@@Nomads.Nation I've travelled extensively within EU + a few longhaul flights recently, most airlines I've seen have a 7 or 8 kg carry-on limit, but I've not seen anyone actually check, nobody even has scales to weigh carry-on That said, I'd probably still be more comfortable to be within the limit, but usually my PeakDesign Travelbackpack is well over 10kg
I flew on Zipair to/from Tokyo a couple months ago and they weighed all the carry on bags. They didn't when I flew with them last year so that was an unpleasant surprise.
@@Lucaemar it's not only a question of checking it - though I had checks randomly on the airlines that I wouldn't expect. It's also a question of fitting under the seat or in overhead compartment. It's more than an in longer than my carry-on which barely made it into overhead compartment in 777. This can be a problem and a serious one if the flight is full
The wheel lock is an excellent feature for trains where you have to freestand your suitcase near the door because there's no luggage room, or on the London underground it's so unstable that pretty much any situation other than a tight grip on your suitcase is going to end up with a lot of rolling and running away
The suitcase looks great, but I think the biggest con is the size. They made it too tall and you will have issues with many airlines, especially internationally. It's a good thing that it is durable, because that baby is going to get checked all the time. Great Video though!!!
I have a 20-inch tall carry-on. Many carry-ons are 20 inches; it's a pretty standard size. I've taken it on over 8 international flights with different airlines (Singapore, TUI, BA, Virgin, Korean); it has never once been checked and can always fit in the overhead bins. I'm always confused by these comments talking about international flights when international flights are more lenient than domestic flights... domestic flights have smaller planes and, therefore, smaller weights and cabin sizes.
As a long term would wide traveler, I thought I'd chime in with a few things you should add to your testings as you move into Luggage. I also thought I'd comment on using luggage as a travel safe. First up, when testing wheeled luggage, PLEASE test it going through water. Also on multiple surfaces, including those that may include dirt and grit, and the kinds of surfaces that tear up and gum up wheels. Also the tracking of the wheels as you roll it is often worth mentioning as some luggage tends to veer and it is a PIA. I'm impressed with the Volume - and which you had a way of measuring it (some reviewers use packing balls and a bucket with litter measurements) as the claims on all these bags seem to sometimes defy the laws of physics as I understand them and borderline on being an affordable T.A.R.D.I.S. 22.7" tall seems TOO tall for a lot of airlines which generally limit you to 22" (your measurements are different than their website by 2.7" - and this really F'ing matters for overhead bins and Carry-On measurement stands. The measurements need to include the wheels because those also go into the overhead bin. ;) ). The weight is inline with competitors, but disappointing. I seriously please to see the Puncture Resistant Zippers which are a step in the right direction. I prefer Frame Style - no zipper - Luggage because zippers in general can be punctured with a ball point pen allowing access to the suitcase. In many cases, the zippers are self healing and the not locked into position, so that locked zippers can later be used to close and heal the opening and prevent the owner from knowing the bag was ever opened. AER's design locking the zippers in place prevent this (well done), and in theory the puncture resistant zippers prevent ball point pen attacks (I have yet to see the results of test on this). AER needs to team this offering up with a Security Strap of the luggage that has a spot for a third party lock (bring your own lock), or a combination lock that is NOT TSA approved so you can lock your luggage effectively while not at the [US] airports (TSA Master Keys' are less than US$5 and available to every one). This brings me to the notion of a Travel Safe. When I travel, I often lock my valuables in my suitcase, and then use a security cable to both seal it and lock it in place where I am staying. I do this because 1) You can't trust any lock with a TSA key (which anyone can purchase for $5 off Amazon and other places), 2) because you can't trust Guest Safes. Using your luggage as a Travel Safe is an easy option, provided you have purchased the correct luggage. Frame suitcases have no zippers and so prevent zipper intrusion vectors, and this is why I prefer them. All of this also requires locks you can trust (NOT TSA Approved) or a lockable luggage band with a lock that is NOT TSA Approved. If you ever decide to make your own luggage as a follow-on to the Fyro T22 - now with OPP - or if you have a way to communicate this need/ point of view to the people who make travel luggage) please keep the notion of your hard side suitcase being a travel safe in mind. For that matter, I suspect simply bringing a good cut resistant luggage strap (one with cables embedded in it) to Kickstarter that allowed you to secure hard side luggage closed with a 3rd party lock and allowed you to also attach a security cable (even just placing it under) would be a product people would respond to once you explain it's use for everywhere BUT the Airport. All that said, you are making the transition to the new style of review brilliantly.
thank you so much for your feedback! I'll be very honest in that I'm not a luggage expert, so this was meant to be a basic walk through without too much 'perspective' but I def want to improve as I can hopefully get more of these under my belt :)
I use a backpack 5+ days a weeks and $250 was a stretch but it made sense. I fly 0-5 times per year, $400 makes no sense for an average person. Cool tech if you travel a lot though, love AERs R&D team!
Heavy, and outside of the size restrictions so it won't fit in the sizers if asked to. If I'm not checking it. Why does it need to be this sturdy? Also, if you don't have a second bag you'll be digging your toiletries out of the suitcase.
Last trip I went with Riley & Briggs ecosystem: carryon and travel backpack.... fantastic items.. all my other gear tho are from AER.. fantastic review as always
great review. you really break down every minute detail. i gotta ask for your feedback on some other bags. one is bp23 pro form nitecore. i see you love side pockets this is a side pocket pretending to be a bag, and 2, your thoughts on obscure (to the west) brands like mark ryden, tigernu and bange. these are priced at maybe 50-60usd BUT use cordura ballistic nylon or other premium materials and mostly ykk zips. so how is this possible? are these bags worth it? how do they keep getting away with it? thanks and more power.
Great video. Watched 2 regarding this carry-on so far - It seems like a thing people might want but the price could be prohibitive compared to its competition. I have had the same carry on for many years now so I think real travellers will by something they think will be durable. I don't know how durable this polycarbonate will actually be. Also when it is completely scratched up after lets say 2 years of travel- will the owner still want to use it or will it be so ugly with scratches that they just don't enjoy using it any more. An aluminium case can be beaten up and the dents are somehow beautiful but scratched plastic just looks like scratched plastic. I wonder what you think. Q: Do you know when you are releasing the review for the AER Tech Sling 3?
I think I need to learn more about luggage haha, I def have more experience with backpacks but it's been interesting to hear everyone's thoughts. Aer Tech Sling 3 review will be live in a few days!!
not very budget travel friendly that's for sure, but maybe for the business class traveler it's not a problem - given the price point it seems possible that is their market
At 22" it is too big for many international flights,,,it is ok for most domestic but that is it 21" is what many foreign carriers max out at and some are super strict about that 21"
I rock a TUMI x STAPLE spinner suitcase (International Expandable Carry-On) and IMO I think Aer is competing with the higher-end brands like Rimowa, Tumi, Zero Halliburton, and Briggs & Riley. This Aer Carry-On is in a weird spot because for international travel where airlines are stricter, most likely you will have to check this bag. However, for most folks traveling US domestically this would be okay I presume. However not gonna lie, some of the budget US airlines have tight overhead compartments. I think many people will be hard-pressed to choose this over a Monos, Away, or Travel Pro if they're more price-conscious. What I will say is that Aer uses brand-name premium materials. Monos I think doesn't use YKK or Cordrua. The Aer build quality is on point though. YKK RC zips, Hinimoto Wheels, Fidlock for fun, Cordura Ripstop interior, and custom polycarbonate. Appreciating the materials and build will make it a justifiable purchase, alongside the "lifetime warranty." The lack of a laptop pocket is not a big deal because it's expected that those who rock this suitcase will have a personal item. Would leave my tech, camera, and laptop in my personal item backpack. More space for the suitcase to prioritize clothes or souvenirs. Level 8 suitcase is kinda meh with the wide handle because it's hard to slide backpacks with a luggage pass-through sleeve on it. I'm not in the market for rolling luggage since I am personally satisfied with Tumi however it's great to see more competition. Plus people can rock a full-on Aer set now. Aer Flight Pack 3 XPAC, Aer Carry-On, Aer City Sling 2 XPAC, AER Packing Cubes, AER Dopp Kit XPAC, Aer Cable Kit 3 XPAC, and an Aer Slim Pouch Xpac LMFAO.
