Unbelievably few people give that kind of look at the laptop compartments. I have a 17" laptop, and nobody will state that their bag fits it even if it will because some 17" laptops can often be much larger than other 17" laptops. It has been a nightmare trying to find reliable dimensions of laptop compartments on any bag, so THANK YOU for comparing the two with an example. I think with a laptop being such a large investment for the average person, more reviewers should take the dimensions of the laptop compartment into consideration.
Great video thanks! I’ve just subbed. Do you use these rather than the Aer City Pack (or similar backpack) now then? I’m still getting my head around which bags might be most useful for me to upgrade first
ey! thanks so much for the sub. Yep, I switched 100% to these briefs/messenger bags for work. I don't need the space of backpacks anymore for work. But for any other uses, I still use a backpack, jsut not Aer.
@@EDG thanks for the response, a rare and appreciated thing on youtube these days! Makes sense! It'd be great to have an update video from you something along the lines of "My Current Bag Lineup" showing perhaps your top 5 most used bags, and their use cases. I'm currently looking at a combo of personal and carryon bag that will cover me for 90% of my abroad trips, and getting my head around 40L + 25L backpacks, or 40L + duffle, or 32L + Messenger, etc... hard to know until you've got them, so hearing from someone who's got the pick of the bunch I think would be really useful! Cheers again, hope the feedback is useful, if you like the idea :)
you read my mind! I'm working on a video that'll cover every bag that I currently use.. aka, which ones made it to my personal lineup after trying like 40 bags over the last few years. But for your question, I'd go 40L + 25-30L backpack as the most versatile setup. Then 40L + duffel if you really just want to be hands free in the airport. and 40L+ messenger if you're studying abroad and are going to class or work and just prefer a smaller messenger over a backpack. @@ohooper
Love your videos. Do you have a 3 way bag that transitions from backpack to messenger bag to briefcase that has a great business aesthetic. Easy to transition from airport to the boardroom. Thank you 🙏
HI Jason, thanks so much! Yea, I have 2 in mind depending on what size you need. The Alpaka 'Elements tech brief Pro", and the Wexley ' Norton weekender bag'. I haven't tried either of them yet, but I'm probably going to get the Wesley one soon. Let me know if these were something you're looking for. The Alpaka basically looks exactly like this Aer one, but it turns into a backpack also.
Despite owning two bellroy via work bags, between the two, i would go for aer without hesitation. The narrow, slippery shoulder strap has been a pain in the arse for me especially when i wear my raincoat all the time. Great review though!
Totally, understand that. This slippery shoulder strap was sort of annoying even on a normal dress shirt. If I had to wear it on a raincoat, I’d lose my mind
That's awesome, yea the Waterfield Bolt is dope. It has a different aesthetic and is targeted at a different price range, but a brief is a brief in the end, and im sure that thing will last forever. Which color do you have ? And is there anything you don't like? I was also looking Into The a heritage-style pack like that.
@@EDG if either this bellroy or aer was around when I was shopping I might have gone for those, just based on cost. Though Waterfield prices have gone up a lot, it was under $300 when I got it. I might have leaned aer for more shoulder padding + bottle pocket. I have a grizzly leather on brown waxed canvas. The canvas feels great under hand, but the downside is its heavier than nylon. The strap for the Waterfield doesn't look padded, but whatever they did, the padding is some of the best I've used, its springy like a suspension. Other than the weight there isn't much to complain about, its well thought out and premium in materials, it picks up a nice patina over time.
@@jonuiuc yea for sure. Those materials do age gracefully and hopefully last over time! Yea, im excited to read the comments because I anticipate more ppl to pick the Aer pack haha. My use case is pretty unique because I carry a big-ass lunch box in my Bellroy. So is the Waterfield strap itself stretchy (like suspension)? or is the padding on the strap padded.
@@EDG The waterfield strap itself is normal nylong (the nice soft kind) but the padded section is like a neoprene plus a synthetic leather suede or or something, it stretches a little, like a suspension, but its not that thick with padding, its weird, but it deals with weight way better than anything that thin should.
Great video! I like both bags, but I'm two clicks away from buying Alpaka's Element Tech Brief Pro - it's more organized and has the bonus feature of being able to carry in backpack mode. If you haven't already, consider checking it out!
thanks! Great suggestion, I love the Alpaka Element Tech Brief, though I haven't had a chance to use it. Been o the radar for a while, and I've come close to buying as well.
I have watched so many bellroy reviews in the last 6 months, trying to decide which one to get, and functionality-wise they have great bags, however when I saw them in person, instantly my reaction was "wow, this is supposed to be brand new but the fabric already looks so looks dirty and cheap; what a piece of crap". Hate big flashy logos too, so my search continues. Likely to go back to Thule...
I own the via, system and Tokyo work bag, by far via work bag is my favourite and the Tokyo work bag is the worst. But I don't trust the shoulder strap connecting points on any of those bags. Terribly made and easy to get unsewn. I only used the Tokyo work bag twice and the stitches already came off a bit, and I only loaded it with a laptop, a paperback, and some super lightweight bits and bobs, not even dared to put my water bottle in.
Unbelievably few people give that kind of look at the laptop compartments. I have a 17" laptop, and nobody will state that their bag fits it even if it will because some 17" laptops can often be much larger than other 17" laptops. It has been a nightmare trying to find reliable dimensions of laptop compartments on any bag, so THANK YOU for comparing the two with an example.
I think with a laptop being such a large investment for the average person, more reviewers should take the dimensions of the laptop compartment into consideration.
Totally agreed!! Glad I could help
You did an amazing review on both bags, an instant sub and a like. Looking forward to watching more of your video reviews. Cheers!
