AER DUFFEL PACK 3: REVIEW
FOREWORD
In the myriad of brands making bags, Aer stands tall as one of the most innovative while also quite affordable bag-makers out there.
With a very deliberate and streamlined product portfolio, Aer covers everything from travel to office and sport packs.
The Active collection is having its third iteration released on Monday, April 5th, 2021, and the hero of my review today is one of the most popular packs in the Aer’s product line - the Duffel Pack 3.
This is my first time using the Duffel pack so unfortunately, I won’t be able to do a comprehensive comparison with the previous iterations of this backpack, but I will share my experience of using the bag for over 2 weeks as an urban EDC, mobile office and a gym bag as well as compare it to some other popular options on the market.
Let’s dive in.
WHO IT SUITS
Anyone looking for a universal multi-purpose bag that is sleek for the office while durable as a gym bag (with a dedicated compartment for your shoes!) and dependable as an overnight backpack for short trips
Those who like all-black aesthetics and smart design
If you are looking for a bag with plenty of external organization and easy access to your belongings
WHO IT DOESN’T
At 21.4L the bag is not expandable - what you see is what you get, also it is somewhat smaller than the previous iteration of the Duffel Pack which came at 24.6L yet somehow was lighter at 2.4 lbs
The futuristic, technical aesthetic might not work for everyone, especially those who are into heritage look
ABOUT THE BAG
PRICE: $175
DIMENSIONS: L 20.5" W 11.75" D 8" (52 cm x 30 cm x 20 cm)
WEIGHT: 2.9 LBS (1.3 kg)
CAPACITY: 21.4L
COLOR OPTIONS: Black, Olive
COMFORT
The Duffel pack features generously padded, thick contoured shoulder straps that are a delight to use no matter the load. There are no load lifters on the top of the straps which definitely helps to keep a clean aesthetic and forgivable for the capacity you get (load lifters make more sense on 25L+ bags anyway)
The back panel features 2 wide mesh sections that help with comfort and air ventilation.
The sternum strap is secured on “rails” which make it very easy to adjust the location of the strap - you can forget about the finicky removal of the strap to readjust the height :)
I don’t often focus on grab handles, since they are pretty basic on most of the bags I review but oh, boy, the top and side grab handles are just superb. Made out of silky smooth seatbelt material, with just the right length, padding, and width. These have quickly become one of my favorite grab handles ever, other companies should definitely take note!
Overall the comfort of the Duffel pack is exceptional and many bags that cost twice as much don’t come close to what you get with this Aer’s offering. Consider me impressed.
DESIGN & FEATURES
The design of the pack is clean, simple, and very much symmetrical. The center zip gives the bag a nice subtle accent and all the pockets on the outside are symmetrical too. This symmetry was surprisingly pleasant in everyday use and made an OCD part of me glee with joy every time I had a chance to use the Duffel pack 3.
As Duffel pack is considered a gym bag I was a bit concerned about how it would fair against smelly items and happy to report that the interior liner is actually treated with an antimicrobial coating to control bacterial odors and growth. This simply means that your bag won’t stink as easily as a regular backpack you might use to carry your workout gear.
One of the side pockets on the outside of the pack actually features a pretty high-quality key clip which is a nice touch as you can store your keys in a dedicated compartment and not in the top quick access pocket (like most of the bags) where you often throw a phone, wallet. I was always puzzled why would someone store keys with other, often delicate items. Aer made a smart choice of providing you with a dedicated pocket for your keys so the rest of the stuff is safe.
The top of the Duffel pack features a quick-access pocket with soft lining - it actually has a lockable YKK zipper with a zipper garage to ensure your content is safe from unauthorized access and whatever nature throws at you.
The way the Duffel pack handles its compartments is awesome. You have your “office” compartment on the back with plenty of cushioning and space for your laptop (up to a 16-inch laptop, the sleeve is well-padded and suspended), pockets to organize your “business papers” and some extras.
The main compartment is the “duffel” section accessible through the center zip - it is big, spacious, and handy to take the things in and out of.
At the bottom of the bag, you will find a ventilated shoe compartment with a stowaway design (fits up to men's size 13 shoes). It’s great but note that depending on your shoe size it will eat a considerable amount of your duffel capacity.
The two external water bottle pockets are secured with an elastic band which helps them stay flat when not used and also accommodate quite a large water bottle ( I was able to fit a 64 OZ Camelback bottle! ) but the larger your bottle is the more volume is stolen from the duffel compartment.
Unfortunately for some, the shape of the pack is a bit tapered at the bottom which means it won’t stand on its own. It was not an issue for me, but for some people, it’s a serious problem.
Also, empty or filled to the brim - the pack retains its shape which to me is a plus since I am not a fan of the saggy look of the empty bags :)
MATERIALS
The body of the Duffel Pack 3 is made out of a 1680D Cordura® ballistic nylon exterior which feels silky smooth to the touch, offers extreme abrasion resistance as well as water resistance so you can rest assured that your stuff is safe from anything nature throws at you.
Industry-leading YKK® zippers are used across the board and feel great in daily use. Be prepared that the center zip is a bit stiff out of the box, needs a bit of time to break-in.
The plastic hardware is Duraflex® which is pretty standard and seen on most of the packs on the market. Nothing noteworthy but these are tried and true options which have not failed me on any of the bags I used.
All materials feel great and complement each other well to create a capable, reliable bag that I don’t need to be gentle with. Great job, Aer!
ALTERNATIVES TO CONSIDER
Aer Duffel Pack 2 comes to mind as a direct competitor of the 3rd version. It is slightly larger, lighter and has a different layout of the external pockets and more importantly, it is more aggressively priced with the newest model released. Aer Duffel Pack 3 however is more aesthetically pleasing with its total symmetry.
Goruck Rucker 25L - if you want a gym bag that can be abused while also offering ease of clamshell design Goruck is an excellent choice. Rucker 25 is similarly priced to Aer Duffel Pack 3 but definitely lacks meaningful external organization, external water bottle pockets and quick access to your laptop. Also, it has no dedicated shoe compartment like on Duffel pack 2 and 3.
WHAT’S HOT
Awesome materials and build
Thoughtful and very convenient external organization including a dedicated compartment for your shoes
One of the more fairly priced products considering the lifetime warranty, great features, and excellent materials
Easy access to the main compartment and the “office” section of the bag - everything is cleverly organized and separated from each other
This is one crazy comfortable backpack, no matter the load
WHAT’S NOT
Be prepared that the bag won’t fit much if you have the shoes in the bottom compartment and both water bottle pockets filled - these will eat away from the internal capacity leaving very little space for anything else
If you have larger packing cubes be prepared that the opening of the duffel compartment might be a bit small to fit the cube so you will need a bit of effort to put the cube in (or to take it out)
The bag does not stand on its own
VERDICT
Aer Duffel Pack 3 is an excellent universal everyday bag that can seamlessly adapt to a number of different scenarios - anything from the office carry to short trips, gym sessions, and even a compact grocery hauler. The duffel pack can do it all while looking slick and futuristic. Unsurprisingly, the biggest competitor to Duffel Pack 3 is actually Duffel Pack 2 with a similar size, smart organization, and a dedicated shoe compartment. In my books, the newest version Duffel Pack wins big thanks to its symmetry and fine-tuned design.
All in all, if you are looking for a reliable, affordable, feature-rich everyday bag - Aer Duffel Pack 3 should be on top of your list.