As a “carry on plus”, this fits neatly into a missing niche for me. Took a 43L carry on and CPP to Thailand for 2 weeks and felt like a carry on plus wouldve been really helpful with things I bought there… and with bringing a packable tote or duffle. A little extra space and not being 100% crammed in is an underrated feeling
I didn’t know cheap laundry was prevalent and my friends and I all put in a load about halfway through the trip, so yes I overpacked to some degree. We also hit up some fancy restaurants and wanted to do some hiking, so some of them had 4-5 pairs of shoes (I made do with 3 - nice, walking/hiking, and flip flops). Did you do laundry within your 10 days?
@@kunalmishra9463 yea every 3-4 days. I bring one pair of shoes - Nike Air Force Ones in black - great for walking, gym, nice dinner and everything in between.
This suitcase definitely seems like it's for train transport over flying. It's essentially the same dimensions of a Away Bigger Carry On but 100 dollars more expensive. Weight is 100% a big deal considering you can get travelpros that are half the price and half the weight. I know people in the comments are mentioning it being DOA for travel in asia which is true for budget carriers. But in my experience it's pretty common to see Japanese tourists traveling with Rimowas so it depends on the style of travel haha. Personally would get it if I were taking the train everywhere because the wheel lock and larger space is a good feature. But the larger size and weight would be a deal breaker for carry-on only air travel since it has a high chance of being checked.
great analysis, and I think it's spot on. I'd like to think Aer knows their audience, and this is probably a suitcase for US travelers who frequent a specific airline. Might be a bit niche, but I have a hard time thinking Aer butchered this one
@@Nomads.Nation I think another miss is Aer choosing a hardside case. Their brand is sleek black cordura so why not make a technical minimalist soft sided roller with high quality materials. It would actually put themselves in a underdeveloped part of the roller market. Biggest competitor would be like Briggs and Riley or Travel Pro but would offer a more modern look.
@@AndrewCouch I think that's a really interesting point. I can see why they wanted to go hardshell (looks so much better) but there was def an opportunity there for them to go soft and really open up that side of the market.
I find locking mechanisms especially useful when I'm on a train. It takes a lot of attention and force to keep my luggage from rolling into other people.
Great review, and I'm happy to see you do the occasional luggage review as well! Would also be very interested in seeing you review the Monos Carry On Pro, which reminds me a lot of the Aer Suitcase, but also include a dedicated laptop compartment in the front.
I wish they made a larger version of this. I would buy one instantly if they did. I understand why they keep it smaller however since it's meant to be a carry on bag and not meant for being checked in.
One upside is that they offer it in a bright "Safety Orange" color. I've come to appreciate that my luggage is in bright and distinctive colors and can be very rapidly identified at baggage claim amongst all the nearly identical black bags. The Victorinox Werks Traveller 3.0 came in a very bright green and I've repaired that bag and still use it despite being an outdated two-wheeled design because of the color. If I ever find myself buying a new bag and the color selection is bland, I'll probably spray paint the sides of the bag.
great question and I really wish I had an opinion on that, but I'm truly not a luggage expert, so I can't say confidently. All I know is that the snap-locks are heavier but more secure, and the zippers are lighter and less secure. Guess it depends on which is more important to you!
Something I've been wondering about is how much capacity is lost on these spinner suitcases vs a rolling duffel with 2 wheels that protrude a lot less from the bottom. I've been using an Eagle Creek 22" No Matter What Flatbed Duffel Bag (discontinued) for years and with just 2 wheels. I'd like something with more actual capacity that still fits in the overhead bins without any issues, but these spinners feel like they waste a lot of potential storage with the 4 wheels on the bottom. And as quite a few others have said, the price for this suitcase seems high for what it is.
As soon as I saw the Add ad, I immensely thought we need to ask Nomad Nation to review! I wasn't sure if you would since its not backpack. So glad you did.
Me too! Definitely not my expertise, but I’m happy to do a basic product walk through and give my initial pros and cons. It’s also fun learning more about luggage in the process ❤️
It’s got the right shape (Ive had a hard case edge caved in by luggage handling before), interiors are nice, my only concern is the locking mechanism of the wheels. Seems neat but also feels like another thing that can break long term.
1. I don’t lash things to my suitcase except luggage tag. 2. Bag is too large dimensions for airlines that are paying close attention. It may sneak it. 3. Weight. Too heavy is a big no. My go to is July Carry On light.
@@Nomads.Nation more niche for sure - especially given the weight and price. I wouldn't consider Lufthansa, American or United a budget airlines and it's over the limit in each of them (barely but still). I see it more as a solution in a search for a problem
Hi Aaron. Appreciate your reviews. Can you be transparent whether you paid personally for this and the other products you review or do you get them free from the manufacturers? If it's the latter, it doesn't mean your reviews are biased but it definitely changes my perception of the review. Thanks!
We get about 70% of the products we review sent to us, the other 30% is our own gear or lent to us. This suitcase was sent to us for free. If we are ever paid we make it very clear (see our most recent Ucon Acrobatics video - tagged ‘sponsored’ and made a disclaimer in the first 60 seconds). Happy to clear up anything else!
Honestly a great review and I like it. BUT the price is way out of line. I don’t see anything at all that makes it worth $150+ over much of the competition. Just simply a disappointing price point. When they realize that and get it to the $199-$249 range I’ll take another look.
I'm with you, they won't lower the price point until they have stagnant sales. I'm just guessing that may be sooner than they think. I personally don't see anything that makes it worth any more than the Monos Carry On and/or Plus (my current choice) or a number of others. BTW, you've helped me make some great choices from Nomatic to Mystery Ranch. I appreciate your work!
I'm leery of intricate moving parts on something thats under load and encountering different terrain. Also, I'm sure my case has rolled a bit on me at one point but not to the point where I thought it needed wheel locks. 🤔 Why you doin this, AER?!!
If I needed one maybe I would get the orange. I did read with the wheels it could be a challenge on some airlines. I have monos which I have been happy with. I almost got the level 8
That nomatic luggage of yours looks like it’s been to war lmao. I’ve been using mine for six ish months now and it’s been basically perfect, but I’m glad to know it still holds up really well after years of use. As for the Aer…. echoing what others have said, for as expensive as it looks I’m not sure exactly what is different from it compared to Away (which I used for the last five ish years before splurging on the Nomatic). Like it’s nice enough - interior is cool, I’m sure it gets the job done. Not sure the internal “quick access” pockets are that necessary and I don’t think I’d ever use a luggage external attachment. And then the dimensions….. I’m no luggage expert, but if they’re being stricter on weight/size limits for some airlines you’re gonna be in trouble with this IMO.
In answer to your one question: for carry-on use, maybe; but for checking (which I firmly maintain is appropriate for suitcases), absolutely not never for clipping anything to the outside of the bag. 110% chance the externally-attached item fails to make it to the destination.
