Tom Bihn 25 Synapse Review Vs Osprey Porter 30
The Tom Bihn Synapse 25, there are few bags that are every bit legendary as this bag.
The Synapse is widely acknowledged by travelers, students, and bag enthusiasts as being one of the best numberless on the market.
I call back when I got my Synapse 25.
I felt similar a little child on Christmas morning, simply instead of a make new cherry-red bicycle in that location was something much improve.
I know it may audio silly to remember that something as mundane as a backpack could elicit so much emotion, but information technology's true.
I had spent months thinking virtually this bag and searching the net for the best bag and this one kept coming upward.
I needed a bag for schoolhouse, simply I also wanted something that was gear up for travel when I graduated.
From all of my research this seemed like the perfect pick.
The only reason I held off on buying it for and so long was because $200 was a lot of coin for a backpack!
It still is a lot of money for a backpack by my standards, but I don't regret my purchase one bit.
Now is this a perfect bag?
No, it's not perfect and I'll get into some of the cons.
Only earlier we get into the cons, let'south talk about the many pros.
Pros
Durability
A pocketbook doesn't final vii years of frequent use that is as rough as college and travel without beingness durable.
And this bag would look make new if I done some of the dirt out.
The version I bought has the 1000D cordura cloth, and information technology is tough !
The only sign of wear on the exterior of the handbag is some minor discoloration on the bottom nearly the seam.
But information technology is and then minor y'all wouldn't observe information technology if you weren't looking for it.
That discoloration is from the many times that I've placed the bag on rough concrete and rocky surfaces, which would take torn through most other material.
Also, on other bags I've owned, I've noticed that the straps are ofttimes damaged.
Whether it's the seams or the straps themselves, other bags become ruined because of the straps.
On the Synapse, the straps expect perfectly fine.
This is surprising, because in college I often had to behave a good 30lbs of books and other school supplies.
None of that wear shows on the Synapse 25'southward straps.
Another pain signal of some numberless is the zippers.
On the Synapse 25, the big YKK zippers work perfectly fine subsequently 7 years.
Capacity
I did mention I carried around 30lbs of books in this bag right?
That is a lot of books…
But they all fit!
And what'southward better is they all fit in the chief compartment, along with my laptop and binders.
Even with all that stuff in the master compartment, I even so had 5 other pockets ready to fill.
The bag really feels endless for how big it is.
It feels like information technology volition hold every bit much as you lot want to put into information technology!
All that infinite is why so many travelers turn to this pocketbook when doing ane bag travel.
Information technology's not every bit gigantic equally a 40L Osprey bag, but it will still hold everything you lot demand.
Organization
Tom Bihn is the king when it comes to simple and intuitive organization.
Most of the products they sell are accessories to further increment the already amazing design of their bags.
So it comes as no surprise that the compartments on the Synapse 25 are perfect for organizing your gear.
Similar a lot of travelers I use the main compartment of the Synapse 25 to shop my wearable and big electronics, and the smaller pockets for things I need quick access to.
The lesser pocket seems like information technology was designed to house a toiletries pocketbook or cablevision organizer and tin can store both with room to spare!
You could always step up your organization capability by adding some of Tom Bihn'south accessories, but I've found the bag to exist simply fine on its ain.
Cons
Comfort
The Synapse is great for conveying a bunch of stuff, but if yous acquit a bunch of stuff for a long period of time you will definitely feel information technology in your shoulders.
While this is probably true for every bag (i.eastward. carrying more weight causes more muscle fatigue), other numberless are more than limited by their capacity which helps keep the weight down.
The cream straps exercise help with calculation comfort to the bag, but I've found that it is very easy to overload the Synapse 25 with a lot of heavy gear.
Also the mesh back on the Synapse which is supposed to allow for air movement on your dorsum doesn't piece of work all that well.
Afterward carrying this pocketbook for a few hours I noticed that my back would go very hot.
Other bags I've owned which had difficult foam air channels felt more comfy to wear for long periods of time on hot days.
You can become around this issue if you pack lighter and keep the purse fitting a little looser than what I normally do.
Protection
Some other con of the Synapse 25 is that there is not much protection for electronics.
At that place is a lilliputian bit of foam on the main console that will exist against your back, merely the bottom of the pocketbook has no foam at all.
And then if you lot drop your bag on a hard surface, there is a skillful take chances yous could impairment your laptop.
I've had this happen to me one time, and it was not a pleasant experience.
I think they expect yous to buy the laptop sleeve (pictured above) simply that will price an additional $45.
If you are a traveler, you tin work around this past packing your dress effectually your laptop to provide some protection, but it would have been a nice feature for the bag to come with.
One surface area where protection shines on this bag is with the zipper design.
You can position the zippers to where the bulk of them are very close to each other.
This means you tin run a wheel lock or locking carabiner through the zippers to proceed someone out of your purse.
Granted this volition simply buy you a few seconds, but information technology can deter pickpockets and even common thieves who want to get away as quickly as possible.
Sometimes even just a lilliputian scrap of added complexity can human activity equally a major deterrent for potential thieves.
Toll
This is the biggest con for me.
Staying within a sure budget is pretty of import for me (meet web log name) and spending $200 on a haversack is hard to fit in whatsoever upkeep.
Merely what is worse is when y'all starting time to consider addons for added organization.
Tom Bihn makes cracking accessories, but they are all expensive.
It's hard to justify a $200 backpack, only information technology's fifty-fifty harder to justify the 100+ dollars you could easily spend on accessories.
Are those accessories worth it?
Perhaps.
Is the backpack worth it?
Definitely!
This bag has lasted me vii years and information technology's still going strong.
And so for the $200 I spent, the cost over its lifespan (7 years) would be roughly $30 a year.
But each year I go along information technology, that cost gets lower.
It is definitely worth $xxx a yr to accept such an awesome backpack!
Wrap Upwards
This bag is almost perfect!
Honestly I'yard not sure if another handbag could exist ameliorate than this one.
I recollect that with my personal preferences of traveling light, the Synapse 19 may be a better pick, simply the Synapse line is merely fantastic.
I've however to endeavour out the Synik line of bags, simply they do look interesting.
And after reviewing the Synik video, it looks like they accost some of the cons I talked near hither.
That being said, for the departure in price, if you can only beget to go with the Synapse information technology will still be a corking choice for any student or traveler.
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Be Well,
-TF
Source: https://barefootonabudget.com/7-year-review-tom-bihn-synapse-25/
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