Smart Alec 2.0

My perfect travel companion

Whenever I travel via train I choose the Smart Alec as my companion. Although I own an Aeronaut 30 as well I always end up taking the SA on trains with me and on trips where I end up walking a bit (or a lot) with my luggage. I am a minimalist packer and the SA is easily packed with clothes for up to five days. It’s amazing -as it is with all Tom Bihn bags- how much stuff fits inside the backpack. I had a ballistic SA before and now I bought a Spectron version (because I just love the lightweight and durability of Spectron) and with the Spectron I very much appreciate the additional support of the (additional) frame. The outside pockets are really good for “high need items” like a water bottle, small electronics and other handbag items. About the Velcro: to me it seems like some people are afraid of the velcro closure on the laptop pocket. If you are hesitant to buy just because of it: don’t be. The design team thought of everything! You can just fold the velcro part in half and it does not stick to anything in the bag! In fact: I had a bunch of yarn laying right against the velcro and walked around the city for hours (comfortably) and not one single piece of yarn was caught. You could actually just remove the velcro all together if you really did not want it and the laptop would still be secure. I very much appreciate the design choice here because every other solution would have been to bulky for me. So all in all I can only say what I pretty much always say about any Tom Bihn item: if you think about buying it, do it! It’s such a good investment and you will save money over time because no other brand (at least non I know) has such high quality, is so long lasting and is so good at designing all the tiny details that make it perfect. I see myself wearing my Smart Alec for a long long time.

I researched this bag for an ungodly number of hours and days to ensure I was making the right purchase to replace my trusty 7 year old Bellroy Messenger and let me tell you that the moment I opened that box, it IMMEDIATELY sparked joy and that was even before I tested it out! It’s such a beautiful, solidly made bag that was able to fit everything I normally carry which includes gym shoes and gear, a 16 inch MacBook, 32oz Hydro Flask and extra clothes without a fuss while staying super comfortable and still having space. There’s just something about the top loading design here that works perfectly to tetris your way into packing. I highly HIGHLY recommend it. PS: Shout out to Cody who was super helpful in answering all my questions!

Return of a classic!

I’m glad to see the Smart Alec back in action; it’s a beast of a bag with a wonderfully simple design that lets the end user tinker and fill to their hearts content.