I BOUGHT and USED this item. It WAS NOT PROVIDED to me for review by any company.
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Count me in, Tom Bihn!
You definitely got me this time! And for good! The culprit? Your sensational Synik!
I spent a lot of time reading reviews and watching videos covering what others thought about this supposed unicorn backpack called the Synik from Tom Bihn. I mean it’s pricey. Can’t argue that. And most people won’t just dive in. But I figured I’d spend the time and do my due diligence.
So I wanted to know what others thought. Is it too big? Will this X-Pac® material really hold up? What about their concerns? Delamination… Water bottle pocket encroachment… Aquaguard® zipper difficulties… Flappy Strappies… It can’t fit a VW Bus in the main compartment… and worst of all, 😱 DAD BAG!?
This is where I have to digress, if you’ll indulge me.
Dad bag? Ok. I’ll take it! It’s whatever. But… just saying… do a Google search for the words “dad bag” and see what comes up. This definitely ain’t it.
Moving on… How could this backpack be everything people were saying despite their “concerns”? The cynic in me just wasn’t convinced. But I just kept on looking at it. I couldn’t stop. There’s just something about… Click 💳
The Leap of Faith
The Synik is the bellwether of Tom Bihn’s line of backpacks and comes in three varieties based on capacity: 30 liters, 26 liters, and 22 liters. Despite the presence of some other amazing pieces in the line up that can conceivably cross between travel, recreational carry, and EDC (looking at you, Synapse, Techonaut, Brain Bag, Bixi, Shadow Guide), it’s the most versatile piece of carry Tom Bihn offers. That’s my opinion, anyway, and use cases are as relative as concerns.
The best part of my obsession-driven research into the Synik was that I really found almost everything I wanted to know right on the Tom Bihn website and in the Tom Bihn forums, and in email exchanges with the amazing people in customer service. They really are next-level. There are no two ways about it. They take care of people. So I did it. I just bought that sensational Synik and I don’t regret it one bit.
Reception
When I opened that big, beautiful Tom Bihn box that showed up on my porch it was like that scene when Vincent opened the briefcase in Pulp Fiction. But the source of the bright glow here was an absolutely gorgeous black X-Pac / Kiwi Halcyon Tom Bihn Synik 30. At the time of writing, this colorway isn’t available but there’s a sweet black X-Pac/Cerise Halcyon version making me wonder if I need a second one – maybe a 26L!?
Let’s talk quickly about what came in the box. There was, of course, the star of the show: the Synik, which contained in a side pocket a pack of Pull Du Jour, which I switched out for something with more heft. My fingers struggled a bit with those little tab pull thingies. There was also a Gatekeeper Hip Belt attached at the bottom, which found its way into a drawer. Again with the fingers… the struggle is real.
But let’s set those aside. I need to touch this Synik!
It was soft with a bit of a crinkle that communicated solidity. It had a sheen to it and absolutely screamed quality! I loved this bag immediately! Pure exhilaration…
This is, by far, the best backpack that I have ever had in my life! No question about it. I was immediately enamored with it.
I hadn’t even put anything into it yet!
I’m not kidding. I’ve actually found myself putting the bag on for a few minutes when I’m alone in my office. I can’t help it! It wants to be worn! If I’m not going anywhere or doing anything, I’ll oblige for a moment. Why not? It wraps around the shoulders and hugs the back.
It’s like getting a hug from Tom Bihn himself. It’s perfect!
Exterior
The exterior of the bag is just beautiful. From the fabric and zippers to the harness system and back panel, what’s not to love?
Fabric
There are only a few fabrics used to build the Synik. It’s your choice from what’s available at the time you want to purchase:
- bluesign® certified 630d High-Tenacity 2×2 Ballistic nylon
- PFC Free, 100% Recycled RX30 X-Pac®
- 420 denier HT nylon Classic Parapack
I don’t know a huge amount about fabric, only what I’ve read on the materials page. As such, I’m not going to geek out about deniers or laminate vs. natural fibers or anything of the sort. I’m not an expert. I just know what feels and looks nice and, for me, it’s X-Pac®. Nothing wrong with the Ballistic nylon or Parapack, of course.
The adequately padded top handle works well and is, certainly, a well-received change from the webbing handle of its predecessor and half-namesake.
Zippers
Zippers abound on the Synik. At a glance, one can see at least five but there’s a sixth there, too. It’s about containment and organization. The use of YKK® zippers is, well… Again, I’m not an expert in zippers.