@@Nomads.Nation I’ve been flying since 1985. There once was a time when flying was only for the elites and business travelers, when they served legit meals in Coach (my favorite was literally Salisbury steak with potatoes and gravy), and when the sign of frequent-flyer status was carrying on only a paperback. I still check.
I was hoping for something in 1680d but as a suitcase, kinda like a TP3 but 50ish liters. For that much scratch I'd just go with a luggageworks stealth premiere 22.
Why are Clam Shell open down the middle so popular, its such a pain to deal with in a hotel where it needs a crap load of space. They used to make these carry on luggage with opening one side but now everything is clamshell. I still have carry on from the 90s that feels like its going to fall apart but it opens one side only and its been great in hotels.
it's a rectangular box, yay. i do like the lock idea. man times when i would use it. price seems too absurd. i need some funds left over for a wool shirt and a pair of barefoot shoes.
I waited on this to release for a while and got tired of waiting and bought a Monos during their Mother’s Day sale. Glad I didn’t wait on this. Waaaaaaay out of line on price
48L? Really? That according their websites, the Nomatic Carry-On Classic and the Aer suitcase are fairly close to the same dimensions (Aer a total 2.2in larger). Does it really have 18L MORE capacity than the Nomatic (30L)?
@@Nomads.Nation did you notice they just dropped a smaller version today? This new smaller version is actually .7in shorter than the Nomatic COC but somehow is boasting 11L of capacity more than the Nomatic? I’m calling 🧢. Is there something I’m missing here? Is Nomatic lying about the dimensions of their suitcase?
Very smooth review! It's a shame that this one is a collaboration with another company. Aer normally has some great features and designs, but this one seems to have missed the mark. Would also have been nice to see how the Aer travel packs look attached to the carry on, just to get additional "Aer ecosystem" options.
You've been rather comprehensive covering the major brands in the carry game. The one big omission and also a darling of the community is ula dragonfly. Would be good to get your perspective on it.
TOTALLY agree and I just got my hands on one yesterday! Bought it used on the NN Marketplace but had to ship it to my family in the US (as I live in Hong Kong). Hopefully I can get it this summer and get a review live shortly after. Very excited :)
@@Nomads.Nation I’m in hk also. Alas don’t see too many people with nerdy backpacks that we’re into. Mostly see lifestyle brands such as Herschel. If technical mainly Arc’teryx or mystery ranch.
Looks like an April Fool's Joke to me - considering weight, dimensions and material - naming this thing a carry-on. Even more so if I see the price tag ... Yet, it looks nice. Maybe somebody wants to have it for an overland travel or so. Polycarbonate gets easily scratches, but you can surely pack it into a cotton sack or so before loading it in the bus.
I think that maybe they are going for a more niche audience - def not international budget travelers. Check out Aer's newest IG post, I think it helps clarify things a bit
@@Nomads.Nation No idea what niche that would be except travelers on ground only. Couldn't find out the target group or main purpose for that thing on Instagram neither. They promise seemless travel and write in the description that it would fit in the overhead bins of all major airlines but if you check the dimensions you cannot (officially) use these trolleys for Delta, United, Lufthansa, Emirates and so on. Most probably you might slip often through but that is not guaranteed. It is not about budget traveling, it is about using an airplane of whatever renowned airline. I simply don't get it why a manufacturer would not know the dimensions/limits of the biggest airlines globally and do its designs accordingly. It's basically a question of 2-3 cm or so, is that such a difficult design problem to solve? And a basic weight of 3,8 kg if the maximum allowed weight is usually something like 7 or 8 kg is ridiculous. We do not only carry empty trolleys but put stuff inside.
That size measurement was a bit misleading. Would account for the wheels! Real size is around 22.7" which *may* cause some occasional international flight issues.
What a load of.... A Samsonite spinner is 2.1 kg with a polycarbonate hardshell AND is expandable and has 4 wheels, heck some models even have charger pass-through. Older colors and designs have all this and constantly on sale at 300/500 usd.... I mean... Come on.. WHY EVEN RELEASE THIS?!
Great points! As I stated in my video I am NOT a luggage expert haha, this is more of a basic product walk through. Also, Aer has put out a statement in regards to their sizing, seems like it fits a lot of US airlines -> instagram.com/p/C67Vn1jsyPG/
This isn't even worth £99, never mind more than 300 because of the weight of the carry on alone. Who will carry 3kg worth of luggage in a 4kg carryon? Most people carry between 4 and a half to 5 kilos worth of baggage. 2kg or less is what a lot of carry ons should be targeting
@@Nomads.Nation I still think every hand luggage should be at least lower than 3kg but to be 4kg, it'll be so easy to take it to 7kg with just a handful of stuff. The post I've sent. That's just focused more on size. But weight matters too. I'd prefer a smaller carry on that's light. Where you can fill it up and just about reach 7kg
Love how quickly they rolled out the carry-on small that actually meets the size regulations for all flights. It's almost like they *knew* the regular version would be controversial. Trying to create a buzz? Plain hubris? Terrible branding, too.
@Nomads.Nation the 15 wide on the site is a puzzling choice. Great review as always... really just concerned with size and weight on this one. Love aer stuff in general
@@qudjy1 good point, I meant more frequent US-travelers who use the same airline. Based on Aer's most recent post the suitcase seems a snug but good fit for American Airlines, Southwest, Jetblue, United, etc..
@@Nomads.Nation the black one is cool. I hope Aer also makes another suitcase. It’ll be cool if they make like the Travel Pack 3 but in suitcase version. Similar like the Thule Subterra suitcase 👍
I'm so sad because I'm a big fan of Aer bags and I was excited for this carry on, but I'm pretty disappointed even though I like the aesthetics of the suitcase. According to their site it's 57cm x 38cm x 23cm so it's already too big for a lot of airlines, it's almost 4 kg without being a hybrid (aluminum and polycarbonate) and it's almost $400, that's insane. The Monos carry-on is $255, Level8 Luminous carry-on is a nice budget pick for $160 and the Level8 Hegent carry-on is $240 if you want a hybrid one. I'm sorry, but I think this product is not it.
Alternative recommendation no.4: Doughnut Alpine Luggage Small. It has an external laptop compartment, internal divider, hinamoto wheels. I bought it for less than 800 HKD a couple of years ago in Hong Kong. Best deal ever (luggage wise).
Price and weight make this a non-starter for me, especially since the monos is cheaper, lighter, and doesn’t exceed 22 inches in height like this one. I don’t understand the obsession with branded fabrics and plastics either. Polycarbonate and nylon fabric can be just as high quality without the Makrolon or Cordura branding, which would probably lead to savings that Aer could pass on to the consumer…
Interesting perspective! I think name-brands give people peace of mind as they know what they are getting. Aer has literally built an entire brand on the back of Cordura, so they know they value of it
@@Nomads.Nation That’s definitely true, but for a more established brand like Aer, it starts to matter less if they prove they can maintain the same standard of quality without the branding. When you’re starting out as a kickstarter brand, you don’t have a reputation that customers can trust, but once your own brand is well established, it’s a different game imo. Also, suitcases are different from backpacks. I think everyone can appreciate Hinomoto wheels and YKK zippers on a suitcase. But I’ve rarely seen someone talk about the inside fabric branding and the hardshell plastic branding before. Branding matters up to a point, and I’m no definitive expert here, but I think maybe Aer went slightly past that point in this specific (suit)case (forgive me for the pun)!
@@Nomads.Nation In a backpack, you spend a loooot of time interacting with the fabric, so fabric quality matters much more. With a suitcase, you interact way more with the zips, wheels, and handle, than you do with the fabric. I think that’s why my observation is that people don’t seem to care as much for the branding of a suitcase’s fabric, but I’m open to being wrong about this. Maybe it will fly off the shelves and I’m just a guy with some unpopular opinions about this suitcase haha!
