small brain bag

[mrae]

Just wondering if there's a date when this might be ready?

[Darcy]

While Tom finishes the design of the new smaller carry-on bag, he's also working on the design of the smaller backpack. It's not turning out to be exactly like the Brain Bag, and it's very cool: one compartment, smaller than the Brain Bag, and great pockets. It looks more like a traditional backpack than the Smart Alec, but it's still very different. The next step is for Tom and our Seattle factory to make a prototype so we can test the bag and see how it works in the real world: take it on a few day hikes, Seattle bus rides and rain showers, etc.

I'd say it should be shipping before mid-December.

[wildgeese]

When can we see a picture? I like the Smart Alec, but think it's too big.

[Darcy]

When can we see a picture? I like the Smart Alec, but think it's too big.

As soon as there is a prototype...:)

[winter]

Hi -- Would the new backpack be able to accommodate a MacBook Pro 15?

Thanks

[Darcy]

Hi -- Would the new backpack be able to accommodate a MacBook Pro 15?

Thanks

Maybe...it definitely won't fit 17" laptops, but it might fit the MacBook Pro 15". We'll have to see how the design and shape of the bag turns out.

[Patrick]

Is it going to accommodate brain cells?

[mrae]

Any chance it will have a pocket for water bottles? That's the main lack for me on all the packs except the brainbag- which is too large for regular use given my 5 ft frame.

[Darcy]

Any chance it will have a pocket for water bottles? That's the main lack for me on all the packs except the brainbag- which is too large for regular use given my 5 ft frame.

I'm not sure if the new small backpack will have a water bottle pocket, but I am pretty sure that the new version of the Smart Alec will.

Patrick -- Don't know quite yet: sorry!

[moriond]

... the brainbag- which is too large for regular use given my 5 ft frame.

This was always the reason I never got a Brain Bag, although it was the first Bihn bag that I heard extensively discussed and I've often been tempted. This also seemed to be a favorite option for guys who carried around two laptops back when laptops were a lot heavier. I know there are other forum users about my size (5' 4" height) who use the Brain Bag, but I've never heard this aspect extensively discussed as it was, say, in the original design specs planning thread for the Aeronaut. (Maybe Just would like to weigh in with some comments about her Brain Bag?)

While Tom finishes the design of the new smaller carry-on bag, he's also working on the design of the smaller backpack. It's not turning out to be exactly like the Brain Bag, and it's very cool: one compartment, smaller than the Brain Bag, and great pockets. It looks more like a traditional backpack than the Smart Alec, but it's still very different. The next step is for Tom and our Seattle factory to make a prototype so we can test the bag and see how it works in the real world: take it on a few day hikes, Seattle bus rides and rain showers, etc.

I'd say it should be shipping before mid-December.

This design based on a smaller Brain Bag with great pockets sounds exciting, more so than a smaller Smart Alec. I've been following various threads discussing smaller backpack options, including the Need some good daypack selection advice thread, which carried this quote about the Ado/Ruck's Sack design that was finally offered as Ruck's Sack:

I'd love to see something bigger than a Ruck and smaller than the Smart Alec. I own the Smart Alec, and it's great for traveling, but I'd like something smaller as an everyday bag.

I'm less concerned about total size compared to the Smart Alec, which I also have, than something that can have the Brain Bag design, but which will work on smaller frames. Tom has done a great job with recent bag designs that scale well for different frames, or in taking into consideration inputs and producing a smaller version, as in the case of the Breve edition of the Aeronaut.

Darcy, do you know whether the new bag will accommodate laptops (size range?) and maybe some version of the Freudian Slip? This could be a smaller version, as discussed in the thread about the horizontal Freudian slip and the possibility of producing versions of this organizer for other (smaller) bags.

[backpack]

Any chance it will have a pocket for water bottles? That's the main lack for me on all the packs except the brainbag- which is too large for regular use given my 5 ft frame.

I have a cotton water bottle holder with some insulating material, it has a strap and a clip on the side. I clip it to any of my bags, Brain Bag, Cafe Bag and Lux.
It is quite large and accomodate a one litter bottle or smaller.

If you don't need the isolating material and can use a smaller bottle I think the brand new Clear Botton Yarn Stuff Sack could fit the bill.

[moriond]

If you don't need the isolating material and can use a smaller bottle I think the brand new Clear Botton Yarn Stuff Sack could fit the bill.

This actually doesn't work badly for the recent versions of LUX, which I think mrae has. You can easily fit in a couple of 500 ml, or even the 1 liter size bottles in this sack, I think, and pull the drawstring. The stuff sack attaches to a D-ring on the side of the LUX. (I got the LUX when it first came out, so I don't have D-rings at the side of my bag, but I think recent bags have rings at the low points on each side of the bag. I'm also guessing that the stuff sack height is the same as the prototype models for the Swift -- about 8".)

[Darcy]

If you don't need the isolating material and can use a smaller bottle I think the brand new Clear Botton Yarn Stuff Sack could fit the bill.

That's a great idea!

[Just]

I know there are other forum users about my size (5' 4" height) who use the Brain Bag, but I've never heard this aspect extensively discussed as it was, say, in the original design specs planning thread for the Aeronaut. (Maybe Just would like to weigh in with some comments about her Brain Bag?)

Hihi moriond,

5'4" here, and reporting re: Brain Bag. It's awesome great, for hauling. What I am using it most often for these days is hauling water... take the 24-pack of Aquafina 16.9oz bottles, slash and slice to get the bottles out, load up Brain Bag with bottles, toss packaging, and haul! (Bottled water was never my thing, but the mother is fanatical about water.) But for anything else, just a bit silly huge. School - would almost never need to haul that much around (or if I thought I needed to, I just would find a way around it), and it's awkward to put it on my lap while on the bus, because it's taller than my torso - hits at right about my neck. V. v. uncomfortable. This also goes for the Smart Alec. Lay flat? Still too tall for that. The compression straps help with the excess thickness, but can't do anything about the excess height or width.

[mrae]

Actually the Imago works ok with a water bottle. I stick one in on top of everything and can easily pull it out to drink from it.
But- I really want a Tom Bihn backpack that works for me- which means several pockets, a water bottle holder etc. The brain bag is my perfect backpack except for size. I use it when I go to the coast for a weekend and it holds everything I need.

Maybe I'm just being unreasonable- wanting the one backpack that Tom Bihn doesn't make.
The new Smart Alec might work though it seems to lack enough pockets. I'll look for a link on that to see the description.