Shadow Guide 23

$300

Ready to Ship

Spaciousness. Simplicity. Top Loader.

Color & Material

Exterior Color:
Black

Interior Color:
Cloud

Exterior Material:
Ballistic

Interior Material:
210 Ballistic

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$52.00 - 10A (iPad/iPad Air/Pro 10.5")

visible variant TB03310A TB03310B TB03312A TB03313A TB03313B TB03313C TB03313D TB03313E TB03315A TB03315B TB03315C TB03315D TB03316A TB03317B^^A Cache on the Vertical side.

Made in Seattle

Lifetime Guarantee

Laptop Compartment

Carry-on Friendly

Shadow Guide 23

Description

The Shadow Guide 23 is a top-loader backpack, inspired by the retired Guide's Pack, that's available in two sizes — 23 liters (you're here now) and 33 liters. The simple yet spacious design allows the bag to be suitable for hikes, travel, and everyday use.

Upper Flap Pocket

The Shadow Guide has an upper flap pocket that includes 1 top-access zippered compartment for your keys, wallet, snacks, and other small items and 2 side-access zippered compartments on the bottom for your phone, passport, and more. Having this top loader allows you to have the stuff you need quick access to on-hand. There are also four total interior O-rings that are great for attaching our Clear Organizer Pouch, Double Organizer Pouch, Ghost Whale Organizer Pouch, or Key Straps.

Bucket-Style Main Compartment

Drawstring closure and features a 210d ballistic nylon lining on the bottom interior. Its simple design makes it perfect for storing large items like clothes and bulky items for travel, grocery for after-work-shopping, or for those who prefer to just throw everything into a bag (carefully) rather than deal with pockets. Since this bag is more minimal and simple, there isn't any interior organization, but you can attach organizational pouches to the 2 O-rings inside this compartment. Travel Stuff Sacks, Handy Little Thing, and Side Effect will also make great accessories for this pack.

Built-In Exterior Side-Access Laptop Compartment

Made with 2 layers of 1/8" 2 lb closed-cell (CXL2) foam. Because the back panel shape is rectangular, the zipper access on the sides can fit a wide range of laptop sizes. The Shadow Guide 23 easily fits 13" laptops and some thinner, smaller footprint 15" laptops.

Breathable Skeleton Panel

Instead of a solid rectangular piece of foam, we cut the back panel in a spine-like shape and use soft mesh so that it feels lighter, more breathable, and more comfortable against your clothing or even bare skin. It's a tried and true design that is just as durable as the solid rectangular piece of foam.

Removable Internal Frame With Nylon Webbing Sleeve And Aluminum Stay

The internal frame is made of die-cut .055" thick High Density Polyethlyene (HDPE) with a nylon webbing sleeve sewn down the center that encases a 8-1/4"/210 mm tall and 1/2"/13 mm wide 6061 aluminum stay. The stay is removable and bent to a general spinal curve that is suitable for most people, but you can rebend and/or adjust the curvature (see instructions here).

Slanted Bottom

When we made a Shadow Guide version with a flat bottom, the bag pulled away from our backs and was uncomfortable to wear. The slanted bottom didn't have these problems. To allow the bag to stand upright when needed, such as for packing, just lean it against the wall or your legs.

Edgeless Strap

Conformity is overrated — except, perhaps, when it comes to shoulder straps. The edgelessness of this new strap allows it to more softly conform to your shoulder — we (and most people who have worn these straps) find that this increases comfort. Yet the straps aren't too soft: the 1/2" thick EVAZOTE® OEKO-TEX® certified foam means the strap is robust enough to carry a heavy load.

Rolling Luggage Handle Pass-Through

Some of us use rolling luggage: maybe because we need to pack more gear or just because we find it more comfortable. Good thing the Shadow Guide's back panel has a pass-through that allows you to slide it over the handle of rolling luggage.
There are, of course, different sizes of rolling luggage with different handle lengths and widths. That said, the Shadow Guide 23 will fit handles up to 8" wide from end to end (which we think should cover over most rolling luggage handles).