@@mumenrider677 Solid points all around! And at the end of the day I'm totally with you, we really don't know how the market will react.... it'll be a fascinating journey to watch though, I'm always rooting for Aer so I hope they know what they are doing 💪
Those handles are going to snag on other people’s luggage when you pull it out of the overhead and probably drag out a bag or too in the process. Just don’t see it as a good design
This piece of luggage looks like Aer straight up ripped off every aspect of Monos carry-on items. In fact, I'd be shocked if Aer didn't just swap their insignia/branding for that of Monos because the pieces look pretty much exactly the same.
Hate the compression system, looks so under developed and doesn’t have a clean and seamless user experience, looks like they ran out of time and just threw it in there, and it Looks soooo boring. Any other leading brand does a better job, Monos, July, Rimowa, Away, DB. I’d say this is a fail in my opinion, but what do I know.
Also forgot to add the main points of why this is a huge fail. Weight and dimensions are waaaaay too heavy and it’s too big. Maybe good for a road trip, but I guess that’s what travel backpacks are for lol.
Just when I thought Aer was gonna come up with a truly innovative luggage, I'm so disappointed that this product fails miserably. Brands are already slowly moving towards the front-opening style for luggage due to its innovative design, high functionality and great practicality when it comes to actual user experience. Aer, it's 2024 and you still design a middle-opening luggage? And gosh, the weight.. C'mon, Aer..
A bit of a fail in my book. Too heavy, too big, too pricey for what it is. Plenty of other more affordable and yet better options out there. Back to the drawing board for Aer.
based on the community response you could be right! But I have a hard time counting out Aer, maybe they know something about the market we don't... time will tell!
Almost $400 for a heavy roller whose only distinct advantage is two external latch points? How the hell do you justify this? And this is coming from someone who owns 4 aer products
I know a lot about backpacks and price points, but not about luggage, so I can't comment on this confidently. We'll see how it plays out though, I have a hard time doubting Aer, I'm sure there's a specific market in mind for this suitcase.
Seriously. Who in their right luggage making mind greenlit this this!? Anyone at Aer ever fly?!. I went from super stoked for it to straight up laughing. What a hard miss.
really? Monos signature look has 6 lines cutting through the suitcase horizontally plus a large black dot Monos logo on it... I don't think that looks the same as this imo
I get that this isn't the suitcase for you (or many of the commenters here) but Aer is usually pretty good at making niche products for niche customers. Wanna place a bet that this suitcase will still be on their website and selling strongly in 3 years? ;)
There is nothing that makes this standout from Monos or Away to justify the nealy $100 higher price tag. I think AER failed on this. The marketing campaign was horrendously too long, way overpriced and brings nothing new to the table. Love their bags....but....
strong words. I think it could be said that Monos and Away are luggage brands that are a bit more on the feminine side? Perhaps Aer is going niche here for the more masculine business traveler type, just an idea
@@Nomads.Nation sure for instance Rimowa , one of the best brand for luggage doesn’t use zippers . This is also why I like nanuk cases too even if they are heavier but more secured and. Weather resistant . Check rimowa cases
@@Nomads.Nation you can open a zipped luggage with a single pen … this is why it’s not secure and when you are overloading a case it can also turn your trip to a nightmare when you can’t close it . This is also why you often see people using luggage strap to secure them From this weak point
Do you want to help me build a game-changing backpack? 👉🏼 nomadsnation.com/building-a-backpack
With the weight at 4KG, it seems like it'll be DOA for Asian markets where the base carry-on limit is 7KG
very DOA
@@Nomads.Nation I've travelled extensively within EU + a few longhaul flights recently, most airlines I've seen have a 7 or 8 kg carry-on limit, but I've not seen anyone actually check, nobody even has scales to weigh carry-on
That said, I'd probably still be more comfortable to be within the limit, but usually my PeakDesign Travelbackpack is well over 10kg
I flew on Zipair to/from Tokyo a couple months ago and they weighed all the carry on bags. They didn't when I flew with them last year so that was an unpleasant surprise.
@@Lucaemar it's not only a question of checking it - though I had checks randomly on the airlines that I wouldn't expect. It's also a question of fitting under the seat or in overhead compartment. It's more than an in longer than my carry-on which barely made it into overhead compartment in 777. This can be a problem and a serious one if the flight is full
@@aaronoates1295 yea Cathay in Hong Kong started doing this recently as well. It's getting rough out there.
The wheel lock is an excellent feature for trains where you have to freestand your suitcase near the door because there's no luggage room, or on the London underground it's so unstable that pretty much any situation other than a tight grip on your suitcase is going to end up with a lot of rolling and running away
good to know!
Impressed that Aer took that long to come up with something that missed the mark.
yea comments don't seem too jazzed up tbh
for real lol
I don’t know how to keep it under 7 kg when the suitcase itself weighs about 4 kg.😂
you can fill it with popcorn 👍
🍿
The answer is simple: Helium
@@Feanarth Do the balloons attached to the suitcase count towards size limit? Don't want to be trying to squeeze those into a luggage cage
@@Feanarth always
The suitcase looks great, but I think the biggest con is the size. They made it too tall and you will have issues with many airlines, especially internationally. It's a good thing that it is durable, because that baby is going to get checked all the time.
Great Video though!!!
cheers!!
They have a version that is slightly smaller and cheaper precisely for that reason. Surprised the video didn't mention that
@@5280c the smaller version was announced after we published the video
I have a 20-inch tall carry-on. Many carry-ons are 20 inches; it's a pretty standard size. I've taken it on over 8 international flights with different airlines (Singapore, TUI, BA, Virgin, Korean); it has never once been checked and can always fit in the overhead bins. I'm always confused by these comments talking about international flights when international flights are more lenient than domestic flights... domestic flights have smaller planes and, therefore, smaller weights and cabin sizes.
As a long term would wide traveler, I thought I'd chime in with a few things you should add to your testings as you move into Luggage. I also thought I'd comment on using luggage as a travel safe.
First up, when testing wheeled luggage, PLEASE test it going through water. Also on multiple surfaces, including those that may include dirt and grit, and the kinds of surfaces that tear up and gum up wheels. Also the tracking of the wheels as you roll it is often worth mentioning as some luggage tends to veer and it is a PIA.
I'm impressed with the Volume - and which you had a way of measuring it (some reviewers use packing balls and a bucket with litter measurements) as the claims on all these bags seem to sometimes defy the laws of physics as I understand them and borderline on being an affordable T.A.R.D.I.S.
22.7" tall seems TOO tall for a lot of airlines which generally limit you to 22" (your measurements are different than their website by 2.7" - and this really F'ing matters for overhead bins and Carry-On measurement stands. The measurements need to include the wheels because those also go into the overhead bin. ;) ). The weight is inline with competitors, but disappointing.
I seriously please to see the Puncture Resistant Zippers which are a step in the right direction. I prefer Frame Style - no zipper - Luggage because zippers in general can be punctured with a ball point pen allowing access to the suitcase. In many cases, the zippers are self healing and the not locked into position, so that locked zippers can later be used to close and heal the opening and prevent the owner from knowing the bag was ever opened. AER's design locking the zippers in place prevent this (well done), and in theory the puncture resistant zippers prevent ball point pen attacks (I have yet to see the results of test on this). AER needs to team this offering up with a Security Strap of the luggage that has a spot for a third party lock (bring your own lock), or a combination lock that is NOT TSA approved so you can lock your luggage effectively while not at the [US] airports (TSA Master Keys' are less than US$5 and available to every one).
