I'm looking at the Brain Bag for travels... I'm thinking of using the external pockets for the 3/1/1 toiletries bag (Transparent cube), keys, phone, headphones, the rear compartment empty when not carrying a laptop, and the main compartment for packing cubes.
I'd get the BB already but a few things about it BAFFLE me, which is what I hope these questions above will answer:
* Why are the two compartments the same size? Why not a narrow one for laptop/paper/notebook etc... and a larger one for packing cube, clothing, camera?
* From what I see of videos, most quite old, the middle compartment only opens up about two thirds of the way. Why not full clamshell? This doesn't make any sense to me...
Hence my questions:
* How does it look, compressed slightly, on someone not too tall? I'm about 5'9. The 25 looks fine on me when not stuffed, if the BB's of similar size (important)
* If using only one of the main compartments, is there any wasted space, or can they compress into one another without much loss of available capacity? (important)
* Can the middle main compartment open FULL clamshell, which would make this a KICKASS travel bag? Maybe on newer versions? (EXTREMELY important)
* Will one of the side-pockets fit a Transparent organizer cube? (important)
* Will one of the side-pockets fit a Side-Effect? (not so important)
* Will it stand-up on its own under most/all circumstances? (one of two main gripes I have with the S25...)
For context, here are my current travel packs:
* GreenRoom136 Rainmaker (Medium, receiving a Large this week): comfy and with AMAZING organization, but looks too squat on me. The Large will fix some of this. It's 27L, opens clamshell, but isn't the most elegant strapped onto me due to its general shape
* Timbuk2 Jet: love it. A big rectangle with just-right organization. I don't like the mesh curtain in the main compartment though which is 100% useless and just impedes loading
* Topo Design Core Pack: GREAT packing, awesome zippers and organization, but looks a bit off on me too
* Synapse 25: only works if I under-use it. Because each pocket has its own space, but can't fit much stuff useful in them (I don't travel with small items which would fit in them), I always end-up with a bulging S25 which doesn't stand-up on its own, has slippery straps, and gets too heavy...
Its only salvation was when giving it to my girlfriend for a short weekend. When under-packed it's very comfortable, besides the slippery strap, which is what gives me hope for the BB...
Cheers for any tips!