) Ballistic with Wisteria (pale purple with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Wilderness (forest green) 525 Ballistic with Taiga (olive with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Wilderness (forest green) Ballistic. A Side Effect in Deep Blue (dark blue) Ballistic with Wisteria (pale purple with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Deep Blue (dark blue) 525 Ballistic with Moss (green with light green grid) 210 Cerylon interior. A Side Effect in Deep Blue (dark blue) Ballistic with Solaris (yellow with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Deep Blue (dark blue) 525 Ballistic with Seafoam (pale green with white grid) 210 Cerylon interior. A Side Effect in Deep Blue (dark blue) Ballistic with Zest (orange with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Deep Blue (dark blue) Ballistic with Tidal (light blue with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Deep Blue (dark blue) 525 Ballistic with MountainGrey (grey with light grey grid) 210 Cerylon interior. A Side Effect in Deep Blue (dark blue) Ballistic. A Side Effect in Black Ballistic with Kiwi (bright green with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Black Ballistic with Sakura (pale pink with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Black Ballistic with Cerise (bright pink with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Black Ballistic with Acai (purple with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Black 525 Ballistic with Zest (orange with white grid) 210 Cerylon interior. A Side Effect in Black Ballistic with Persimmon (dark orange with orange grid) 210 Cerylon interior. A Side Effect in Black Ballistic with Mountain Grey (grey with light grey grid) 210 Cerylon interior. A Side Effect in Black 525 Ballistic with Taiga (olive green with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Black 525 Ballistic with Island (blue with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Black 525 Ballistic with Northwest Sky (light grey with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Black 525 Ballistic with Moab (oxblood red with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Black Ballistic with Wisteria (light purple with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Black Ballistic. A Side Effect in Aubergine (dark purple) Ballistic with Tidal (light blue with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Aubergine (dark purple) Ballistic with Wisteria (pale purple with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Aubergine (dark purple) Ballistic with Island (blue with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Aubergine (dark purple) Ballistic with Mountain Grey (grey with light grey grid) 210 Cerylon interior. A Side Effect in Aubergine (dark purple) Ballistic with Kiwi (green with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Aubergine (dark purple) Ballistic. A Side Effect in Mars Red 630 Ballistic with Zest (orange with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Burnt Orange 630 Ballistic with Dusk (blue-grey with light blue-grey grid) 210 Cerylon interior. A Side Effect in Burnt Orange Ballistic. A Side Effect in Ursa (grey-brown) Ballistic with Wisteria (pale purple with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Ursa (grey-brown) Ballistic with Moss (green with light green grid) 210 Cerylon interior. A Side Effect in Ursa (grey-brown) 525 Ballistic with Dawn (blue-grey) 210 Ballistic interior. A Side Effect in Ursa (brown-grey) 525 Ballistic. A Side Effect in Cloud (light grey) 525 Ballistic with Tahoma (white with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Cloud (light grey) 525 Ballistic. A Side Effect in Mars Red 630 Ballistic with Zest (orange with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Mars Red Ballistic. A Side Effect in Saguaro 630 Ballistic with Persimmon (dark orange with orange grid) 210 Cerylon interior. A Side Effect in Saguaro 630 Ballistic with Zest (orange with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Saguaro 630 Ballistic. A Side Effect in Raspberry (pale red) Ballistic with Moss (green with light green grid) 210 Cerylon interior. A Side Effect in Raspberry (pale red) Ballistic with Acai (dark purple with white grid) 200 Halcyon interior. A Side Effect in Raspberry (pale red) Ballistic The Side Effect in Black 420 Spectron The Side Effect in Black 420 Spectron with Tahoma 200 Halcyon
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Side Effect

5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
5.0 Stars (378 Reviews)

$68.00

Color: Black Ballistic/Northwest Sky 200 Halcyon

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In Production Options

3D Organizational Pouch, Shoulder Bag, or Waist Pack: You Decide.

1.7 liters / 105 cu. in.

Looking for the Side Kick or Side Hustle?
Add a key strap?
$7.50 - 8”, Snaphook-Snaphook / Black Webbing
visible variant TB0513-CT^^An 8-inch Coyote (tan) Key Strap with a snaphook at either end.

Side Effect

A Side Effect with the included 5/8 Shoulder Strap attached. The interior of the Side Effect's pockets. The interior of the Side Effect on the pocketless side.
Person wearing a Side Effect as a crossbody bag. Person taking a phone from the front pocket of the Side Effect. Person opening the main pocket of their Side Effect while wearing it as a hip bag Person wearing the Side Effect as a hip bag A possible loadout for the Side Effect. A 3x5 notecard in the front pocket of a Side Effect. A person running wearing the the Side Effect as a hip pack using the optional Gate Keeper Waist Strap.
Thumbnail for a video explaining the features of the Side Effect.

TLDR

A small, yet versatile everyday crossbody shoulder bag that can also be used as a sling bag, waist pack, or organizer pouch.

