Aer’s Excellent EDC Backpack Just Got Better in Almost Every Way

Founded more than 10 years ago, Aer is now one of the heavy-hitters of the everyday carry (EDC) community. Bags like the City Pack Pro are part of the reason why.

With a durable material suite and a bevy of smart features, including a luggage handle pass for travel, the City Pack Pro was already a favorite of commuters, urban professionals and long-distance travelers who sweat the specifics of their carry-on kit.

Now a handful of welcome updates arriving on the City Pack Pro 2, the headlining release in a broader refresh to the brand’s City Collection, will only help to preserve its status as a top choice.

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Comfort zone

“With the latest City Collection, we set out to refine our most popular designs based on real-world user feedback,” says Andy Choi, who leads operations at Aer. “We focused on making these bags even more versatile, comfortable and durable.”

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One of those pieces of feedback pertained to some pullback some users experienced with the original City Pack Pro — meaning the bag would literally shift away from a wearer’s back when weighed down.

To address that, Aer gave the City Pack Pro 2 a slightly tapered middle panel, leading to a tighter overall fit that also refines the aesthetics, and also shifted the harness up for improved comfort.

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Pocket change

Almost every pocket and compartment on the City Pack Pro 2 was reconsidered, too, starting with most visible one, where two additional darts increase the volume and usability of the front pocket.

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A second water bottle pocket was added to the side — replacing a small zippered compartment on the original City Pack Pro — while drainage ports provide an escape port for rain or spills.

Finally, a new slip pocket in the tech compartment lets users stash a tablet or book in addition to a large 16-inch laptop, all accessible via upgraded Duraflex zippers for a refined feel.

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Pack it up

Like the original City Pack Pro, the updated bag boasts a 24-liter capacity that’s nimble enough for everyday use but can double as a capable travel bag.

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As far as the latter goes, a subtle but welcome change can be found on the luggage-handle pass, which moves to a vertical position. This way, all the contents of a bag (including both water bottle pockets) can be accessed when it’s sitting atop a suitcase.

Pricing and availability

The City Pack Pro 2 comes in three colorways (black, navy and olive), starting at $209 for the base model with a Cordura exterior; buyers can also choose between VX-42 X-Pac and Ultra400X, which cost $239 and $259, respectively.

The backpack is available now on Aer’s website, along with the rest of the revised City Collection, which consists of the City Pack 2, City Sling 3 and Slim Pouch 2.

The original City Pack Pro is still available while supplies last. It now carries a 15 percent discount, which drops the price down to $178.

Aer

Aer City Pack Pro 2

• $209 at Aer

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