Perhaps the Best All-Around EDC Travel Bag Ever Just Widened the Gap with a Ground-Up Revamp

For the fourth time, Aer has taken its award-winning go-anywhere collection and completely re-envisioned it for the better.

Black backpack with light gray interior compartments holding a passport and a white pen, worn by a person with a tattooed arm.

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By Sean Tirman

Published March 9, 2026

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Aer was founded in 2014 on the back of the brand’s Duffle Pack, a bag designed to seamlessly go from home to the office, gym and back again. But only two years after the brand’s launch, it dropped another bag that quickly became one of the most beloved EDC go-anywhere packs ever, the Travel Pack.

As of today, that bag is now in its fourth generation. And it has been improved once again in nearly every way. A part of the brand’s newly revamped Travel Collection (alongside a relaunch of the Day Sling and Day Sling Max), the Aer Travel Pack 4 proves, once again, just how dominant Aer is in the travel and EDC bag industry.

Two people wearing black backpacks, one in black pants and white shirt, the other in a gray jacket, black skirt, and gray bucket hat. — The Travel Pack 4 comes in either 28L or 35L, so you can pick the size that best suits your adventure needs.

Catch some Aer

As a sequel among sequels, the Aer Travel Pack 4 is not a complete reimagining. And that’s a good thing; it doesn’t have to be. Rather, this bag takes the things that were already great about this long-running series and improves on them, refining the existing bits to create an even more spectacular whole.

As such, many of the bags’ best features return in this new edition. For instance, it is still made with a bluesign-approved 1680D Cordura ballistic nylon exterior that’s weather-resistant, incredibly tough and sleek.

Close-up of black textured backpack straps and handle worn over a white shirt. — Everything on this bag is more streamlined and refined than in previous generations.

Other fan-favorite returning elements include Duraflex hardware, YKK zippers, a spacious lay-flat clamshell main compartment, a bevy of internal and external pockets and pouches and so much more. But what’s different, then? Well, turns out, quite a bit.

Yes, the on-paper features are largely the same, but a glance at the bags side-by-side tells a much more intriguing story. This new version is sleeker; the lines are more refined; the external straps are more streamlined and lower-profile; the bulk is shaved off, leaving behind an altogether more elegant package.

To put it bluntly, this new version is just better from practically every angle.

Black AER backpack open with green packing cubes, black headphones, and a white zippered pouch inside. — The clamshell opening and internal scheme still make for exceptional organization, as expected.

An embarrassment of riches

Technically speaking, there are six different versions of the new Travel Pack 4. The base pack is the ballistic Cordura edition, which is available in two sizes: 28L and 35L.

Both sizes are also available in two other upgraded materials (which the brand has used in the past): Dimension-Polyant’s VX-42 X-Pac and Challenge Sailcloth’s Ultra400X. Both also shave off some extra weight and add additional durability and weatherproofing, with the Ultra400X being the top of the line. They also both require a bit more of an investment, to the tune of $30 and $50 extra, respectively.

Black textured fabric waist bag with a zippered front pocket holding small items, worn by a person. — The collection also includes several versions of the Day Sling 4 (and the Max version).

The Travel Pack 4 isn’t alone in this collection, either. It is accompanied by a reimagining of the brand’s crossbody bag, the Day Sling 4 (and the larger Day Sling 4 Max). Like its larger backpack sibling, this bag is also a top-to-bottom refinement and comes with the same X-Pac and Ultra upgraded editions.

The difficult part is going to be figuring out which bag(s) to get for yourself. And that’s not going to be made any easier by the fact that the previous generation, the Aer Travel Pack 3, is now deeply discounted. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of them, which I realize isn’t very helpful at all…

Person pulling a black hard-shell suitcase with a black backpack on top against an orange background. — The X-Pac and Ultra400X editions increase the bags’ durability and cut their weight.

Availability and pricing

The Aer Travel Pack 4 is priced at $239 for the 28L option and $259 for the 35L variety. There are also X-Pac and Ultra400X versions of both sizes for a $30 and $50 upcharge, respectively.

The collection also includes the Day Sling 4 and Day Sling 4 Max.

Black rectangular backpack with multiple zippered compartments and side pockets.

Aer Travel Pack 4

Starts at $239

About the Author: Sean Tirman is an associate editor at Gear Patrol who specializes in EDC, cannabis and outdoor gear.

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