What I can say is that the main compartment is an Aquaguard® number 10. Gotta keep that main compartment secure and not let it just fall open. Number 10 seems to do the trick. It can be a little feisty. But I’m glad about that. Again. Security. My stuff isn’t going to wind up on the ground. All other exterior pockets have number 8 zippers. These are definitely easier to pull.
The zippers in their natural state do have a big of a jingle, jangle, jingle. There’s no sneaking up on someone wearing a bag with these beefy zipper pulls on it. As such, I’ve modified them.
At first, I went with the Pull Du Jour that are included with the Synik. But I kind of felt like they were going to break, especially pulling that number 10 main compartment open. Then I ordered the OG Cord Zipper Pulls. They felt a little more solid and were getting closer. But they were also a bit sharp if grabbed the right way. Finally, I got on YouTube and learned how to tie a snake knot – 6 snake knot zipper pulls later and I’m a happy camper. These are pulls you can pull!
Edgeless Shoulder Straps / Harness System
The shoulder straps, which Tom Bihn calls “edgeless”, should be used as an exemplar for design and assembly across the entire carry industry.
But what are “edgeless” shoulder straps? A traditional shoulder strap has seams that run up both sides. They’re almost at the edge but with some seam allowance. Seams located close to the edge of a strap become noticeable with weight, particularly if they’re not really padded.
Tom Bihn not only moved the seams away from the edges of the strap but padded them with a half inch thick EVAZOTE® OEKO-TEX® EV50 foam. It says so right on the product page under materials. I don’t know what EVAZOTE® OEKO-TEX® EV50 foam is but I like it! And countless others like it, too!
That foam makes them super squishy and also allows them to conform to individual shoulder variations. Some may have super boney shoulders, while others do not. Edgeless shoulder straps provide maximum comfort for everyone.
The straps include webbing/adjusters (at the bottom) that keep the Synik either high and tight on the back, right in the middle, or riding low. Whatever way you prefer to rock your Synik, flappy strappies are kept to a minimum by the strap keepers, which are adjustable at the base of the straps.
One noticeable miss is the lack of strap keepers on the included sternum strap. There’s some flappy strappy there – front and center. But I’ve gotten used to it. Some have replaced the included sternum strap with a Fidlock V-Buckle sternum strap. I have not. Although I did order one, I returned it. It didn’t fit the overall aesthetic of the Synik, for me.
Absent are the load lifters one might expect to find on a bag that appeals to so many varied use cases. This may actually be a nice inclusion in the future. I’ve definitely packed out the Synik and found myself wanting them. Eh… no worries. A quick bounce or skip in my step and everything feels fine again.
Back Padding, a Frame Sheet, and a Luggage Pass-through
The padding on the back panel is lavish and super comfortable. It’s covered by mesh which one would think would allow breathability. It does, kinda, maybe, ok – I don’t know. I’ve never had much of a problem with back sweat. So I’m not a good one to ask about the breathability of the back panel on the Tom Bihn Synik.
Frame Sheet
What lies behind the back panel, which you may have noticed allows you to reach all the way through, is a frame sheet. A frame sheet is primarily protective. It affords the person wearing a pack the luxury of not having pointy or hard objects driven into their back every step along their journey. The frame sheet here is removable.
Sometimes you feel like a frame sheet. Sometimes you don’t. I just leave it in.
One slight miss with the frame sheet is that I feel that it tends to ride down in its containment. I feel it sometimes on my belt or whatever I’m wearing for bottoms. It’s not a huge problem for me. I just reach back and push it back up. A snap at the top (or something like it) would alleviate the sheet slide.
Luggage Pass-through
Finally, between the frame sheet and the back of the bag, you can reach an arm all the way through. You can reach two arms all the way through. And if you can reach two arms all the way through, you can surely reach a luggage pull handle all the way through, too! This is a luggage pass-through. Ingenious. The whole back of the bag is a luggage pass-through. Not just a strap – the entire back of the bag! This orientation allows the Synik to stand upright – not on its side like so many other packs.
External Access to the Laptop Compartment
The entire right side of the Synik opens up to expose the contents of the laptop compartment. I’ll cover this compartment later but the side access is a part of the external features of the bag.
Some struggle with the side access and having to manipulate their device in odd ways to get it in. I do not have this problem as I use a 13 inch iPad Pro. This isn’t to say that the issues others have aren’t a thing. It’s just relative. Your mileage may vary.
My only “issue” was with the zipper itself. I wanted to install a paracord pull but there is no actual pull on this number 8 YKK® zipper. It’s just the slider and a thin pull that is NOT a Pull Du Jour. It wasn’t a real “issue” issue. I just had to tie the snake knots while the paracord was looped through and already attached to the bag. First world problems.
