Greenroom136 Rainmaker vs. Tom Bihn Smart Alec
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Greenroom136 Rainmaker
| Capacity | 22 L |
| Weight | 1.7 kg |
| Dimensions | 40×28×20 cm |
| Airline fit | 99% |
| Price | $150 |
Feature by feature
| Greenroom136 Rainmaker | Feature | Tom Bihn Smart Alec |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 4 | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 0 |
| side | Passport | |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| N | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| 15in | Laptop | 17in |
| 3 | Main Compartments | 0 |
| Y | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 1000D Cordura | |
Tom Bihn Smart Alec
| Capacity | 26 L |
| Weight | 0.9 kg |
| Dimensions | 47×30×21 cm |
| Airline fit | 74% |
| Price | $190 |
Key differences between the Greenroom136 Rainmaker and Tom Bihn Smart Alec
- Compression straps: 4 on the Greenroom136 Rainmaker; No on the Tom Bihn Smart Alec.
- Opening: Clamshell on the Greenroom136 Rainmaker; Other on the Tom Bihn Smart Alec.
- Hip belt: No on the Greenroom136 Rainmaker; Removable on the Tom Bihn Smart Alec.
- Sternum strap: Yes on the Greenroom136 Rainmaker; Removable on the Tom Bihn Smart Alec.
- Laptop sleeve: 15in on the Greenroom136 Rainmaker; 17in on the Tom Bihn Smart Alec.
Both have: backpack straps, built-in organizer, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 140 accept both. 47 accept only the Greenroom136 Rainmaker, and 0 accept only the Tom Bihn Smart Alec.
Only the Greenroom136 Rainmaker fits
Air Baltic, Air China, Air Malta, Air Niugini, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Air Tahiti, American Eagle, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Belavia, Blue Air, Bulgaria Air, China Eastern, easyJet, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, flybe, Great Lakes Airlines, Gulf Air, Icelandair, InselAir, Juneyao Airlines, LC Perú, Lion Air Group, Luxair, Meridiana Fly, Nordwind Airlines, Ravn Alaska, Royal Brunei Airlines, Ryanair, S7, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Spring Airlines, Sun Express, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), TUI, Ukraine International, VIM Airlines (Closed), VivaColombia, Volaris, Volotea, Wizz Air, Xiamen.
The Greenroom136 Rainmaker and Tom Bihn Smart Alec are both outstanding carry-on backpacks, but each offers distinct features that can appeal to different types of users. The Rainmaker, standing tall at 40 inches, is a tad smaller in size than the Smart Alec which boasts an impressive height of 47 inches. Still, with a depth of 21 inches, both backpacks are structurally well-balanced and are designed for optimized space utilization.
Despite the larger dimension, the Smart Alec manages to tip the scale at just 0.9 pounds, almost half the weight of Rainmaker which weighs 1.7 pounds. Thank the resilient 1000D Cordura material which not only adds sturdiness to the Rainmaker but also makes it water-resistant - a feature that you'll really appreciate when you're caught in a sudden downpour. The Smart Alec, on the other hand, leans more towards a minimalistic design.
- Size: Rainmaker (40" by 28" by 21") vs. Smart Alec (47" by 30" by 21")
- Weight: Rainmaker (1.7 pounds) vs. Smart Alec (0.9 pounds)
- Capacity: Rainmaker (22 litres) vs. Smart Alec (26 litres)
- Airline Compatibility: Rainmaker (100%) vs. Smart Alec (98%)
- Material: Rainmaker (1000D Cordura) vs. Smart Alec
- Laptop Compartment Size: Rainmaker (15 inches) vs. Smart Alec (17 inches)
When it comes to carrying capacity, the 4 liters of extra space in Smart Alec can make a world of difference, especially for those who often find themselves packing at the last minute. It's compatible with nearly all airlines, losing out to the Rainmaker by just 2 percentage points. Moving on to accommodating tech items, the Rainmaker can hold a 15 inch laptop quite snugly, whereas the Smart Alec pulls ahead with space for a 17 inch laptop.
The deciding factor, though, could be the bag's customization feature. Known for its versatility, the Rainmaker is highly customizable and there's a specific place for your things. On the contrary, the Smart Alec adopts a sleek, modular design, which allows for user customization, adapting to needs as and when necessary. Reviewers have praised both manage to strike that sweet balance of form and function, making them both great choices but for very different reasons.