I BOUGHT and USED this item. It WAS NOT PROVIDED to me for review by any company.
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The Tom Bihn Side Kick checks many boxes, if you’re looking for utility, comfort, and subdued style. Its design is simple and timeless. Its aesthetic is clean, especially in the gorgeous new 420 Spectron fabric.
But it also checks some OTHER boxes that make this particular Tom Bihn fan boy a little itchy in the scalp. Is the Spectron Side Kick for you? Let’s take a look…
The Time Saver…
Who’s It For?
Professionals, Travelers, Students, and Everyday people on-the-go, will find the Tom Bihn Side Kick to be more than just a pocket reliever with an understated and simple but stylish aesthetic. I mean, it’s Tom Bihn, which stands for quality, adaptability to and functionality in almost every situation as a rule.
The Hits…
- 😃 Spectron: The 420 Spectron fabric is out of this world. I love it! I love the feel of it. I love the look of it. I love that THIS is the direction that the company has moved in their search for a worthy successor to Halcyon – and Cerylon?
- 😃 The Main Compartment Zipper: I love how buttery smooth the number 8 YKK zipper is as it runs across the top of the main compartment with either a slight pull or an authoritative yank. It’s super satisfying.
- 😃 The Construction of the Side Kick: Like every bag and accessory that I have had and currently have from Tom Bihn, it’s top notch. This is absolutely the result of the skill and expertise of the workforce behind it all. Now, does stuff happen? Well…
The Misses…
- 😐 Flippety, Floppety: In 420 Spectron, the Side Kick is a VERY floppy bag. I don’t mind it, myself, but I can see where some may think that the Spectron version of the Side Kick is just too floppy. This Side Kick, in Spectron, may need some interfacing – at least some parts of the bag – to give it just a little more structure.
- 😐 The Front Zipper: I’ve been waiting for it to break in. It’s not changing. This is just how it is. It’s just a rough and louder-than-necessary implementation. I’d love to see it swapped out for a standard coil zipper track, which would be much, much smoother. There just doesn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason to making it reverse coil and the result is “meh”.
- 😐 Organization: Although I, myself, am perfectly ok with a big ol’ dump pocket, others may not be. It seems like there just isn’t enough structural rigidity to effectively implement the kind of organization that one might come to expect from a sling bag in this price range. The pocketing inside is difficult to access quickly because of it.
The Thick of It…
Outside the Tom Bihn Side Kick…
Having worn and used the Tom Bihn Side Kick for about a month, I can say that I like it. Wrapped in the 420 Spectron fabric, it’s got style and presence. So I’ll recommend this variation for sure! Is this to say that I don’t recommend the 630 ballistic? Nope. I just don’t have one. But I do think it’s not a stretch to assume that some of the “misses” may not be “misses” with a stiffer fabric. So I really do recommend the Side Kick in all of its varieties!
First Impressions…
As soon as I opened the envelope containing the Tom Bihn Side Kick in 420 Spectron, it invited me to run my fingers over it like a new puppy. I had been waiting a bit for this one. This was my first exposure to 420 Spectron and my first thought was…
“Wow, I already LOVE this material! Halcyon? What’s that?”
Spectron is soft. It has texture. The diamond-shaped crosshatches are now placed in the forefront with the faint squared off Halcyonic grid of old pushed back. This seems like an intentional communication of progress in a new direction for Tom Bihn. These two shapes were exactly the opposite in the older Halcyon material. Squares to the front of the line – diamonds in the back.
Design & Aesthetics
The design of Tom Bihn’s Side Kick is minimal but sleek. It’s not large or small but sits exactly in the middle of the Side line between the Side Effect and the Side Hustle.
The Side Kick features some expandability in the form of lashing points, to which you can attach whatever you like using a gatekeeper or carabiner clip.
Subtle branding keeps the focus on the bag. There are no labels on the front or back of the Side Kick. Two narrow logo bands are placed on the right and left sides of the gusset, just below the strap connectors. I usually don’t mind some branding on the front or back of a bag. But I know that some prefer none at all. Tom Bihn always seems to strike the right balance here.