That pretty well covers the exterior of the Synik but what about all those pockets???
Frontal Organization and Pockets
The frontal organization is astounding! How can that much stuff fit on the “lid” and still have so much space on the inside??? I think Tom Bihn must also be a magician.
There are FIVE pockets on the front of the Synik: two upper pockets, two side pockets, and a bottom pocket. And believe me, they hold some stuff!
The Water Bottle Pocket
The top of the two upper pockets is pretty great! It’s deep and wide enough to hold a good-sized water bottle (or a bunch of other stuff, if you don’t mind rummaging around by feel). It’s great for a water bottle, because it’s centralized for better load balance – thanks Tom Bihn!
I have both an 18 ounce Yeti Rambler and a 26 ounce Yeti Rambler. Both fit down in there just fine (the 26 ounce, not without consequence). I know that some prefer to carry a heavy, bucket-sized water bottle with them, in which case, sorry. You may be out of luck here. I don’t have a larger water bottle to test but I suspect that the pocket would begin to get tight. It may not look like it at the top of the pocket but it tapers as it goes down.
There is one “miss” with this pocket, in my opinion. It would have been nice to have a small hole with a grommet somewhere on the front to allow for drainage in the event of a spill. The mesh lining would allow water to enter the side pockets but also anywhere else there are seams. I always make sure the cap is super tight.
The Next Pocket Down
Just below the water bottle pocket is another centralized pocket, which offers about half the depth – in the neighborhood of 6.5 to 7 inches. Most of my hand fits down in there. To me, this is the most average, run-of-the-mill pocket of the five. It’s just a pocket where I keep my work keys, AirPods Pro, and a few other knickknacks.
I mentioned things getting tight. This pocket does have the potential to get rather tight. Although it’s said that each of the front pockets have their own “independent” volume, they can most definitely encroach on each others’ space and volume. Stick an average-build, tubular-style water bottle of say 26 ounces or more in the water bottle pocket and see how tight one becomes. To be sure, larger water bottles can encroach on the side pockets, too.
The Two Side Pockets
The right and left side pockets have some height to them. They run from the water bottle pocket all the way down to the bottom pocket and are more conical in shape. They start narrower and become larger and fuller at the bottom.
These, pockets, like the water bottle pocket, have some volume! They fit a lot! But… I immediately noticed that if I just throw things in, they can become messy with everything sitting on the bottom forcing me to rummage around when I need to get something.
Each side pocket does have sewn-in organization on the reverse side of the front flap but it’s not the type of tight-but-stretchy mesh that would hold items in. It’s non-stretch Halcyon with some nylon bias tape sewn across the top. It just seems a bit loose for me. So I don’t use it. Seems like a bit of a “miss”. The solution?
Accessories!
Dang it, Tom Bihn! You got me again!
A quick trip to tombihn.com and a couple Ghost Whale Organizer Pouches, two Cubelets, several Key Straps, a Small Snake Charmer, and an HLT2 later and bingo! Organization at last.
I’ve got each side pocket organized using those Ghost Whale Organizer Pouches and Cubelets, all tethered to a singular o-ring with Key Straps.
Right Side Pocket
- One small Black Ghost Whale Organizer Pouch (tethered to o-ring, see linked review for contents)
- One small Nebulous Grey Ghost Whale Organizer Pouch (tethered to o-ring, see linked review for contents)
- One Cubelet (tethered to o-ring, see linked review for contents)
Left Side Pocket
- One Cubelet (tethered to o-ring, see linked review for contents)
- Alpaka Zip Pouch Coin (tethered to o-ring)
Each side pocket STILL has room for more!
Bottom Pocket?
Is the bottom “pocket” actually a pocket or a totally separate bag in itself? This is the abyss of the frontal organization of the Synik. It holds more than all of the other pockets combined! Three o-rings can help you stay organized in this vast space – it really is deceptively vast! You would never know there’s as much space in there as there is. You can see reviewers stuffing all sorts of stuff in here!
For me, I have a fully-stuffed Size 2 Handy Little Thing (Tahoma Halcyon, tethered to o-ring), a fully-stuffed small Snake Charmer (Sangria Cerylon, tethered to o-ring), and a towel. Always know where your towel is.
I can’t understate the capacity of the bottom pocket. You’ll be amazed!
With all I’ve got packed in there, there’s still room for more!
Below the Bottom Pocket
There’s more? Yep. One more thing. Just below the bottom pocket on the bottom of the bag is a strap for attaching whatever you’d like to attach. Most who mention this like to suggest a light, especially if you’re a bike rider. Makes sense. Visibility is important. And Tom Bihn thinks about the important things!
