Smart Alec 2.0

$305

Smart Alec 2.0 is a spacious, modular everyday backpack — built for customization, easy laptop access, and all-day comfort, whether you're commuting, traveling, or making it your own.

Color & Material

Exterior Color:
Black

Interior Color:
Tahoma

Exterior Material:
420 Spectron

Interior Material:
200 Halcyon

Upcoming Colorways

Black Ballistic/Northwest Sky 200 Halcyon

Made in Seattle

Carry-on Friendly

Laptop Compartment

Lifetime Guarantee

Smart Alec 2.0

Description

The Smart Alec 2.0 sits at the intersection of DIY spirit and modern pack design — versatile, spacious, and built for customization. It shares the same frame and capacity as the Synik 26 while offering a more open main compartment with fewer built-in elements, giving you room to make it your own.

DIY organization master: 26 liters — primarily in the main compartment — with 6 o-rings inside to attach pouches and keep them easy to find.

Easy laptop access: Two-way access to a padded laptop pocket (fits most 16" laptops) with a velcro tab that keeps your device secure and easy to reach.

Grab-and-go essentials: Quick-access pockets on the sides and just under the lid.

A traveler's dream: Breathable skeleton back panel with a slot to slide your bag over your rolling luggage's handle.

Support if you want it: Accommodates an optional, easy-to-install frame sheet to add structure and stiffness when you need it.

Flexible modularity: Built-in low-profile loops and a removable bungee let you secure organizer bags via Gatekeepers — or stash items like a jacket, biking helmet, or tennis racket.

Filled Dimensions
15.7" (h) x 12.2" (w) x 9.4" (d) / 400mm (h) x 310mm (w) x 240mm (d)

Weight
420d Spectron: 1 lb 14.7 oz / 870 grams
630d Ballistic: 2 lb 1.9 oz / 960 grams

Volume
26 liters / 1585 cubic inches (ASTM Standard Measure)

Straps
.5" / 13 mm padded and contoured backpack straps with .75" / 20 mm removable sternum strap

1" / 25 mm waist strap included

Laptop Compartment
Maximum: 15" x 11" / 380mm x 280mm

Exterior
Ultralight Spectron 400d UHMWPE / 420d nylon ripstop

Interior
bluesign® and OEKO-TEX® certified 200 denier Halcyon / nylon ripstop

Laptop Compartment: 100 denier Piscine

Upper Back
Pure Finish Nylon Diamond Mesh
Closed-cell foam

Lower Back
bluesign® certified 210 denier High-Tenacity 2x2 nylon
Closed-cell foam

Bottom
Black 1050 denier High Tenacity Ballistic nylon

Straps
Edgeless EV50 1/2” / 12mm shoulder straps (EVAZOTE® OEKO-TEX® foam)

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

Zippers
1x #10 YKK Racquet-Coil Water-Repellent Zipper with lockable metal sliders
2x #8 YKK Racquet-Coil Water-Repellent zippers with metal sliders
1x #8 YKK Racquet-Coil water-repellant Zipper with contoured cord pull
1x #5 YKK Coil Zipper with plastic slider

Smart Alec 2.0 Key Features

visible lifestyle^^A Smart Alec 2.0 in the foreground while a person plays tennis in the background.

Secure More, Carry Smarter

Front webbing loops and a removable elastic cord let you secure pouches or stash bulky items like jackets or racquets — all without opening your bag.

visible detail^^The main compartment of the Smart Alec 2.0

Pack Smart, Weather Ready

Top-loading, weather-resistant main compartment offers open, customizable space with secure laptop storage and versatile attachment points — ready for whatever your day demands.

visible lifestyle^^A person carrying a Smart Alec 2.0.

Expandable Pockets, Streamlined Carry

Two sleek side pockets expand to hold pens, water bottles, or other essentials — keeping your gear organized without bulk.

Laptop Access, Dual Ways

A padded laptop pocket offers quick top or side access, secures laptops up to 16", and protects with a cushioned bottom — designed for on-the-go convenience.

visible lifestyle^^A person carrying a Smart Alec 2.0 with a hat attached to the front.

Built for Comfort and Travel

Ventilated, padded back panel offers all-day comfort, luggage passthrough, and optional frame sheet compatibility — built for on-the-go ease.

Secure More, Carry Smarter

Front webbing loops and a removable elastic cord let you secure pouches or stash bulky items like jackets or racquets — all without opening your bag.

Pack Smart, Weather Ready

Top-loading, weather-resistant main compartment offers open, customizable space with secure laptop storage and versatile attachment points — ready for whatever your day demands.

Expandable Pockets, Streamlined Carry

Two sleek side pockets expand to hold pens, water bottles, or other essentials — keeping your gear organized without bulk.

