
Take the Triple Aught Design FAST Pack EDC, for instance it’s an absolutely superb backpack, but it is aggressive in its appearance, complex in its format (giving it a relatively steep learning curve), and highly catered to those with a taste for battlefield-ready tactical gear. The issue denoted above is abundantly clear in the world of backpacks. And that can be a deal-breaker for plenty of folks, especially those that prefer a better balance between style and substance. After all, a fully-kitted, hardcore mil-spec piece of gear might be able to get the job done, but that often comes at the expense of subtlety, simplicity, and manageability.

We’d never blame anyone for taking styling into consideration when picking out EDC gear, even if that means sacrificing or compromising with other features, formats, etc. Plus, it gives you one less excuse to skip gym days - take that as you will.There’s no denying that a major part of everyday carry is style - even if it’s not amongst the direst of factors. Everything else will be waiting for you when you get home. As long as you stick to that, all your essentials will follow you wherever your day takes you. Since it’s meant to carry just the essentials, it pushes you to think about what you’ll absolutely need to take with you. It’s a pretty lean backpack, so you won’t be able to totally stuff it, but there’s some comfort to be found in that. The bag costs $135, which is well worth it if you’re a frequent gym-goer. There’s a buckle you can snap across your chest, which kept my bag from flopping around on the few days I had to book it to catch my train. The bag’s back and shoulder straps are lined with padded mesh which keep the bag from feeling uncomfortable, even during my longest treks. My commute takes about an hour each way, and I usually walk between two and three miles per day. Even with all of that, the bag never felt cumbersome, and I’ve been able to confidently leave my house every day without worrying that I left something behind.

I usually carry my laptop, a few notebooks, my Kindle, laptop and phone chargers, a battery pack, bundles of pens, a pair of sunglasses, a water bottle, my workout gear, and a tupperware container for my lunch. For anything you grab frequently, like your wallet, earbuds, or keys, there’s a quick-access pocket on the top for those grab-and-go moments.Īer’s ability to make room for all of this while maintaining a slim and lightweight package is impressive. The main compartment is loaded with pockets for all your accessories, and there’s a padded laptop sleeve to protect it from any bumps or drops. It’s even water-resistant, so all your gadgets can be tucked away and kept safe from the rain. Aer’s made all of the compartments bigger, added more pockets for better organization, and changed the padding so it’s more comfortable to carry across town. It has all the same features that made its predecessor a solid bag, but it’s got plenty of new features to make it a worthy upgrade. This single backpack keeps those two worlds apart thanks to a clever system of pockets. It’s meant for commuters who bounce between work and the gym and don’t want the hassle of carrying around two bags. The Aer Fit Pack 2, part of the company’s latest Active collection, delivers on that promise in a stylish and thoughtful package. Aer understands those inconveniences, which is why its backpacks are designed to keep everything you need tucked away so you’re ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Ten minutes later, inevitably, you realize you left something important at home and you can’t go back. You’re running late for work, so you dash out of the house in a desperate attempt to make it on time.
