I'm deeply impressed with my Smart Alec 2.0. I was concerned about dropping a chunk of change on a backpack without having laid hands on it, but this bag is outstanding.

I needed a bag that could handle my 16'' laptop, journal, iPad, hygiene kit, a change of clothes, my emotional support water bottle, and other odds & ends. It does all of that and more.

I have found that if you place a water bottle in the internal pocket at the base of the bag it helps it to independently stand up. It has just enough organization to keep my key items where I need them, and room to stack the rest of the load neatly (sure, I splurged on some TB organization too). The side pockets are pretty darned nifty--surprisingly spacious. The padding for the back and shoulder straps is excellent and the chest & waist straps are helpful when you're on the move--I've taken it on my bike commutes quite a bit, and it's wonderful to trust the bag's durability amidst life with three kids and animals.

Overall I feel like I've found my dream bag. I have had numerous Tom Bihn bags over the years, but am utterly delighted by the design, quality, and colors of my new Smart Alec.

I’ve been a member of the Tom Bihn family for years, and my 2022 Smart Alec was a constant, trusted companion. It was nearly perfect, but I always carried a small longing for a dedicated, externally accessible laptop compartment. When the Smart Alec 2 was announced, it felt like the design team had read my mind. I ordered it immediately, and I can say without a shred of hyperbole: this is it. This is the one.

The new laptop compartment is awesome and the side-zip entry is a dream come true. For anyone who has tried to maneuver a 16-inch laptop into the side of a Synik then you know the "three-point turn" I'm talking about. With the Smart Alec 2, my laptop glides in and out in one smooth, direct motion. It’s a small detail that makes a world of difference in daily use.

What continues to astound me is the bag’s posture. It stands up. Always. You set it down, and it sits there, perfectly upright, waiting patiently. No need to lean it against a chair leg only to have it slump to the floor. I don't know how the new Spectron fabric provides structure without feeling rigid but it does.

Inside, the Tahoma Halcyon lining is everything I love about TB. It’s silky smooth and so bright it practically illuminates the contents of the cavernous main compartment. The organization is classic Alec: intelligent, but not prescriptive. Unlike the Synik’s more "forced" organization, the Smart Alec 2 gives you just enough pockets to keep your essentials sorted, leaving the main space open and…