Tom Bihn Smart Alec vs. Tom Bihn Paramour
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Tom Bihn Smart Alec
| Capacity | 26 L |
| Weight | 0.9 kg |
| Dimensions | 47×30×21 cm |
| Airline fit | 74% |
| Price | $190 |
Feature by feature
| Tom Bihn Smart Alec | Feature | Tom Bihn Paramour |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 0 |
| Passport | front | |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| removable | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| 17in | Laptop | 17in |
| 0 | Main Compartments | 2 |
| Y | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | N |
| Material | |
| bluesign® certified High-Tenacity 630 denier ballistic nylon | |
Tom Bihn Paramour
| Capacity | 21 L |
| Weight | 0.8 kg |
| Dimensions | 46×34×26 cm |
| Airline fit | 17% |
| Price | $185 |
Key differences between the Tom Bihn Smart Alec and Tom Bihn Paramour
- Built-in organizer: Yes on the Tom Bihn Smart Alec; No on the Tom Bihn Paramour.
- Water resistant: Yes on the Tom Bihn Smart Alec; No on the Tom Bihn Paramour.
Both have: backpack straps, hip belt, sternum strap, laptop sleeve.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 32 accept both. 108 accept only the Tom Bihn Smart Alec, and 1 accept only the Tom Bihn Paramour.
Only the Tom Bihn Smart Alec fits
Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Asia, Air Astana, Air Canada, Air Caraibes, Air France, Air India, Air Macau, Air Mauritius, Air Nostrum, Air Wisconsin, AirAsiaX, Alaska Airlines, All Nipon Airways, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, ANA, Atlas Global, Austrian, Avianca , Azerbaijan Airlines, Bahamasair, Bangkok Airways, Biman Bangladesh, Boliviana de Aviacion, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cathay Pacific, Cayman Airways, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, CommutAir, Conviasa, Czech Airlines, Delta Airlines, Dragonair, EL AL, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, EVA Air, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Flair Air, Garuda Indonesia, Gol Linhas Aereas, Hawaiian Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Iberia, Indigo, Interjet, Iran Air, Iran Aseman Air, Japan Airlines, Jet Airways, Jet2, jetBlue Airways, Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia, Kenya Airways, KLM, Kulula, Kuwait Air, LATAM , Liat Airlines, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Mahan Air, Malaysia Airlines, Mango, Mesa Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Monarch Airlines, Norwegian, Oman Air, Onur Air, Pakistan International, Peach, Porter Airlines, Qantas Airways, Qatar Airways, Regional Express, Republic Airways, Royal Jordanian, SAS Scandinavian, Scoot, Sky Airlines, Skywest, Inc., South African Airways, SriLankan Airlines, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, Thai Airways, Tiger Airways, Trans States, Travel Service Airlines, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Uzbekistan Air, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia, WestJet, WOW Airlines.
Only the Tom Bihn Paramour fits
Ravn Alaska.
Tom Bihn Smart Alec vs. Tom Bihn Paramour: which should you pack?
The Tom Bihn Smart Alec carries 5L more than the Tom Bihn Paramour (26L vs. 21L), while the Tom Bihn Paramour is the lighter pack at 0.8kg (vs. 0.9kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Tom Bihn Smart Alec fits 74% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Tom Bihn Smart Alec; if you want to travel lighter, the Tom Bihn Paramour is the better call.