What Goes Into A Tom Bihn Backpack?
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Carry the Side Effect as a shoulder, crossbody, waist, sling, or wrist bag using the included strap, optional Gatekeeper Waist Strap, or Handle Loop. You can also tether it inside a larger bag with a Key Strap to use it as an organizer pouch.
Carries your essentials: phone, wallet, keys, sunglasses, a small bottle of lotion or sunscreen, even a snack. Two open-top pockets and four O-rings keep everything tidy and within reach.
Carry the Side Effect as a shoulder, crossbody, waist, sling, or wrist bag using the included strap, optional Gatekeeper Waist Strap, or Handle Loop. You can also tether it inside a larger bag with a Key Strap to use it as an organizer pouch.
Carries your essentials: phone, wallet, keys, sunglasses, a small bottle of lotion or sunscreen, even a snack. Two open-top pockets and four O-rings keep everything tidy and within reach.
Great size for a small purse or everyday bag. Well thought-out organizational pockets. Light weight with a comfortable strap that's easily adjustable and doesn't tangle or slip. It's also a perfect in-flight bag to hang from the airplane seatback (demonstrated in the first photo below, using TB swivel carabiners). A really versatile bag that holds more than it appears. One of my most-used and favorite TB bags!
Shown below:
-How it would hang from an airplane seatback
-Interior pockets
-Next 3 photos: inside a TB Daylight Briefcase, Co-Pilot (exterior pocket), and Truck (exterior pocket)
I bought my first Side Effect in my very first TB order about 8 years ago. It has been my hand bag ever since. It holds key, wallet, phone, driving licence, tissues, lipstick, small change, sanitizer, and it's not even full. When black halcyon came out i bought another one, as i found halcyon can fit even more, and it's also lighter, and i prefer the look. I love also that the side effect fits in the bottom pocket of the Synapse 25 or in a side pocket of my aeronaut 30 when i'm flying with one-bag policy only. In black halcyon it fits with every outfit i wear. I also bought later on a side kick to see if it would be a better hand bag - but far too big for me :) if you are a minimalist lady like me (at least when it comes to hand bag content) you will love it! I recommend 100%
I bought this to store a portable heating pad and accompanying accessories and it happens to be the perfect size for everything. I'm a huge sucker for the O -rings inside, and as with any bag I've had from these guys, the storage compartments just make sense. Far too often those small compartments just get in the way but with these bags you truly are getting the most legit bag experience possible. Treat yo self. And hey Tom and Friends! I really dig the saturated colors like alphaviolet and Viridian and would love to see more of that in the future. I also really love the Moab Halcyon, its under represented in the organizer bag category!
All in all, my favorite thing about the bag is knowing that the people who made it get breaks and seem to be treated pretty damn well. I'm definitely not made of money but bags are something you want to buy nice, not twice. And while these are at the higher end of whats in my range, they seem to be worth every penny and the company from what I can tell has a business model that others should learn a lesson from.
-guy who sewed a bunch of band patches on a vest and fancies himself to know a thing or two about good stitching.
*If anyone happens to be wondering, it is slightly too small for a Nintendo Switch!
The size of this bag is perfect for daily carry for an average day. The materials are quality and the organizational pockets on the interior are clutch. I do wish however that there were pockets inside of the front zip compartment. I like being able to add in some easy access items to the front of bags but like to keep them stored separately so I can differentiate things like keys and medicine easily. Also would love it if there were a pen/pencil pocket in the main compartment. I love that it can be worn multiple ways as well! But I do find the waist strap is too short to wear my bag across the chest which is disappointing but typical as I have a larger bust (~48 inches) but it fits perfectly as a waist bag and crossbody purse.
I currently use a cubelet + super mini ghost whale + Nik's wallet inside a side effect as an every day purse like object carried cross body. I can carry my Pixel 6 phone, kindle paperwhite, headphones, sanitizer, extra K-95 mask, and keys. When I went to a recent work conference, it was easy to slip off the straps, and stash my side effect inside an icon. I could also take out the cubelet and carry it with a wrist strap. I am excited to use the side effect during the school year inside a teacher bag/backpack in this fashion, so that I can just take it out and put the strap on for the weekend/after school.
Designed with obsessive attention to detail, we pride ourselves in offering bags in unmatched quality and durability—whether you're commuting, traveling, or navigating daily life. Built to endure, made to move with you.
We stand behind every bag we make. If it’s our fault, we’ll fix it—no questions asked. For everything else, we offer honest repairs in our Seattle factory.
