Is the Aer Travel Pack 4 worth it? It's a very comfortable, well made travel bag, but for how I carry, I think you're better off with the City Pack Pro 2. In this Aer Travel Pack 4 review I packed my real daily carry into the 28L version, and the small admin panel is the one thing I couldn't get past.
The full video is above. I've been carrying the City Pack Pro 2 every day, so I compare the two a lot.
What is the Aer Travel Pack 4?
The Travel Pack 4 28L is Aer's carry on travel backpack. In the video I talk about it as a $400 Canadian bag. Aer's product page lists it at US$239, with a 1680D Cordura ballistic nylon exterior, YKK zippers, a padded laptop pocket that fits up to 16 inches, dual exterior water bottle pockets, a luggage handle pass through, 3.52 lbs, and 19.25 x 12.75 x 8 inches.
What I liked
The feel
Aer bags feel next level. The main compartment has textured stash pockets on both sides for things like a notebook, plus an opening for travel accessories.
Two water bottles
I tried two Owala bottles, including the 710 ml. They fit. It looked tight at first, then it went in.
Laptop and documents
My laptop went in with a bunch of room to spare for documents. I'm also a real estate agent, so that's what I'd use the extra space for.
Quick access pocket
My camera fit, at about the maximum height that pocket takes. A pair of Ray-Bans fit perfectly. I'd say a comfortable max is a pair of Ray-Bans plus AirPods Pro. The larger pocket took my bulkier sunglasses without trouble.
Comfort
I'm 5'6" to 5'7", and this might be one of the most comfortable bags I've had. With my Peak Design tripod and Sony camera inside it got heavy, but what I took to be hip adjusters took a lot of weight off, and I could feel it. Aer notes the full hip belt is sold separately.
What I didn't like
The admin panel
This is the big one. The admin panel is small. My Kindle fit. There's no pen loop that I could see, so I used the AirTag loop for my pen, which actually worked. My journal does not fit. Not a tight squeeze, it doesn't go in. It fits in the quick access pocket instead, which is fine but not ideal.
On the City Pack Pro 2, the admin panel opens fully and still has a front pocket, and all my gear fits. On the Travel Pack 4 it felt like it was lacking.
Loose gear
My MX Anywhere mouse and a USB-C charger fit nicely. My cables and adapters fit, but not comfortably. A 2 TB hard drive would sit loose, and I wouldn't feel confident carrying it there without a more secure pocket. I don't carry it often, but it's worth knowing.
I had to reorganize around one pocket
I was really excited for this bag, and that admin panel may have ruined it for me. To make it work I moved my journal and pen to the front quick access pocket, put my Ray-Bans up top, and moved the cameras to the back. Not a big problem, just less organized.
What I didn't test
This wasn't day to day use yet. I didn't fly with it, so I can't tell you whether it passes as a personal item, and I didn't test the hip belt. I'm taking it to Calgary for 10 days, and a follow up is coming.
Who should buy the Aer Travel Pack 4?
- People who want a comfortable carry on travel backpack and don't need a big admin panel.
- Anyone who carries two water bottles.
- If you journal every day or carry a lot of small tech, try the admin panel with your own stuff first, or look at the City Pack Pro 2.
Aer Travel Pack 4 review verdict: is it worth it?
Is it worth it? I think you're better off getting the larger City Pack Pro 2. They're very close, but the admin pockets on the Pro 2 are just a lot better. The Travel Pack 4 is okay. It's good for travel, and it's really comfortable. I'll know more after Calgary.
There are no affiliate links for these. Official pages: Aer Travel Pack 4 28L and Aer City Pack Pro 2 24L. You can also see everything I made for Aer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Aer Travel Pack 4 worth it? It's comfortable and well built, but the small admin panel didn't fit my journal. For my everyday carry, I'd pick the City Pack Pro 2 24L instead.
How much does the Aer Travel Pack 4 28L cost? Aer's US site lists it at US$239. In my video I called it a $400 Canadian bag.
Does a 16 inch laptop fit in the Aer Travel Pack 4? Aer says the laptop pocket fits up to 16 inches. My laptop fit with room left over for documents.
Do two water bottles fit in the Aer Travel Pack 4? Yes. Aer lists dual exterior bottle pockets, and my two Owala bottles fit, a little tight at first.
Does the Aer Travel Pack 4 have a hip belt? It has attachment points for one, but Aer sells the hip belt separately.
