I just purchased this bag yesterday, before I saw this review. This was an excellent review and reinforced my decision. I specifically chose this bag to carry an 11" Samsung tablet, primarily for travel purposes as opposed to EDC. I got the XPAC version because I like the way the orange interior pops, and the exterior material looks pretty nice. This was the most thorough review I found, and I am subscribing as a result.
Interesting and appreciate the review! Good overall coverage - wish the blurb on certain chapters was shorter. I picked up the DS3 Max x-pac a few weeks ago and used it on a recent day trip to house an iPad Mini among other EDC items. Still on the fence whether I'll keep the DS3 Max, as I have a Day Sling 2 and an Aer Go backpack v1.
I love the day sling 2 in x-pac which is perfect for me except it can’t hold my 11” IPad Pro ! So when this one came out, I just bought one straight away! I bought the x-pac version again because I love the material feel better and it came with aqua guard zipper on the main opening as well! I have been using it for a week now and it is perfect for my daily use! Thank you for your review!
@klgc4690 Do you also use it for a water bottle? I think this might be perfect for me, if it can easily fit tablet, e-reader, water bottle and maybe a small jacket or umbrella. But hard to find the perfect fit..
I have been using the Day Sling 3 X-Pac the smaller version for a month and it has changed the way i carry my EDC. Not only its a pocket reliever, it empties all my pockets at times. Unfortunately the inner lining facing the front is peeling off a little bit so im quite puzzled why is it so 🤔 in a short period of time. Yes i do use the sling daily and i even packed it to the brim and it weighs 0.94 kgs with my phone being the heaviest item inside the main compartment in the sleeve. I agree with you the straps is a pain to adjust but once i adjusted to my desired length, i left it as it is. I like the internal organisation and it makes me more organised and easier to find my items when i need them. For the back compartment, i put my daily wallet which is the Alpaka Zip Pouch Pro in RX30 Ocean Blue ( my favourite colour and material) and overall I'm very pleased. I do put a Hero Clip mini on the loop handle and its much easier to hang the sling in places where i cant use the straps to hang. I have a packable tote from Peak Design which i put inside the zipped compartment inside for just in case and overflow. One more thing, I am able to make the sling stand even when its lightly loaded out. As me how 😉
31:21 OMG exactly what I am feeling. I'm actually looking at these 2 bags. and yes it's slim pickings for a tech bag that can hold a iPad Pro with a keyboard . I have a cheapo Chinese sling that has the same usb output and I NEVER USE IT. I think it's actually stupid because you can just run the power bank cable out of the slightly ajar zipper. just feel useless
The strap is the best ever, at least for me. Adjust once and that's it. No extra strap or loose strap like the previous models. Damn, I just bought an Alpaka Bravo X sling last month. Which is a great 6L too. Tempting to buy this one. I have the V2 and used it for a year or more but changed to Alpaka cos I need the extra room.
Hey Isaac, I just got a Bravo X sling as well and although I like the look and features the strap is bugging me. On mine I find that the strap keeper for the loose end moves when swinging the bag around and you have to adjust it every time. Trying to figure out a solution before entertaining the thought of returning it though. If this AER sling had a stabilizer D-ring like the Alpaka bags it would be awesome!
@@mr_red13 The one I got was the Limited Edition Bravo X in X-Pak X50. Decided to keep it. I would usually wear a sling over my right shoulder but this Bravo X one functions better when worn over the left shoulder which only took a day to get used to. The strap keeper doesn’t really move when I wear it how it was designed.
If you're considering this sling, I'd highly recommend the Eagle Creek Wayfinder Crossbody. It also has space for a water bottle, which is a definite urban travelling bonus. It also holds an iPad 11 inch in a dedicated pocket.
thanks to your vid I bought this sling in Xpak 😊 The bag stands up perfectly, maybe the stiffer material helps? I think this addresses your main concern with the sling 😅
Interesting - do you have a tablet inside of it when you stand it up? I actually have it in XPAC and I thought that one didn't really stand up with the tablet in it either, but I shall double-check when I get home - maybe I didn't try hard enough and just assumed it wouldn't stand with a tablet because of what I experienced with the nylon version.
@@TheMountainbornhmm i put my ipad in it and there is no issue. I usually have a cap.5 at the bottom which maybe helped flatten the base and made it wider, but even with the CAP removed it still stands up :)
Hey @TheMountainborn great videos! Could you please review the Aer Travel Pack 3? I’m very interested in buying it in combo with this sling as an international travel system… Yours is the only channel really reviewing stuff packed up and with a practical approach, so I’d love to see how well does the travel pack 3 performs. Tnx in advance!!
Hi @samirramos! Sure I can do that :) Until I get a chance to do the full review, the tl;dr is that the Aer TPv3 is a very solid and reliable choice for a travel backpack and pairing it with a sling is an excellent way to do the one bag travel. It's got all the standard features you'd expect in a dedicated one bag travel bag, and also features the typical Aer high degree of "EDC" type organization, robust padding/support on the load carriage and I also like that it has both a removable optional hip belt and features a slightly-smaller-than-max size of 35L which for me is a sweet spot in terms of carrying capacity and overall usability (in general max carry on capacity is usually around 40 - 45L depending on the bag's material/construction but that can be quite ponderous to carry around and is limited in some of the places it can fit on smaller planes, etc.) In my opinion the main downsides are: a lot of extra material and weight is used in the construction of the bag/materials which makes it fairly robust but also have a relatively average capacity to weight/size ratio (there are better bags in this regard out there), it's a little too large to use as an EDC pack at the destination for most people (unless you are super tall/large) and it suffers from a common ailment of many bags in this category in that the main compartment is pretty much just a big empty space that tends to sag a bit when empty (the side compression straps help a little with this but not that much). If you really like this bag but are looking for something smaller that can also work as a destination use EDC bag, there is a Travel Pack Small v3 that I also recommend (and prefer) - at 27 L this is totally usable as an EDC destination bag whilst also comfortably working as a One Bag Travel bag for small to medium load outs especially when paired with a sling. I hope this helps until such time as I can do a full review!
