Synapse 25

$255

Ready to Ship

Synapse 25 is the ideal everyday backpack — compact, organized, and comfortable enough for wherever the day takes you.

Color & Material

Black Ballistic/Northwest Sky 200 Halcyon

Deep Blue Ballistic/Persimmon 210 Cerylon

Exterior Color:
Aubergine

Interior Color:
Dusk

Exterior Material:
Ballistic

Interior Material:
210 Cerylon

Add the Freudian Slip? - $62.00

Made in Seattle

Carry-on Friendly

Lifetime Guarantee

Synapse 25

Description

The Synapse 25 is the largest in the Synapse lineup, offering more capacity than the Synapse 19. It strikes the perfect balance between everyday carry and travel-ready storage — all while delivering the smart organization, comfort, and durability that define the Synapse series.

Thoughtful main compartment design: Perfect for storing large, flat items and includes a banded open-top pocket that is spacious enough for a pair of sandals.

Stay organized on the go: Five exterior pockets with room to spare — including one just for your 32 oz water bottle.

Pack it your way: Cache loops to attach a 16" laptop and additional O-rings for extra organization in the main compartment.

Breathable back panel: Provides maximum airflow while still being gentle on clothing.

Support when you need it: Edgeless shoulder straps that softly conform to your shoulders and adjust easily — featuring sewn-in strap keepers to keep things tidy.

Travel-friendly design: Webbing loop on exterior bottom that serves as an extra grab handle — can easily pull Synapse from under the seat or the overhead compartment.

Exterior
bluesign® certified 630 denier High-Tenacity 2x2 Ballistic nylon

Interior
bluesign® certified 210 denier Cerylon high tenacity nylon ripstop

Upper Back
Spacer Mesh

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

Back
Closed-cell foam

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

Zippers
1x #10 YKK Racquet-Coil water-repellent zipper with metal slider (main compartment)
5 #8 YKK Racquet-Coil water-repellent zippers with metal sliders (all other exterior zippers)

Synapse 25 Key Features

Thoughtful Pockets, Minimal Fuss

5 external pockets keep you organized without adding bulk — each thoughtfully placed for balance & function.

lifestyle visible^^An open top view of the Synapse 25, Island blue interior

Organized Interior, Tech-Ready

The main compartment offers space for flat items, an open-top pocket for everyday essentials, Cache loops to secure up to a 13"-16" laptop, and O-rings for added organization.

lifestyle visible^^A close shot of a person wearing the Synapse 25.

Edgeless Straps, Increased Comfort

Edgeless, cushioned shoulder straps softly conform to your shoulders and adjust to fit a wide range of body types, providing all-day comfort with built-in keepers to tame any loose ends.

Person standing in downtown Seattle wearing a Nebulous Grey Synapse 25.

Perfect for Everyday Carry and Travel

The ideal blend of everyday function and travel-ready design — compact for daily carry, spacious enough for travel, and fits under most airline seats.

Person walking in the snow in Seattle, carrying a Synapse 25 in Black.

Bottom Loop, Built for More

Doubles as a handy grab handle — perfect for pulling the Synapse from under seats or overhead bins.

Thoughtful Pockets, Minimal Fuss

5 external pockets keep you organized without adding bulk — each thoughtfully placed for balance & function.

Organized Interior, Tech-Ready

The main compartment offers space for flat items, an open-top pocket for everyday essentials, Cache loops to secure up to a 13"-16" laptop, and O-rings for added organization.

Edgeless Straps, Increased Comfort

Edgeless, cushioned shoulder straps softly conform to your shoulders and adjust to fit a wide range of body types, providing all-day comfort with built-in keepers to tame any loose ends.

Perfect for Everyday Carry and Travel

The ideal blend of everyday function and travel-ready design — compact for daily carry, spacious enough for travel, and fits under most airline seats.

Bottom Loop, Built for More

Doubles as a handy grab handle — perfect for pulling the Synapse from under seats or overhead bins.

Thoughtful Pockets, Minimal Fuss

5 external pockets keep you organized without adding bulk — each thoughtfully placed for balance & function.

Organized Interior, Tech-Ready

The main compartment offers space for flat items, an open-top pocket for everyday essentials, Cache loops to secure up to a 13"-16" laptop, and O-rings for added organization.

Edgeless Straps, Increased Comfort

Edgeless, cushioned shoulder straps softly conform to your shoulders and adjust to fit a wide range of body types, providing all-day comfort with built-in keepers to tame any loose ends.

Perfect for Everyday Carry and Travel

The ideal blend of everyday function and travel-ready design — compact for daily carry, spacious enough for travel, and fits under most airline seats.

Bottom Loop, Built for More

Doubles as a handy grab handle — perfect for pulling the Synapse from under seats or overhead bins.

