Thule Aion 28L vs. Aer Pro Pack 20L
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Thule Aion 28L | Feature | Aer Pro Pack 20L |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| 32L | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| top | Passport | top |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| optional | Hip Belt | N |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 16in | Laptop | 16in |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 4 |
| Y | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 1, side | Water Bottle Holder | 2, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| Waxed P600 polyester canvas | 840D CORDURA re/cor recycled nylon |
Key differences between the Thule Aion 28L and Aer Pro Pack 20L
- Hip belt: Optional on the Thule Aion 28L; No on the Aer Pro Pack 20L.
- Water bottle pockets: 1, side on the Thule Aion 28L; 2, side on the Aer Pro Pack 20L.
Both have: passport pocket, luggage passthrough, backpack straps, sternum strap, laptop sleeve, built-in organizer, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 138 accept both. 1 accept only the Thule Aion 28L, and 41 accept only the Aer Pro Pack 20L.
Only the Thule Aion 28L fits
Great Lakes Airlines.
Only the Aer Pro Pack 20L fits
Air Baltic, Air China, Air Malta, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Air Tahiti, American Eagle, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Belavia, Blue Air, Bulgaria Air, China Eastern, easyJet, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, flybe, Gulf Air, Icelandair, InselAir, Juneyao Airlines, Liat Airlines, Luxair, Meridiana Fly, Nordwind Airlines, Pakistan International, Ravn Alaska, Royal Brunei Airlines, Ryanair, S7, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sun Express, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), TUI, Ukraine International, VIM Airlines (Closed), Volotea, Xiamen.
Thule Aion 28L vs. Aer Pro Pack 20L: which should you pack?
The Thule Aion 28L carries 8L more than the Aer Pro Pack 20L (28L vs. 20L), while the Aer Pro Pack 20L is the lighter pack at 1.1kg (vs. 1.2kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Aer Pro Pack 20L fits 95% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Thule Aion 28L; if you want to travel lighter, the Aer Pro Pack 20L is the better call.