Smart Alec: RIP or OTW

[jonjake]

I’ve been looking for a new or used Smart Alec to use as a grocery backpack, but I can’t figure out if the bag has been discontinued or is merely not currently in stock? I have read conflicting things both here and on the web about the actual status of this bag.

So what is it? Retired design or are there more on the way? There doesn’t seem to be a direct replacement for it, at least for my use case, which is a comfortable and durable flexible large capacity bucket for my weekly groceries hike.

Thanking you in advance for your calrification!

[G42]

I’ve been looking for a new or used Smart Alec to use as a grocery backpack, but I can’t figure out if the bag has been discontinued or is merely not currently in stock? I have read conflicting things both here and on the web about the actual status of this bag.

So what is it? Retired design or are there more on the way? There doesn’t seem to be a direct replacement for it, at least for my use case, which is a comfortable and durable flexible large capacity bucket for my weekly groceries hike.

Thanking you in advance for your calrification!

MikeV or other crew maybe will add more, but generally the Smart Alec was 'retired' to the Design Vault a couple years ago, which means it's not in normal production rotation.

They just made a batch with the updated Edgeless shoulder straps as a pre-order, see below; first production in years.

https://www.tombihn.com/blogs/main/4...ramour-new-bag

A very small quantity of returns, inventory miscounts, etc from that batch have been restocked once or twice and usually disappear almost instantly... If any at all are left, it's probably very few, so you'd want to watch for a post here and watch the website.

I've used my SA for groceries and also the Shadow Guide which has a similar vibe of being a big open volume, so that should be something you take a look at and it comes in two sizes though only two colours

Hope that helps a bit

[John1970]

There are a few posted for sale on the Facebook group right now, including at least one new with tags.

[epeterson]

FWIW, I'm a happy user of both the Smart Alec and the Shadow Guide 23, and of the two, the SG23 is my favored grocery bag. The extra structure in the back, as well as the slanted bottom, are great for heavy loads (like cans).

[MikeV]

Great question! The Smart Alec is a retired design and no more are currently planned. I just marked it as such on the site.

Sorry for the confusion on this! We'd been getting a return here and there still and those won't load properly on the site if the product is marked retired but I think that has run its course now.

[jonjake]

Thanks all! I guess I’ll keep an eye out for a used Smart Alec. Or wait for a limited run in Taiga Halcyon…

[MikeV]

jonjake We did have a couple more Smart Alecs that came in as returns- they're on the site now!

[jonjake]

Where?? I must have missed them...well, congrats to the stalwart daily TB forum followers who snapped them up! And I had the "notify me when this bag is restocked" thingie checked and everything.

[G42]

Where?? I must have missed them...well, congrats to the stalwart daily TB forum followers who snapped them up! And I had the "notify me when this bag is restocked" thingie checked and everything.

When it's only a couple return bags vs a full restock, the system doesn't send an email... And yes, the items stocked that way tend to sell very quickly because there is only usually one or a few...

[KCam]

jonjake
There is a deep blue Smart Alec listed on the site now (probably a return)!

[Chicagoan]

jonjake
There is a deep blue Smart Alec listed on the site now (probably a return)!

I am AMAZED that Smart Alec is still available for sale!

Edit: someone finally bought it!