I used to be a unapologetic backpack guy. When asked asked about briefcases, shoulder packs, messengers or (gasp) slings, my stock answer would be, why not a backpack? After all, two straps are always better than one when it comes to hauling weight. When stuck (think broken down vehicle or natural disaster) then what would you rather have? The Prepper/Boy Scout in me always answered, “backpack”.
I’m starting to acknowledge, as I’ve gotten older and progressed in my career, the practical benefits of other modes of carry. Briefcases and messengers are more professional looking. They are more TSA friendly. They often fit under an airline seat or in a shuttle, Uber or taxi better than a backpack and ride better on top of a roller bag. Single strap bags these days carry better than their predecessors because companies are making better straps for them. And they’re paying attention to how the straps are attached and how that impacts comfort. This realization led me to start experimenting with other forms of carry. And that in turn led me to the Aer Flight Pack 2 X-Pac Limited Edition.
Aer Flight Pack 2 X-Pac Limited Edition
I tell people who are curious about the new Aer Flight Pack 2 LE that it’s different than most bags they’ve tried. The look on their face usually betrays their skepticism. When I posted about it in the Perfect Pack and Carryology Facebook groups, most wanted to compare it to the Triple Aught Design Axiom 18 because both bags are made from X-Pac (more on that later), they are similar in size, and if you squint really really hard – they are similar in appearance. But, I tell them comparing the two doesn’t do justice to the Aer Flight Pack because it can transform from a briefcase to a shoulder bag to a backpack and the Axiom is “only” a backpack. Then I consider the irony of that statement coming from the former “backpack guy”. How the worm has turned.
FEATURES
The Aer Flight Pack 2 X-Pac Limited Edition (wow, that’s a mouthful) is 14 Liters in volume and measures 18”L x 12”W x 5”D with an overall weight of 2.8 lbs. It’s a limited edition because it differs from the regular Flight Pack 2 in the following ways:
- It’s constructed with VX-42 X-Pac sail cloth, a highly technical water resistant and durable fabric that’s become all the rage with bag makers. It has a very modern aesthetic, its stain resistant and doesn’t pick up pet hair.
- All zippers are YKK Aquaguard, which are also highly water resistant
- The zippers feature reflective pulls to “increase visibility at night”
- And perhaps my favorite new feature – the bag’s interior is lined with a high visibility orange pack cloth
Of course, none of that matters if the Aer Flight Pack 2 LE isn’t a joy to use. So, let’s talk about how it performs in each mode of carry.
BRIEF
Most people are surprised when they see the Flight Pack 2 in-person. They usually picture it being larger than it actually is and therefore assume it won’t function well as a briefcase. But it actually does – sort of.
The Aer Flight 2 X-Pac Limited Edition in Brief Mode
For instance, it’s only a couple inches longer but about the same width and depth as Filson’s most popular briefcase. It’s a little smaller than TAD’s Parallax 15 (pictured below) or the Arc’teryx Courier 15. The backpack straps stow behind a back panel zipper and the shoulder strap can be completely removed.
Aer Flight Pack 2 X-Pac LE (top) and TAD Parallax 15 (bottom)
The top handle is well padded and very comfortable.
The only issue is that the zippers to all of the compartments are oriented vertically, not horizontally. And so is the bottle holder, which ends up being on the bottom of the pack in brief mode.
You quickly learn that when you carry the Flight Pack in brief mode, you flip it vertical to access the pockets, use the water bottle, and before setting it on the ground. Aer wisely included a second grab handle, which is made from a soft seatbelt material, on the top of the pack to make this maneuver easier.
In the beginning, it’s not intuitive. I do it now without thinking about it. Still, it’s a quirk that Aer could have avoided by simply going with a horizontal setup. Like Arc’teryx did with their Blade series of packs.
SHOULDER BAG
The removable shoulder strap that Aer includes with the Flight Pack 2 SE is a good one. It’s not bulky, it doesn’t slip off your shoulder and the fixed pad has just enough padding to be comfortable. It’s partly made from X-PAC so it even matches the rest of the bag. Simple. Well executed. Perfect.
The Aer Flight Pack 2 X-Pac Limited Edition in Shoulder Bag mode
Yes, some of the same issues that come up in brief mode are also in full effect when carrying it as a shoulder bag. The water bottle pocket being on the bottom of the pack becomes especially noticeable when the bottle goes flying out of the pack. It’s happened to me a couple of times. I think the Flight Pack just gets banged around more when you shoulder carry it. Either way, there’s just not enough retention to carry a bottle horizontally. To fix that, I attached a small carabiner to the counter pull and then hooked it onto the water bottle. Worked like a charm but not exactly convenient when taking the bottle out of the bag.
Still, I carry the Aer Flight mostly in this mode.
BACKPACK
If you haven’t figured it out yet, this bag is really by default a backpack. Aer did a great job of keeping the size of the Flight Pack 2 manageable in brief or shoulder bag mode while still being about the optimal size for everyday carry as a backpack.
The Aer Flight Pack 2 X-Pac Limited Edition in backpack mode
On the top of the pack, there’s a handy zippered compartment that’s great for sunglasses (in the picture below, it easily swallows a pair of Knockaround Torrey Pines) or other items that you’d want to drop in there for quick access.
There’s also a half slash pocket on the front panel that fits my small Magpul DAKA pouch, where I keep cables, etc.
The admin panel is really good. One of the better ones I’ve tested in recent memory. Everything I carry and use for work easily found a place.
The laptop compartment is well padded and slightly raised. There’s also a slip pocket for a tablet or file folder. There’s also room for a jacket or packing cube if you’re planning on using this as a 24-hour bag.
The zippers are robust and the LE version includes reflective pulls. The only downside to the large zippers are that the metal pulls are NOISY. They’re really nice and look great but I’m tempted to cut them off because they jingle and jangle. I might remove the pulls and just attach the reflective cord directly to the sliders.
Notice the zipper garage to prevent moisture from sneaking through a gap. Aer obsesses about small, but important details like this.
The backpack straps are well contoured and padded. They clip to the bottom of the pack and stow away in a zippered pocket in the back panel when not in use.
Overall, the straps are comfortable with the exception that they are comically short. Here’s the Aer straps alongside the straps of the TAD Axiom 24.
I don’t think the Axiom has long straps either and the Flight Pack 2’s straps are 1.5 to 2 inches shorter. Because if this, I tend to carry it book bag style (over one shoulder) and only use both straps in short stints because too much of the webbing digs into my sides. Not a huge deal considering the size of this pack, but it may be a deal breaker for some.
CONCLUSION
After reading this, if you walk away thinking I’m making accommodations to cover up a few things I’d change about this bag, then you wouldn’t be wrong. It’s not the most comfortable backpack I’ve ever carried or the best messenger/shoulder bag. So why bother? On aggregate, I think it’s just a really versatile bag with well thought out organization that effortlessly swallows up my gear while still being easily accessible. It’s a cliche but the Aer Flight Pack 2 is really one of those cases where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
PROS
- Easily switches between multiple modes of carry
- Nice size for a daily commuter bag
- X-Pac material and shielded zippers are highly water resistant
- Comfortable shoulder strap and carry handle
- Extremely well thought out organization
- Hi-vis Orange Interior
CONS
- Orientation of zippers/water bottle pocket in brief & shoulder bag mode
- Backpack straps will be too short for some users
- X-Pac is an acquired taste. Some will prefer the ballistic nylon of the regular edition.
The Aer Flight Pack 2 X-Pac Limited Edition retails for $180 and, at the time of this writing, is still available direct from Aer’s website here.
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