True versatility: use as an organizer pouch, cross-body bag, or waist pack.
The Side Effect is a bag that has evolved directly from user feedback (mostly from folks on our Forums). The original Side Effect was a small waist pack: you guys were cutting off the waist straps, attaching Key Straps, and envisioning new ways to use the bag which we hadn't. Other mods — more O-rings, different label placement, a removable waist belt — were not DIY-able for you all. We decided it was time to catch up, and then some.
Think of the Side Effect as a deluxe, tricked out, fully organizable 3D Organizer Cube. The main compartment zips with two sliders; inside the main compartment are four O-rings — two set dead center and two set in lower inside the bag in the side panels. There's also two open-top organizer pockets sized for your phone, a small notebook, or a wallet. The open space in the main compartment can fit larger items: 8-oz water bottle, sunglasses, snacks, souvenirs.
On the outside of the bag is a zippered pocket sized specifically for a passport (or multiple passports — in case you're carrying your kid's passport or you are Jason Bourne). That pocket spans the full width of the Side Effect; there's one O-ring inside it and clipped to that O-ring is an included 8" Key Strap in Black. The other side is clean: a solid panel of fabric. You choose which side of the Side Effect is the "front" and which side is the "back" by how you wear it.
Four ways to carry the Side Effect:
Included 5/8" Shoulder Strap
On either side of the Side Effect are O-rings to which you can attach the included 5/8" Shoulder Strap — nylon webbing, adjustable, with plastic snaphooks (no pad). Wear it over your shoulder or cross body, or use the 5/8" Shoulder Strap to hang the Side Effect on a coat hook or doorknob.
Optional Waist Strap
Also on the sides of the bag: unobtrusive webbing loops to which you can attach the optional 1" Waist Strap with our now-ubiquitous Gatekeepers. Attach the optional Waist Strap, buckle the bag around your waist or hips, and you've got a sweet waist pack — great for cycling, hiking, or any situation where you need your hands completely free.
Optional Handle Loop
Clip the Handle Loop to one of the O-rings on either side of the Side Effect and carry the whole affair in hand. Laden with heavy objects and swung correctly, the Side Effect becomes a weapon, but we would never suggest this use.
Key Strap
Clip one side of any variety of Key Strap to the Side Effect and then clip the other side of the Key Strap to an O-ring inside one of our larger bags. That way, the Side Effect stays tethered to your bag: convenient and secure. (Hint: the Side Effect fits in most of our bags, but we think it works especially well in the bottom pocket of the Synapse 25, side pocket of the Smart Alec, main compartments of the Small and Medium Cafe Bags, and clipped to the hidden O-rings in the Swift.)
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Rated 5 out of 5
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Perfect size to hold my everyday items. Works great as a sling and a normal side bag. Fits more than you'd think!
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Rated 5 out of 5
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I've been trying this out as a "small backpack" while jogging, and need some kind of cross-strap. I happened to have one that's not great, but definitely shows the promise of having one. I think I'll try one from REI first.
Big enough for phone, wallet, keys, bandanas and MOAR!
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Rated 5 out of 5
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I bought the Large Cafe Bag to replace a (not TB) backpack and got the Side Effect to hold all the loose stuff I had rolling around in there. It fits way more stuff than I thought it would and it fits well into the LCB. I like the idea that I can also use the shoulder strap if I want to use it as a small bag.
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Rated 5 out of 5
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This bag is excellent for a man who doesn't want to load pants pockets full of items. I put an iPhone 13 Pro Max in the small zipped pocket, have my keys clipped to a 16" Iberian red key strap (this allow me to unlock doors with the bag still slung), and have my two Nik's Minimalist Wallets one each in the two inside pockets. The wallets are Island and Coyote with matching color 16" key straps. The key strap colors let me quickly see what I want from in the bag. In the bottom of the large pocket is a Ghost Whale Super Mini to hold lip balm, bandages, etc. To spiff up the bag exterior I added Iberian red zipper pull cords.
The only issue I have is the shoulder strap cuts into my shoulder muscle after wearing it for over an hour so i'm replacing it with a wider strap.
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Rated 5 out of 5
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This bag is absolutely perfect! This was my first Tom Bihn purchase and I loved it so much that my friend bought one too. This bag holds a ton but doesn't take up much space. It goes with everything - it holds all my EDC items (stashed in the double organizer pouch - another fav!) and I interchange the crossbody strap and handle strap depending on if I want a purse or a sling. I also drop it in my Maker's Bag if I am on thr go.
I have used it as a waist pack too but for that, it suits a smaller frame and the cross-body straps are much easier and quicker.
Between this and the Everyday Cubelet and I honestly stick with this one, It's roomier and I can see inside a bit better. If you are deciding if it is worth it - trust me, it is.
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Rated 5 out of 5
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