My Backpack Collection

Aer Store, San Francisco 2025

I enjoy traveling, as most of us do, and recently I’ve started flying quite often. Every trip has its own uniqueness depending on factors like duration, weather, luggage restrictions, etc. This made me start thinking: _how can I improve my trips through better packing gear and techniques?

Most of what I’ll talk about varies from person to person. For me, I usually travel alone — I don’t have kids or a partner. Occasionally, a few friends might join me, but overall, I’m very flexible with my gear selection and travel preferences. I might spend an extended period in a small European town or just a single day in a big city like Madrid.

Let’s talk about the brands I’ve used — they’re not limited to this list, but mainly include Thule, TomToc, and Aer. After trying these brands, I’ve become fully committed to Aer. I now own a collection of Aer backpacks, which I’ll start discussing shortly.

What I love about Aer is the unique character of their backpacks. They’re incredibly durable, superbly built, and packed with thoughtful functionality and small details I hadn’t considered before. There are many strong competitors out there, but for me, Aer stands out — especially when it comes to price, availability in Europe, and the overall aesthetic of their backpacks.

The concept I’m really interested in is one-bagging. It’s all about traveling with a single backpack, no matter the destination or trip length. This means you have to be smart about what you pack — space is limited, and you’ll be carrying everything on your back, which can add up quickly, especially after a 10+ hour flight.

Let me start with my first Aer backpack: the City Pack Pro (Olive) (opens in a new tab). I’ve been using it for about a year now on short to mid-duration trips. I’ve also used it as an EDC (Everyday Carry). It was my first pack from Aer. The City Pack Pro is a 24L backpack and has just the right amount of pockets to organize my gear for both work and personal use.

The main reason I bought this backpack was that I needed something that could work with all European airlines without incurring extra fees. The most well-known budget airline — notoriously strict with baggage — is Ryanair, which only allows a personal item of up to 40cm x 25cm x 20cm. Although the City Pack Pro’s dimensions (46cm x 30.5cm x 19cm) technically exceed those limits, I’ve never had an issue flying with it. As long as I don’t overpack it, it passes as a small personal item just fine.

Lille, France 2024

It’s incredibly useful for weekend trips or short getaways lasting 3–5 days. It can easily hold both my work gear and clothes. Another great thing is how comfortable it is to carry — even when it gets heavy, the back panel is designed really well for extended wear.

When I’m not traveling, I also use it for everyday purposes. If I’m heading to the gym or just need a bit more space, it still works perfectly for me.

Aer Compression Packing Cubes

When I travel to a new location, I also use two compression packing cubes. The larger one is mainly for T-shirts, bottoms, and sweatshirts, while the smaller one holds socks and underwear. Once I arrive at the hotel, I simply take these two cubes out of my backpack. That way, I can use the backpack freely within the city without carrying all my belongings.

The cubes help keep everything organized, and when it’s time to leave, I just pack them back in — simple as that.

Go Pack 2

My second backpack is the Aer Go Pack 2. (opens in a new tab) It’s a 20L backpack, but I’d say it carries more than its size suggests — thanks to the spacious and easily accessible front pocket. I use it to carry my coat, jacket, sweatshirt, or even groceries when I take it shopping.

After using the City Pack Pro as my EDC, I started thinking about finding a smaller backpack — one that could also serve as a packable option inside my larger bags. That’s when I discovered several options. Matador, for example, had some great packable bags. However, I stuck with Aer again because their sizes complement each other well, and their durability is unmatched.

Before buying the Go Pack 2, I read multiple reviews, and nearly everyone was happy with it. I decided to go for it — and I’ve never regretted that decision.

I mostly use this backpack as a packable companion. When I travel with a larger, heavier bag, I don’t want to carry a 35–40L backpack around the city all day. So, I pack the Go Pack 2 inside my main bag. Once I arrive and settle in, I leave my big bag at the hotel and carry the Go Pack 2 around town.

That said, I do have a few notes. This backpack doesn’t have a chest strap, which I usually like for long periods of carrying. Also, the back panel is quite thin, so if you overpack it or place awkward items inside, it can feel a bit uncomfortable.

Aer Travel Pack 3 X-Pack, New York City 2025

Lastly, the newest addition to my collection is the Aer Travel Pack 3 X-Pac (opens in a new tab). I haven’t used it enough yet to draw full conclusions, but I already really like its size for longer trips. For example, when flying to the U.S. and staying for more than a week, I can easily fit everything I need into it — and it offers plenty of organizational pockets. I recently used it on a flight from Chicago to Amsterdam, and I was able to keep everything organized thanks to the thoughtfully designed compartments. 

Before this, I primarily used the TomToc Navigator T66 (opens in a new tab) for my longer trips, and it never let me down. It’s even bigger than the Aer Travel Pack 3, and I really enjoyed using it — especially for train or plane travel.

My Full Collection

I hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts on my backpack collection. At this point, I don’t think I need any other backpacks for traveling or one-bagging — no matter the duration of the trip. I’m looking forward to exploring more places with these packs in the future!