Aer Duffel Pack 3 First Look: A Well-Designed Duffel-Backpack Hybrid for Cycling Kit or Gym Gear

I’ve been using bikes for over three many years, and in that point, I’ve but to search out the proper answer for carrying all of my gear. I’ve cycled via nearly the whole lot, together with varied duffel luggage, reusable grocery/tote luggage, a candy woven basket, and fumbling round with the whole lot simply stacked in my arms. Whereas all of those gear-carrying strategies have labored nicely sufficient to get my gear from the home to the automobile and on to the experience or race, I do know that higher choices exist. So, beginning only in the near past, it has turn into my mission to discover a higher means.

Till a pair months in the past, I had by no means heard of Aer, however the model makes a sizeable vary of baggage and packs for work, journey, commuting, and the gymnasium. The Duffel Pack 3 is the mannequin that instantly caught my consideration, with its reasonable storage capability, quite a few compartments, well-considered organizational structure, and a number of carry choices. Aer payments it as “a hybrid backpack designed for the gymnasium and workplace. It options separate compartments to your gymnasium gear and sensible group for all of your work necessities. Go from the gymnasium to the workplace and by no means look misplaced.”

I’m not a lot of a gymnasium man, however I do experience my bike lots, so I figured I’d see the way it works for transporting my biking package to and from rides. I’ve been utilizing the Duffel Pack 3 for the previous three weeks or so, and I’ve actually come to understand its compartmentalized storage, considerate design, sturdy supplies, and glorious craftsmanship.

Aer Duffel Pack 3 Particulars

Aer is a San Francisco-based model that was based in 2014. In Aer’s personal phrases, “We make luggage for metropolis life. With modern appears to be like and considerate design, our gear helps you progress smarter and journey simpler, irrespective of the place your journey takes you.” A fast look on the Aer web site, and it’s clear that modern appears to be like and clear strains are a precedence within the design course of. The general look and vibe of the baggage is just like that of Peak Design, when you’re acquainted with that model.

Because the title suggests, the Duffel Pack 3 is a duffel bag-backpack hybrid. It options padded backpack straps and a padded again panel for consolation when used as a backpack. It additionally has a duffel-style carry deal with on the facet and a deal with on the highest. However what makes it most like a duffel bag is the lengthy zipper down the entrance that opens the primary storage compartment. 

The Duffel Pack 3 is available in only one dimension and has a complete claimed storage capability of 21.4 liters. The bag’s dimensions are 20.5” L x 11.75” W x 8” D. The storage is break up into quite a few compartments, together with the massive major compartment with the duffel-style opening. The underside of the pack zips open to disclose a ventilated shoe compartment, which is separated from the remainder of the pack’s contents. 

On the perimeters of the pack’s physique, there are two stretch pockets for water bottles, in addition to two zippered pockets for smaller gadgets. On the high, a zippered pocket with a comfortable lining is good for sun shades or different fragile gadgets. Closest to the again, a zipper opens to disclose a totally separate compartment with a suspended and soft-lined laptop computer sleeve, together with quite a few pouches and pockets for organizing cords and different gadgets. 

The usual Duffel Pack 3 that I’ve been utilizing is comprised of a super-tough 1680D Cordura ballistic nylon. It has beefy YKK zippers all through, together with Duraflex plastic {hardware}. The inside lining materials has an anti-microbial therapy to assist stop micro organism and odor. Coloration choices are black and olive. Moreover, Aer makes the Duffel Pack 3 with two different exterior supplies: X-Pac ($209) and Extremely ($229).

Utilizing the Duffel Pack 3

I’ll begin by saying that the Duffel Pack 3 is mostly a tremendous good piece of substances. At $179, it’s fairly costly, however the design is tremendous clear, and it appears actually well-made. Yeah, it’s expensive, however fortunately, it doesn’t really feel low cost — not even shut. The outside Cordura materials could be very strong, the carry handles are substantial, and the zippers have a reassuringly stable really feel to them.  

My typical packing approach is to stuff all of my biking gear right into a bag in no explicit order. I assume sneakers normally go on the underside, however in any other case it’s a little bit of a free-for-all. What I carry varies relying on the style of using, clearly, but additionally climate, temperature, experience period, and several other different components. All that to say, the Duffel Pack 3’s organized packing method took a bit getting used to for me. 

