Aer Journey Pack 3 Evaluate [TESTED in 2023]

For the minimalist vacationers trying to reduce baggage prices and squeeze their life into one bag for his or her adventures overseas, a stable journey backpack could also be all you want.

Discovering the proper pack generally is a problem, although. You want one thing that’s sufficiently big to hold every thing on your journey, supportive sufficient to allow you to carry all that weight in consolation, and sturdy sufficient to outlive the abuse of journey.

The Aer Journey Pack 3 matches the invoice, permitting you to retailer and manage all your journey gear in a single purposeful backpack. It’s robust, compact, and has loads of options to maintain you organized in your journey.

But it surely’s positively not for everybody. Gentle packers will adore it, however those that are inclined to overpack would possibly battle with this smaller journey bag.

I put this bag to the check and convey it alongside as a single carry-on merchandise for a two-week journey to Costa Rica.

Sure, I lived out of simply this bag (and the WANDRD 9L Roam Sling for my digicam gear) for 2 weeks and—to my shock—I made it work!

However is that this the proper bag for you? On this overview of the Aer Journey Pack 3, I’ll dive into my expertise with this bag, what it excels at, and the issues I wanted have been totally different.

Aer Journey Pack 3 Abstract

The Aer Journey Pack is streamlined for carry-on journey. Dwelling as much as their slogan, “Journey Each Day,” they’re specialised in setting up a backpack that can be utilized “from the workplace to the gymnasium, or from San Francisco to Tokyo.”

Dwelling out of this bag for every week or extra received’t be for everybody. I’m a textbook minimalist traveler so in case you’re the kind of traveler who likes “choices,” there is no such thing as a probability this pack will have the ability to match all your excessiveness (I imply that within the kindest approach doable).

If the thought of packing much less and carrying much less will get you excited, you’ll most likely love this bag. It’s for gentle packers or brief journeys, not for individuals who prefer to convey every thing however the kitchen sink.

To provide you an thought of the capability of this bag, right here’s what I packed:

The garments I packed have been primarily made from artificial supplies, in a position to be rolled up and compacted right down to a smaller dimension. Should you plan on packing denims and large sweatshirts, don’t count on to have the ability to match every week’s value of garments on this pack.

My Canon R5 physique and a pair of lenses match properly into my WANDRD 9L Roam Sling, so with the pack on my again, and the sling on my hips, I used to be set for 2 weeks in Costa Rica!

Aer Journey Pack 3 Execs and Cons     

Earlier than diving into the professionals and cons, it’s essential to handle what this bag is and who it’s for.

The Aer Journey Pack 3 is basically too massive for use as a each day carry, and it isn’t actually well-suited for mountain climbing. Because the identify implies, this pack is really constructed for journey. Its good design helps make the most of area effectively and is simple to maintain organized. 

The Aer Journey Pack is basically meant as a carry-on backpack for one-bag journey, and that’s the place it shines.

I dont prefer to verify a bag once I journey overseas, I usually carry a bigger pack as my carry merchandise. This pack is a bit smaller than ones I’ve used previously, however it works effectively as a carry-on bag in case you’re a lightweight packer. It has its limits, although.

Right here’s a brief checklist of a few of the different execs and cons of the Aer Journey Pack 3.

Who’s Aer?

Aer is run by a small staff primarily based in San Francisco, California. Based in 2014, Aer started as a crowdfunded undertaking whose aim was to mix a gymnasium bag and an workplace bag into one simplified backpack. Since their preliminary begin, they’ve grown to create award-winning merchandise to assist their prospects journey higher.

Their merchandise are impressed by town and try to combine good options and minimalist fashion with an emphasis on simplicity, utility, and sturdiness.

Aer Journey Pack 3 Evaluate

Now that you’ve a basic thought of what the Journey Pack 3 has to supply, let’s take a extra thorough take a look at the design and performance.

Supplies

The Aer Journey Pack 3 is made with 1680D Cordura ballistic nylon exterior (bluesign accredited), YKK zippers, and Duraflex plastic {hardware}.