@@TheMountainborn Thanks a lot for your insights! I really appreciate you taking the time to send such a detailed and useful response. I agree on 35L beeing a sweet spot for one bag travel! And, since I’ll be using a compressible backpack as destination daypack for those times when the sling won’t cut it, I guess I’ll be going for the regular size. I'm surely looking forward for that full review video on the TPv3; Unfortunately, in my country I can’t have a real hands on experience with the bag prior to purchase, so having your videos is a great tool! Tnx again and keep up the great work!! Cheers from Mexico, mate!!
check out how chase reeves put on the sling! he shows it on his review of the new AER products too. he has this method, unclip, hold on to the buckles, over the head, rebuckle, and then slide off the shoulder. works like a charm after you get used to it.
Hi Kang - yup, I saw that. My theory is that there are two types of people in the world when it comes to slings/messenger bags - those who clip/unclip and those who do the over the shoulder and cinch. I am squarely in the latter tribe (especially with slings that are intended to carry heavier things like an iPad Pro with keyboard cover such as this one - I find those less pleasant to keep a hold of the little buckles with the weight swinging around) but I think people who are buckle/unbucklers will be served super well with that method. I want to be clear that I don't consider the strap a huge demerit - I still very much like this bag, it was just a bit of a friction in this particular interaction that wasn't as smooth for my personal carry style as others but I still like this bag a lot.
@@TheMountainborn (Sounds of the Underground) Just bought the day sling max Xpac and love it. Fits my ipad mini or ipad pro as well as a mirrorless Sony A74 and another zoom lens. Crazy amount of space. Selling my Peak design 6L sling. Now considering on buying the Travel Pack 3 in the Xpac version.
Just bought the day sling max Xpac and love it. Fits my ipad mini or ipad pro as well as a mirrorless Sony A74 and another zoom lens. Crazy amount of space. Selling my Peak design 6L sling. Now considering on buying the Travel Pack 3 in the Xpac version. How do you like the Travel pack 3?
The problem with the 9 and 10L sling bags is that once you start putting things in it, all that stuff will add to the overall weight of the sling and if you walk around with a heavy sling at your front, eventually, it will start digging into the cervical part of your spine and will just be a big bulk at your chest which gets annoying. I would rather have a bigger sling that goes behind you so the weight is more on your shoulders.
Absolutely - overloading and load carriage are two things one always has to be careful of when it comes to slings. They can be ameliorated to some extent by careful sling design/structure (i.e. vertically oriented slings tend to carry more weight better as the bulk of the weight falls in line with your body; limiting depth of the sling body (to avoid putting weight too far out from the center line and thus torquing heavily on the shoulders, etc.), strap design and construction (i.e. wider and or more padded straps and designs that encourage carrying in ways that place the weight closer to the center of the body) and materials (i.e. materials or construction with some amount of flex/stretch/give that helps absorb/smooth out some of the natural points of impact as the mass of the sling oscillates up/down when walking, etc.) but one will never fully overcome the laws of physics :)
Hey mountain, have you had any experience using the aer travel pack 3 or it’s predecessors yet? Wonder what you think about those for one bag/ minimal travel. Also what are some of your favorite 35l -45l travel backpacks?
@@Misterion25 Hmm on the website they have a video of a model pulling an ipad out of the Largo, not sure what type of iPad that is tho. And I think chase Reeves showed the Largo with his ipad pro 11 in it. So maybe it's not really designed for a tablet but I think it fits :)
@@ij299 I just got rid of my Largo b/c I thought it was too small for my iPad Pro 11". Traded it for a Defy Insidious Jr. Wish I still had it to show some pics but I'm 99% sure it was a bad experience.
Hi I J - yup, I had the same experience as Misterion - the 11" iPad Pro *technically* fits in the Largo but it definitely was very tight. That's actually one of the reasons why I haven't reviewed the Largo yet - I got it thinking it would be great for iPad carry and it turned out to be a very unpleasant experience same as Misterion mentioned. So sad! I love Trakke and their asthetic but the Largo unfortunately did not work well for me for tablet carry.
Love the detailed review! Just a quick question: you said that a bottle would probably not fit well but isn't the sling a similar size to the Bellroy Venture Sling which fits them quite nicely? Or is it more down to the internal layout? The Aer checks a lot of boxes for me (general shape, magnetic fidlock buckle, option for a tablet, kind of expendable when packing it fully...) but I would love to have the option to bring a bottle sometimes. Also because it was mentioned more than once: is the Aer that much less water/weatherproof than its competitors?
@MePavlyuchenk I was wondering the exact same thing :) Water bottle’s important to me and I’m trying to find an alternative to the Venture Sling 9L which holds a water bottle easily but not my iPad Pro…
Great review, thanks! Might have to get it now! Curious about the little pouch you have next to the Anker magsafe charger…what is it (brand, where to purchase)? Thanks!
Hi Diana - thank you so much for the kind words :) The little pouch is the Granite Gear Trail Wallet S (Granite Gear is the brand name). Normally they have the company logo sewn to the front and a little cordura tag on the side but I believe I removed both of those from the one I show in the video (they seemed a little overkill for such a tiny little pouch). I originally picked this up for hiking but found it very useful as a small, lightweight organiser in an EDC context. They also have other sizes as well - I found mine in an outdoor store but I believe they are also sold online (the granitegear website says they're out of stock at the moment though). I hope this helps!
Good review on the Max, it does look cleaner and more subtle than the bulky Alpaka. But please don’t call the Alpaka Bravo Sling Pro V2 stupid, because it’s a good bag. Great slash-proof material; acceptable features and it has a spacy bright blue interior.
