Think Tank Photo My 2nd Brain 13 Review- Made Especially for Apple Devices!

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Think Tank Photo makes awesome camera bags. We’ve reviewed many of them, and you can see all our video reviews here. Now they have rolled out a new line of bags for Apple devices. They come in a range of sizes including a My 2nd Brain 13 that will fit a 13″ MacBook, an iPad, an iPhone, and assorted accessories. See them!

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Think Tank Photo’s new My 2nd Brain 13 is a slim, soft case that is just 2.4 inches thick. It is specifically designed to hold a 13″ MacBook Pro or MacBook air, an iPad, an iPhone, and additional adapters, memory cards and assorted accessories. The goal of this bag is to keep your gear well-organized inside a soft, tough water-resistant bag that can go pretty much anywhere you need it to go. It achieves its goal!

This isn’t a bag you’re going to want to overstuff since that defeats the entire purpose of a slim bag such as this. Rather, this is a bag designed for someone who truly needs to keep a mobile office with them at all times. Let’s take a look at the bag on video, and then we’ll go through some of the specific design features a bit more closely.

I opted to review the 13″ version of this bag since I plan to move to a 13″ MacBook Pro with retina display as soon as the new models are released. I’m excited to have this particular bag, because it will allow me to carry everything I need but no more. As someone who has a tendency to over stuff my bags, this will be a great benefit to me. 🙂

Here’s an overview of what Think Tank Photo says about the intended use of the My 2nd Brain 13:

It’s made of tough, soft water-resistant fabrics and metal hardware that complement the Apple aesthetic. Slide an iPad into the zippered padded pocket that also has an organizer for pens and more. Keep an iPhone in the top pocket with a pouch for earbuds or a Bluetooth headset. Unzip the main compartment to organize and secure adapters and small items in clear zippered pockets. Stow documents in the rear pouch. Even the removable padded shoulder strap has a clip for full-size headphones—all in a case that’s only 2.4” thick.

Gear Profile: Fits a 13” MacBook Pro/Air + any iPad + iPhone + power adapter with AC cable, portable drives, USB hub and cable, monitor adapters, network cables, memory cards, pens, business cards, plus more small items.

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As I’ve come to expect from this company, the materials used in the bag’s construction are carefully chosen and well considered.

Exterior: Durable water-resistant fabric, plus fabric underside has a polyurethane coating for superior water-resistance. YKK® RC Fuse zippers, nickel-plated metal hardware with brushed aluminum finish, 420D velocity nylon and 600D brushed Polyester, dual-cross buckle, herringbone webbing, 3-ply bonded nylon thread.

Interior: 210D silver-toned nylon lined, Nylex lined iPhone and iPad pockets, clear mesh pockets, 150D hexa mesh pockets, closed-cell antilon foam, 3-ply bonded nylon thread.

The front pocket unzips on two sides to allow the corner to drop down and reveal a simple but effective organizational compartment. There is a loop to attach your key ring, there’s a small organizational area for pens, USB flash drives and other small items and there is a slot for an iPad toward the front. This is great for those items you’ll want to quickly grab on the go.

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Above this pocket is a second zipper that opens to reveal a shallow pocket that runs the entire width of the bag. It’s lined with fleece, so any items placed inside — most likely your iPhone as indicated by a sticker when the bag arrives — won’t easily scratch. There is a small mesh pocket toward the back for those tiny items that might otherwise be lost. This is a great place to stow your earbuds.

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Unzipping the main compartment of the My 2nd Brain reveals another organizational area. Along the back are three pockets – one larger and two smaller and more shallow. Along the front there are two zippered pockets that run the entire width of the bag. They’re made from a clear material that allows you to see exactly what is inside while fully sealing the contents within the pocket. The space opens only part way, thanks to side material. At first I didn’t like this design and would have preferred having the ability to open the space fully. After using it for a bit however, I realized that this design helps keep items in this space from falling out if the bag falls over.

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A final zipper opens to reveal the laptop compartment. This has just enough padding to keep your laptop protected while not so much that it adds to the bag’s bulk and weight.

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If you like a bag with a north-south orientation, use Apple products, and want to travel light (but well-equipped), the My 2nd Brain 13 is a great option. It is well-made, thoughtfully designed, and a pleasure to use. It is great to see Think Tank Photo branching into this new area, and I’m anxious to see that they come up with next! Check out the entire line here and keep an eye out for our upcoming review of the My 2nd Brain Tablet. Yup, the company made an even smaller version for those people who are “all in” with iPads. Learn more.

MSRP: $94.75

What I Like: Great quality materials and build; Designed with Apple-lovers in mind; Keeps all your gear organized; Detachable shoulder strap with headphone/water bottle attachment point; Dedicated spots for iPad, iPhone and laptop

What Needs Improvement: Won’t appeal to those who don’t like a north/south-orientation

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

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About the Author

Dan Cohen
Having a father who was heavily involved in early laser and fiber-optical research, Dan grew up surrounded by technology and gadgets. Dan’s father brought home one of the very first video games when he was young and Dan remembers seeing a “pre-release” touchtone phone. (When he asked his father what the “#” and “*” buttons were his dad said, “Some day, far in the future, we’ll have some use for them.”) Technology seemed to be in Dan’s blood but at some point he took a different path and ended up in the clergy. His passion for technology and gadgets never left him. Dan is married to Raina Goldberg who is also an avid user of Apple products. They live in New Jersey with their golden doodle Nava.