For over a year, when I was searching for a backpack that could carry 2 laptops plus my other gear, the Brain Bag kept coming up in recommendations, and I resisted buying it. I knew nothing about the Tom Bihn company. The Brain Bag looked weird, was expensive to begin with, and in addition, I'd have to pay > $100 for a pair of specifically sized laptop caches that I might need to replace if I ever started using a different sized laptop. Seemed crazy!

Eventually, I bought a Synik backpack for different purposes, and after experiencing the the thoughtful design and quality materials and manufacturing, I finally bought the Brain Bag. I've got some other Tom Bihn bags since then, but the Brain Bag has become my favorite.

It fills such a niche!

The Brain Bag makes it easy to carry my water bottle, coffee tumbler, and umbrella on the outside of the bag/in an exterior pocket. And I love the D-ring that lets me secure the bottle and umbrella, in case they slip from their holders.

I love that the zippers are covered by rain flaps instead of being coated with some sort of water-proofing chemical/plastic. It's only a little bit inconvenient for me, and I don't have to worry about the coating eventually peeling off (plus, who knows the long-term health effects of exposure to that stuff???). And aquaguarded zippers tend to be tougher to pull, so they have their own inconvenient aspects.

The Brain Bag holds all that I need and I love the fact that there are 2 large main compartments…

I've owned this bag for a few years now. Back in 2016, in my mid-twenties, I started with a Synapse 19 when I went back to school to learn how to write software. A few years later, I upgraded to the Synapse 25 and gave the 19 to a friend — who still uses it to this day.

I got the 25 because I needed to carry a larger work laptop that wouldn't fit in the 19. From there, the Synapse became my only backpack for travel, work, exploration, EDC — you name it. Later on, I picked up the Brain Bag, and passed the Synapse 25 on to my partner, who now uses it for her work. Even after 8 years of near-daily use, it still looks new. (That exterior material? Black 400D Halcyon — it’s magic.)

I moved to the Brain Bag because I’m a parent now, and in addition to work, travel, and general use, I needed something that could also carry things for my kiddo. The dual main compartments are perfect for keeping multiple people's gear separated, holding another smaller bag (like a Daylight Backpack or Synapse 19) while traveling, and offering built-in organization that never feels fussy.

This bag carries everything I’ve asked it to — and then some. It stands up on its own, has a satisfyingly sturdy grab handle, expands and contracts depending on the load, and lets you lash extra gear to the outside. The rain flaps do a great job protecting the zippers, and the outside webbing pocket is a great spot for sunglasses.

The bottom of the bag is made from 1050D ballistic nylon and is basically…