Hi @bomautama ! I didn't call the Alpaka Bravo Sling Pro v2 stupid persay. If you rewatch the section, I think you will find that I was fairly favourable to it and the brand in general. However, I did specifically mention that external SIM card holder was something I wish they would remove and a little stupid. This piece is not only external but protrudes noticeably from the external surface of the bag making it easy to catch on things - not only that but it also doesn't lock shut which makes it very easy for it to open up if hit strongly (like if you bump up against a wall, etc.) - in my opinion that is a pretty risky design for something that is designed to hold something as important as SIM cards (which contain phone numbers that many people might use for things like 2FA, OTP etc.) So I will stand by my opinion that this part specifically is a pretty foolish / unrefined design (and I think credence is given to this position by the fact that this piece of hardware disappeared from their entire lineup in later iterations), but overall I like the bag and the entire brand and have really enjoyed the way they've evolved over time.
i am currently using Alpaka BRAVO X SLING (black X-pac version) for 18months.. here are my opinion. the pros are - good design and material of choice. magnetic buckle. smooth 38mm width straps. well padded back panel. Structural design. the cons here - zip openings are small, tight and un-easy to fit in for 6L capacity. plastic cable connector (sew-in, integrated magnetic hub pull tab is in a very tight inner compartment. accessories are expensive. lack of sunglasses storage.
Thank you for this in depth review! Did you get a chance to look at alpaka’s alpha messenger bag? It’s a little bigger (can hold a laptop) but I’m really torn in between it and this sling.
Hi Orifun! I have! I didn't compare it here because it's quite a different size / category of bag in my opinion. It's not a bad bag but I felt it was little tight and less refined than I wanted in a couple of areas. The top cover (flap) was also a little flappier than I would have liked (if that makes sense? 😂) On the other hand it does squarely carry a laptop if that is what you're looking for. Overall I find Alpaka gear to make some pretty interesting stuff especially in form factors that other brands haven't really explored too deeply and are generally priced fairly reasonably. For what it's worth, if you're looking for tablet carry (rather than laptop carry) but still want a smaller bag I would go with some of their slings (I believe I show a few in this video at the end - the Bravo X-Sling large or whatever also holds a 13" laptop) rather than the messenger - if you want a messenger form factor though of course, the messenger is the way to go (there are lots of other options in this space though, including some from Aer - I think I previously reviewed one of their messenger bags on this channel). I hope this helps!
Huh. The carry handle is interesting, I actually didn't even notice it until you used it. I feel like I've never had a sling that I felt like it needed one.
Hi Eliot - how's it going? :) Yeah the handle is super low profile. I agree that most slings probably don't need them but I still somehow find them useful when I want to pick up or set down the sling on a chair/seat (like in a car when getting in/out) or move it a short distance and don't want to either sling it over my shoulder or else carry it like an american football 😂. Also, when my hands are full (like moving seats at a cafe and needing to carry my plate, jacket, coffee all at once) I find the carry handle handy for running one finger through to enable me to carry it a short distance whilst trying not to spill/drop everything else haha.
Hi UserX - I would not recommend this bag for carrying a mirrorless DSLR, let alone with a couple of extra lenses. If pushed, you can fit most APS-C bodies in here (think: Sony a6600) along with a reasonably sized len, but it's not going to be the best experience in the world and depending on the lens may need to carry the lens and body unmounted. I would say that most FF mirrorless bodies + lenses are not going to fit comfortably in here. If you want to carry a tablet + camera + lenses, I'd suggest looking at the Peak Design line of Everyday Slings. Truth be told, they're not particularly great EDC slings (they are ridiculously inefficient at carrying EDC goods and all the pocketing is just way too tight, except for the spots to carry the cameras and lenses) however if you go up to the 10L you should be able to fit all the stuff you need - up to FF body, lenses, tablet with keyboard cover, edc goods etc. If you have a very very svelte EDC then the 6L EDC sling will work and also has a slot for a tablet. Other options include the Bellroy Venture Sling (I have a review of that on my channel and I show a fit with a Leica SL2-S + SL 24-70 f/2.8 which is a chunky combo; downside is it does not fit an iPad Pro with KB cover. Another choice might be the Greenroom Metromonger series - I love this bag a lot and they sell a series of camera inserts that you can use to carry camera gear comfortably in it. Great EDC sling with full laptop/tablet carry and capability to solidly handle camera gear.
Hi Julius! Disclaimer - I haven't use the v3 just the previous version. Overall I like the Day sling series (and x-pac is always a good choice if you like the asthetic and don't mind the waterproof main zippers on the x-pac variant vs. the standard zippers on the cordura materialway). However for my personal carry loadouts, I found the Day Sling was a little bit "in between" - it's a decently sized sling with a horizontal type layout, however it only carries up to an iPad mini. In that size range (thinking from the tablet carry perspective which is why I usually am interested in mid-to-large slings) there are several strong competitors like the various Bellroy slings (Venture sling, Sling lite, Venture sling small) which also carry an iPad mini but which I usually end up liking somewhat better due to their fabric choices and different organizational layouts. Thus I usually opt for those over the Day sling. For me, my sling choices in ascending size: Small: City Sling V2 Medium (iPad mini): Bellroy Sling Lite, Bellroy Venture Sling Small Med/Large (iPad Pro): Aer Day Sling Max 3 Large (iPad mini / camera): Bellroy Venture Sling
Great question - I think they're both different approaches to a closely-related problem space (that space being: lightweight EDC tech/device carry in a smaller non-backpack form factor) The biggest difference for me between the two (besides the obvious form factor differences) and the thing that I think will be the crucial decider for people is - do you need to carry a laptop or will just a smaller iPad Pro w/ keyboard cover be enough? In cases where people need to carry or have to carry the laptop, the Day Sling 3 Max won't be an option since it won't fit it. Personally, I generally prefer bags that *just* fit their contents without a ton of extra wasted space - so for days when I'm doing the tablet thing (usually on the weekends at the very least) and don't want to carry a big laptop, I would strongly lean towards this bag (the day sling 3 max) - I also prefer this side/hip/lower back style of carry over the slightly higher up, shoulder/quiver style carry of the Tech Sling 2. (I also like the material and design better than the smooth/pleather like surface of the Tech Sling) But when traveling or looking for a lighter EDC carry for a laptop, the the Tech Sling 2 (or the travel sling) are what I would reach for over this. I hope this helps!
