Just completed 2 week trip with Aer 4 35L and 28L bags - my notes.
My wife and I aren’t really international travelers, but we decided somewhat last-minute to do a Europe trip and try to one-bag it. After reading a ton on this sub and watching way too many YouTube videos, we landed on the Aer Travel Pack 3s — and then the 4s came out. We thought they looked a little better (despite the discounts being offered on the 3s), so we went that route instead. So with that said, here’s my quick review after two weeks in Europe.
First, some mostly positive feedback on Aer’s customer service. We ordered the bags about 12 days before the trip, and I chose the free shipping since the site said 4–6 business days. The next day I got a UPS notification that the label had been created... and then nothing. One day, two days, three days — no movement.
I emailed Aer, since apparently talking to an actual human on the phone is not a thing there, and they said this sometimes happens with UPS. Another day passed, still nothing. I followed up again, and at that point I was starting to sweat because I was running out of runway before the trip. A few days later they admitted UPS had probably lost the shipment and sent out replacement bags overnight via FedEx.
So it ended well. We got the bags in time. I still wish there had been phone support, but to their credit, they communicated pretty promptly over email and made it right.
As for the bags themselves: visually, I love them. We got the 35L in black and the 28L in navy. In hindsight, I probably should have gotten both in navy, but both look sharp and minimalist, which is exactly what I wanted. Honestly, this was one of those rare cases where the bags looked even better in person than they did on YouTube or on the website.
This was our first time one-bagging anything longer than a weekend, and our first time traveling with bags this size. I was kind of amazed by how much stuff they could hold while also somehow feeling like they filled up instantly. I know that sounds contradictory, but that’s exactly how it felt. Still, we got everything we needed into them. My wife used Peak Design packing cubes in the 28L, and I used Amazon Basics cubes in the 35L, and both worked fine.
What impressed me even more was the trip home. We somehow had a few extra things, and both bags still swallowed more junk than I thought they would. Even when they looked like stuffed ticks, the overall construction, materials, and zippers gave me a lot of confidence.
The organization also worked really well. The pockets and quick-access storage felt like just the right amount without getting overcomplicated. Everything I thought I’d want easy access to had a place. I initially thought I wanted the extra organization from the Aer 3, but I think the reduced organizer compartment on the 4 actually worked better for my pack-rat tendencies.
I was also skeptical about the new stretchy water bottle holders. I assumed they’d be flimsy, awkward, or easy to tear, but that wasn’t the case at all. They held water bottles really well, and they were also great for quickly stuffing things away when going through airport security. They felt much sturdier and better-made than I expected.
We flew several airlines in the U.S. and Europe, including some pretty packed flights where they were really pushing people to check bags. We were always able to carry these on without an issue, and we stowed the 28L under the seat a few times with no problem.
For walking around during the day, we used the 28L as a day bag. It worked fine, but in hindsight I would have preferred something smaller for daily use instead of carrying the 28L around. It was right on the border between totally fine and looking a little ridiculous.
Finally, comfort was excellent. Fully packed, both bags were definitely heavy, but they carried really well. We walked 13–19 miles a day on this trip, and even when the bags were loaded up, neither of us had any discomfort.
Anyway, that was our experience. Hope this helps anyone considering the Aer 4s for a similar trip.