Thanks for the sub! Really appreciate the nice comment, I’m glad I could help.
Great video thanks! I’ve just subbed.
Do you use these rather than the Aer City Pack (or similar backpack) now then?
I’m still getting my head around which bags might be most useful for me to upgrade first
ey! thanks so much for the sub. Yep, I switched 100% to these briefs/messenger bags for work. I don't need the space of backpacks anymore for work. But for any other uses, I still use a backpack, jsut not Aer.
@@EDG thanks for the response, a rare and appreciated thing on youtube these days!
Makes sense!
It'd be great to have an update video from you something along the lines of "My Current Bag Lineup" showing perhaps your top 5 most used bags, and their use cases.
I'm currently looking at a combo of personal and carryon bag that will cover me for 90% of my abroad trips, and getting my head around 40L + 25L backpacks, or 40L + duffle, or 32L + Messenger, etc... hard to know until you've got them, so hearing from someone who's got the pick of the bunch I think would be really useful!
Cheers again, hope the feedback is useful, if you like the idea :)
you read my mind! I'm working on a video that'll cover every bag that I currently use.. aka, which ones made it to my personal lineup after trying like 40 bags over the last few years. But for your question, I'd go 40L + 25-30L backpack as the most versatile setup. Then 40L + duffel if you really just want to be hands free in the airport. and 40L+ messenger if you're studying abroad and are going to class or work and just prefer a smaller messenger over a backpack. @@ohooper
Love your videos. Do you have a 3 way bag that transitions from backpack to messenger bag to briefcase that has a great business aesthetic. Easy to transition from airport to the boardroom.
Thank you 🙏
HI Jason, thanks so much! Yea, I have 2 in mind depending on what size you need. The Alpaka 'Elements tech brief Pro", and the Wexley ' Norton weekender bag'. I haven't tried either of them yet, but I'm probably going to get the Wesley one soon. Let me know if these were something you're looking for. The Alpaka basically looks exactly like this Aer one, but it turns into a backpack also.
Despite owning two bellroy via work bags, between the two, i would go for aer without hesitation. The narrow, slippery shoulder strap has been a pain in the arse for me especially when i wear my raincoat all the time. Great review though!
Totally, understand that. This slippery shoulder strap was sort of annoying even on a normal dress shirt. If I had to wear it on a raincoat, I’d lose my mind
I like these, but I was looking for bags like this five years ago, so I ended up with a Waterfield Bolt briefcase. Still going strong.
That's awesome, yea the Waterfield Bolt is dope. It has a different aesthetic and is targeted at a different price range, but a brief is a brief in the end, and im sure that thing will last forever. Which color do you have ? And is there anything you don't like? I was also looking Into The a heritage-style pack like that.
@@EDG if either this bellroy or aer was around when I was shopping I might have gone for those, just based on cost. Though Waterfield prices have gone up a lot, it was under $300 when I got it. I might have leaned aer for more shoulder padding + bottle pocket.
I have a grizzly leather on brown waxed canvas. The canvas feels great under hand, but the downside is its heavier than nylon. The strap for the Waterfield doesn't look padded, but whatever they did, the padding is some of the best I've used, its springy like a suspension. Other than the weight there isn't much to complain about, its well thought out and premium in materials, it picks up a nice patina over time.
@@jonuiuc yea for sure. Those materials do age gracefully and hopefully last over time! Yea, im excited to read the comments because I anticipate more ppl to pick the Aer pack haha. My use case is pretty unique because I carry a big-ass lunch box in my Bellroy. So is the Waterfield strap itself stretchy (like suspension)? or is the padding on the strap padded.
@@EDG The waterfield strap itself is normal nylong (the nice soft kind) but the padded section is like a neoprene plus a synthetic leather suede or or something, it stretches a little, like a suspension, but its not that thick with padding, its weird, but it deals with weight way better than anything that thin should.
@@jonuiucah gotcha, yea that’s pretty good!
Great video! I like both bags, but I'm two clicks away from buying Alpaka's Element Tech Brief Pro - it's more organized and has the bonus feature of being able to carry in backpack mode. If you haven't already, consider checking it out!
thanks! Great suggestion, I love the Alpaka Element Tech Brief, though I haven't had a chance to use it. Been o the radar for a while, and I've come close to buying as well.
I have watched so many bellroy reviews in the last 6 months, trying to decide which one to get, and functionality-wise they have great bags, however when I saw them in person, instantly my reaction was "wow, this is supposed to be brand new but the fabric already looks so looks dirty and cheap; what a piece of crap".
Hate big flashy logos too, so my search continues. Likely to go back to Thule...
Interesting! My experience has generally been the opposite, I like Bellroys materials. They’re better than Aers for sure
Laptop sizes are measured corner to corner 😉
You are correct, again
I love and own things from both brands, but the best imo would be either the bigger Tokyo Work Bag or System Messenger Bag
interesting, yea do yo own both? Those are great for more space. These 2 bags are pretty small and only fit the essentials
I ended up buying the Tokyo Work Bag because of the more professional look. You really can't go wrong with anything from these brands @@EDG
@@_allcap Yea for sure, they're both great! I have bags from both and they're both awesome for specific uses.
I own the via, system and Tokyo work bag, by far via work bag is my favourite and the Tokyo work bag is the worst. But I don't trust the shoulder strap connecting points on any of those bags. Terribly made and easy to get unsewn. I only used the Tokyo work bag twice and the stitches already came off a bit, and I only loaded it with a laptop, a paperback, and some super lightweight bits and bobs, not even dared to put my water bottle in.
Looks like the Bellroy Via?
You are correct