Exterior Fabrics

bluesign® certified 525 denier High-Tenacity 2x2 Ballistic nylon

Interior Fabrics

bluesign® certified 210 denier High-Tenacity 2x2 Ballistic nylon

Zippers

#8 and #5 YKK Racquet-Coil Water Repellent zippers

Upper Back

Nylon Diamond mesh

Lower Back and Bottom

U.S. high tenacity 1050 denier ballistic nylon

Back Pad

Closed-cell foam

Shoulder Straps

EVAZOTE® foam

Hardware

Tough Duraflex®, Nexus, and Woojin buckles and related components

Reviews

4.6

Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars

Based on 21 reviews

Total 5 star reviews: 15 Total 4 star reviews: 4 Total 3 star reviews: 2 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0

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21 reviews

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DR
Deborah R.
Verified Buyer
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Good Storage Size, High Quality Finishings
3 months ago
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Good Storage Size, High Quality Finishings
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
The Shadow Guide delivered exactly what this rusty old hiker needed
I had a need for a daypack for an upcoming trip to the Lake District plus another hiking vacation later in the year. We were going to do a series of day hikes and I needed a pack that had an internal frame to shift the weight off my shoulder and comfortably to my waist and hips. I also needed a good way to carry my work laptop as I was spending a week at our London office after the Lake District vacation. But I already owned a Paragon 2.0 and a Smart Alec. Do I need another Tom Bihn pack? My holy grail is an Addax 26, so can't I make do with what I already have? I was torn. But after an exchange with the ever-helpful Cody, I committed to the Shadow Guide 23 and it was a great solution.
The interior frame and padded hip belt shifted the weight as needed and after considering how best to carry a water bottle with easy access I realized I had a pile of TB accessory pouches just waiting to be put to good use. The HLT 2 fits on the waist belt (it's a bit awkward, but it works) which held a small water bottle, my phone and various trail food. I love the bucket interior of the Shadow Guide and the multitude of compartments in the upper flap pocket provides more than enough organization. And I was pleasantly surprised to experience the utility of the luggage handle passthrough- didn't realize how much I'd love that feature!
I love my Shadow Guide and it provided some needed inspiration to do a bit of early training by walking the dogs with some hand weights in the…
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ML
Martin L.
Verified Buyer
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, High Quality Finishings, Versatile
1 week ago
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, High Quality Finishings, Versatile
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Versatile bag
Recently took this on a flight as my personal bag and used it on a hike at my destination. Worked very well for both of these, it fit perfectly under the airplane seat and had excellent organization for snacks. On the hike it was comfortable and held lots of water and a sweater. Very well built bag and I hope to get lots more use from it.
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WZ
Wilson Z.
Verified Buyer
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, High Quality Finishings, Versatile, Durable
1 month ago
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, High Quality Finishings, Versatile, Durable
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Versatile all-rounder of a bag
This bag is great at handling whatever you throw at it on a day to day basis. I live in NYC and there you are often out and about with nothing but whats on your person. This bag works great as a sports/workout bag, grocery bag, and work/laptop bag, and has been capable at serving all of those purposes for me at the same time. I’ve taken this bag camping, hiking and one-bagged with it on a 1 week work trip.
With this bag at empty load its light and compacts itself well enough to be low profile and the brain part covers up the excees crumpled fabric when the cord is cinched. At the same time it can hold a ton of stuff as one big cavernous space, accomodating oddly shaped items like a volleyball or a yogamat. Fully stuffed to the brim it looked comparable in size to an aeronaut 30.
The main gripe I have is that the zipper to the top ‘brain’ part of the bag gets hard to pull around at the corners. This can be a bit frustrating as that is the most commonly accessed part of the bag for me. I do like that I can access every zippered pocket without unlatching the two buckles though. The brain part also conveniently can hold a side effect too.
Another minor thing is that I like having more loops on the exterior of the bag to hook extra stuff onto the outside of the bag. There is one on the bottom but I have yet to really use it, I have used the double swivel hook on the interior top strap to hang a waterbottle outside of the pack since I had packed the main space to the brim,…
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NC
Norman C.
Verified Buyer
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Comfortable, High Quality Finishings, Unique, Versatile, Thoughtful Design
7 months ago
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Comfortable, High Quality Finishings, Unique, Versatile, Thoughtful Design
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
The TARDIS of Bihn
Yes, it sure seems bigger on the inside than it does on the outside. If you can find a laptop that doesn't fit in this bag, you really shouldn't be carrying it on your back anyway. A great bicycle/ motorbike bag, and day hikes with ease with as many layers as you like. I actually tried the 33 on for size but it was just too big - not for my frame, but there's no way I could get away with it as an airplane personal item. The 23 fits like a charm under a plane seat if you don't stuff it full - think laptop and other electronics you don't want in your luggage.
I haven't used it as a carry-on yet, but could very easily work for a weekender. I only knocked it down a star because I would have liked some exterior lash or attachment points (esp. for liquids). I know, I know, it would totally ruin the hipster vibe the Shadow has going, but that's my beef!
If you want a simple bag that looks great and holds everything - buy it. It'll also give you an excuse to buy more TB gear to organize it to your hearts content.
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AM
Alejandro M.
Verified Buyer
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, Sewn in USA
7 months ago
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, Sewn in USA
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great backpack for every day use
Spacious and very comfortable. My one thing i wish it had is a pocket for my water bottle
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