What about standout design features? Well, without sounding pejorative, there are no real individual standout design features that I can point to on the Side Kick. It’s a pretty basic bag with above average utility. So, for me, the totality of the design itself is the standout feature, as it allows for adaptability to a large range of use cases.
Build Quality and Materials of the Tom Bihn Side Kick
420 Spectron
My only experience with the Side Kick is in 420 Spectron, which is the culimation of a years long search for a successor to the much loved but less available 200d Halcyon – and it’s a worthy successor, indeed.
Although availability is limited to one color, black, the lining colors change with the product. At the time of publication, the Spectron Side Kick is only available with a 200d Halcyon lining in the Kiwi colorway. But other products chosen for the initial capsule runs of the Spectron fabric had other Halcyon lining colors.
It should be mentioned that the Side Kick is also available in 630d 2×2 high tenacity ballistic nylon in various colors. What’s 630d 2×2 high tenacity ballistic nylon? I’d try to explain but all I can tell you is that it feels nice in the hand. I’ll let Tom Bihn tell you, instead.
The availability of colorways changes all the time. This may require some patience if you’re waiting for something specific.
Is Spectron Waterproof?
Water resistance and water proofness require finishes and coatings. While the Spectron material itself is treated with a C0 DWR finish making it water resistant, it is not waterproof.
It’s odd to be able to say this but, because I’ve been listening a LOT to the Ripstop on the Record podcast by the Ripstop by the Roll team and have heard them talk a LOT about water resistant finishes, I actually feel like I know something about this – in the most simplified terms only, I assure you. My brain would explode, otherwise.
What Is A C0 DWR finish? Rabbit Hole 1…
But the C0 DWR finish is interesting and a testament to how much Tom Bihn cares about YOU and the environment.
A C0 DWR finish is one that, like all DWR finishes, WILL break down over time – a long time. Don’t worry. It won’t be next week. This bag will long be languishing in the back of your closet under a pile of the next eighteen bags you buy before its finish even remotely begins to break down. But, hey, nothing to worry about when it does!
When a DWR finish breaks down, it leaves some permanent nastiness in the form of PFC’s in our environment. But never fear! There won’t be any byproducts, because the “C0” in “C0 DWR” means “Carbon 0”, or PFC-free. So there won’t be any PFC’s left hanging around for us to eat or drink when the finish does break down.
What Does This Have to Do with Tom Bihn?
All of this is to say that Tom Bihn cares enough about the environment and you and me to have insisted upon using environmentally safe materials in the development of Spectron.
Further evidence that the Side Kick is not waterproof is that there are little holes punctured in the fabric when sewing the seams. The holes are permanent and serve as entry points for water over time.
So has my stuff gotten wet outside in the rain? No. Would my stuff get wet if I were in the rain for hours? Maybe a bit. Would my stuff get wet if I went scuba diving wearing the Side Kick? I’m going to say it’s highly likely. Do I usually do ANY of these things? No. But it’s not all about what I do. There may be someone, somewhere…
Now, can someone throw me a rope so I can get out of this rabbit hole?
What about the Stitching and Seams? Rabbit Hole 2…
The stitching on my Side Kick is high quality. The people who work at Tom Bihn are masters at their craft. They’re second to none. And the pride they take in their work is readily apparent in its quality. I have always had and continue to have the utmost confidence in the construction of all of my Tom Bihn bags and accessories.
Does stuff happen? Of course. But those things are most definitely few and far between.
As an example, look at this odd hole that appears in the middle of these pocket divider stitch runs on one bag I bought after buying the Side Kick. Also, there are a couple of thread tails visible. I’ll be writing a review of this Spectron Side Effect soon. Preview: it’s not a whole lot different from the Side Kick!
