The Guide's Pack

I've had quite a number of Tom Bihn bags over the last 3 years. The Guide's Pack is my favorite bag so far, and I don't think I'll ever let it go. It's the first bag I look for when I need to head out. I've used it for short urban day hikes, and day trips with my family, and it's worked great for me. I'm looking forward to using it for longer day hikes in the wild.

I haven't had an issue with the top pocket's downward-facing zipper, and I understand the trade-off between accessibility and weatherproofing.

Things I love:

- Classic mountaineering pack design

- Lovely Parapack material with that unique sheen: please bring back Parapack!

- Narrower and taller (at least, compared to the Syniks), makes it more comfortable to carry (at least for me, I suspect it has to do with my torso length)

- Minimal zippers and organization, I don't have to rack my brains to figure out where I should place my stuff, just throw it all into the two main pockets!

Minor gripes:

- The interior of the main pocket could have been lined with a brighter (shinier?) material to make it easier to spot stuff

- I really, really wish that you guys would make the Left, Right, and Leads Pockets in Navy Parapack again! It seems that there is a lot of demand for them, so please bring them back! :)

Suggestions:

- Perhaps a padded hip belt with pockets on it? Or modular, attachable pockets?

- Modular, attachable, open-top side water bottle pockets?

Please keep this bag (and its accessories) in production!! :)

After an exhaustive search over many months, years actually, I happened to find Tom Bihn's web site. I knew there was something there that would work. After hemming and hawing on it for awhile I figured I had nothing to lose but to try it. I've been an avid hiker since my Scouting days as a teen so I knew what I wanted. Something simple, good fit, not too many outer straps to contend with, and well made. It was love at first hike! And that was a few years ago. This spring-summer-fall of Covid-19 we have day hiked almost every foot of the Pacific Crest Trail from the California border to the rim of Crater Lake. Each one with my trusty Guide's Pack, with attached pockets. This pack has also become a favorite travel bag and has been to the Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan, China, the St. Francis Way trail in Italy, and many other adventures. Its fit is more like how the packs I remember from my younger days were. Comfortable, roomy, adaptable to any load, and just the right size. Not over-packed, it has never been a problem for carry-on either. Works perfectly for my modular approach to packing, including packing cubes, hiking poles, water, survival gear, food, clothes, etc. Though I would not recommend it for a multi day backpack (not enough room for tent, sleeping bag, stove, fuel) for long all day hikes 8-10+ miles, and adventure travel trips it is simply incomparable. My kids will have to duke it out for who gets it when I'm gone!