What Goes Into A Tom Bihn Backpack?
















































































Description
Designed with the same smart layout and thoughtful details as its larger sibling, the Synapse 25, but in a smaller, sleeker package for lighter everyday carry. Ideal for commutes, day hikes, study sessions, or anyone who packs light and moves fast. All the brains, less of the bulk.
- Half-zip main compartment makes packing intuitive. Perfect for packing up your mobile office, hauling your weekend plans, and living under the airplane seat on your way to your next adventure.
- Five exterior pockets mean you don’t have to rummage through the main compartment for your everyday items. The 32 oz water bottle pocket is intentionally in the middle, keeping the heavier item center balanced, and the other four pockets are designed in a way that they won’t steal space from each other or the main compartment.
- Built-in Cache loops to attach a 13” laptop and additional O-rings for extra organization in the main compartment.
- Breathable back panel that provides maximum airflow while limiting clothing abrasion.
- Fits under the seat of a plane and meets the personal item requirements for most major airlines.
Dimensions
- 11.4" (w) x 16" (h) x 7.9" (d)
- 290 (w) x 410 (h) x 200 (d) mm
Weight
- X-Pac®: 1 lb 8.5 oz / 695 grams
- 630d High Tenacity Ballistic: 1 lb 11 oz / 755 grams
- 420d Spectron: 1lb 7.5oz / 670 grams
- Volume
- 19 liters / 1160 cubic inches (ASTM Standard Measure)
Shoulder Straps
- .375" / 10 mm padded and contoured backpack straps with .75" / 20 mm removable sternum strap
- 1x Sternum Strap Assembly
- 1x Gatekeeper waist strap
- 1x 8" Snaphook/Snaphook Key Strap
- 8x Pull Du Jour (Black)
Total O-Rings: 8
- 2 in the main compartment
- 1 in the top center pocket
- 1 in the small center pocket
- 2 in the bottom front pocket
- 1 in the left front pocket
- 1 in the right front pocket
- Exterior: bluesign® certified 630 denier High-Tenacity 2x2 Ballistic nylon
- Interior: bluesign® certified 200 denier Halcyon high tenacity nylon ripstop
- Upper Back: Spacer Mesh
- Lower Back: bluesign® certified 210 denier High-Tenacity 2x2 Ballistic nylon
- Back: Closed-cell foam
- Shoulder Straps: Edgeless EV50 1/2” / 12mm shoulder straps (EVAZOTE® OEKO-TEX® foam)
- Main Compartment Zippers: 1x #10 YKK Racquet-Coil water-repellent zipper with metal slider
- All Other Exterior Zippers: 5x #8 YKK Racquet-Coil water-repellent zippers with metal sliders
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Synapse 19 Key Features

Everything in its Place
Five external pockets keep your essentials organized and your sanity intact — no rummaging required.

Snap to It
Designed for modular minds — these built-in loops let you securely attach a Cache laptop sleeve or accessories, keeping your tech in place and your bag clutter-free.

Your Shoulders Will Thank You
Engineered for all-day comfort, our edgeless, cushioned shoulder straps conform to your shoulders and adjust to fit a wide range of body types with built-in strap keepers to tame any loose ends.

Half the Zip, All the Access
The half-zip main compartment lets you pack what you need, how you want it. A low-profile banded pocket keeps your essentials on standby, so you can move fast without losing track.

Bottom Loop, Built for More
Gear loops, built for the outdoors double as an extra handle– perfect for pulling out from under seats, overhead compartments, or anywhere your bag ends up.

Everything in its Place
Five external pockets keep your essentials organized and your sanity intact — no rummaging required.

Snap to It
Designed for modular minds — these built-in loops let you securely attach a Cache laptop sleeve or accessories, keeping your tech in place and your bag clutter-free.

Your Shoulders Will Thank You
Engineered for all-day comfort, our edgeless, cushioned shoulder straps conform to your shoulders and adjust to fit a wide range of body types with built-in strap keepers to tame any loose ends.

Half the Zip, All the Access
The half-zip main compartment lets you pack what you need, how you want it. A low-profile banded pocket keeps your essentials on standby, so you can move fast without losing track.

Bottom Loop, Built for More
Gear loops, built for the outdoors double as an extra handle– perfect for pulling out from under seats, overhead compartments, or anywhere your bag ends up.

Everything in its Place
Five external pockets keep your essentials organized and your sanity intact — no rummaging required.

Snap to It
Designed for modular minds — these built-in loops let you securely attach a Cache laptop sleeve or accessories, keeping your tech in place and your bag clutter-free.

Your Shoulders Will Thank You
Engineered for all-day comfort, our edgeless, cushioned shoulder straps conform to your shoulders and adjust to fit a wide range of body types with built-in strap keepers to tame any loose ends.

Half the Zip, All the Access
The half-zip main compartment lets you pack what you need, how you want it. A low-profile banded pocket keeps your essentials on standby, so you can move fast without losing track.

