

The magnet on the City Pack’s sternum strap needs to first overlap, then hook on to lock together, which requires a bit more effort altogether. While we think magnets are awesome in their own right, we find simple side-release buckles more comfortable to use on sternum straps. Something we don’t particularly dig about the sternum strap is Aer’s choice of a magnetic Fidlock buckle. Aer City Pack | The magnetic buckle isn’t our favorite, but it works. The sternum strap is also completely removable, and you may want to, given the relatively lightweight capacity. We prefer this kind of mounting for the sternum strap because it allows for a fine degree of adjustability compared to loops and anchors. Of course, the straps are also length adjustable, complete with strap keepers and loops at the end for grabbing.īelow is a seatbelt-like material acting as a rail where the sternum strap is mounted. On the left shoulder strap is a small Hypalon tab with Aer branding, while the opposite strap has a more practical D-ring where you can hang accessories like carabiners.

They feel nice and cushy against the shoulders without any digging-in sensation around the edges. The shoulder straps are well-padded with dense foam and are covered in breathable mesh. Aer City Pack | They weren’t stingy with the mesh and padding here. Though the size is relatively small, that’s not to say Aer’s been stingy with the harness system. Coming in at a small but respectable 14-liters, there’s enough space to keep the average urban dweller properly equipped. Since the City Pack is a daypack meant for day-to-day adventures around the city, the capacity isn’t anything crazy. Aer’s designs are clearly working for them, and if it ain’t broke, why try to fix it? External Components Left: Tom Wahlin, Height: 6’2” (188 cm), Torso: 19.25” (49 cm) | Right: Lauren Maternowski, Height: 5’6” (168 cm), Torso: 16.5” (42 cm) It’s not overly different from the well-established mold of urban design, so the City Pack blends in nicely. Aer City Pack | No DNA test required here folks.īranding appears minimal, with only small Hypalon tabs bearing Aer’s name, but we overall still dig the fairly simplistic approach to styling. Each has its own practical merit, though choosing based on aesthetic preference is just as valid.

The X-Pac version is made with, well, X-Pac, and has better weather resistance, while the Gray’s 900D Ecoya eco-dyed polyester has a smoother texture. The hardware is also easy to adjust, which is important for keeping things comfortable.Īt the time of writing this review, there’s also a Gray and X-Pac version, each featuring a different fabric for the shell. Stains do sometimes stick to the shell, but they’re easily wiped off in most cases. Plus, they’re not jingly like in earlier Aer products. The zippers slide along nicely, whether it’s the front pocket’s AquaGuard zipper or the reverse coil zipper of the top quick-grab pocket. We haven’t had trouble with them in the past because of their durability, and the City Pack is no exception. Yep, we have the usual quality materials on the City Pack: 1680D CORDURA Ballistic Nylon, YKK zippers, and Duraflex plastic hardware. Aer City Pack | The Black colorway gets 1680D CORDURA Nylon. That’s brand identity for you, and for Aer’s gear, the fit and finish of the product means just as much as aesthetic. We’ve definitely seen this before, and bonus points if you have as well-it’s very similar to Aer’s own Travel Pack 2. Even in this discreet Black colorway, one can see the company’s usual styling cues, arguably the most prominent of which is the front horizontal zipper. The City Pack wears Aer’s signature styling proudly. As per usual, there’s a fair amount of details to go through with anything Aer-related, so let’s jump into it. Spoiler alert: the tweak works, and our backs appreciate it. The City Pack also carries well, thanks to a few tweaks to the standard Aer back panel we’re used to seeing, which we definitely noticed during our testing. However, there is something to be said about having too much organization packed into a small package. To be more specific, the City Pack has a ton of organization inside for tech items, whether big or small-remarkably so for a daypack coming in at just 14-liters. Aer City Pack | We don’t mind if the soon-to-be-discovered cafe is on the other side of the city. At its heart, the City Pack is Aer manifesting its forte in travel gear designed with practical features in mind. As the name suggests, this is a backpack designed specifically for the adventurer who likes to explore the urban jungle. Sometimes two shoulder straps are just better than one or none, and so alongside the City Sling 2 and Split Kit is the City Pack.
