Addax 26

This is my first bag from Tom Bihn and I've been pretty happy with it. I decided on this bag for mainly for its simple yet versatile design and its plain looks. I mostly use the bag for commuting to an office by train, but I've also taken it as my sole bag on weekend trips.

To me, the bag is basically a large, unobstructed, compartment that's adjusted using the rolltop. Aside from the pockets visible from the outside, there isn't much internal organization. Along with the laptop compartment and the external water bottle holder, that was a selling point for me. I like being able to carry a lot of stuff when needed and I personally don't want a lot of organizational features. I was also drawn to the X-Pac fabric available for this bag given its lighter weight. Aesthetically, the bag has a more understated and clean look, which I don't typically associate with Tom Bihn bags. I dig it.

To give an idea of what I usually put in it: a 16" MacBook Pro, a 40oz water bottle, a small thermos, and some notepads. Everything fits into the bag nicely (however, the laptop cannot be removed using the side zip because its too wide). It carries well and it's comfortable on my back. The bag does look a bit deflated when even less things are in there, given that the sides flatten out, but that's pretty minor.

I was looking for a short weekend bag. Ideally I think I wanted a 31-33L bag. I got the smaller addax thinking I could unroll it to fill it when needed, but you really need 3 rolls for your gear to be secure. The packing cubes made the bag bulge and seem overstuffed.

The para pack was awesome, but the interior lining needed to be a brighter color.

I returned this bag and will consider the larger size when the para pack has a more visible interior color.

The right side would unroll.

The clip design needs improvement so that a one roll, two roll, or three roll would secure the bag contents equally as well.

Straps seemed excellent, material seemed great,

Love the innovation,, but I will see is the 33 shadow guide works better for my needs.

Really comfortable to carry, even when full. I love the look of it. The laptop and accessory pouches could do with being a brighter colour because even with the yellow lining it's a dark bag. Would be much improved with a shoulder carry strap or place to attach one as an option, of someone who doesn't want a backpack setup when not on a bike. The roll top fastening is annoying. Much better to have a central fastening with a long adjustable strap - the whole point of a roll top is the you can fill it right up, or have a big item that sticks out the top and is secured with the strap. Unless you can do multiple rolls this doesn't stay shut (and it would if it had a central fastening) and the clip-together-without-a-roll fastening is just less useful and more restrictive that a central strap. If it's improved I'd also buy the larger size like a shot.

This is by far my favorite backpack ever. I find it extremely comfortable to wear and it fits so well into my life. The two water bottle pockets are key, and I especially love having each of them separated from my stuff by waterproof layers. The outside pockets are nicely sized and I like the rounded zipper paths. I bought the black X-Pac version and it has been drenched repeatedly while keeping everything inside nice and dry. I'm a bike commuter in the Northeast US, so this bag has been exposed to a lot of weather and shrugged it off.

I found the X-Pac relaxed enough with use that it does stay rolled pretty well.

The main area for improvement that I see is with the internal organization. The mesh tablet pocket is not really shaped like a tablet and doesn't have a lot of structure, so it ends up being a kind of floppy bowl at the bottom of the main compartment. I came to this bag from the Goruck GR-1, and that bag has the gold standard of tablet pockets, which I really miss here. It's structured and tight against the back, so that the tablet stays out of the way and protected and I could slide A4 paper and sketchbooks in there as well and they would be kept flat and neat and out of the mishmash. This bag is infinitely more comfortable, waterproof, light, and has better vibes, so I hugely prefer it overall, but oh how I miss that pocket.