As I discussed, this pack is supposed for journey, not for rugged adventures, although if coupled with the elective hip straps, it could possibly be simply used for some straightforward day hikes. So long as you’re not tossing the pack down a slab of granite or intend on testing its water resistance to the acute, the supplies will maintain up effectively all through your travels.

That being stated, I really like the general felt power of this pack. Aer positively didn’t low cost out on the supplies and it reveals. 

I believe the supplies on this pack will maintain up for a few years to return.

Score: 4/5

Aesthetic

One could suspect a bag with as many options because the Journey Pack 3 to look a bit extreme, however Aer was in a position to pull off each performance and clear aesthetics.

The pack lives as much as Aer’s minimalist pursuit, providing a smooth look that may be a good match for on-the-go journey.

Its low-profile look provides it the flexibility of a journey bag, a mountain climbing bag or a piece bag with out drawing any unneeded consideration to it.

One factor to notice is that the Aer Journey Pack doesn’t have many colours to select from. You may get black, gray, olive inexperienced, or black X-Pack (a lighter, fully-waterproof material).

I personally love black, however for anybody who likes a splash of shade of their journey gear, the choice here’s a bit disappointing.

The quantity of black journey backpacks you see in an airport is considerable, making it straightforward to confuse which bag is yours. Having the choice to face out from the pack (see what I did there?) may come in useful.

Score: 5/5 

Consolation

The pack is constructed for consolation with well-padded shoulder straps, a sternum strap, and an inner framesheet to distribute the load. When it’s packed to the brim, although, it begins weighing in your shoulders, particularly in case you don’t have the upgraded detachable hip belt (I didn’t).

With no hip straps, I had an incredible quantity of weight on my shoulders which might make a 20-minute wait in line for customs fairly arduous. Strolling from terminal to terminal, much more so.

Should you pack gentle with only some of your belongings, the padded shoulder straps could possibly handle the burden to some extent, however for me, hip straps are a should on any pack greater than a small daypack. 

I don’t care if it’s two weeks of things or a laptop computer and a jacket. Should you’re carrying it for lengthy sufficient, the pack goes to trigger discomfort if all the burden is simply distributed in your shoulders. Weight tolerance will differ from individual to individual, so experiment with what feels greatest for you and discover out what your physique can and can’t deal with. 

The excellent news is that you would be able to get a padded hipbelt to connect to this bag. The unhealthy information is that it will likely be an additional value.

Score: 3/5

Group

I’m naturally fairly cluttered and disorganized, so I used to be impressed with how the general performance of this bag helped me tame the chaos whereas packing for my journey.

Some baggage have too many pockets, to the purpose the place I can’t bear in mind which pocket I put issues in. Different baggage have too few, and all my belongings come pouring out as quickly as I open a zipper.

The Aer Journey Pack 3 actually hit the Goldilocks zone for pockets and felt “excellent” for me. It has good group options designed to present you a spot for every thing with out being overly difficult.

The lay-flat principal compartment allowed me to pack and entry my garments effectively, the padded laptop computer compartment felt secure and safe, and the surface mesh pocket made accessing objects on the go, fast and because the identify implies, “straightforward”.

Score: 5/5

Sturdiness

The Aer Journey 3 is definitely a sturdy pack. Even earlier than testing it out, I seen how sturdy this pack felt. That is positively not the case with all packs. 

There was by no means a degree in my journey that I felt like my bag was vulnerable to harm. 

The zippers on the again get essentially the most put on for my part, particularly with a bag that’s practically bursting on the seams, and by no means as soon as did I really feel like my zippers have been about to fail. 

I might be cautious of placing it to the check towards something too rugged however the 1680D Cordura ballistic nylon exterior feels sturdy and waterproof sufficient to carry up towards an surprising rainstorm or some gentle abrasion.

Score: 4/5

Aer Journey Pack 3 Options

The Aer Journey Pack 3 comes with an abundance of considerate options. There’s a compartment for every thing—and nothing extra—which provides to the benefit of each day use.

Lay-Flat Predominant Compartment

For my part, the lay-flat principal compartment is a must have function on journey baggage. Everybody has needed to unpack and repack their bag simply to search out that one merchandise. The lay-flat zipper makes it tremendous straightforward to pack and discover objects with out having to dig ferociously to the underside.

