Aer Duffel Pack 3 First Look: A Properly-Designed Duffel-Backpack Hybrid for Biking Equipment or Fitness center Gear

I’ve been using bikes for over three a long time, and in that point, I’ve but to seek out the right answer for carrying all of my gear. I’ve cycled via nearly every thing, together with varied duffel luggage, reusable grocery/tote luggage, a candy woven basket, and fumbling round with every thing 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 recently, it has grow to be my mission to discover a higher method.

Till a pair months in the past, I had by no means heard of Aer, however the model makes a sizeable vary of luggage and packs for work, journey, commuting, and the health club. The Duffel Pack 3 is the mannequin that instantly caught my consideration, with its average 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 health club and workplace. It options separate compartments in your health club gear and sensible group for all of your work necessities. Go from the health club to the workplace and by no means look misplaced.”

I’m not a lot of a health club man, however I do experience my bike loads, 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 wonderful 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 smooth appears 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 smooth appears and clear strains are a precedence within the design course of. The general look and vibe of the luggage is much like that of Peak Design, in the event you’re conversant in 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 aspect 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 measurement 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 fundamental 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 prime, a zippered pocket with a comfortable lining is right 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 remedy to assist stop micro organism and odor. Shade 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 dear, however fortunately, it doesn’t really feel low-cost — not even shut. The outside Cordura materials may 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 specific order. I assume footwear normally go on the underside, however in any other case it’s a little bit of a free-for-all. What I convey varies relying on the style of using, clearly, but additionally climate, temperature, experience period, and several other different elements. All that to say, the Duffel Pack 3’s organized packing strategy took just a little getting used to for me. 

The separated shoe compartment can match footwear as much as measurement 13, so my 9.5 to 10 (43.5 EU) slide in with no points. The footwear stay separated, however they take up just a little 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 aspect pockets. It’s simple to slip a water bottle into every of the bottle sleeves on the aspect, as nicely, though it may be a little bit of a decent squeeze in case you have the primary compartment full of different gear. The laptop computer compartment can also be nicely organized and fully separated, so that you received’t get mud in your MacBook. 

At 21.4 liters of storage, the Duffel Pack 3 is reasonably sized. It has no drawback swallowing up my summer season gravel and mountain bike using kits. For carpooling with pals to the trailhead or to an occasion on race day, it appears stylish, is straightforward to hold, and every thing is instead. It’s fairly the departure from my a long time of disorganization. It’s so tidy that it nearly appears 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 comfy 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, typically eliminating the necessity to make a number of journeys out and in of the storage. The aspect duffel-carry and prime handles are additionally simple to seize and comfy within the hand.

I work at home, however it strikes me as an ideal choice for many who bike commute to work, the health club, or each. It is likely to be a bit overbearing for longer rides, however for shorter city commutes, I feel it will be nearly good. You’ll be able to simply preserve your health club garments (or biking package) organized and separated from your entire work requirements. Throughout my take a look at rides across the neighborhood, it didn’t shift round in any respect. 

I haven’t flown anyplace 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 preserve your gear organized, simple to hold, and match within the overhead bin.

What’s To not Like?

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

It’s additionally pretty costly, even whether it is competitively priced in comparison with related manufacturers in the marketplace. On the identical time, this pack feels fairly bombproof, so I’m anticipating to get fairly just a few years of use out of it. Fortunately, it additionally has a smooth and comparatively timeless design that isn’t going out of fashion anytime quickly. On prime 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’s going to 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 may be very nicely made, thoughtfully designed, and supplies well-organized storage for my biking gear. For heat climate, I can match every thing 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 degree of group to my packing routine. 

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

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