This brings me to the notion of a Travel Safe. When I travel, I often lock my valuables in my suitcase, and then use a security cable to both seal it and lock it in place where I am staying.
I do this because 1) You can't trust any lock with a TSA key (which anyone can purchase for $5 off Amazon and other places), 2) because you can't trust Guest Safes. Using your luggage as a Travel Safe is an easy option, provided you have purchased the correct luggage. Frame suitcases have no zippers and so prevent zipper intrusion vectors, and this is why I prefer them. All of this also requires locks you can trust (NOT TSA Approved) or a lockable luggage band with a lock that is NOT TSA Approved.
If you ever decide to make your own luggage as a follow-on to the Fyro T22 - now with OPP - or if you have a way to communicate this need/ point of view to the people who make travel luggage) please keep the notion of your hard side suitcase being a travel safe in mind.
For that matter, I suspect simply bringing a good cut resistant luggage strap (one with cables embedded in it) to Kickstarter that allowed you to secure hard side luggage closed with a 3rd party lock and allowed you to also attach a security cable (even just placing it under) would be a product people would respond to once you explain it's use for everywhere BUT the Airport.
All that said, you are making the transition to the new style of review brilliantly.
thank you so much for your feedback! I'll be very honest in that I'm not a luggage expert, so this was meant to be a basic walk through without too much 'perspective' but I def want to improve as I can hopefully get more of these under my belt :)
I use a backpack 5+ days a weeks and $250 was a stretch but it made sense. I fly 0-5 times per year, $400 makes no sense for an average person.
Cool tech if you travel a lot though, love AERs R&D team!
well said on the price point if you want value, but I think Aer is targeting a more luxury market with this suitcase
Heavy, and outside of the size restrictions so it won't fit in the sizers if asked to.
If I'm not checking it. Why does it need to be this sturdy?
Also, if you don't have a second bag you'll be digging your toiletries out of the suitcase.
important questions for sure!
Last trip I went with Riley & Briggs ecosystem: carryon and travel backpack.... fantastic items.. all my other gear tho are from AER.. fantastic review as always
thanks so much!
great review. you really break down every minute detail. i gotta ask for your feedback on some other bags. one is bp23 pro form nitecore. i see you love side pockets this is a side pocket pretending to be a bag, and 2, your thoughts on obscure (to the west) brands like mark ryden, tigernu and bange. these are priced at maybe 50-60usd BUT use cordura ballistic nylon or other premium materials and mostly ykk zips. so how is this possible? are these bags worth it? how do they keep getting away with it?
thanks and more power.
thanks so much! haven't heard of bp23 but I'll be sure to check it out
Great video.
Watched 2 regarding this carry-on so far - It seems like a thing people might want but the price could be prohibitive compared to its competition.
I have had the same carry on for many years now so I think real travellers will by something they think will be durable.
I don't know how durable this polycarbonate will actually be.
Also when it is completely scratched up after lets say 2 years of travel- will the owner still want to use it or will it be so ugly with scratches that they just don't enjoy using it any more.
An aluminium case can be beaten up and the dents are somehow beautiful but scratched plastic just looks like scratched plastic.
I wonder what you think.
Q: Do you know when you are releasing the review for the AER Tech Sling 3?
I think I need to learn more about luggage haha, I def have more experience with backpacks but it's been interesting to hear everyone's thoughts. Aer Tech Sling 3 review will be live in a few days!!
@@Nomads.Nation Thanks dude. Watched the AER Tech Sling 3 video ...also commented. Loved it.
Did they think about the weight and dimensions when making this? Not very travel friendly
not very budget travel friendly that's for sure, but maybe for the business class traveler it's not a problem - given the price point it seems possible that is their market
At 22" it is too big for many international flights,,,it is ok for most domestic but that is it 21" is what many foreign carriers max out at and some are super strict about that 21"
seems like they might be niche-ing down to more US-based travelers
I rock a TUMI x STAPLE spinner suitcase (International Expandable Carry-On) and IMO I think Aer is competing with the higher-end brands like Rimowa, Tumi, Zero Halliburton, and Briggs & Riley. This Aer Carry-On is in a weird spot because for international travel where airlines are stricter, most likely you will have to check this bag. However, for most folks traveling US domestically this would be okay I presume. However not gonna lie, some of the budget US airlines have tight overhead compartments. I think many people will be hard-pressed to choose this over a Monos, Away, or Travel Pro if they're more price-conscious. What I will say is that Aer uses brand-name premium materials. Monos I think doesn't use YKK or Cordrua.
The Aer build quality is on point though. YKK RC zips, Hinimoto Wheels, Fidlock for fun, Cordura Ripstop interior, and custom polycarbonate. Appreciating the materials and build will make it a justifiable purchase, alongside the "lifetime warranty."
The lack of a laptop pocket is not a big deal because it's expected that those who rock this suitcase will have a personal item. Would leave my tech, camera, and laptop in my personal item backpack. More space for the suitcase to prioritize clothes or souvenirs. Level 8 suitcase is kinda meh with the wide handle because it's hard to slide backpacks with a luggage pass-through sleeve on it.
I'm not in the market for rolling luggage since I am personally satisfied with Tumi however it's great to see more competition. Plus people can rock a full-on Aer set now. Aer Flight Pack 3 XPAC, Aer Carry-On, Aer City Sling 2 XPAC, AER Packing Cubes, AER Dopp Kit XPAC, Aer Cable Kit 3 XPAC, and an Aer Slim Pouch Xpac LMFAO.
Well said!
As a “carry on plus”, this fits neatly into a missing niche for me. Took a 43L carry on and CPP to Thailand for 2 weeks and felt like a carry on plus wouldve been really helpful with things I bought there… and with bringing a packable tote or duffle. A little extra space and not being 100% crammed in is an underrated feeling
I went to Thailand for 10 days last month with just a 22 liter backpack. Try it - even BETTER feeling imo
I didn’t know cheap laundry was prevalent and my friends and I all put in a load about halfway through the trip, so yes I overpacked to some degree.
We also hit up some fancy restaurants and wanted to do some hiking, so some of them had 4-5 pairs of shoes (I made do with 3 - nice, walking/hiking, and flip flops).
Did you do laundry within your 10 days?
@@kunalmishra9463 yea every 3-4 days. I bring one pair of shoes - Nike Air Force Ones in black - great for walking, gym, nice dinner and everything in between.
This suitcase definitely seems like it's for train transport over flying. It's essentially the same dimensions of a Away Bigger Carry On but 100 dollars more expensive. Weight is 100% a big deal considering you can get travelpros that are half the price and half the weight.
I know people in the comments are mentioning it being DOA for travel in asia which is true for budget carriers. But in my experience it's pretty common to see Japanese tourists traveling with Rimowas so it depends on the style of travel haha.
Personally would get it if I were taking the train everywhere because the wheel lock and larger space is a good feature. But the larger size and weight would be a deal breaker for carry-on only air travel since it has a high chance of being checked.
great analysis, and I think it's spot on. I'd like to think Aer knows their audience, and this is probably a suitcase for US travelers who frequent a specific airline. Might be a bit niche, but I have a hard time thinking Aer butchered this one
@@Nomads.Nation I think another miss is Aer choosing a hardside case. Their brand is sleek black cordura so why not make a technical minimalist soft sided roller with high quality materials.
It would actually put themselves in a underdeveloped part of the roller market. Biggest competitor would be like Briggs and Riley or Travel Pro but would offer a more modern look.
@@AndrewCouch I think that's a really interesting point. I can see why they wanted to go hardshell (looks so much better) but there was def an opportunity there for them to go soft and really open up that side of the market.
