I bought my first Tom Bihn bag (a large Swift) over 10 years ago, and have carried it every day, and it still looks brand new. I confess that we usually look at less expensive options for our bags and our budget, but the Tom Bihn is so well made that it is worth the splurge!
I have been looking at the another bag for a few years now, but my current bag was somewhat serving the purpose, so I've put it off for financial reasons. When the time came to pull the trigger on the purchase, I asked my husband to help me decide (I like to touch things before purchasing, so online purchases are intimidating to me). He insisted I would be happier with the size organization of the Synapse, and I have to say he has been right.
So far I've only had opportunity to take it on a couple of hikes and a day trip or two, but I LOVE the organization. Two smaller pockets serve our medical needs (snacks for his diabetes, my inhaler, and his epipen) keeping them handy in an emergency.
My ever-present water bottle fits perfectly in the center pocket, staying upright and easily accessible. This is a big selling point for me...my previous bag allowed the water bottle to fall around and get lost among the other gear in the main (only) larger pocket.
I keep my wallet and a few things in another pocket where they are convenient to reach but out of the way. The large main compartment has a laptop pocket that contains my iPad, and I can throw my knitting project, a small picnic lunch, a rain jacket,…