The Main Compartment
A firm pull of the solid YKK zippers enclosing the Synik opens it clamshell style, and reveal an expansive main compartment, in which one can load quite a bit more stuff.
It can easily accommodate enough to allow for a weekend getaway. In fact, there are YouTubers, who document their much longer journeys carrying only a Synik. I, myself, tend to be a little less adventurous in terms of what I pack. Definitely not a one-bagger here.
The Main compartment of the Synik features five elements:
- A cavernous open space with it’s own zip code
- Compression straps
- An enormous pocket on the inside of the lid
- O-rings and cache loops (holdover from its older sibling, the Synapse, which somehow now I think I need? Tom Bihn gettin’ to me again?!)
- A laptop compartment with both internal and external access.
The Cavernous Open Space
The first thing you see when you open the Synik is a vast open space. It’s screaming to be filled with travel items/equipment or EDC. Just dump it in there or employ a more modular approach using the Tom Bihn-branded Synik 30 Packing Cube or any other you may have. There’s way too much to mention that one can use for modular packing out there. So I’ll go with what’s recommended by Tom Bihn and link to the Organization Bags and Accessories Collection.
Compression Straps
Two white compression straps connected inside the cavernous open space by Gatekeeper Clips can be used to cinch down whatever you throw in. It should be mentioned that these will likely work better with a modular approach to packing. I, myself, have not used these and instead have removed them, which is most definitely not an easy task for my aging fingers. Gatekeeper Clips… What devil invented these??!
The Enormous Pocket
Tom Bihn refers to it as an “interior banded open-top pocket”. I call it the enormous pocket on the inside of the lid. It holds a LOT but, honestly, I don’t use it much. Whatever I put in there tends to slide right out as soon as I open the bag. The band at the top would be great if it were a zipper. Understandably, some may put taller things inside but in other circumstances, a zipper would be nice. It does hold a lot when it’s upright, though!
O-rings and Cache Loops
As with all bags and accessories from Tom Bihn, there are o-ring connection points throughout. I’m a huge fan of their snap hooks and o-rings. I love the organization and security they offer. It’s such a simple but effective idea. The main compartment features two o-rings at the top interior of the lid and two on the top of the laptop compartment.
Also at the top interior of the main compartment lid are two cache loops, which seem to be holdovers from the Synapse. They held a laptop Cache in that bag and can do the same in the Synik, though there’s redundancy here. One can also clip an HLT2 to the cache loops. I usually don’t hook anything to these. But it’s nice to have the option.
Laptop Compartment
The built-in, and slightly suspended laptop compartment offers adequate protection for anything inside. The claim is that it holds up to a 16 inch MacBook Pro, and it does, but it takes some manipulation to get it in. I don’t use a laptop anymore. So I put my cased 13″ iPad Pro in there instead. I always use the side external opening to put it in and take it out. No problem. In fact, the cased iPad swims in there. Why do I always use the external side opening?
It seems like the interior zipper at the top of the laptop compartment is a little narrow. It’s just not that easy get a larger laptop in and out of there. The narrow width of the opening and the fact that one almost has to fold the top of the bag back to get the laptop out renders the zipper unnecessary in all. Padding is also pretty minimal on the internal side. It’s just mesh. These things are a miss. But maybe there’s a solution that comes from another internal pocket?
Laptop Compartment Solution?
Considering the shape of the bag (narrower at the top than at the bottom) and the proximity of the zipper to the top, a simple “banded open-top” laptop pocket (like the “interior banded open top” pocket on the internal side of the “lid” would be quite adequate and secure. It’s hard to imagine a situation in which a laptop would fully slide out of an internal “banded open-top” pocket without the top of the bag stopping it, especially if the band is made to be tighter. This sort of enclosure seems like it would be way less persnickety than the current zipper.
Conclusion
I have been nothing but impressed by every single product I’ve ordered and received from Tom Bihn. I don’t even want to talk about how much I’ve spent! But it’s worth it!
I now find myself well immersed in the culture of a company that is clearly dedicated to quality as well as socially and environmentally conscious practices. I completely love that!
The Tom Bihn Synik has taken the cynic out of me! Its functionality has me second-guessing every other bag/sling/dopp kit that I had before from other makers. I’m replacing those that aren’t performing up to my new-found “Bihnian” standards, a piece or two at a time.
Thanks Tom Bihn! You know I’ll be back for more!
How I Got This Item for Review
I purchased this item myself. Tom Bihn did not supply it to me for review. The opinions in this review are my own and would not be swayed one way or another if I had been given a review unit by Tom Bihn.