I find locking mechanisms especially useful when I'm on a train. It takes a lot of attention and force to keep my luggage from rolling into other people.
makes sense!
Great review, and I'm happy to see you do the occasional luggage review as well! Would also be very interested in seeing you review the Monos Carry On Pro, which reminds me a lot of the Aer Suitcase, but also include a dedicated laptop compartment in the front.
I'll add it to our wish list 💪
I wish they made a larger version of this. I would buy one instantly if they did. I understand why they keep it smaller however since it's meant to be a carry on bag and not meant for being checked in.
💯
One upside is that they offer it in a bright "Safety Orange" color. I've come to appreciate that my luggage is in bright and distinctive colors and can be very rapidly identified at baggage claim amongst all the nearly identical black bags. The Victorinox Werks Traveller 3.0 came in a very bright green and I've repaired that bag and still use it despite being an outdated two-wheeled design because of the color. If I ever find myself buying a new bag and the color selection is bland, I'll probably spray paint the sides of the bag.
yea the orange looks quite cool
I love the orange since is very dutchie 😬
@@carlosguerrero7935 dutchie af
Hey Aaron. How do you feel about zippers vs snap-locks (like on the Carl Friedrik suitcases)?
great question and I really wish I had an opinion on that, but I'm truly not a luggage expert, so I can't say confidently. All I know is that the snap-locks are heavier but more secure, and the zippers are lighter and less secure. Guess it depends on which is more important to you!
Something I've been wondering about is how much capacity is lost on these spinner suitcases vs a rolling duffel with 2 wheels that protrude a lot less from the bottom. I've been using an Eagle Creek 22" No Matter What Flatbed Duffel Bag (discontinued) for years and with just 2 wheels. I'd like something with more actual capacity that still fits in the overhead bins without any issues, but these spinners feel like they waste a lot of potential storage with the 4 wheels on the bottom. And as quite a few others have said, the price for this suitcase seems high for what it is.
Good note on the wheels, but they are so smooooth
As soon as I saw the Add ad, I immensely thought we need to ask Nomad Nation to review! I wasn't sure if you would since its not backpack. So glad you did.
Me too! Definitely not my expertise, but I’m happy to do a basic product walk through and give my initial pros and cons. It’s also fun learning more about luggage in the process ❤️
Yep lost me at 4kg 😅
you aren't alone apparently
It’s got the right shape (Ive had a hard case edge caved in by luggage handling before), interiors are nice, my only concern is the locking mechanism of the wheels. Seems neat but also feels like another thing that can break long term.
yea it's a point I'd be concerned about longer term as well (but maybe that would be covered under warranty?)
1. I don’t lash things to my suitcase except luggage tag. 2. Bag is too large dimensions for airlines that are paying close attention. It may sneak it. 3. Weight. Too heavy is a big no. My go to is July Carry On light.
I’ve heard great things about July suitcases
You mention $400.. Did Aer recently update the pricing? Currently $319 on their site with no indication of it being a sale price!
Yes they recently lowered the price :)
Too big and too heavy - a lot of airlines wouldn't let it in as a carry-on. The price is a final blow for it
maybe it's more of a niche product, for larger/non-budget airlines?
@@Nomads.Nation more niche for sure - especially given the weight and price. I wouldn't consider Lufthansa, American or United a budget airlines and it's over the limit in each of them (barely but still). I see it more as a solution in a search for a problem
@@adamnowak9556 well said 👏
Made by Away.. but very similar to Monos and branded Aer?
I've seen this comment a few times, I'm a def a luggage newbie, but the style does not look like Monos at all to me...
Hi Aaron. Appreciate your reviews. Can you be transparent whether you paid personally for this and the other products you review or do you get them free from the manufacturers? If it's the latter, it doesn't mean your reviews are biased but it definitely changes my perception of the review. Thanks!
We get about 70% of the products we review sent to us, the other 30% is our own gear or lent to us. This suitcase was sent to us for free. If we are ever paid we make it very clear (see our most recent Ucon Acrobatics video - tagged ‘sponsored’ and made a disclaimer in the first 60 seconds). Happy to clear up anything else!
@@Nomads.Nation Thanks! By the way, it's HEE-no-Moto which means in Japanese (Origin of the Sun).
@@GSMatch cheers! 🇯🇵
Honestly a great review and I like it. BUT the price is way out of line. I don’t see anything at all that makes it worth $150+ over much of the competition. Just simply a disappointing price point. When they realize that and get it to the $199-$249 range I’ll take another look.
thanks for your feedback! I doubt they'll lower the price point but who knows, maybe if sales aren't great they will
I'm with you, they won't lower the price point until they have stagnant sales. I'm just guessing that may be sooner than they think. I personally don't see anything that makes it worth any more than the Monos Carry On and/or Plus (my current choice) or a number of others. BTW, you've helped me make some great choices from Nomatic to Mystery Ranch. I appreciate your work!
@@nelsonstruewe4047 thanks so much!
I'm leery of intricate moving parts on something thats under load and encountering different terrain. Also, I'm sure my case has rolled a bit on me at one point but not to the point where I thought it needed wheel locks. 🤔
Why you doin this, AER?!!
I'd like to think they did plenty of market research and have a very niche audience they are going after... time will tell
If I needed one maybe I would get the orange. I did read with the wheels it could be a challenge on some airlines. I have monos which I have been happy with. I almost got the level 8
I gotta review Monos, keep hearing great things about them
It’s a perfect roadtrip suit case
😂
That nomatic luggage of yours looks like it’s been to war lmao. I’ve been using mine for six ish months now and it’s been basically perfect, but I’m glad to know it still holds up really well after years of use.
As for the Aer…. echoing what others have said, for as expensive as it looks I’m not sure exactly what is different from it compared to Away (which I used for the last five ish years before splurging on the Nomatic). Like it’s nice enough - interior is cool, I’m sure it gets the job done. Not sure the internal “quick access” pockets are that necessary and I don’t think I’d ever use a luggage external attachment. And then the dimensions….. I’m no luggage expert, but if they’re being stricter on weight/size limits for some airlines you’re gonna be in trouble with this IMO.
Dude I’ve taken that Nomatic to hell and back and it’s still rocking - not a cheap suitcase but has stood the test of time for me
In answer to your one question: for carry-on use, maybe; but for checking (which I firmly maintain is appropriate for suitcases), absolutely not never for clipping anything to the outside of the bag. 110% chance the externally-attached item fails to make it to the destination.
thanks for your feedback! I'm still a bit of a luggage-newbie, so it's great to learn as I go :)
@@Nomads.Nation I’ve been flying since 1985. There once was a time when flying was only for the elites and business travelers, when they served legit meals in Coach (my favorite was literally Salisbury steak with potatoes and gravy), and when the sign of frequent-flyer status was carrying on only a paperback. I still check.
I was hoping for something in 1680d but as a suitcase, kinda like a TP3 but 50ish liters. For that much scratch I'd just go with a luggageworks stealth premiere 22.
I'll be sure to check it out!
Why are Clam Shell open down the middle so popular, its such a pain to deal with in a hotel where it needs a crap load of space. They used to make these carry on luggage with opening one side but now everything is clamshell. I still have carry on from the 90s that feels like its going to fall apart but it opens one side only and its been great in hotels.
never tried one, thanks for the tip!
it's a rectangular box, yay. i do like the lock idea. man times when i would use it. price seems too absurd. i need some funds left over for a wool shirt and a pair of barefoot shoes.
price has since dropped
Besides the locking wheels, how is this any different from Away?
its got 'Aer' on the front of it ;)
Any talks of them coming out with a protective cover?
