Jess emailed us this review of her Synapse 19:

Dear Customer Service rep at Tom Bihn,

I hope this note finds you well! I just received my first Tom Bihn backpack, the Synapse 19 in black and wasabi, and I am writing to thank you and all of your fellow employees for working for and supporting a company that really knows how to design a bag. I am 28, a woman graduate student at Yale University studying Biochemistry of biofuels. I wear makeup to a polished finish on my face with a labret stud to match, I also care about having the right color-coordinating clothes and cute shoes, but on my left hand I don a calculator watch. Maybe those aren’t the perfect examples, but I appreciate when style and maturity meets efficiency and comfort. Also, you can guess I don’t wear a purse or have a shoulder bag. My daily commute consists of driving, taking the train, followed by city biking and sometimes a shuttle. It is a commute that needs a bag to suit it.

The Synapse 19 is the most ergonomically, well though out designed backpack I have ever seen and worn. I adore the flexibility of all of the well positioned loops that are found in every pocket fast organization, less digging, and I can’t wait to get mini carabineers to hook up coiled power cords or to hang my rock climbing shoes on the outside. The way that the laptop sleeve slides out on its tracks while staying attached is genius. I did not realize it can be used as its own anchor when placed underneath the laptop, letting the empty bag hang conveniently down the side of my lap or small table. The pocket designs are genius as well, the little shallow pouch on the front is perfect for my small wallet and train pass, and the soft-lined pocket in one of the side pouches takes care of my glasses. I love the flexibility of removing and storing extra straps easily for low-key commutes, although they come in super useful when sprinting to catch a train.

All in all, I love my backpack and wanted to thank you.

-- Jess, 28, a scientist who commutes to her lab at Yale by car, train and bike.