Aer Cable Kit 3 Review

Pack Hacker x Aer Giveaway (2024)

When we first got a hold of the third iteration of the Aer Cable Kit, we couldn’t help but wonder what they could have changed from the previous version. The changes aren’t wholesale, but you’ll notice them. Let’s dive in and check it out!

External Components

The primary material on the exterior is 1680D CORDURA® ballistic nylon. It’s incredibly durable, highly water-resistant, and looks sleek. Additionally, the front face is 840D nylon with a water-resistant coating, adding a sleekness to the front of the pouch we like. The two materials go well together, but the textures add contrast, so it doesn’t look like a big black blob. We saw a similar design on the previous model, so this isn’t anything new.

The Aer logo on the previous version was on the side of the pouch, whereas it’s on the front corner on the third iteration. This is a slight change, not something we feel a particular way about.

The zippers are from YKK and operate as you’d expect them to. They’re one of the best businesses in the game, so we aren’t surprised that a top brand like Aer would use them. So far, so good!

The handle has moved from the bottom of the pouch to the top, and we’re here for it. We didn’t like that design on the previous iteration because it could cause your gear to fall out of the interior organization, but now, that isn’t an issue. The handle has some padding and doesn’t get in the way when you aren’t using it, so we think it’s a pretty effective design.

The second iteration had a pocket on the back panel, but that’s gone now, and the handle is roughly where that was. We don’t miss the pocket much because Aer added a secondary compartment on the pouch’s front, which we’ll talk about in a moment. This makes it feel more like a sling, further blurring the line between the two gear categories, but we’re here for it! If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and we’re big fans of tiny pockets on the outside of pouches that can hold accessories we find ourselves grabbing frequently.

When packed normally, we’re happy that the Cable Kit 3 stands on its own. Setting it on your desk or at the local coffee shop is easy and gives you straightforward access to the gear inside. What can you fit in this thing, anyway? Let’s get into it.

Inside The Cable Kit

The new Cable Kit is 2.6 liters, which is large compared to the first iteration’s 1.7 liters and the second’s 1.8 liters. However, with all that extra space comes an extra responsibility to use it wisely, which is why Aer adjusted the pouch’s design to accommodate the additional capacity.

The new front pocket we mentioned earlier (or frocket, if you’re into that sort of thing) is long and skinny. There isn’t much room for gear here, but it’s a solid size for earbuds, a multi-tool, or pens and pencils. While it can feel like wasted space if you don’t carry those items, it doesn’t get in your way or take up much room, so it isn’t a disaster.

The main compartment has a ton of organization and ample space for gear storage, which is a combination we love to see. You often get one or the other. Here, we get both!

Starting in the front, we’ve got two mesh pockets. They don’t have toppers; however, they’re stretchy enough to hang onto large items. They start pretty big, though, so small items, like a dongle, don’t do super well here. They hang onto medium-to-large items, like cables, easily, though.

After that, there’s the first of two large open areas. Here is where we stow a pair of over-ear headphones, a big battery bank, or another large item. If you have nothing that big, you can store a few medium or small items here instead, though keep in mind that they’ll be rolling around the compartment unchecked, which puts your items at risk of falling out of the pouch. When we didn’t have a large item to stow here, we usually left it empty.

There’s a divider in the middle, with a large mesh pocket on its front side. This works for a passport, a small notebook, or other tech gear like a cable or a mouse.

On the other side of the divider are two mesh pockets. Basically, it’s the same as the last mesh pocket, but it’s split in two, which works better for a travel-size mouse or smaller tech goodies. The divider goes to the bottom of the pouch, so gear can’t slip underneath.

On the top of the divider, there’s a small zippered pocket. It isn’t very deep, so it works well for smaller gear like pens, pencils, corded headphones, or a small phone stand. Like other pockets inside this tech pouch, it doesn’t get in your way if you don’t want to use it. These divider pockets are all the rage right now, and we’re here for it.

On the other side is a similarly sized large area where you can stow gear inside. If you fill the other large open area, you might not be able to fit as much here, and vice versa. There’s a lot of space here, but overloading either side will eat up space from the other.

The backside has three mesh pockets, the smallest of the eight in this pack. These are best suited for your smallest tech gear that doesn’t get locked down in the middle divider pocket. Beyond that, a liner pocket works well for a phone or similar-sized device.

The previous iteration of the Cable Kit had two larger compartments, but the new version just has one. That said, this pocket is vast and has a divider, making up for it being the only place to stow your tech gear besides the small internal pocket. Essentially, the organization is consolidated and bolstered inside just one pocket instead of being split into two. We dig this design choice because you can fit larger gear; however, some travelers may have liked the separation offered in the previous version.

At just 2.6 liters, this thing is beefy for its capacity and can crowd a smaller travel backpack or daypack. However, we think it makes up for what it lacks in size with durable, water-resistant materials and thoughtful organization that gives every piece of tech a home.