Not that I know of
Regular follower. Monos and Level 8 (especially Monos) is identical but far better.
I see some similarities between Monos and Aer... but identical? Not as sure. Thanks for commenting!
I waited on this to release for a while and got tired of waiting and bought a Monos during their Mother’s Day sale. Glad I didn’t wait on this. Waaaaaaay out of line on price
They have since dropped the price
Could we have more info about the “brick power bank” for laptop?!
It’s from Ekster, very heavy but holds a great charge
What tape measure do you use ?
this one - www.amazon.com/Measuring-Household-Craftsmanship-Fashionable-Retractable/dp/B095RLNZXR/
48L? Really? That according their websites, the Nomatic Carry-On Classic and the Aer suitcase are fairly close to the same dimensions (Aer a total 2.2in larger). Does it really have 18L MORE capacity than the Nomatic (30L)?
I have the Nomatic Carry on Pro with me which is 29L and in comparison, yes, the Aer feels like it could be 19L larger
@@Nomads.Nation did you notice they just dropped a smaller version today? This new smaller version is actually .7in shorter than the Nomatic COC but somehow is boasting 11L of capacity more than the Nomatic? I’m calling 🧢. Is there something I’m missing here? Is Nomatic lying about the dimensions of their suitcase?
@@jaysax90 I saw! My brain hurts to be honest with all this math 😂
Very smooth review! It's a shame that this one is a collaboration with another company. Aer normally has some great features and designs, but this one seems to have missed the mark. Would also have been nice to see how the Aer travel packs look attached to the carry on, just to get additional "Aer ecosystem" options.
thanks so much!
You've been rather comprehensive covering the major brands in the carry game. The one big omission and also a darling of the community is ula dragonfly. Would be good to get your perspective on it.
TOTALLY agree and I just got my hands on one yesterday! Bought it used on the NN Marketplace but had to ship it to my family in the US (as I live in Hong Kong). Hopefully I can get it this summer and get a review live shortly after. Very excited :)
@@Nomads.Nation I’m in hk also. Alas don’t see too many people with nerdy backpacks that we’re into. Mostly see lifestyle brands such as Herschel. If technical mainly Arc’teryx or mystery ranch.
@@tangjams yea lots of Arc’teryx and MR bags, also a decent amount of Aer and Bellroy
Looks like an April Fool's Joke to me - considering weight, dimensions and material - naming this thing a carry-on. Even more so if I see the price tag ...
Yet, it looks nice. Maybe somebody wants to have it for an overland travel or so. Polycarbonate gets easily scratches, but you can surely pack it into a cotton sack or so before loading it in the bus.
I think that maybe they are going for a more niche audience - def not international budget travelers. Check out Aer's newest IG post, I think it helps clarify things a bit
@@Nomads.Nation No idea what niche that would be except travelers on ground only. Couldn't find out the target group or main purpose for that thing on Instagram neither.
They promise seemless travel and write in the description that it would fit in the overhead bins of all major airlines but if you check the dimensions you cannot (officially) use these trolleys for Delta, United, Lufthansa, Emirates and so on. Most probably you might slip often through but that is not guaranteed.
It is not about budget traveling, it is about using an airplane of whatever renowned airline. I simply don't get it why a manufacturer would not know the dimensions/limits of the biggest airlines globally and do its designs accordingly. It's basically a question of 2-3 cm or so, is that such a difficult design problem to solve?
And a basic weight of 3,8 kg if the maximum allowed weight is usually something like 7 or 8 kg is ridiculous. We do not only carry empty trolleys but put stuff inside.
What’s the point of making a carryon that is 4kg???
It definitely seems to be quite a controversial choice
That size measurement was a bit misleading. Would account for the wheels! Real size is around 22.7" which *may* cause some occasional international flight issues.
good call!
What a load of.... A Samsonite spinner is 2.1 kg with a polycarbonate hardshell AND is expandable and has 4 wheels, heck some models even have charger pass-through. Older colors and designs have all this and constantly on sale at 300/500 usd.... I mean... Come on.. WHY EVEN RELEASE THIS?!
I'll admit, I'm not much of a luggage expert, so it's interesting to see the negative reaction in the comments. Thanks for your perspective!
Maybe as a checked bag!
A stellar checked bag for sure :)
Aaron, you missed the mark on the biggest cons: weight and dimensions.
Great points! As I stated in my video I am NOT a luggage expert haha, this is more of a basic product walk through. Also, Aer has put out a statement in regards to their sizing, seems like it fits a lot of US airlines -> instagram.com/p/C67Vn1jsyPG/
They lowered the price and released a smaller version! I commend them on listening to the valid criticism and acting quickly.
Really impressive!!
18 inches is the limit for most airlines. Specifically, 18x14x9. For the life of me I don’t understand why they would make this bag too high.
its proven to be quite the controversial choice
First suitcase with wheels breaks I saw was Muji suitcase.
Do they use Hinomoto wheels?
@@Nomads.Nation 😄I don't know, although they are from Japan.
@@mileusna Muji products are a bit more accessible, so I'd assume they used cheaper wheels (but I do love me some Muji haha)
8:18 con 1 no laptop comp.
that sleeve look like the laptop comp
This isn't even worth £99, never mind more than 300 because of the weight of the carry on alone. Who will carry 3kg worth of luggage in a 4kg carryon? Most people carry between 4 and a half to 5 kilos worth of baggage. 2kg or less is what a lot of carry ons should be targeting
I don't think it's intended for a European audience tbh, but many US airlines this fits perfectly on. Check out Aer's newest IG post
@@Nomads.Nation I still think every hand luggage should be at least lower than 3kg but to be 4kg, it'll be so easy to take it to 7kg with just a handful of stuff. The post I've sent. That's just focused more on size. But weight matters too. I'd prefer a smaller carry on that's light. Where you can fill it up and just about reach 7kg
@@mohammedfaiisal It matters less in the USA, most airlines don't weigh, but for international travel I totally see your point
Love how quickly they rolled out the carry-on small that actually meets the size regulations for all flights. It's almost like they *knew* the regular version would be controversial. Trying to create a buzz? Plain hubris? Terrible branding, too.
Very fast 180, not sure about the details
It reminds me of the Monos carry-on plus🤔
so ive heard from others
@@Nomads.Nation same interior color same material from the looks of it
@@officiallyJJT looks different to me but I guess how much innovation can there be on a hard shell suitcase 🤷🏻♂️
Looks good, but is to heavy and expensive. Love the video.
Thank you! Also, Aer just announced a lighter and cheaper version
I think you’d find the monos is better in almost every way
like I said, I'm no luggage expert, so very likely
I want to see those real dimensions again - they dont match the listed dims on the specs on aers website
how off were we?
@Nomads.Nation the 15 wide on the site is a puzzling choice. Great review as always... really just concerned with size and weight on this one. Love aer stuff in general
@@qudjy1 I love their stuff too, it's kinda crazy to see this much controversy over one of their products haha
@Nomads.Nation frequent travelers are risk averse. Noone wants that worst case scenario of $ charges or checked baggage
@@qudjy1 good point, I meant more frequent US-travelers who use the same airline. Based on Aer's most recent post the suitcase seems a snug but good fit for American Airlines, Southwest, Jetblue, United, etc..
you are killing me 😂 that is awesome!
