Aer Pro Pack 20L vs. Thule Aion 40L
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Aer Pro Pack 20L | Feature | Thule Aion 40L |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| top | Passport | top |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| N | Hip Belt | optional |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 16in | Laptop | 16in |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 4 |
| Y | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | 1, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 840D CORDURA re/cor recycled nylon | |
Key differences between the Aer Pro Pack 20L and Thule Aion 40L
- Hip belt: No on the Aer Pro Pack 20L; Optional on the Thule Aion 40L.
- Water bottle pockets: 2, side on the Aer Pro Pack 20L; 1, side on the Thule Aion 40L.
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. 132 accept both. 47 accept only the Aer Pro Pack 20L, and 0 accept only the Thule Aion 40L.
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, Etihad Airways, flybe, Gulf Air, Icelandair, InselAir, Juneyao Airlines, Liat Airlines, Luxair, Meridiana Fly, Nordwind Airlines, Oman Air, Pakistan International, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, S7, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sun Express, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), TUI, Ukraine International, VIM Airlines (Closed), Virgin Australia, Volotea, Xiamen.
Aer Pro Pack 20L vs. Thule Aion 40L: which should you pack?
The Thule Aion 40L carries 20L more than the Aer Pro Pack 20L (20L vs. 40L), while the Aer Pro Pack 20L is the lighter pack at 1.1kg (vs. 1.5kg). 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 40L; if you want to travel lighter, the Aer Pro Pack 20L is the better call.