I’ve been riding bikes for over three decades, and in that time, I have yet to find the perfect solution for carrying all of my gear. I’ve cycled through just about everything, including various duffel bags, reusable grocery/tote bags, a sweet woven basket, and fumbling around with everything just stacked in my arms. While all of these gear-carrying methods have worked well enough to get my gear from the house to the vehicle and on to the ride or race, I know that better options exist. So, starting just recently, it has become my mission to find a better way.
Until a couple months ago, I had never heard of Aer, but the brand makes a sizeable range of bags and packs for work, travel, commuting, and the gym. The Duffel Pack 3 is the model that immediately caught my attention, with its moderate storage capacity, numerous compartments, well-considered organizational layout, and multiple carry options. Aer bills it as “a hybrid backpack designed for the gym and office. It features separate compartments for your gym gear and smart organization for all your work essentials. Go from the gym to the office and never look out of place.”
I’m not much of a gym guy, but I do ride my bike a lot, so I figured I’d see how it works for transporting my cycling kit to and from rides. I’ve been using the Duffel Pack 3 for the past three weeks or so, and I’ve really come to appreciate its compartmentalized storage, thoughtful design, durable materials, and excellent craftsmanship.
Durable material and excellent craftsmanship
Well-organized and compartmentalized storage
Carries like a duffel or a backpack
Comfortable on the back when full.
Holds cycling/workout gear and computer/work items
Expensive
Moderate capacity is limiting at times.
Jeremy Benson
The shoe compartment keeps your dirty and smelly shoes separate from the rest of your gear. (photo/Jeremy Benson)
Aer Duffel Pack 3 Details
Aer is a San Francisco-based brand that was founded in 2014. In Aer’s own words, “We make bags for city life. With sleek looks and thoughtful design, our gear helps you move smarter and travel easier, no matter where your journey takes you.” A quick glance at the Aer website, and it’s clear that sleek looks and clean lines are a priority in the design process. The overall look and vibe of the bags is similar to that of Peak Design, if you’re familiar with that brand.
As the name suggests, the Duffel Pack 3 is a duffel bag-backpack hybrid. It features padded backpack straps and a padded back panel for comfort when used as a backpack. It also has a duffel-style carry handle on the side and a handle on the top. But what makes it most like a duffel bag is the long zipper down the front that opens the main storage compartment.
Duffel handle and pack straps provide a couple of ways to carry the Duffel Pack 3, while the main compartment opens nice and wide like a duffel bag. (photos/Jeremy Benson)
The Duffel Pack 3 comes in just one size and has a total claimed storage capacity of 21.4 liters. The bag’s dimensions are 20.5” L x 11.75” W x 8” D. The storage is split into numerous compartments, including the large main compartment with the duffel-style opening. The bottom of the pack zips open to reveal a ventilated shoe compartment, which is separated from the rest of the pack’s contents.
On the sides of the pack’s body, there are two stretch pockets for water bottles, as well as two zippered pockets for smaller items. At the top, a zippered pocket with a soft lining is ideal for sunglasses or other fragile items. Closest to the back, a zipper opens to reveal a completely separate compartment with a suspended and soft-lined laptop sleeve, along with numerous pouches and pockets for organizing cords and other items.
Zipped pockets on both sides of the Duffel Pack 3 provide storage for smaller items like snacks, while bottles slide into the sleeves below them. (photo/Jeremy Benson)
The standard Duffel Pack 3 that I’ve been using is made from a super-tough 1680D Cordura ballistic nylon. It has beefy YKK zippers throughout, along with Duraflex plastic hardware. The interior lining material has an anti-microbial treatment to help prevent bacteria and odor. Color options are black and olive. Additionally, Aer makes the Duffel Pack 3 with two other exterior materials: X-Pac ($209) and Ultra ($229).
Using the Duffel Pack 3
A helmet fits nicely in the main compartment, and it’s easy to squeeze apparel and accessories in around it. (photo/Jeremy Benson)
I’ll start by saying that the Duffel Pack 3 is really a super nice piece of gear. At $179, it’s pretty expensive, but the design is super clean, and it seems really well-made. Yeah, it’s pricey, but thankfully, it doesn’t feel cheap — not even close. The exterior Cordura material is very robust, the carry handles are substantial, and the zippers have a reassuringly solid feel to them.