Trying on the bag, I don’t know the way I match two week’s value of garments in there however I did! The power to unzip the pack totally and thoroughly place your objects positively will increase the performance of the obtainable area.

I saved a packing dice on this compartment that helped hold my garments organized. My digicam tools was carried within the WANDRD 9L Roam Sling so the dice was used just for clothes and some different random objects.

What I felt was missing have been inner compression straps to maintain every thing in place. 

A lot is getting positioned on this principal compartment and although the lay-flat zipper makes it straightforward to open and entry, objects are inclined to fall out when there are not any facet partitions holding them in.

Some compression straps to safe my garments and different objects would have been a useful function to have and would have introduced some added peace of thoughts when opening my pack.

Padded Suspended Laptop computer Compartment

The laptop computer pocket can match laptops as much as 16” and there’s a lot extra room for different digital equipment or paperwork within the divided compartment. 

With an ample quantity of area, padding, and a delicate material lining, I by no means felt like my laptop computer was vulnerable to harm.

A lay-flat zipper on this compartment would make it simpler to entry my cables and onerous drives that I saved in there.

Additionally, a number of added compartments again right here for onerous drives or a pill would make it simpler to remain organized.

The quantity of cables, dongles and tech equipment that include touring with a laptop computer can really feel overwhelming. There’s loads of area within the suspended laptop computer compartment for all of that so to have some added group would have helped a ton.

Load Lifters

The load lifters have been a pleasant function to see on a journey pack, as they’re commonest on backpacking baggage. It positively helped with adjusting the load for a extra snug match.

What are load lifters? Load lifters are two small straps which are connected to the shoulder straps and again of your pack. Tightening and loosening them adjusts the closeness of the bag to your physique, permitting for larger consolation and stabilization by reducing the sway of the pack. 

Load lifters is probably not a necessity for everybody however they’re positively a pleasant function for added consolation, particularly in case you are touring with a totally loaded single-carry backpack. 

Compression Design

The compression straps on the facet can come in useful in case your pack is crammed to the brim and also you’re trying to save an inch or two of area.

I used the compression straps to safe a tripod which ended up figuring out rather well. 

To enhance performance and diversify the use, I might’ve preferred to see these straps develop just a bit bit extra as they grew to become fairly tight once I tried to safe my tripod.

Sure, I understand these straps aren’t particularly designed to hold issues, however I can’t think about I’m the primary and solely particular person to make use of these straps for this.

There are such a lot of touring creators on the market so to have these compression straps carry out as a twin functioning tripod straps would positively up the attraction for lots of people. An added sleeve for the tripod legs on one of many sides of the bag could be a fairly superior enchancment to see too.

Lockable Zippers

It’s a small element, however the truth that you’ll be able to lock the primary zippers generally is a massive deal for some. Should you’re carrying beneficial objects like a laptop computer, digicam, or different electronics, it will probably add a number of peace of thoughts realizing you’ll be able to safe your bag from undesirable intrusion.

Remember that it’s nonetheless doable for thieves to tear by way of zippers, so it positively isn’t a fool-proof answer. Locking the zippers of your pack does present som deterrence for informal thieves although.

Backside Shoe Pocket

I really like this function on journey baggage. This pocket is accessed from the underside of the bag, extending into the primary compartment. 

The pocket is comparatively spacious as I used to be in a position to match a pair of trainers and a Lowepro RunAbout BP 18L Collapsible Backpack in right here. A few pairs of flip-flops or sandals would even be an affordable match.

In regular suitcases, footwear are sometimes positioned in with every thing else which can be okay at first of the journey when your footwear are clear, however after hikes and sandy walks on the seaside it is probably not so best.

The power to separate your soiled footwear out of your clear garments is an superior function to have and considerably of an surprising luxurious in a bag of this dimension. 

What ought to be famous is that not all footwear will have the ability to slot in right here. As I discussed, I had a pair of compact trainers on this pocket however a set of excessive heels or chunky mountain climbing boots would make it a decent squeeze.