Bottom Loop, Built for More
Gear loops, built for the outdoors double as an extra handle– perfect for pulling out from under seats, overhead compartments, or anywhere your bag ends up.
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Reviews
- RWReanna W.Verified ReviewerBought For MyselfProduct Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Durable, Sewn in USA3 years agoBought For MyselfProduct Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Durable, Sewn in USARated 5 out of 5 starsOnly backpack I ever need
Just wanted to stop by and say how much I still love this bag 5 years later. This is my go to bag for any and all occasions and has held up flawlessly. I’ve taken it on short and longer trips as my only bag, as a daily carry for my work laptop, on any hikes I’ve been on etc. I tried quite a few different backpacks last year to try something new for aesthetics, but nothing compares for comfort, quality, durability and most of all functionality. If something ever happens to my current one I will either have it fixed by TB or get another of the same style. The pockets are so well thought out and a place for everything. Love that it’s water resistant as well and never shows dirt (other than the straps a little since they’re black, but just clean off with water/rag) Attached some pics from adventures with Synapse 19 over the years :) - Also, gotta love that TB products are made in USA, that is a huge plus for me.
Was this helpful?TBTOM BIHN3 years agoThank you so much for taking the time to stop by and leave such a kind review! And for the lovely pictures :)
- NNoahVerified BuyerBought For MyselfProduct Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Made in USA, High Quality Finishings3 years agoBought For MyselfProduct Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Made in USA, High Quality FinishingsRated 5 out of 5 starsThis bag will change your life
I had too much stuff to carry using a back and neck with old injuries. I loved how my packing cube and tech pouch fit in the Synik 30 and Synapse 25. I would use a padded hip belt, and halfway to my destination, I would need to lay down because my back and neck just couldn't take it. And my bag wasn't even that heavy. My body was dictating what bag I could carry, so I tuned into yet another YouTube review of a TB bag. This time, the S19. I had tried it before, and could never fit my packing cube and tech pouch in, along with everything else. This time though, the reviewer mentioned a James Clear travel list. I Googled it, and while I didn't need everything on the list or even the exact items mentioned, I began buying smaller items. My puffy that I was carrying outside of my bag because it wouldn't fit inside even the 30 liter, was changed out for a Janji thermal running jacket that packed to a tiny size. I exchanged my sun hat that would get ruined if folded or even when shipped to me after purchase, for a sun hat with built in creases (Sunday Afternoons Latitude), so it could fold and fit in between the freudian slip and the internal frame. I tried the Ultra Adventure hat, but didn't like the cape. I got rid of my bulky big box store zipper pouch, and purchased two TB clear zipper pouches, which fit perfectly on the back side of the freudian slip, secured by two (one on each pouch) 16" TB key straps. I got rid of my bulky electric toothbrush, after watching a…
Was this helpful? - CGCaptain G.4 years agoRated 5 out of 5 starsYour search is over - A disabled user’s perspective.
After going through about 8 different bags over the years, I finally found one that works. I’ve had the Halcyon Synapse 19 right at two years now, and it still looks nearly brand new and it’s gone everywhere with me since. As noted in the title, I’m disabled and use crutches to get around. My hands are full all the time, so carrying things has never been a strong suit of mine. Coupled with the ever-shrinking pockets in jeans and the increasing amount of stuff one needs to have at hand daily, everyone needs a bag these days. The more gimpy among us included.
I wear mine backwards and even fully loaded (for me, 15-20lbs) this bag stays perfectly balanced. I’ve not once felt unsteady with it even at its heaviest.
It holds everything I need for a typical outing and the pockets are easily accessible with one hand. I’m not sure what magic they worked into the materials, but this bag does - not - age. I’m not outright abusive toward this bag, but I don’t baby it either. It gets thrown around; tossed in the bed of the truck; friends’ kids drag it here and there and there’s not so much as a loose thread on the outside. The only noticeable sign of wear is on the mesh back where the zippers of my coat have chewed at it a bit.
The price has increased some since I bought mine, but if I had to buy this again tomorrow - my rainbow of organizer pouches, zipper pulls and frame included, I’d not think twice about it.
You can stop debating now. It’ll be the best bag you’ve ever owned.
Was this helpful? - KFKristen F.Verified BuyerBought For MyselfProduct Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, High Quality Finishings2 years agoBought For MyselfProduct Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, High Quality FinishingsRated 4 out of 5 starsBest backpack I've ever owned, but not my favorite fabric
This is the best backpack I've ever owned. I'll mention a few things that I didn't come across when I was researching this purchase:
• The vertical organizer pockets are perfectly set up for one handed access under your arm without taking the backpack all the way off.
• JUST HOW GOOD the o-ring system is. Tether your things with key straps or carabiners and the possibility of losing or forgetting things is just... gone! No more awkwardly holding stuff or dropping stuff while trying to get out other stuff.
• I'm female, 5'8" 125lb, with a narrow build other than my shoulders, and this backpack fits my body perfectly.
• Looks good full or empty.
• The zippers are super smooth. It's particularly noticeable on the main zipper, where you would usually have to use 2 hands due to the long zipper path, but it zips smoothly and effortlessly one-handed.
With that said, I got Night walk halcyon, and there are a couple of things that I don't like about the fabric:
• Within the first 2 weeks it picked up several white scuffs that won't come out, where my water bottle bumped into things. I cushioned that area from the inside with neoprene and that seems to have prevented additional scuffing. (TBH I think the bag should have come with that padding, since I'm using the designated water bottle pocket for my water bottle.)
• The different threads in the grid fabric have different water absorbency, so when the bag gets wet in the rain the fabric dimples all over. It looks bizarre. It's…
Was this helpful? - KPKara P.Verified BuyerBought For MyselfProduct Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, Durable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Sewn in USA2 years agoBought For MyselfProduct Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, Durable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Sewn in USARated 5 out of 5 starsPerfect Travel and Everyday Bag for Me!
I had been looking for an underseat personal backpack for air travel for a while. Then, when my daughter got cancer, I realized I needed a bag to keep me organized and have everything on hand during long hospital stays. This bag checks all the boxes! It gives me the freedom to move around hands free in a large facility like Mayo Clinic, it’s durable, comfortable, and on top of that, the color makes me smile!
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Quality Designs Since 1972
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.

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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.