  • Main compartment with 2 open-top organizer pockets and 4 O-rings
  • Zippered pocket on the exterior with an O-ring and a clipped 8" Key Strap
  • Wear it as a crossbody bag with our 5/8" Shoulder Strap (included) or as a sling bag / waistpack with a 1" Waist Strap (optional)

Want a bigger version of the Side Effect? Check out the Side Kick. Want an even bigger version? Check out the Side Hustle.

Full Description

Main Compartment

The main compartment opens with two zipper sliders, making it convenient for left or right-handed folks. It also allows you to choose where the sliders end up when the bag is closed. This compartment can fit essential items like your phone, sunglasses, wallet, snacks, or sunblock.

On one interior side of the main compartment are two open-top organizer pockets. These are designed to organize your smaller items, like earbuds, chapsticks, or chargers.

Inside the main compartment are four O-rings. Two are set in the middle towards the top of the bag and the other two are midway inside the bag along the side panels. You can use these O-rings to attach any of our Ghost Whale Organizer Pouches or Mystery Organizer Pouches.

Zippered Exterior Pocket

On the outside of the bag is a straight zippered pocket that is sized specifically for a passport. This pocket spans the full width of the Side Effect. There is also one O-ring with an included 8" Key Strap attached. You can choose to wear this as the front side of the bag or backside, depending on your preference. 

Ways to Carry the Side Effect

Shoulder/Crossbody Bag

On either side of the Side Effect are o-rings to which you can attach the adjustable 5/8" Shoulder Strap (included), made from nylon webbing and with the same plastic clips as our Key Straps.  

Waist Pack or Sling Bag

Also on the sides of the bag are unobtrusive webbing loops to which you can attach an optional 1" Gatekeeper Waist Strap, using our ubiquitous Gatekeeper clips. Wear the Side Effect around your waist or hips, and you've got a sweet waist pack. Wear it crossbody with the bag on your back, and you've got a mini sling bag. Either way, it's great for cycling, hiking, or any situation where you need your hands completely free. 

Wrist Bag

Clip the Handle Loop to one of the O-rings on either side of the Side Effect and carry the whole affair in hand.

Organizer Pouch

Clip one side of any of our Key Strap variants to the Side Effect and then clip the other side to an O-ring inside one of our larger bags. That way, the Side Effect stays tethered to your bag.

What's Included

5/8" Shoulder Strap

A simple and light-duty shoulder strap made of 5/8" nylon webbing. It is adjustable and has plastic snaphooks at each end. It does not have extra padding.

8" Snaphook/Snaphook Key Strap

As with most of our bags, we've included a key strap. 8" long from tip-to-tip, a snaphook on either end. Good for attaching your keys to.

A Set of Black Zipper Pulls

A set of pulls to extend or replace your metal pulls.

What's Optional

Gatekeeper Hip Belt

Attach this to the unobtrusive webbing loops on the sides of the Side Effect if you want to wear this as a waist pack.

The main compartment opens with two zipper sliders, making it convenient for left or right-handed folks. It also allows you to choose where the sliders end up when the bag is closed. This compartment can fit essential items like your phone, sunglasses, wallet, snacks, or sunblock.

On one interior side of the main compartment are two open-top organizer pockets. These are designed to organize your smaller items, like earbuds, chapsticks, or chargers.

Inside the main compartment are four O-rings. Two are set in the middle towards the top of the bag and the other two are midway inside the bag along the side panels. You can use these O-rings to attach any of our Ghost Whale Organizer Pouches or Mystery Organizer Pouches.

On the outside of the bag is a straight zippered pocket that is sized specifically for a passport. This pocket spans the full width of the Side Effect. There is also one O-ring with an included 8" Key Strap attached. You can choose to wear this as the front side of the bag or backside, depending on your preference. 

Shoulder/Crossbody Bag

On either side of the Side Effect are o-rings to which you can attach the adjustable 5/8" Shoulder Strap (included), made from nylon webbing and with the same plastic clips as our Key Straps.  

Waist Pack or Sling Bag

Also on the sides of the bag are unobtrusive webbing loops to which you can attach an optional 1" Gatekeeper Waist Strap, using our ubiquitous Gatekeeper clips. Wear the Side Effect around your waist or hips, and you've got a sweet waist pack. Wear it crossbody with the bag on your back, and you've got a mini sling bag. Either way, it's great for cycling, hiking, or any situation where you need your hands completely free. 

Wrist Bag

Clip the Handle Loop to one of the O-rings on either side of the Side Effect and carry the whole affair in hand.

Organizer Pouch

Clip one side of any of our Key Strap variants to the Side Effect and then clip the other side to an O-ring inside one of our larger bags. That way, the Side Effect stays tethered to your bag.

5/8" Shoulder Strap

A simple and light-duty shoulder strap made of 5/8" nylon webbing. It is adjustable and has plastic snaphooks at each end. It does not have extra padding.

8" Snaphook/Snaphook Key Strap

As with most of our bags, we've included a key strap. 8" long from tip-to-tip, a snaphook on either end. Good for attaching your keys to.