Great in depth video. Question, would this bag carry a full frame mirrorless camera + 1 lens better than that of the Bellroy Venture 9L sling? Thank you
Hi Alvin, For camera carry, especially FF mirrorless I absolutely think you're going to be better off with the Venture 9L than the Aer Day Sling 3 Max. The Day Sling Max is a great bag but it is much more oriented around tablet carry rather than a bulky mirrorless camera. The Venture sling can carry even a huge mirrorless FF body like a Leica SL2 + SL 24-70 f/2.8. I did a review of the Venture Sling where I show it with the aforementioned camera inside. Hope this helps!
Hi Rendi - that is a very difficult question! They are both excellent sling bags - I don't think we can definitively say either one of them is "better" than the other as they aim to satisfy different use cases (and each excels in their own way). If you want to carry an 11" iPad Pro or similarly-sized tablet, then the Aer Day Sling 3 Max is the only way to go as the Venture sling doesn't really carry tablets well as I showed in my review video of it. Conversely, if you are looking to carry bulkier things (like a camera, etc.) then the Venture Sling 9L is the way to go as the Aer Day Sling 3 Max isn't well suited to carrying bulky items in the same way as the Bellroy. I love both of these slings and use them both regularly, but in different contexts. I hope this helps!
Hi Aethelread! Tl;dr - I think the Venture sling overall is more useful (and also comes in several variants including a smaller 6L and a larger 10L Camera-use one, though my favourite is still the baseline 9L venture sling model) and versatile WITH the exception of not being able to handle any device larger than an iPad mini - which is probably the greatest weakness of the Venture Sling IMO (and which I mentioned in the video) - it's crazy to me the Venture sling can be 9L but can't effectively carry any device larger than an iPad mini-ish... :/ So when I need to carry a tablet (I often rock the 11" iPad Pro with the Keyboard Cover) and want to stay with the sling form factor, the Day Sling 3 Max is hard to beat. But in other cases - especially if I'm carrying something chunkier like a water bottle, jacket or camera, the venture sling is more versatile. I hope this helps!
a little more pendulous, nice and svelte, yes, nice slopes, flopping around, dense nature, rigid yet squishy oh yesssss but oh so frictionful! Ahhhhaahhh
For sure - I wish the strap adjusted a bit more easily, I'd be more likely to cinch it up high and tight when riding a bike or something, then let it down a bit more for walking etc. But definitely can see how people would like to wear this one high and tight!
Hi @norlindaamin3645 ! This one is definitely up to personal preference, I don't think you can go wrong with either! Generally I go back and forth between these materials - I think it comes down to your preference in 1. Appearance - Xpac is a bit more distinctive/high tech looking, Nylon a bit more low key/incognito 2. Water resistance - Xpac variants are more water resistant (especially because of the water resistant zippers used in this variant) however the seams are not taped so it's not 100% water proof. 3. Hand feel/Wear - Nylon feels softer to the touch and in my opinion tends to wear a bit more gracefully initially. Xpac feels more artificial and tends to get marks that aren't easy to remove early on due to abrasion, but overall in the long run will probably hold up to wear better. 4. Price - Xpac variant I think is slightly more expensive. But you can't go wrong with either - I have bags in both variations and it sometimes just comes down to what I'm feeling that day!
Hi @mkphilly - thanks for the kind words! Regarding the cons being mainly around carrying things most slings are not geared for... normally I would agree with you, however in the case of the Day Sling 3 Max, it is *specifically* designed to carry things such an iPad Pro with a keyboard case, small camera and/or water bottle - you can confirm this by looking at the product photos and details listed on the official product page. (Maybe the only thing I think I mentioned that wasn't specifically in the product pages was the larger folding headphones which is fair enough - IIRC I think I mentioned that because someone in a comment on another review somewhere was asking about slings that could carry a folded set of over ear headphones). I believe it's these use cases that partially motivated the creation and design of the Max version - especially since the "standard" Day Sling 3 is already quite a capacious and capable sling. Overall I was (and still am) a fan of this bag though - it's still one of my main go-tos when I want to carry an iPad Pro and some EDC gear!
OMG!! Such a lot of whining about the bag not standing up! How in the world have women managed all these years with purses that don't stand up! I doubt most people re-adjust the length of a strap after finding the right length, and the Aer strap looked easy enough to adjust in the video ...
I just purchased this bag yesterday, before I saw this review. This was an excellent review and reinforced my decision. I specifically chose this bag to carry an 11" Samsung tablet, primarily for travel purposes as opposed to EDC. I got the XPAC version because I like the way the orange interior pops, and the exterior material looks pretty nice.
This was the most thorough review I found, and I am subscribing as a result.
Hi Dena,
Thank you so much for the kind words and the sub! How has your experience with the Day Sling 3 Max to date been?
Hi! What Samsung tab are you using? I have a Tab S8 and curious if it fits in the bag well...
@@jandyllaguno7416 I have the Tab S7, with the magnetic keyboard. It fits easily.
@@denakelley4363 thanks! I guess I'm getting this bag then.
One of my fav channel honestly!
Awww thank you so much for the kind words!!!
Interesting and appreciate the review! Good overall coverage - wish the blurb on certain chapters was shorter.
I picked up the DS3 Max x-pac a few weeks ago and used it on a recent day trip to house an iPad Mini among other EDC items. Still on the fence whether I'll keep the DS3 Max, as I have a Day Sling 2 and an Aer Go backpack v1.
I love the day sling 2 in x-pac which is perfect for me except it can’t hold my 11” IPad Pro ! So when this one came out, I just bought one straight away! I bought the x-pac version again because I love the material feel better and it came with aqua guard zipper on the main opening as well! I have been using it for a week now and it is perfect for my daily use! Thank you for your review!
My pleasure my friend - I'm glad you found my review useful and so happy to hear that your purchase is working out great for you! Carry on!
@klgc4690 Do you also use it for a water bottle? I think this might be perfect for me, if it can easily fit tablet, e-reader, water bottle and maybe a small jacket or umbrella. But hard to find the perfect fit..
Love review great information, at the moment have day sling, thinking purchase max, give little extra room place a packable back back if needed
damn. a real review of the bag after sifting through all the bs.
earn a sub and a like
Awwww, thank you so much for the kind words - I am so happy that you found this review useful!!!
