The Synapse backpack: Q & A

[Darcy]

I thought it'd be good to start a thread dedicated to your questions about the new smaller backpack that Tom is designing named the Synapse.

I'll start off by asking myself a couple of questions I know the answers to (that's pretty easy.)

Q: What fabric will the Synapse be made out of?

A: Most likely the Synapse will be made out of 1000 denier U.S. made Cordura, just like the Brain Bag is. Tom is always finding cool new materials to use so that may change, but probably not.

Q: What colors will the Synapse be available in?

A: If the Synapse is made out of 1000 denier Cordura, it could (not will) be
available in the following colors: Sapphire, Olive, Plum, Cocoa, Black, Steel,
Crimson, Kelly, Navy, and...Cayenne. (More news on Cayenne soon!)

Ask your questions and either Tom or I will do our best to answer them.

P.S. Two new features Tom has just added to the Synapse will be announced in the email newsletter going out tomorrow morning. I'll post the news here after the newsletter goes out.

[gmich]

I'm really interested in seeing the synapse. I was bummed that the sneak-peek pictures were delayed a bit.

One question I have: About how much will it hold? Do you have a ballpark figure on what the volume will be?

[Tom Bihn]

I will attempt to measure the volume of the one prototype next week - then we will know!

[mrae]

I'm definitely going to buy this one. I'm so glad you added a pocket for a water bottle. I think it's going to be my perfect bag now.

[Foggy Morn]

I want one in plum, please.

The newsletter mentions a phone/iPod pocket - will an iPhone fit in it? The suede lining sounds perfect.

(Btw, it's the addition of the water bottle pocket that sold me on it. Thanks for adding that!)

[besttoro]

I second Plum! I might settle for Olive, but Plum is my Christmas wish :P

Happy about the water bottle pocket, too... can't wait to see it.

[moriond]

I second Plum! I might settle for Olive, but Plum is my Christmas wish :P

Happy about the water bottle pocket, too... can't wait to see it.

Another vote for plum . . . and isn't plum (pudding) in the best Christmas tradition?

[gmich]

I'd be interested in plum as well since I'd wanted a plum Brain Bag but ordered mine (according to Josh) ten minutes after the last plum one had been sold.

Another question: Has it been decided yet whether the Synapse will accommodate a Brain Cell? If so, what sizes?

[BK0001]

MacBook Pro

I'd be interested in plum as well since I'd wanted a plum Brain Bag but ordered mine (according to Josh) ten minutes after the last plum one had been sold.

Another question: Has it been decided yet whether the Synapse will accommodate a Brain Cell? If so, what sizes?

I'm crossing my fingers that I can cycle to work with something smaller and with less flying around than my Brain Bag, but still big enough to squeeze in my 15" MacBook Pro.

Any chance of this happening with the Synapse?

[Darcy]

I'm crossing my fingers that I can cycle to work with something smaller and with less flying around than my Brain Bag, but still big enough to squeeze in my 15" MacBook Pro.

The Synapse most likely won't fit a laptop. (It might fit really small laptops encased in a Soft Cell, but I can't be sure. Might fit the Size 5 Brain Cell.)

Don't worry, though: Tom has lots of other ideas for more backpacks. And there *is* the redesigned Smart Alec on its way, which would fit your 15" MBP.

Another vote for plum . . . and isn't plum (pudding) in the best Christmas tradition?

Very true. We will make the Synapse in Plum!

[Darcy]

The newsletter mentions a phone/iPod pocket - will an iPhone fit in it? The suede lining sounds perfect.

Yes, an iPhone will fit in the Ultrasuede pocket. Even my Cingular 8525 will fit!

[mrae]

Any idea on the time frame? I have quite a few Tom Bihn Bags but this will be my first backpack. What's the general design of it: how does it close, inside or outside pockets besides those already mentioned, etc.

[moriond]

Will the back of the Synapse be articulated segments, like the Brain Bag in contrast to the flat back of the Smart Alec? You can see what I mean by mousing over view d of the back of the Brain Bag, and comparing it with views a and b on the Smart Alec page. Using the 360 degree views actually shows this even better. I know some people prefer the flat back for the ease of stowing the Smart Alec, for example, under the seat in front of you on an airplane.

I find the articulated back design more comfortable on larger backpacks, and this is one of the reasons I'm more interested in a new design based on the Brain Bag (like the Synapse) than one based on the Smart Alec. I also like the placement of the handle (if there is one --- is there?) more centrally on the top, like for the Brain Bag, though for the Smart Alec the placement of the handle just above the back allows you to pull the back out very conveniently when it's stowed under the seat in front, and also works better with the organizer pockets in the lid, and the large backpack space (views c, d, and e).

And a question excerpted from the Small Brain Bag thread:

Darcy, do you know whether the new bag will accommodate some version of the Freudian Slip? This could be a smaller version, as discussed in the thread about the horizontal Freudian slip and the possibility of producing versions of this organizer for other (smaller) bags.

[Tom Bihn]

The design of the back panel for the Synapse is still up in the air: I'm not sure if it will be mesh covered, but may is likely to have some quilt lines like the Brain Bag. The top handle will be placed like the Smart Alec directly above the shoulder straps, maybe padded or maybe not

[slinstar]

When??

Any updates on the timeline? I'm pregnant & my Buzz-carrying days are limited! I've been anxiously waiting for a smallish backpack to replace it (I'm 5'4" so the Smart Alec & Brain Bag were never options).