![\"Pulling](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/aer-shoe-compartment.jpeg\")
<\/a>The shoe compartment keeps your dirty and smelly shoes separate from the rest of your gear. (photo\/Jeremy Benson)<\/p>\nAer Duffel Pack 3 Details<\/p>\n
Aer is a San Francisco-based brand that was founded in 2014. In Aer\u2019s own words, \u201cWe 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.\u201d A quick glance at the Aer website, and it\u2019s 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\u2019re familiar with that brand.<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Duffel Pack 3 comes in just one size and has a total claimed storage capacity of 21.4 liters. The bag\u2019s dimensions are 20.5\u201d L x 11.75\u201d W x 8\u201d 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\u2019s contents.\u00a0<\/p>\n On the sides of the pack\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n The standard Duffel Pack 3 that I\u2019ve 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).<\/p>\n Using the Duffel Pack 3<\/p>\n I\u2019ll start by saying that the Duffel Pack 3 is really a super nice piece of gear. At $179, it\u2019s pretty expensive, but the design is super clean, and it seems really well-made. Yeah, it\u2019s pricey, but thankfully, it doesn\u2019t feel cheap \u2014 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.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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\u2019s organized packing approach took a little getting used to for me.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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\u2019ve had no issues fitting my helmet, bibs\/shorts, jersey, socks, gloves, and leg warmers in there. It\u2019s easy enough to squeeze a light jacket in there, too.\u00a0<\/p>\n I\u2019ve 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\u2019s 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\u2019t get mud on your MacBook.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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\u2019s quite the departure from my decades of disorganization. It\u2019s so tidy that it almost feels like something is off compared to my more typical junk show.<\/p>\n Even when fully packed and loaded with full water bottles, it has been very comfortable on my back. Cycling gear isn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019t shift around at all.\u00a0<\/p>\n I haven\u2019t flown anywhere with it yet, but all signs point to it being an awesome travel pack. Whether you\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n What\u2019s Not to Like?<\/p>\n While the Duffel Pack 3\u2019s moderate capacity works great for me most of the time, there are a few instances when it has been a limiting factor. I\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n It\u2019s 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\u2019m expecting to get quite a few years of use out of it. Thankfully, it also has a sleek and relatively timeless design that isn\u2019t going out of style anytime soon. On top of that, it\u2019s a versatile piece of gear that\u2019ll serve me just as well for organizing and transporting my cycling gear to the next ride as it will for my next international flight.<\/p>\n Aer Duffel Pack 3: My Takeaway<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>
\nDuffel 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)<\/p>\n<\/a>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)<\/p>\n<\/a>A helmet fits nicely in the main compartment, and it\u2019s easy to squeeze apparel and accessories in around it. (photo\/Jeremy Benson)<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>The a separate compartment with a padded laptop sleeve keeps work items away from your dirty gear if needed. (photo\/Jeremy Benson)<\/p>\n<\/a>Comfortable and stable while riding. (photo\/Heather Benson)<\/p>\n<\/a>With a tough Cordura fabric, the Duffel Pack 3 feels like it can handle some abuse.<\/p>\n