I have been using the Day Sling 3 X-Pac the smaller version for a month and it has changed the way i carry my EDC. Not only its a pocket reliever, it empties all my pockets at times. Unfortunately the inner lining facing the front is peeling off a little bit so im quite puzzled why is it so 🤔 in a short period of time. Yes i do use the sling daily and i even packed it to the brim and it weighs 0.94 kgs with my phone being the heaviest item inside the main compartment in the sleeve. I agree with you the straps is a pain to adjust but once i adjusted to my desired length, i left it as it is. I like the internal organisation and it makes me more organised and easier to find my items when i need them. For the back compartment, i put my daily wallet which is the Alpaka Zip Pouch Pro in RX30 Ocean Blue ( my favourite colour and material) and overall I'm very pleased. I do put a Hero Clip mini on the loop handle and its much easier to hang the sling in places where i cant use the straps to hang. I have a packable tote from Peak Design which i put inside the zipped compartment inside for just in case and overflow.
One more thing, I am able to make the sling stand even when its lightly loaded out. As me how 😉
very good video
Thank you so much!
31:21 OMG exactly what I am feeling. I'm actually looking at these 2 bags. and yes it's slim pickings for a tech bag that can hold a iPad Pro with a keyboard .
I have a cheapo Chinese sling that has the same usb output and I NEVER USE IT. I think it's actually stupid because you can just run the power bank cable out of the slightly ajar zipper. just feel useless
The strap is the best ever, at least for me. Adjust once and that's it. No extra strap or loose strap like the previous models. Damn, I just bought an Alpaka Bravo X sling last month. Which is a great 6L too. Tempting to buy this one. I have the V2 and used it for a year or more but changed to Alpaka cos I need the extra room.
Hey Isaac, I just got a Bravo X sling as well and although I like the look and features the strap is bugging me. On mine I find that the strap keeper for the loose end moves when swinging the bag around and you have to adjust it every time. Trying to figure out a solution before entertaining the thought of returning it though. If this AER sling had a stabilizer D-ring like the Alpaka bags it would be awesome!
@@SamuraiSamoht14 did you get the V2? I’m debating between that one or either the Aer Tech Sling 2 or the one from this video.
@@mr_red13 The one I got was the Limited Edition Bravo X in X-Pak X50. Decided to keep it. I would usually wear a sling over my right shoulder but this Bravo X one functions better when worn over the left shoulder which only took a day to get used to. The strap keeper doesn’t really move when I wear it how it was designed.
If you're considering this sling, I'd highly recommend the Eagle Creek Wayfinder Crossbody. It also has space for a water bottle, which is a definite urban travelling bonus. It also holds an iPad 11 inch in a dedicated pocket.
Oh that's a great alternative suggestion - didn't know that Eagle Creek made slings like that! Thank you!
@@TheMountainborn you're most welcome Mountain!
thanks to your vid I bought this sling in Xpak 😊 The bag stands up perfectly, maybe the stiffer material helps? I think this addresses your main concern with the sling 😅
Interesting - do you have a tablet inside of it when you stand it up?
I actually have it in XPAC and I thought that one didn't really stand up with the tablet in it either, but I shall double-check when I get home - maybe I didn't try hard enough and just assumed it wouldn't stand with a tablet because of what I experienced with the nylon version.
@@TheMountainbornhmm i put my ipad in it and there is no issue. I usually have a cap.5 at the bottom which maybe helped flatten the base and made it wider, but even with the CAP removed it still stands up :)
Hey @TheMountainborn great videos! Could you please review the Aer Travel Pack 3? I’m very interested in buying it in combo with this sling as an international travel system… Yours is the only channel really reviewing stuff packed up and with a practical approach, so I’d love to see how well does the travel pack 3 performs. Tnx in advance!!
Hi @samirramos! Sure I can do that :) Until I get a chance to do the full review, the tl;dr is that the Aer TPv3 is a very solid and reliable choice for a travel backpack and pairing it with a sling is an excellent way to do the one bag travel. It's got all the standard features you'd expect in a dedicated one bag travel bag, and also features the typical Aer high degree of "EDC" type organization, robust padding/support on the load carriage and I also like that it has both a removable optional hip belt and features a slightly-smaller-than-max size of 35L which for me is a sweet spot in terms of carrying capacity and overall usability (in general max carry on capacity is usually around 40 - 45L depending on the bag's material/construction but that can be quite ponderous to carry around and is limited in some of the places it can fit on smaller planes, etc.)
In my opinion the main downsides are: a lot of extra material and weight is used in the construction of the bag/materials which makes it fairly robust but also have a relatively average capacity to weight/size ratio (there are better bags in this regard out there), it's a little too large to use as an EDC pack at the destination for most people (unless you are super tall/large) and it suffers from a common ailment of many bags in this category in that the main compartment is pretty much just a big empty space that tends to sag a bit when empty (the side compression straps help a little with this but not that much).
If you really like this bag but are looking for something smaller that can also work as a destination use EDC bag, there is a Travel Pack Small v3 that I also recommend (and prefer) - at 27 L this is totally usable as an EDC destination bag whilst also comfortably working as a One Bag Travel bag for small to medium load outs especially when paired with a sling.
I hope this helps until such time as I can do a full review!
@@TheMountainborn Thanks a lot for your insights! I really appreciate you taking the time to send such a detailed and useful response.
I agree on 35L beeing a sweet spot for one bag travel! And, since I’ll be using a compressible backpack as destination daypack for those times when the sling won’t cut it, I guess I’ll be going for the regular size.
I'm surely looking forward for that full review video on the TPv3; Unfortunately, in my country I can’t have a real hands on experience with the bag prior to purchase, so having your videos is a great tool!
Tnx again and keep up the great work!!
Cheers from Mexico, mate!!
check out how chase reeves put on the sling! he shows it on his review of the new AER products too. he has this method, unclip, hold on to the buckles, over the head, rebuckle, and then slide off the shoulder. works like a charm after you get used to it.
Hi Kang - yup, I saw that. My theory is that there are two types of people in the world when it comes to slings/messenger bags - those who clip/unclip and those who do the over the shoulder and cinch.
