Aer City Pack vs. Aer Pro Slim Pack
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Aer City Pack | Feature | Aer Pro Slim Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| top | Passport | front |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| N | Hip Belt | N |
| removable | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 16in | Laptop | 16in |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 3 |
| Y | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 1, side | Water Bottle Holder | 1, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 1680D Cordura® ballistic nylon exterior | 840D CORDURA re/cor recycled nylon |
Key differences between the Aer City Pack and Aer Pro Slim Pack
- Passport pocket: Top on the Aer City Pack; Front on the Aer Pro Slim Pack.
- Sternum strap: Removable on the Aer City Pack; Yes on the Aer Pro Slim Pack.
- Main compartments: 4 on the Aer City Pack; 3 on the Aer Pro Slim Pack.
Both have: luggage passthrough, backpack straps, laptop sleeve, built-in organizer, water bottle pockets, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 177 accept both. 1 accept only the Aer City Pack, and 2 accept only the Aer Pro Slim Pack.
Only the Aer City Pack fits
Air Niugini.
Only the Aer Pro Slim Pack fits
Air Tahiti, Gulf Air.
Aer City Pack vs. Aer Pro Slim Pack: which should you pack?
The Aer City Pack carries 1L more than the Aer Pro Slim Pack (14L vs. 13L), while the Aer Pro Slim Pack is the lighter pack at 0.9kg (vs. 1.1kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Aer Pro Slim Pack fits 95% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Aer City Pack; if you want to travel lighter, the Aer Pro Slim Pack is the better call.