My typical packing technique is to stuff all of my cycling gear into a bag in no particular order. I guess shoes usually go on the bottom, but otherwise it’s a bit of a free-for-all. What I bring varies depending on the genre of riding, obviously, but also weather, temperature, ride duration, and several other factors. All that to say, the Duffel Pack 3’s organized packing approach took a little getting used to for me.
The separated shoe compartment can fit shoes up to size 13, so my 9.5 to 10 (43.5 EU) slide in with no issues. The shoes remain separated, but they take up a little space in the main compartment. Still, I’ve had no issues fitting my helmet, bibs/shorts, jersey, socks, gloves, and leg warmers in there. It’s easy enough to squeeze a light jacket in there, too.
I’ve been stashing my sunglasses in the soft-lined pocket on the top, and putting snacks, a multi-tool, and an AXS charger (just in case) in the zippered side pockets. It’s easy to slide a water bottle into each of the bottle sleeves on the side, as well, although it can be a bit of a tight squeeze if you have the main compartment stuffed with other gear. The laptop compartment is also well organized and completely separated, so you won’t get mud on your MacBook.
The a separate compartment with a padded laptop sleeve keeps work items away from your dirty gear if needed. (photo/Jeremy Benson)
At 21.4 liters of storage, the Duffel Pack 3 is moderately sized. It has no problem swallowing up my summer gravel and mountain bike riding kits. For carpooling with friends to the trailhead or to an event on race day, it looks classy, is easy to carry, and everything is in its place. It’s quite the departure from my decades of disorganization. It’s so tidy that it almost feels like something is off compared to my more typical junk show.
Even when fully packed and loaded with full water bottles, it has been very comfortable on my back. Cycling gear isn’t all that heavy, really, but it carries very nicely regardless. On the back, it frees up my hands to roll my bike out to the truck and load it on the rack, often eliminating the need to make multiple trips in and out of the garage. The side duffel-carry and top handles are also easy to grab and comfortable in the hand.
Comfortable and stable while riding. (photo/Heather Benson)
I work from home, but it strikes me as a great option for those who bike commute to work, the gym, or both. It might be a bit overbearing for longer rides, but for shorter urban commutes, I think it would be just about perfect. You can easily keep your gym clothes (or cycling kit) organized and separated from all of your work necessities. During my test rides around the neighborhood, it didn’t shift around at all.
I haven’t flown anywhere with it yet, but all signs point to it being an awesome travel pack. Whether you’re bringing cycling gear or just packing for a quick overnight work trip, the Duffel Pack 3 will keep your gear organized, easy to carry, and fit in the overhead bin.
With a tough Cordura fabric, the Duffel Pack 3 feels like it can handle some abuse.
What’s Not to Like?
While the Duffel Pack 3’s moderate capacity works great for me most of the time, there are a few instances when it has been a limiting factor. I’ve found it tricky to squeeze multiple bulkier items like jackets, mountain bike pants, or knee pads in there alongside my helmet. So, while I appreciate its tidy organization and relatively compact form, it might be nice if Aer offered another, slightly larger size.
It’s also fairly expensive, even if it is competitively priced compared to similar brands on the market. At the same time, this pack feels pretty bombproof, so I’m expecting to get quite a few years of use out of it. Thankfully, it also has a sleek and relatively timeless design that isn’t going out of style anytime soon. On top of that, it’s a versatile piece of gear that’ll serve me just as well for organizing and transporting my cycling gear to the next ride as it will for my next international flight.
Aer Duffel Pack 3: My Takeaway
Feels like I’m forgetting something, but it’s all in there. I’m still trying to get used to being so organized. (photo/Heather Benson)
In my new search for the ultimate cycling gear-carrying solution, the Duffel Pack 3 is a strong contender. This pack is very well made, thoughtfully designed, and provides well-organized storage for my cycling gear. For warm weather, I can fit everything I need in this pack for mountain and gravel rides, including water, snacks, a laptop, and more. It’s easy to carry like a backpack or a duffel bag, and it has introduced a new level of organization to my packing routine.
My experience leads me to believe that it’s probably even better suited to its intended use as a gym/work bag than my niche, cycling-specific needs. So, if you’re in the market for a cycling gear-carrying solution, something for the gym and work, or a commuting or travel bag, I’d recommend checking out what Aer has to offer. The brand has lots of options on its website.