Simple Entry Entrance Pocket

Easy accessibility is the secret when touring with a solo carry-on bag. No matter whether or not you’re within the airport, or caught in a rainstorm ready for an Uber, fast entry to your each day journey requirements is vital to staying organized and retaining your objects secure. 

I actually loved the performance of this entrance pocket. It was giant sufficient to stow a pair of sandals and arranged sufficient to maintain my each day objects available. 

There are numerous totally different pockets and compartments inside this entrance entry pocket which are appropriate for every thing from a pen and journal, to a toothbrush and toiletries. 

The zipper folds three-quarters of the best way down to supply that quick access so that you don’t should blindly dig round to search out a few of the smaller objects you might have stowed in there. 

Expandable Water Bottle Facet Pocket

The expandable water bottle pocket on the facet of the backpack was deceptively giant. 

Following Aer’s minimalist strategy, the compartment appears fairly stealthy, with a vertical zipper that enables it to develop and provides you extra space for bigger bottles. 

At first sight, I didn’t assume my wide-mouthed water bottle would slot in there however to my shock, it did with ease. 

Although the expandable possibility provides the minimalist look, I don’t discover all of it that crucial as it’s a topless compartment that smaller objects may simply fall out of rendering it solely helpful for a water bottle.

My different criticism with the compartment is the general placement.

It’s positioned within the higher center of the bag which a) makes it more durable to achieve when it’s in your again and b) throws off the burden distribution. 

Heavier objects ought to be saved close to the underside of your pack to permit the burden to be distributed in your hips, not your again or shoulders. Water is usually one of many heaviest belongings you carry, so to have it positioned greater up on the pack is lower than best. 

Fast-Entry Prime Pocket

The short entry high pocket is a good function to have on any backpack, notably one designed for journey. 

All through your lengthy journey days within the airport, you’re continually transitioning from being on the transfer to lengthy durations of down time whether or not or not it’s on a protracted flight or a layover. 

All through your day there are a number of objects that will probably be going out and in of use and the potential to lose or misplace them comparatively excessive.

All too typically I get able to board or deboard the airplane whereas doing the “the place’s my shit” dance, grabbing for my again pocket to verify for my pockets, feeling my seat for my telephone, rubbing my hip for my keys, patting down my jacket for my headphones, and bending down low for the rest that will have fallen out whereas I used to be in a daze.

A single pocket to maintain this stuff secure and safe would absolutely assist to get rid of that fear and the anxious scrambling to collect my belongings.

Detachable Hip Belt (offered individually)

I used to be not in a position to check the hip belt however this actually would’ve made a world of distinction. I extremely advocate getting one for elevated consolation and performance irrespective of how a lot you’re carrying.

As I discussed earlier than, the burden of your pack ought to be distributed in your hips, not your again or shoulders. I can’t assist however really feel like I get taken benefit of when backpack firms are providing hip straps as an add-on possibility offered individually, as, to me, they’re a necessity.

Hip strips not solely add comfortability, but additionally versatility. Some could argue {that a} metropolis or journey pack doesn’t want hip straps (although I might strongly disagree) however a mountain climbing pack merely can not go with out them. 

Not solely is it extremely uncomfortable to hike with out hip straps, it’s horrible for the physique. 

With the quantity of strolling that may go right into a day of journey, hip straps are a a lot wanted function in case you don’t need a sore again and shoulders the subsequent day.

Aer Journey Pack 3 Dimensions and Specs

The Journey Pack 3 measures in at a peak of 21.5″ (54.5 cm), a width of 13” (33 cm), and a depth of 9” (21.5 cm). By dimensions, it’s a pretty small pack. Most individuals who I confirmed this bag to and instructed them that this was all I used to be bringing, referred to as me loopy. 

The compact dimension permits it to go any airline’s carry-on restrictions 

Although gentle in weight weighing in at 4.2 lbs, it will probably retailer as much as 35 L, permitting loads of room for what you want.