The Tom Bihn Guarantee
Tom Bihn has a generous lifetime warranty to handle such things, should they arise and you decide to go that route. Give them a call if it’s not something you can fix! Their phone number is right on the tag inside your bag!
Why am I pointing this out? Because it demonstrates that:
- Tom Bihn is not perfect. Mistakes happen and can get through. It’s nothing to blow up the Internet about.
- Tom Bihn has a great warranty program to handle such things.
- Fantasticarry isn’t on the “deny reality” train. Mistakes happen. So -1% for the hole and -.5% for each thread tail. Still 98%. Great job, Tom Bihn!! 😃
What will I do about this hole and these thread tails? Well for the thread tails, I’ll snip them off with some thread nippers. No big deal. And the hole? Ignore it. It’s between two runs of stitching on the interior lining of the bag. It’s not going to get worse. I’ll be fine. Another rabbit hole. Now, back to the show.
Back to the Side Kick…
How about Those Zippers?
Tom Bihn uses number 3, 5, 8, or 10 YKK zippers across all of their products and the Side Kick is no exception. The numbers signify the approximate width of the closed zipper teeth.
The Side Kick uses two number 8 YKK zippers with only the front being reverse coil (teeth facing into the bag – typically for debris or water resistance). The zipper opening the main compartment is standard coil. It’s an interesting design choice to reverse only one of the zippers.
And here’s where I’ll add a caveat.
The reverse coil zipper on the front of the Side Kick can be a little on the “rougher-feeling” side when opening but more so closing. I’m not sure if this is the case with the Spectron variety of the Side Kick alone or all varieties. It’s not sticky like Aquaguard zippers can be. It’s just rougher. I more so liken it to running a fingernail across a piece of paper vs. a piece of high-grit sandpaper. It’s got a noticeable “feel” to it that just isn’t as buttery smooth as opening the top standard coil zipper.
As a result, the sound the front zipper makes is, in my opinion, intensified and louder. I definitely don’t want to have to open the front pocket in a quiet situation at all, let alone more than once.
Enough about that.
But before moving on, it should be noted that Tom Bihn also includes four Pull du Jour zipper pulls to attach to the stock YKK zipper tabs on every Side Kick.
Let’s Go Inside the Tom Bihn Side Kick…
Storage & Organization
Capacity
Looking at the Side Kick as a whole, it comes in at a capacity of 3 liters. I’m going to say that’s an understated 3 liters. Either that, or the other 3 liter sling bags that I have are super overstated. Perhaps that comparison is a little unfair due to the design of the Side Kick and its allocation of space vs other 3 liter slings.
The Side Kick just feels like it holds more than 3 liters. My daily carry is relatively minimal compared to most. The main compartment has no problem holding it. This is typically what I carry and what you see in the Side Kick (yes, these are Amazon associate links. If you use them, thank you!):
- iPhone 14 Pro (would be in external front zipper pocket but was used to take the photo)
- Amazon Kindle Oasis (in slip pocket)
- AirPods Pro (down with keys)
- Chusii MagSafe battery bank
- Kleenex small pack (inside cubelet)
- Vicks VapoInhaler (inside cubelet)
- Allergy spray (inside cubelet)
- Fisherman’s Friend cough drops (inside cubelet)
- Small Purell hand sanitizer (in front pocket)
- My favorite Jack Black lip balm (in front pocket)
- Curiously Strong Altoids (in front pocket)
- Ghost Whale Organizer Pouch – small, grey – Bic Cristal 1.6mm Colored Pens – SO smooth!
- Ghost Whale Organizer Pouch – small, black – Reading glasses
- Alpaka Zip Pouch Coin wallet
- Keys clipped to 8 inch Iberian Snaphook-Snaphook key strap
- And two Sharpie S-Gel 1.0 pens
- That’s it… I think.
The Front Pocket
Organizationally, the Side Kick features a front zippered pocket and a main compartment that is divided into two sections with pockets on either side.
