Aer Capsule Pack 35L - Big chunky duffle-loading style take on the Big Black Travel Bag Genre

Review of the Aer Capsule Pack 35L. A collaboration between Aer and the Japanese capsule hotel chain 9 Hours, the capsule pack is a big, chunky take on the Big Black Travel Bag genre whose main claim to fame is its duffle-style main compartment married with a top organiser compartment and distinctive aesthetic.

* Introduction - 00:00
* Overview - 00:11
* Pros/Cons - 01:32
* Who it's for/not for - 03:20
* External Features - 04:38
* Handles / Straps - 05:59
* Backpack Straps - 08:44
* Zippers + Main Opening - 12:16
* Main Compartment - 14:27
* Organiser Panel - 19:26
* Laptop Compartment - 22:42
* Other bags to consider - 24:12

The capsule pack is unabashedly big and boxy and chunky yet also distinctive with its main squircle-shaped duffle opening (designed to evoke the entrance to an individual pod in the 9 Hours capsule hotels). Its top loading large duffle-style opening main compartment and stiff sidewalls makes for easy loading once you have managed to fight the zippers open, and the top mounted tech organizer panel theoretically adds a great deal of usability while en route. Common in Big Black Travel Bags, but less common in duffle-style bags, the Capsule Pack also retains a separate externally accessible laptop compartment and sports a stiff frame sheet and sufficiently stiff shoulder pads to make handling the ponderous boxy shape manageable when in backpack mode. In addition to backpack mode, the capsule pack also offers briefcase, messenger/shoulder bag and roller-bag mount carry options as well, though the backpack mode is by far the most comfortable and convenient form of load carriage for the chunky size and weight of the bag.

The bag has some significant downsides as well - it's overbuilt which comes with a weight penalty, and the multiple conversion options (particularly the storable backpack straps) also add weight more crucially rob precious internal storage capacity from the main volume. As a result, while the bag does carry a fair amount of cargo in its main compartment, its capacity to weight and size ratio is not as good as it could be and pales in comparison to other options in the genre. The main tech organizer panel also suffers from moderate usability issues in practice - from items falling out from the internal pockets during transit to usable space being reduced by the intrusion of contents in the main compartment when under heavier loads. Finally, the main zippers on the top duffle opening of the pack are very high friction due to both the rounded corners of the squircle opening and the choice of waterproof zippers (purely for aesthetics as the bag itself is not particularly waterproof) which requires a much higher degree of action and intent (and time) when opening/closing the bag than should have been necessary.

Regardless, for shorter urban trips with moderate loads or for people who are attracted to the chunky aesthetic and/or top-loading style, the Aer Capsule Pack could be an intriguing option to consider. It probably shouldn't be your only or your first Big Black Travel Bag, but it is an interesting addition to the genre.

Aer Capsule Collection: https://www.aersf.com/capsule-collection

Note: All the products we review are purchased with our own money and all opinions expressed are our own.