The separated shoe compartment can match sneakers as much as dimension 13, so my 9.5 to 10 (43.5 EU) slide in with no points. The sneakers stay separated, however they take up a bit area in the primary compartment. Nonetheless, I’ve had no points becoming my helmet, bibs/shorts, jersey, socks, gloves, and leg heaters in there. It’s simple sufficient to squeeze a light-weight jacket in there, too. 

I’ve been stashing my sun shades within the soft-lined pocket on the highest, and placing snacks, a multi-tool, and an AXS charger (simply in case) within the zippered facet pockets. It’s simple to slip a water bottle into every of the bottle sleeves on the facet, as nicely, though it may be a little bit of a decent squeeze when you’ve got the primary compartment filled with different gear. The laptop computer compartment can be nicely organized and utterly separated, so that you gained’t get mud in your MacBook. 

At 21.4 liters of storage, the Duffel Pack 3 is reasonably sized. It has no downside swallowing up my summer season gravel and mountain bike using kits. For carpooling with mates to the trailhead or to an occasion on race day, it appears to be like stylish, is simple to hold, and the whole lot is as a substitute. It’s fairly the departure from my many years of disorganization. It’s so tidy that it virtually looks like one thing is off in comparison with my extra typical junk present.

Even when absolutely packed and loaded with full water bottles, it has been very snug on my again. Biking gear isn’t all that heavy, actually, however it carries very properly regardless. On the again, it frees up my arms to roll my bike out to the truck and cargo it on the rack, usually eliminating the necessity to make a number of journeys out and in of the storage. The facet duffel-carry and high handles are additionally simple to seize and cozy within the hand.

I make money working from home, however it strikes me as an awesome choice for individuals who bike commute to work, the gymnasium, or each. It could be a bit overbearing for longer rides, however for shorter city commutes, I feel it could be nearly good. You possibly can simply maintain your gymnasium garments (or biking package) organized and separated from your whole work requirements. Throughout my take a look at rides across the neighborhood, it didn’t shift round in any respect. 

I haven’t flown wherever with it but, however all indicators level to it being an superior journey pack. Whether or not you’re bringing biking gear or simply packing for a fast in a single day work journey, the Duffel Pack 3 will maintain your gear organized, simple to hold, and match within the overhead bin.

What’s To not Like?

Whereas the Duffel Pack 3’s reasonable capability works nice for me more often than not, there are a couple of situations when it has been a limiting issue. I’ve discovered it tough to squeeze a number of bulkier gadgets like jackets, mountain bike pants, or knee pads in there alongside my helmet. So, whereas I admire its tidy group and comparatively compact kind, it could be good if Aer supplied one other, barely bigger dimension.

It’s additionally pretty costly, even whether it is competitively priced in comparison with comparable manufacturers in the marketplace. On the similar time, this pack feels fairly bombproof, so I’m anticipating to get fairly a couple of years of use out of it. Fortunately, it additionally has a modern and comparatively timeless design that isn’t going out of favor anytime quickly. On high of that, it’s a flexible piece of substances that’ll serve me simply as nicely for organizing and transporting my biking gear to the subsequent experience as it would for my subsequent worldwide flight.

Aer Duffel Pack 3: My Takeaway

In my new seek for the final word biking gear-carrying answer, the Duffel Pack 3 is a robust contender. This pack could be very nicely made, thoughtfully designed, and gives well-organized storage for my biking gear. For heat climate, I can match the whole lot I want on this pack for mountain and gravel rides, together with water, snacks, a laptop computer, and extra. It’s simple to hold like a backpack or a duffel bag, and it has launched a brand new stage of group to my packing routine. 

My expertise leads me to imagine that it’s most likely even higher suited to its meant use as a gymnasium/work bag than my area of interest, cycling-specific wants. So, when you’re available in the market for a biking gear-carrying answer, one thing for the gymnasium and work, or a commuting or journey bag, I’d advocate testing what Aer has to supply. The model has a number of choices on its web site.

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