😂
@@Nomads.Nation the black one is cool. I hope Aer also makes another suitcase. It’ll be cool if they make like the Travel Pack 3 but in suitcase version. Similar like the Thule Subterra suitcase 👍
Anytime I see a new product drop, I know there’s a very good chance you’ve already got a review up on your channel 😅
we try to keep up as best we can haha
I'm so sad because I'm a big fan of Aer bags and I was excited for this carry on, but I'm pretty disappointed even though I like the aesthetics of the suitcase. According to their site it's 57cm x 38cm x 23cm so it's already too big for a lot of airlines, it's almost 4 kg without being a hybrid (aluminum and polycarbonate) and it's almost $400, that's insane. The Monos carry-on is $255, Level8 Luminous carry-on is a nice budget pick for $160 and the Level8 Hegent carry-on is $240 if you want a hybrid one. I'm sorry, but I think this product is not it.
thanks for your feedback! It's def proven to be a controversial product so far
not the black AF1s
My faves ;)
@@Nomads.Nation 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾
Alternative recommendation no.4: Doughnut Alpine Luggage Small. It has an external laptop compartment, internal divider, hinamoto wheels. I bought it for less than 800 HKD a couple of years ago in Hong Kong. Best deal ever (luggage wise).
nice! I'll check it out :)
Price and weight make this a non-starter for me, especially since the monos is cheaper, lighter, and doesn’t exceed 22 inches in height like this one. I don’t understand the obsession with branded fabrics and plastics either. Polycarbonate and nylon fabric can be just as high quality without the Makrolon or Cordura branding, which would probably lead to savings that Aer could pass on to the consumer…
Interesting perspective! I think name-brands give people peace of mind as they know what they are getting. Aer has literally built an entire brand on the back of Cordura, so they know they value of it
@@Nomads.Nation That’s definitely true, but for a more established brand like Aer, it starts to matter less if they prove they can maintain the same standard of quality without the branding. When you’re starting out as a kickstarter brand, you don’t have a reputation that customers can trust, but once your own brand is well established, it’s a different game imo.
Also, suitcases are different from backpacks. I think everyone can appreciate Hinomoto wheels and YKK zippers on a suitcase. But I’ve rarely seen someone talk about the inside fabric branding and the hardshell plastic branding before. Branding matters up to a point, and I’m no definitive expert here, but I think maybe Aer went slightly past that point in this specific (suit)case (forgive me for the pun)!
@@Nomads.Nation In a backpack, you spend a loooot of time interacting with the fabric, so fabric quality matters much more. With a suitcase, you interact way more with the zips, wheels, and handle, than you do with the fabric. I think that’s why my observation is that people don’t seem to care as much for the branding of a suitcase’s fabric, but I’m open to being wrong about this. Maybe it will fly off the shelves and I’m just a guy with some unpopular opinions about this suitcase haha!
@@mumenrider677 Solid points all around! And at the end of the day I'm totally with you, we really don't know how the market will react.... it'll be a fascinating journey to watch though, I'm always rooting for Aer so I hope they know what they are doing 💪
Nonsense its way to heavy, whats it made out of adamantium?
🐺
Carry on needs to be light. Check in needs to be sturdy and strong.
That makes sense to me
Those handles are going to snag on other people’s luggage when you pull it out of the overhead and probably drag out a bag or too in the process. Just don’t see it as a good design
Interesting point
This piece of luggage looks like Aer straight up ripped off every aspect of Monos carry-on items. In fact, I'd be shocked if Aer didn't just swap their insignia/branding for that of Monos because the pieces look pretty much exactly the same.
I'm not much of a luggage expert but looking at the Monos website they don't look like carbon copies to me
Hate the compression system, looks so under developed and doesn’t have a clean and seamless user experience, looks like they ran out of time and just threw it in there, and it Looks soooo boring. Any other leading brand does a better job, Monos, July, Rimowa, Away, DB. I’d say this is a fail in my opinion, but what do I know.
time will tell! Would you be surprised if it's still on Aer's website in 4 years?
Do you mean surprised if they haven’t sold through their first batch in 4 years? lol
@@TheBagFreak haha well played, and certainly possible!
Love the channel Aaron, keep up the great work. Best bag review channel out there!!
@@TheBagFreak appreciated!!
i think they dropped the price....319 on the site now
Yup!
Also forgot to add the main points of why this is a huge fail. Weight and dimensions are waaaaay too heavy and it’s too big. Maybe good for a road trip, but I guess that’s what travel backpacks are for lol.
the road trip suitcase lol
Just when I thought Aer was gonna come up with a truly innovative luggage, I'm so disappointed that this product fails miserably. Brands are already slowly moving towards the front-opening style for luggage due to its innovative design, high functionality and great practicality when it comes to actual user experience. Aer, it's 2024 and you still design a middle-opening luggage? And gosh, the weight.. C'mon, Aer..
Interesting points - can you show me one of these front opening style suitcases? I’d love to get myself more familiarized with the design
A bit of a fail in my book. Too heavy, too big, too pricey for what it is. Plenty of other more affordable and yet better options out there. Back to the drawing board for Aer.
based on the community response you could be right! But I have a hard time counting out Aer, maybe they know something about the market we don't... time will tell!
The price though 😂
not cheap lol
Almost $400 for a heavy roller whose only distinct advantage is two external latch points? How the hell do you justify this? And this is coming from someone who owns 4 aer products
I know a lot about backpacks and price points, but not about luggage, so I can't comment on this confidently. We'll see how it plays out though, I have a hard time doubting Aer, I'm sure there's a specific market in mind for this suitcase.
Seriously. Who in their right luggage making mind greenlit this this!? Anyone at Aer ever fly?!. I went from super stoked for it to straight up laughing. What a hard miss.
It works for certain airlines, but not all
Maybe the designer only fly biz or first class.
@Phat-rj3jo Aer IS NOT a luxury, and they won't ever be haha.
@@mdmcd6273 you are taking it too literally, it was a sarcastic comment.
Way too heavy in my opinion
It's definitely a very durable, and heavy, carry on
Looks like Monos. Actually thought it's Monos
really? Monos signature look has 6 lines cutting through the suitcase horizontally plus a large black dot Monos logo on it... I don't think that looks the same as this imo
Way too big, expensive, and heavy. Very confused by what aer is doing here. They generally understand what their buyers want but this isn’t it.
I get that this isn't the suitcase for you (or many of the commenters here) but Aer is usually pretty good at making niche products for niche customers. Wanna place a bet that this suitcase will still be on their website and selling strongly in 3 years? ;)
There is nothing that makes this standout from Monos or Away to justify the nealy $100 higher price tag. I think AER failed on this. The marketing campaign was horrendously too long, way overpriced and brings nothing new to the table. Love their bags....but....
strong words. I think it could be said that Monos and Away are luggage brands that are a bit more on the feminine side? Perhaps Aer is going niche here for the more masculine business traveler type, just an idea
Real leather in 2024? Lame.
why?
a zipped suitcase for me is a no go . It’s unsafe , it’s the weakest point of be never last long in my experience f a frequent traveler .
are there non-zipped suitcases? I am not an expert in luggage haha
@@Nomads.Nation sure for instance Rimowa , one of the best brand for luggage doesn’t use zippers . This is also why I like nanuk cases too even if they are heavier but more secured and. Weather resistant . Check rimowa cases
@@Nomads.Nation you can open a zipped luggage with a single pen … this is why it’s not secure and when you are overloading a case it can also turn your trip to a nightmare when you can’t close it . This is also why you often see people using luggage strap to secure them
From this weak point
Which also costs thousands of dollars. 😱 I already can’t afford all the awesome stuff these guys review, let alone this zipperless expensive luggage.
@@Nomads.NationA lot of suitcases use locks instead. Locks would add even more weight though which seems like a no-go here 😬
DOA. SIA. CIA. hence FTA.!
lol