Laptop Access, Dual Ways

A padded laptop pocket offers quick top or side access, secures laptops up to 16", and protects with a cushioned bottom — designed for on-the-go convenience.

Built for Comfort and Travel

Ventilated, padded back panel offers all-day comfort, luggage passthrough, and optional frame sheet compatibility — built for on-the-go ease.

Secure More, Carry Smarter

Front webbing loops and a removable elastic cord let you secure pouches or stash bulky items like jackets or racquets — all without opening your bag.

Pack Smart, Weather Ready

Top-loading, weather-resistant main compartment offers open, customizable space with secure laptop storage and versatile attachment points — ready for whatever your day demands.

Expandable Pockets, Streamlined Carry

Two sleek side pockets expand to hold pens, water bottles, or other essentials — keeping your gear organized without bulk.

Laptop Access, Dual Ways

A padded laptop pocket offers quick top or side access, secures laptops up to 16", and protects with a cushioned bottom — designed for on-the-go convenience.

Built for Comfort and Travel

Ventilated, padded back panel offers all-day comfort, luggage passthrough, and optional frame sheet compatibility — built for on-the-go ease.

Reviews

5.0

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Based on 29 reviews

Total 5 star reviews: 28 Total 4 star reviews: 1 Total 3 star reviews: 0 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0

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29 reviews

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FW
Frances W.
Verified Buyer
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Sewn in USA, Durable, Good Storage Size, Versatile
6 hours ago
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Sewn in USA, Durable, Good Storage Size, Versatile
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Smart Alec 2.0
I took the Smart Alec 2.0 on a cruise and it worked out very well. I stashed my art supplies in the back, using the side zipper to grab them quickly. I kept stuffing it with souvenirs and when I got home it was like Christmas morning, digging them out again.
Was this helpful?
MS
Michael S.
Verified Buyer
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Good Storage Size, Versatile
Yesterday
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Good Storage Size, Versatile
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great bag even greater!
The Smart Alec is a phenomenal backpack. It’s comfortable, light, and holds a ton! It’s flexible for moving between EDC and traveling. Love it!
Was this helpful?
JR
Josh R.
Verified Buyer
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts High Quality Craftsmanship, Sewn in USA, High Quality Finishings, Comfortable, Versatile
Yesterday
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts High Quality Craftsmanship, Sewn in USA, High Quality Finishings, Comfortable, Versatile
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
nice commuter and
I've been using schwag bags from conventions for years, rotating when they fall apart. I've been looking for something that will last longer. So I ponied up and took a chance on a Tom Bihn bag. Waffled back and forth between this and the Synik 26, but I like the open design of the Smart Alec better.
After a couple weeks of ferry commutes, and a flight cross country and back, it's working out well so far. Love the zippers and feel of the bag. Confident it will serve well through the seasons.
My only real criticism of the bag so far is that the inner bottle compartment isn't very convenient - the Synik has external access to it's inner bottle compartment, so it seems functional on that bag with an external zipper. On the Smart Alec it seems superfluous.
Was this helpful?
CM
Charmaine M.
Verified Buyer
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Unique, High Quality Craftsmanship, Durable
2 days ago
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Unique, High Quality Craftsmanship, Durable
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
I Really Like It
I had a brain bag that I absolutely loved (front center pocket and the shape of the exterior pockets). It was a very hard decision to give it away (to a great and appreciative person). It was just too big and no luggage strap. I was excited to see the smart Alec make a comeback, as it has a similar cool look and updated material. It’s a well laid out bag that actually looks great as well. The specs stated were: Filled Dimensions
15.7" (h) x 12.2" (w) x 9.4" (d) / My only issue upon opening the box is that I needed it for it to be the dimensions state on the website for international travel as a personal item however, instead of being 15 inches it’s actually about 17 inches tall, which proved to be a problem for three of my international flights, forcing me to check my small carry-on, which I have never, and do not like to do at all. So now this bag is relegated to domestic travel only (for me) which is a bummer. Maybe over time the frame may give a little to reduce the height of the bag. I know the size is probably perfect for most but for me I purchased it per the size and for the size listed.I am super sad that I spent so much on this bag , which I know will last a long time, but now I was forced to also purchase another bag, thankfully at a fraction of the cost that I will end up using more- which was the issue with me beloved brain bag (sigh).
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MW
Matt W.
Verified Buyer
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Comfortable, High Quality Finishings, High Quality Craftsmanship, Versatile, Thoughtful Design
3 days ago
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Comfortable, High Quality Finishings, High Quality Craftsmanship, Versatile, Thoughtful Design
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
I love it.
Love it long time.
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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 last, made to move with you.

The BIHN Guarantee

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.

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