I am squarely in the latter tribe (especially with slings that are intended to carry heavier things like an iPad Pro with keyboard cover such as this one - I find those less pleasant to keep a hold of the little buckles with the weight swinging around) but I think people who are buckle/unbucklers will be served super well with that method.
I want to be clear that I don't consider the strap a huge demerit - I still very much like this bag, it was just a bit of a friction in this particular interaction that wasn't as smooth for my personal carry style as others but I still like this bag a lot.
ahhh i see. so far i have not tried unclipping with a heavier sling. yea probably more difficult to hold on to a small buckle with all that weight
Excellent review!
Just got this and the Aer Travel Pack 3 in XPAC
Yassss! Nice pickup!
I actually like the Day Sling 3 Max so much I'm thinking to perhaps pick it up in X-pac as well.
@@TheMountainborn (Sounds of the Underground) Just bought the day sling max Xpac and love it. Fits my ipad mini or ipad pro as well as a mirrorless Sony A74 and another zoom lens. Crazy amount of space. Selling my Peak design 6L sling. Now considering on buying the Travel Pack 3 in the Xpac version.
Just bought the day sling max Xpac and love it. Fits my ipad mini or ipad pro as well as a mirrorless Sony A74 and another zoom lens. Crazy amount of space. Selling my Peak design 6L sling. Now considering on buying the Travel Pack 3 in the Xpac version. How do you like the Travel pack 3?
I'm getting the impression you struggle with the strap. ;) Thank you for this review! I ordered the x-pac version.
Yo, thorough review but why not put it on so we can see what it looks like when being used?
The problem with the 9 and 10L sling bags is that once you start putting things in it, all that stuff will add to the overall weight of the sling and if you walk around with a heavy sling at your front, eventually, it will start digging into the cervical part of your spine and will just be a big bulk at your chest which gets annoying.
I would rather have a bigger sling that goes behind you so the weight is more on your shoulders.
Absolutely - overloading and load carriage are two things one always has to be careful of when it comes to slings. They can be ameliorated to some extent by careful sling design/structure (i.e. vertically oriented slings tend to carry more weight better as the bulk of the weight falls in line with your body; limiting depth of the sling body (to avoid putting weight too far out from the center line and thus torquing heavily on the shoulders, etc.), strap design and construction (i.e. wider and or more padded straps and designs that encourage carrying in ways that place the weight closer to the center of the body) and materials (i.e. materials or construction with some amount of flex/stretch/give that helps absorb/smooth out some of the natural points of impact as the mass of the sling oscillates up/down when walking, etc.) but one will never fully overcome the laws of physics :)
Hey mountain, have you had any experience using the aer travel pack 3 or it’s predecessors yet? Wonder what you think about those for one bag/ minimal travel. Also what are some of your favorite 35l -45l travel backpacks?
I believe trakke also makes a sling that can hold a 11 inch ipad. Great review!
Bairn does, but its more of a messenger. The Largo does not, that is their more sling like bag.
@@Misterion25 Hmm on the website they have a video of a model pulling an ipad out of the Largo, not sure what type of iPad that is tho. And I think chase Reeves showed the Largo with his ipad pro 11 in it. So maybe it's not really designed for a tablet but I think it fits :)
@@ij299 I just got rid of my Largo b/c I thought it was too small for my iPad Pro 11". Traded it for a Defy Insidious Jr. Wish I still had it to show some pics but I'm 99% sure it was a bad experience.
@@Misterion25 oh ok that's good to know! Thanks! Too bad, it seems really nice other wise
Hi I J - yup, I had the same experience as Misterion - the 11" iPad Pro *technically* fits in the Largo but it definitely was very tight. That's actually one of the reasons why I haven't reviewed the Largo yet - I got it thinking it would be great for iPad carry and it turned out to be a very unpleasant experience same as Misterion mentioned. So sad!
I love Trakke and their asthetic but the Largo unfortunately did not work well for me for tablet carry.
Do you think I can fit a 11.8” weatherman umbrella in there?
Would this fit the Samsung Tab S8+? The length of the tablet is 11.22" and width is 7.28". I really want a minimal sling that will fit my tablet.
Based on the dimensions listed on their website it should fit but I don't know if it really does
Love the detailed review! Just a quick question: you said that a bottle would probably not fit well but isn't the sling a similar size to the Bellroy Venture Sling which fits them quite nicely? Or is it more down to the internal layout?
The Aer checks a lot of boxes for me (general shape, magnetic fidlock buckle, option for a tablet, kind of expendable when packing it fully...) but I would love to have the option to bring a bottle sometimes.
Also because it was mentioned more than once: is the Aer that much less water/weatherproof than its competitors?
@MePavlyuchenk I was wondering the exact same thing :) Water bottle’s important to me and I’m trying to find an alternative to the Venture Sling 9L which holds a water bottle easily but not my iPad Pro…
You are the Bob Ross of bag reviewers
awwww!!! well I am afraid my hair is nowhere near as fantastic as Bob Ross's but that is a very flattering comparison!!! 😄 Thank you!
Great review, thanks! Might have to get it now! Curious about the little pouch you have next to the Anker magsafe charger…what is it (brand, where to purchase)? Thanks!
Hi Diana - thank you so much for the kind words :)
The little pouch is the Granite Gear Trail Wallet S (Granite Gear is the brand name). Normally they have the company logo sewn to the front and a little cordura tag on the side but I believe I removed both of those from the one I show in the video (they seemed a little overkill for such a tiny little pouch).
I originally picked this up for hiking but found it very useful as a small, lightweight organiser in an EDC context. They also have other sizes as well - I found mine in an outdoor store but I believe they are also sold online (the granitegear website says they're out of stock at the moment though).
I hope this helps!
Great, thank you!
Good review on the Max, it does look cleaner and more subtle than the bulky Alpaka.
But please don’t call the Alpaka Bravo Sling Pro V2 stupid, because it’s a good bag.
Great slash-proof material; acceptable features and it has a spacy bright blue interior.