Looking at the front zippered pocket, one can fit flatter items, such as a phone, an e-reader, or perhaps a small tablet inside. Bulkier items can also fit but will compromise the internal space of the main compartment quite a bit.
The Main Compartment
The main compartment of the Side Kick is split into two sections. The majority of the space inside is allocated to this section. It’s a very large dump pocket with two pockets sewn into the lining material (200d Halcyon) on the front side and two pockets and two pen slots sewn into the back side. The pockets on the back side serve also as a divider between the main space of the main compartment and a separate narrower space meant to hold the same types of things as the front zipper pocket. Options… people like options.
The nice thing about the wide open main compartment dump space is that it works great in a modular packing scenario. I load in one or two half liter Cubelets and/or Ghost Whale Organizer Pouches (small) containing some of the EDC items that I typically carry with me. It makes it a lot more manageable a proposition to find things in a pouch rather than sifting through a pile.
The Ever-present O-rings
As options go, there are five O-rings that one can choose from to clip items. Tom Bihn has always included O-rings in their products. They’re those little rings you can see there that can be used to clip items that one may not want to lose track of. There is one in the front zippered pocket and four in the main compartment. I just clip my keys with one. That’s enough for me.
Speaking of keys – the Side Kick also comes with an 8 inch key leash. Clip it to any of the five O-rings you like!
It should be said, again, that the Side Kick will only hold smaller tablet sized (or smaller) devices. It is not a laptop bag. Nor is it a camera bag. This isn’t to say one can’t carry a camera inside at all. There’s just NO protection sewn into the material. No faom. No padding of any sort.
Comfort & Wearability
The Side Kick is a comfortable bag to wear when carrying a small amount of items or larger amount. At 3 liters, it really can’t get too crazy heavy.
It comes equipped with a 1 inch shoulder strap made of very soft webbing. The YKK swivel snap hooks on each end are subdued and not too large for the bag. They’re also easy to operate, even for those of us with hand mobility issues.
The lack of interfacing or real structure makes the Side Kick wrap around one’s side and, for better or worse, flop around in the hand. It just molds to the body. The strap is expandable enough that this should fit nicely for people of all shapes and sizes.
Price & Value…
With a price of $82, one might be a little hesitant to click the purchase button when looking at alternatives in a similar capacity/cost space. Other slings, while they may be overstated in terms of capacity, offer more organization and structural rigidity which can keep the contents of a bag from knocking around in a dump space.
Some other bags in the 3 liter space with superior organization include:
- Aer Day Sling 3: 3 liters, $79/$105/$119 (materially dependent), organizationally superior
- Bellroy Venture Ready Sling 2.5L: 2.5 liters, $89, organizationally superior
- Pakt Everyday 3L Sling: 3L, $95, organizationally better
Considering those examples, one might question the cost to features ratio.
How Does the Side Kick Compare to Similar Bags?
Structurally, the Side Kick is pretty floppy compared to other sling bags, especially the three mentioned above. It is also not padded at all, which adds to the lack of rigidity that makes organization simple-to-access. When not fully packed, it is not easy to slide one’s fingers into some of the pockets or to even slide a pen into the pen slot.
The Conclusion
That said, as I stated at the outset of this review: I’m a huge fan of Tom Bihn and still love this bag! Why? Well, I’m not one for prescriptive organization. So, I’m fine with a big dump pocket. I’m also fine with taking a second to dig around for something. And I’m fine with it just being a simple side bag without the bells and whistles of other bags in its class.
Professionals, Travelers, Students, and Everyday people on-the-go, who appreciate open space to dump stuff and minimal organization are going to love this bag – especially in 420 Spectron.
I definitely can recommend, even with the caveats. It’s a good bag, bottom line.
If I were scoring it out of 10, I’d give it an 8. But it’s not all about what *I* think.
What do YOU think? Do you have the Tom Bihn Side Kick and want to chime in? I’d love to talk about it. Drop by r/Fantasticarry and join/post/comment! You can also email me from my website: fantasticarry.com
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.
