I bought 4 bags below to compare. Only one bag comes out on top! Why would you buy it? What's the down side? AER Travel Pack 3 AER Travel Pack 3 Small Peak Design Travel Line Backpack 45L Peak Design Travel Line Backpack 30L
Backpack preferences will always be subjective and based on your individual needs. Some may pick a backpack because of aesthetics but many frequent travelers will pick a backpack based on the features offered. I use the 30L Peak Design - I don’t need a complex admin panel to organize my tech or multiple pockets for storage. I use packing cubes for clothes and little in the way of tech - a phone, cable and charge block. The Peak Design stows under a seat and passes as personal carry even though it does not meet the height requirement. The durable materials hold up even when packed out in the unexpanded 27L state, I have rarely had to use the expansion which goes up to 33L. Although I really like the Aer small, it was heavier and had more admin pockets and features I did not need - but I believe the Aer small to be an excellent backpack. On long multiple flights I get groggy and need simplicity in a backpack which is what the Peak Design 30L offers. I also love being able to stow away the straps when putting in an overhead bin or under a seat. Although I love bag reviews, I feel you really need to try out the backpack and be honest about your needs and use case. No backpack is perfect but if you do an honest evaluation of your needs you will pick the most appropriate backpack.
@That Ang, Aw man! PD45L got to be the worst pack I own because: 1) as you mentioned, heavy from get go; and 2) straps are crap, and usually I am nice but this is understatement. I can carry like a mule and had it pack abt 10kg or so on a biz trip through the long Hong Kong and KL terminals and messed up my back. Took a year of PT to recover. It’s sitting somewhere in my dungeon hoping one day I might sell it. What surprised me is the Heimplanet 34l Transit Line. Has almost all the features of the PD but they didn’t get lazy with the comfort and weight like PD did. Bought a second one. And Moment came out with a v2 called 28L Weekender. Both surprised me between comfort, low weight, and features. And if you wait for either on sale or BF, you get from 20-30% off. This is why you can get PD45l on Ebay for very low price as it’s bad. And the 30l lost a lot of features. Anyways, hope the PD works out for you but definitely a Big Pass for me.
I like a lot of the features of the PD and tried my buddies who travels most of the year, the straps are not comfy especially above 25 to 30l and it's a beast at 45. Even he agrees. I have done 1 to 4 month trips in my AER travel pack 2, (and now that I have come to understand the benefits of one bag travel) my AER travel pack 3 small. These are far more comfortable bags if you are on the move from hotel to airport and on the go with any kind of weight. and I love the way they look and often get compliments on them while traveling.
This is a very biased review. You favor Peak from the beginning. A fairer "throwdown" would have been to pack out all with the same loads and show how things fit and how it carries on your back. As one person below noted, the Peak straps are not that comfortable (and I know this for me personally - not speaking for you). I clicked on this to see a real throwdown, not a monologue of you actually like Peak better. Aer never had a chance. If that is how you feel just say it upfront.
@intellectualesemv those are all way bigger so should have alot more space. The city pack pro packs more like a 22L it's not as big as I thought when I got it. There are so many good new bags coming out from different companies. It's good to see variety and competition. I don't hold any loyalty to any of these companies. Aer slings are horrendous which is why I was so hesitant to get a backpack from them. I have a timbuk 2 sling