Hi @bomautama ! I didn't call the Alpaka Bravo Sling Pro v2 stupid persay. If you rewatch the section, I think you will find that I was fairly favourable to it and the brand in general. However, I did specifically mention that external SIM card holder was something I wish they would remove and a little stupid. This piece is not only external but protrudes noticeably from the external surface of the bag making it easy to catch on things - not only that but it also doesn't lock shut which makes it very easy for it to open up if hit strongly (like if you bump up against a wall, etc.) - in my opinion that is a pretty risky design for something that is designed to hold something as important as SIM cards (which contain phone numbers that many people might use for things like 2FA, OTP etc.) So I will stand by my opinion that this part specifically is a pretty foolish / unrefined design (and I think credence is given to this position by the fact that this piece of hardware disappeared from their entire lineup in later iterations), but overall I like the bag and the entire brand and have really enjoyed the way they've evolved over time.
i am currently using Alpaka BRAVO X SLING (black X-pac version) for 18months..
here are my opinion.
the pros are - good design and material of choice. magnetic buckle. smooth 38mm width straps. well padded back panel. Structural design.
the cons here - zip openings are small, tight and un-easy to fit in for 6L capacity. plastic cable connector (sew-in, integrated magnetic hub pull tab is in a very tight inner compartment. accessories are expensive. lack of sunglasses storage.
I wish you reviewed Aer travel pack 3 😁
Hi Safi,
I will have a review of the Aer Travel Pack 3 Small version coming up soon! Stay tuned :)
What do you think about the Beruf Baggage Urban Explorer 6.0?
Thank you for this in depth review!
Did you get a chance to look at alpaka’s alpha messenger bag?
It’s a little bigger (can hold a laptop) but I’m really torn in between it and this sling.
Hi Orifun! I have! I didn't compare it here because it's quite a different size / category of bag in my opinion. It's not a bad bag but I felt it was little tight and less refined than I wanted in a couple of areas. The top cover (flap) was also a little flappier than I would have liked (if that makes sense? 😂)
On the other hand it does squarely carry a laptop if that is what you're looking for. Overall I find Alpaka gear to make some pretty interesting stuff especially in form factors that other brands haven't really explored too deeply and are generally priced fairly reasonably.
For what it's worth, if you're looking for tablet carry (rather than laptop carry) but still want a smaller bag I would go with some of their slings (I believe I show a few in this video at the end - the Bravo X-Sling large or whatever also holds a 13" laptop) rather than the messenger - if you want a messenger form factor though of course, the messenger is the way to go (there are lots of other options in this space though, including some from Aer - I think I previously reviewed one of their messenger bags on this channel).
I hope this helps!
Huh. The carry handle is interesting, I actually didn't even notice it until you used it. I feel like I've never had a sling that I felt like it needed one.
Hi Eliot - how's it going? :)
Yeah the handle is super low profile. I agree that most slings probably don't need them but I still somehow find them useful when I want to pick up or set down the sling on a chair/seat (like in a car when getting in/out) or move it a short distance and don't want to either sling it over my shoulder or else carry it like an american football 😂.
Also, when my hands are full (like moving seats at a cafe and needing to carry my plate, jacket, coffee all at once) I find the carry handle handy for running one finger through to enable me to carry it a short distance whilst trying not to spill/drop everything else haha.
Would a mirrorless DSLR with a couple of smallish lens fit in this sling?
Hi UserX - I would not recommend this bag for carrying a mirrorless DSLR, let alone with a couple of extra lenses.
If pushed, you can fit most APS-C bodies in here (think: Sony a6600) along with a reasonably sized len, but it's not going to be the best experience in the world and depending on the lens may need to carry the lens and body unmounted. I would say that most FF mirrorless bodies + lenses are not going to fit comfortably in here.
If you want to carry a tablet + camera + lenses, I'd suggest looking at the Peak Design line of Everyday Slings. Truth be told, they're not particularly great EDC slings (they are ridiculously inefficient at carrying EDC goods and all the pocketing is just way too tight, except for the spots to carry the cameras and lenses) however if you go up to the 10L you should be able to fit all the stuff you need - up to FF body, lenses, tablet with keyboard cover, edc goods etc.
If you have a very very svelte EDC then the 6L EDC sling will work and also has a slot for a tablet.
Other options include the Bellroy Venture Sling (I have a review of that on my channel and I show a fit with a Leica SL2-S + SL 24-70 f/2.8 which is a chunky combo; downside is it does not fit an iPad Pro with KB cover.
Another choice might be the Greenroom Metromonger series - I love this bag a lot and they sell a series of camera inserts that you can use to carry camera gear comfortably in it. Great EDC sling with full laptop/tablet carry and capability to solidly handle camera gear.
What do you think about the aer day sling 3 xpac? I was considering the aer city sling 2 xpac as well but it was sold out.
Hi Julius!
Disclaimer - I haven't use the v3 just the previous version. Overall I like the Day sling series (and x-pac is always a good choice if you like the asthetic and don't mind the waterproof main zippers on the x-pac variant vs. the standard zippers on the cordura materialway).
However for my personal carry loadouts, I found the Day Sling was a little bit "in between" - it's a decently sized sling with a horizontal type layout, however it only carries up to an iPad mini. In that size range (thinking from the tablet carry perspective which is why I usually am interested in mid-to-large slings) there are several strong competitors like the various Bellroy slings (Venture sling, Sling lite, Venture sling small) which also carry an iPad mini but which I usually end up liking somewhat better due to their fabric choices and different organizational layouts. Thus I usually opt for those over the Day sling.
For me, my sling choices in ascending size:
Small: City Sling V2
Medium (iPad mini): Bellroy Sling Lite, Bellroy Venture Sling Small
Med/Large (iPad Pro): Aer Day Sling Max 3
Large (iPad mini / camera): Bellroy Venture Sling
Would you choose this over the Tech Sling 2?
Great question - I think they're both different approaches to a closely-related problem space (that space being: lightweight EDC tech/device carry in a smaller non-backpack form factor)
The biggest difference for me between the two (besides the obvious form factor differences) and the thing that I think will be the crucial decider for people is - do you need to carry a laptop or will just a smaller iPad Pro w/ keyboard cover be enough? In cases where people need to carry or have to carry the laptop, the Day Sling 3 Max won't be an option since it won't fit it.