A Set of Black Zipper Pulls

A set of pulls to extend or replace your metal pulls.

Gatekeeper Hip Belt

Attach this to the unobtrusive webbing loops on the sides of the Side Effect if you want to wear this as a waist pack.

Materials

Exterior Fabric

bluesign® certified 630 denier High-Tenacity 2x2 Ballistic nylon

Interior Fabrics

bluesign® and OEKO-TEX® certified 200 denier Halcyon/nylon ripstop 
— or —
bluesign® certified 210 denier Cerylon 6,6 Ripstop nylon

Zippers

#8 YKK coil zippers

Specs

Dimensions

9.0" (w) x 5.5" (h) x 3.1" (d) / 230 (w) x 140 (h) x 80 (d) mm

Weight

420 Spectron: 5.3 oz / 150 grams
Ballistic: 6.9 oz / 195 grams

Volume

1.7 liters / 105 cu. in. (ASTM Standard Measure)

Total

5 (4 in the main compartment; 1 in the front zippered pocket)

5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
Based on 378 reviews
99%would recommend this product
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378 reviews
  • Mark W.
    Verified Buyer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts High Quality Craftsmanship, Good Storage Size, Durable
    16 hours ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts High Quality Craftsmanship, Good Storage Size, Durable
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Perfect pouch for Pleasant Pursuits

    I have a couple of these that I throw in my brain bag for weekend travel. They are great for travel/portable games, cards, die. Or extra walking around items like handy wipes, first aid, et al.

    Was this helpful?
  • JP
    Verified Buyer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Versatile, Comfortable, Thoughtful Design, High Quality Craftsmanship, Compact
    2 days ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Versatile, Comfortable, Thoughtful Design, High Quality Craftsmanship, Compact
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    S

    The Tom Bihn Side Effect checks many of the same boxes as its bigger siblings, the Side Kick and Side Hustle, if you’re looking for utility, comfort, and subdued style, especially in the beautiful new Spectron fabric.

    I guess it can be seen as the Bobby or Cindy of the Side line-up. Here’s the story… of a…

    Professionals, Travelers, Students, and Everyday people on-the-go, will find the Side Effect to be more than just a pocket reliever with an understated and simple but stylish aesthetic. After all, It’s Tom Bihn, which stands for adaptability to and functionality in almost every situation as a rule.

    What’s great about the Side Effect?

    * 😃 The MAIN COMPARTMENT ZIPPER: I love how buttery smooth the number 8 YKK zipper is as it runs across the top of the main compartment with either a slight pull or an authoritative yank. It’s super satisfying. No kidding. The zipper!

    * 😃 DIMENSIONS AND PLIABILITY. In Spectron, particularly, the Side Effect seems to move out of the flippety floppety category, in which the Side Kick (and presumably Side Hustle) sit. It has to be the dimensions because this one does not feel floppy and, instead, crosses into the pliable category, which is a good thing.

    What might be off-putting for some?

    * 😐 THE FRONT ZIPPER: I’ve been waiting for it to break in. It’s not changing. This is just how it is. It’s just a rough and louder-than-necessary implementation. I’d love to see it swapped out for a standard coil zipper track, which would be much,…

    Was this helpful?
  • Alejandro F.
    Verified Buyer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts High Quality Craftsmanship
    3 days ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts High Quality Craftsmanship
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    side effect

    Love it

    Was this helpful?
  • Chad
    5 days ago
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    5 Stars

    Love, love, love this thing. Was recently injured and have to be on crutches. This item has been so useful for just carrying things around the house. Very comfortable and even looks good!

    Was this helpful?
  • Charlotte S.
    Verified Buyer
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, Compact, Good Storage Size
    5 days ago
    Bought For Myself
    Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, Compact, Good Storage Size
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Side effect bag

    Just right size for my needs lightweight and cleans easily

    Was this helpful?
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Lifetime guarantee image

Sewn in Seattle

Our bags are designed and sewn right here in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.

That allows us to be control freaks in the best way possible; we have direct control and oversight of the quality of our materials, our products, and the jobs and working environment that we help create. It also offers us a unique spontaneity: when we have an idea for a new product or accessory, we can design it, figure out how to build it, add it to our website and be ready to ship it out our front door all within just a few weeks. How cool is that?

Intrigued? You can find out more about the unusual way we do business on our Company Philosophy page.

THE BIHN Guarantee

Everything you buy from us here at TOM BIHN is satisfaction guaranteed. We’ve been in business since 1972 and we stand behind what we make.

If something goes wrong and it's our fault, we'll fix it for free. Repairs due to normal wear and tear or due to other things that are not our fault will be performed, when possible, at a reasonable charge right here in our Seattle factory where your bag was made. Defects in materials or workmanship are uncommon and almost always evident while the product is still new. Keep in mind that bags and packs are often subject to extreme wear in everyday use: do not expect them to last forever. Only true love lasts forever! You can expect a TOM BIHN product to give years and years of hard service.

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