Reviews

4.9

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars

Based on 393 reviews

Total 5 star reviews: 361 Total 4 star reviews: 23 Total 3 star reviews: 5 Total 2 star reviews: 3 Total 1 star reviews: 1

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393 reviews

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C
Caleb
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Durable, Good Storage Size, Easily Adjustable, Versatile
2 years ago
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Durable, Good Storage Size, Easily Adjustable, Versatile
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Use as Onebag, not EDC!
I've had this bag since about 2016. They market it as an EDC bag, and that is exactly what I did with it nearly every day for most activities throughout that time, but I bought it to use as a travel Onebag, and that's also what I've done with it for every single trip I've been on for these last 6 years.
Personally I believe these 40L "standard" long trip bags to be absurdly massive. Reviewers, bagmakers, marketers, all pitching bags even bigger than this one as "only good for weekend trips." Madness.
This bag has come with me on 2 week trips in Japan and France. It was my bag for a trip that started in Autumnal cold London and finished with me riding a motorcycle west to east from the French Riviera to warm Italy. It's been motorcycled across Japan, Taiwan, and the entire West Coast of the USA. It's been dragged on bus, train, car, and scooter. I've stored it in overhead compartments and under a flight seat in front of me. I've never had trouble with it being my single bag on even the cheapest of European flights. I've lived out of it for a month and a half in a feverish trip across every ecosystem the continental USA offers, finishing in Taiwan.
On top of that, I bicycled, motorcycled, bused, and trained with it to work every nearly every single day over the past 6 years in San Francisco and Taipei. Gym clothes, work gear, tupperwared lunch, after work hacking hardware for meetups, all inside with no issues. It's survived curry tupperware exploding inside of it more…
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N
Noah
Verified Buyer
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Made in USA, High Quality Finishings
3 years ago
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, Made in USA, High Quality Finishings
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
You may have a Tom Bihn addiction if...
You may have a Tom Bihn addiction if, when cars pass you by, you tell your friends the colors using words like Solaris, Acuity, Cloud, and Northwest Sky. I was using a Synapse 19, but like a game of Jenga, I added one to many items, and sadly the stack came crashing down. In this case, I ran out of room (picture tear running down my face). These Tom Bihn bags are the greatest. The Bugatti of backpacks. Switching bags was easy due to the design, as everything from the 19 went into the 25, with room left over. I am actually not adding much else (maybe a few small items). I just needed slightly more room. I have never purchased more items in my life with the word "packable" in them so they easily fit in my bag. These bags will change your life. It takes time to get the perfect setup. Years. From key straps you'll find you're wearing as a necklace and bracelet, to a travel tray you'll wear as a hat, to organizer pouches. The list goes on. Pretty soon, you're ending relationships and the only thing you care about is your backpack which you tell everyone is "fire". Buy one now. You will never be the same. You can read about most of what I carry in my S19 review. If you have any questions, you can find me in the mental institution. I'm the one with my arms around a Synapse bag, up every day at 7 a.m, checking the website for an internal frame.
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SS
Steven S.
Verified Buyer
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, High Quality Finishings, Durable
3 years ago
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, Comfortable, High Quality Craftsmanship, High Quality Finishings, Durable
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
My every day bag of choice
Easily holds everything I need for a day (15 inch laptop, miscellaneous chargers, water bottle, odd and ends, documents, extra shirt or sweater)
Straps are the most comfortable I’ve used, even among other high end brands. They didn’t cheap out on anything, nylon and lining material are top notch (I have 525d and 200d halcyon). Zippers, hardware, and webbing are all top notch. Sewing is reinforced at stress points and back padding and mesh material are breathable. I did not notice heat building up on my back even when during a strenuous activity.
Highly recommended. It’s more expensive because more thought and care went into the design, material choices, and manufacture of the product. It’s the last bag you’re likely to need for a decade or more.
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B
Blisscosity
5 years ago
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
The last backpack.
This is THE ONE. This is it. My search is over.
Except: what's my favorite color combo???
More research needed!
This is my work EDC and has been for three years. I love the pocket arrangement. It is epic. Build quality: forever.
Have used for travel, but it wasn't my favorite bag for that, since I am so not a minimalist. Use it for day trips. Love the halcyon and Guide's Edition the best.
I prefer using it without the frame sheet, but just started carrying a laptop and more work stuff, so am doing further research.
Tried the Synik 30 and did not like the shoulder strap placement, clamshell, heavier weight, but DO like the new water bottle arrangement, which gives more space to the side pockets.
Thanks, Tom & crew, for giving me this great bag in my life. I LOVE IT! Oh, and thanks to Chase Reeves, for sending me here.
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CR
Corrine R.
Verified Buyer
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, High Quality Craftsmanship, Good Storage Size, Durable, Sewn in USA
3 years ago
Bought For Myself
Product Standouts Thoughtful Design, High Quality Craftsmanship, Good Storage Size, Durable, Sewn in USA
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Love this bag!
Black ballistic/island 200 Halcyon. Love this bag, it’s perfect for work, it holds all my paperwork needed to take from the office as well as my purse. I also have a grab bag and it fits perfectly in the front bottom pocket as well. I love the quality of the construction and it looks so great and it’s comfy to wear. I will be using this as my carry on bag for travel. I’m 5’2” and I feel it does not overwhelm my frame. I can tell I will use this for many years to come! Huge fan
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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 endure, made to move with you.

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