Personally, I generally prefer bags that *just* fit their contents without a ton of extra wasted space - so for days when I'm doing the tablet thing (usually on the weekends at the very least) and don't want to carry a big laptop, I would strongly lean towards this bag (the day sling 3 max) - I also prefer this side/hip/lower back style of carry over the slightly higher up, shoulder/quiver style carry of the Tech Sling 2. (I also like the material and design better than the smooth/pleather like surface of the Tech Sling)
But when traveling or looking for a lighter EDC carry for a laptop, the the Tech Sling 2 (or the travel sling) are what I would reach for over this.
I hope this helps!
@@TheMountainborn it definitely helped a lot. Thank you so much for your insight, I really appreciate your deep knowledge of these products.
Great in depth video. Question, would this bag carry a full frame mirrorless camera + 1 lens better than that of the Bellroy Venture 9L sling? Thank you
Hi Alvin,
For camera carry, especially FF mirrorless I absolutely think you're going to be better off with the Venture 9L than the Aer Day Sling 3 Max. The Day Sling Max is a great bag but it is much more oriented around tablet carry rather than a bulky mirrorless camera. The Venture sling can carry even a huge mirrorless FF body like a Leica SL2 + SL 24-70 f/2.8.
I did a review of the Venture Sling where I show it with the aforementioned camera inside.
Hope this helps!
Which is better, which is the aer day sling max 3 with the bellroy venture sling 9 liters?
Hi Rendi - that is a very difficult question! They are both excellent sling bags - I don't think we can definitively say either one of them is "better" than the other as they aim to satisfy different use cases (and each excels in their own way).
If you want to carry an 11" iPad Pro or similarly-sized tablet, then the Aer Day Sling 3 Max is the only way to go as the Venture sling doesn't really carry tablets well as I showed in my review video of it. Conversely, if you are looking to carry bulkier things (like a camera, etc.) then the Venture Sling 9L is the way to go as the Aer Day Sling 3 Max isn't well suited to carrying bulky items in the same way as the Bellroy.
I love both of these slings and use them both regularly, but in different contexts. I hope this helps!
@@TheMountainborn thank you for Your answer👍
Can u compare this with alpaka bravo x Sling v2?
IM debating this 2
How does this compare to the bellroy venture sling overall? And which one do you prefer and why?
Hi Aethelread!
Tl;dr - I think the Venture sling overall is more useful (and also comes in several variants including a smaller 6L and a larger 10L Camera-use one, though my favourite is still the baseline 9L venture sling model) and versatile WITH the exception of not being able to handle any device larger than an iPad mini - which is probably the greatest weakness of the Venture Sling IMO (and which I mentioned in the video) - it's crazy to me the Venture sling can be 9L but can't effectively carry any device larger than an iPad mini-ish... :/
So when I need to carry a tablet (I often rock the 11" iPad Pro with the Keyboard Cover) and want to stay with the sling form factor, the Day Sling 3 Max is hard to beat. But in other cases - especially if I'm carrying something chunkier like a water bottle, jacket or camera, the venture sling is more versatile.
I hope this helps!
Can you please review the pacsafe vibe 325 sling?
Hi Hiro! Thanks for the suggestion!
I will add it to the backlog and let you know if/when I do it!
Can a steamdeck fit in this bag?
a little more pendulous, nice and svelte, yes, nice slopes, flopping around, dense nature, rigid yet squishy oh yesssss but oh so frictionful! Ahhhhaahhh
.... 😧 😂
@@TheMountainborn you’re not just a bag reviewer, you’re a bag poet!
I prefer to wear it a bit higher than you do, more stylish, I guess! 🤣
For sure - I wish the strap adjusted a bit more easily, I'd be more likely to cinch it up high and tight when riding a bike or something, then let it down a bit more for walking etc. But definitely can see how people would like to wear this one high and tight!
Xpac vx42 or 1680D nylon. Help
Hi @norlindaamin3645 ! This one is definitely up to personal preference, I don't think you can go wrong with either!
Generally I go back and forth between these materials - I think it comes down to your preference in
1. Appearance - Xpac is a bit more distinctive/high tech looking, Nylon a bit more low key/incognito
2. Water resistance - Xpac variants are more water resistant (especially because of the water resistant zippers used in this variant) however the seams are not taped so it's not 100% water proof.
3. Hand feel/Wear - Nylon feels softer to the touch and in my opinion tends to wear a bit more gracefully initially. Xpac feels more artificial and tends to get marks that aren't easy to remove early on due to abrasion, but overall in the long run will probably hold up to wear better.
4. Price - Xpac variant I think is slightly more expensive.
But you can't go wrong with either - I have bags in both variations and it sometimes just comes down to what I'm feeling that day!
Prolly won't fir a Tab S8+?
I don't own that tablet but I looked up its dimensions and it looks like it's too long to fit in here unfortunately :(
Basically good review, but all the cons are based for carrying stuff most slings - by definition-- are not geared for... love my X-Pac version
Hi @mkphilly - thanks for the kind words!
Regarding the cons being mainly around carrying things most slings are not geared for... normally I would agree with you, however in the case of the Day Sling 3 Max, it is *specifically* designed to carry things such an iPad Pro with a keyboard case, small camera and/or water bottle - you can confirm this by looking at the product photos and details listed on the official product page. (Maybe the only thing I think I mentioned that wasn't specifically in the product pages was the larger folding headphones which is fair enough - IIRC I think I mentioned that because someone in a comment on another review somewhere was asking about slings that could carry a folded set of over ear headphones).
I believe it's these use cases that partially motivated the creation and design of the Max version - especially since the "standard" Day Sling 3 is already quite a capacious and capable sling.
Overall I was (and still am) a fan of this bag though - it's still one of my main go-tos when I want to carry an iPad Pro and some EDC gear!
OMG!! Such a lot of whining about the bag not standing up! How in the world have women managed all these years with purses that don't stand up! I doubt most people re-adjust the length of a strap after finding the right length, and the Aer strap looked easy enough to adjust in the video ...
After so much whining about the sling, you use it because it carries an 11” pro. Poor review for one who uses the sling as you do.