Dimensions	Size: 21.5″ x 13″ x 9″
Capability	35 L
Weight	4.2 lbs

Aer Journey Pack 3 Options

The Aer Journey Pack 3 received’t be for everybody however there’s positively a pack on the market for you. Listed here are a number of extra choices that you could be favor.

Nomatic 40L Journey Bag

If the Journey Pack 3’s 35L capability isn’t sufficient, Nomatic’s 40L Journey Bag is likely to be a greater possibility. Although 5L isn’t an enormous distinction, it may simply be sufficient area to squeeze in these few further objects that you simply have been going to have to go away behind. 

It’s loaded with 20+ revolutionary options like a laundry bag, shoe compartment, and an underwear and sock pocket. 

It’s made with a water-proof materials, not waterproof, so this bag can positively deal with a bit extra ruggedness if crucial. 

It measures in at 21″ x 14″ x 9″ so it is rather comparable in dimension to the Journey Pack 3 and capabilities each as a backpack and a duffle bag. 

It comes with a waist and sternum strap which is sweet to see as not an add on. 

Truthfully, this pack sounds superior and could also be a possible answer to the Journey Bag 3’s shortcomings.

Peak Design Journey Backpack 30L

The Peak Design Journey Backpack 30L provides a rugged, sturdy and expandable daypack that’s best for shorter journey and on a regular basis carry.

It really works seamlessly with Peak Designs digicam cubes so in case you are a digital creator, this is likely to be the pack you want. 

It meets worldwide carry-on necessities within the expanded 33L kind and the collapsed 27L kind.

The Journey Backpack 30L comes with expansive facet pockets for tripods, water bottles and different equipment, a padded laptop computer sleeve, and an enlarged high pocket designed for passports, wallets, and glasses. 

Tuck-away shoulder straps and elective hip strap attachments make this pack a winner in my eyes.

Ready Carry Max Backpack

The Ready Carry Max Backpack is a 30L pack that’s constructed for work, play and journey.

Possibly you’re not trying to make the most of your backpack as a single carry-on merchandise and simply want it for  some further belongings. With a little bit bit much less room and most of the identical options because the Journey Pack 3, The Max Backpack could possibly be a great possibility for you.

It matches as much as 17” gadgets and is made with a powerful and sturdy X-Pac material and Cordura 1000D nylon.

It gives a 25L principal compartment and exterior pockets that permit for peak group and the pliability to “prepare your day, your approach.”

It comes with thick shoulder help and ventilated pads to maintain your again cool however it doesn’t include a hip straps, nor do I see an possibility so as to add one on.

Aer Journey Pack 3 Ultimate Ideas

There’s lots that goes into touring overseas, most of which might go neglected in preparation. Having the proper backpack and the proper compartments not solely helps you keep organized however lets you bear in mind the objects it’s possible you’ll be forgetting.

The Aer Journey Pack 3 actually checked a number of the bins for me. As somebody who’s notoriously disorganized, I felt not solely well-organized but additionally well-prepared to journey with this bag.

For me, what’s extra essential than performance, group, and luxury, is the reliability of the bag. All of those options develop into much less essential and the journey can develop into way more taxing if a zipper breaks or a strap rips and many others.

I felt secure utilizing the Aer Journey Pack 3. I actually put this bag to the check by packing greater than I most likely ought to have however it was in a position to maintain up exceptionally effectively. Shoot, possibly I’m a kind of “extreme,” packers in spite of everything?

Although it wasn’t at all times straightforward residing out of this bag for 2 weeks, that’s simply the sport with one-bag journey! Sacrifices are made to journey minimally and to have the security and safety of carrying all that you simply want in a single carry-on merchandise.

Single carry-on journey isn’t for everybody, however for many who see themselves as a minimal traveler, I might completely recommend this bag, hip straps included.

With that being stated, the Aer Journey Pack 3 can absolutely be used for greater than only a journey pack. I can see it being an incredible day service for metropolis or on-campus use. 

The value is definitely cheap and the excess of options packed right into a minimal and aesthetic bag makes this backpack a winner for me.

On the finish of the day, there is no such thing as a such factor as an ideal backpack. Although the Aer Journey Pack 3 isn’t any exception, it definitely has lots to supply.