Aer Simple Pouch Review

The Aer Simple Pouch is uncomplicated; however, that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth your next trip. The materials and hardware appear sturdy, and the pockets flex, but we’re curious about how useful the footprint is for some users. Let’s dive in and find out!

External Components

The pouch is crafted from ULTRA ECOPAK™, a 100D polyethylene/polyester blend with a RUV™ film backing, which is recycled and highly durable long-term. This material has been Aer’s go-to for non-CORDURA® bags as of late, and we dig it. It’s lightweight and highly durable, which is handy for travel. Though we like that it won’t tip the scale, it isn’t very compressible or packable, which is a letdown. In general, it isn’t malleable, so you won’t get the same perks of packability as you’d get from other lightweight materials that might not be as durable. However, when it comes to travel, we’ve discovered that bags usually have some combination of ideal durability, weight, and packability—rarely all three—so we won’t knock it too much!

The zippers are from YKK, the best brand in the business. They have a PU coating, and Hypalon pulls, which make the pouch more water-resistant and easier to use. The pulls have some unique details, too—they read “Since 2014,” as that’s the year Aer was founded. The opposite side reads “Aer Designs.”

Another small Hypalon-like tab with Aer’s logo is on the front face. It’s small and out of the way, so we don’t mind the branding.

The pouch has two attachment loops on the side that you can use to attach the included strap or leave it off and use it as a pouch. We enjoy the versatility, but we’ll talk more about that later.

There isn’t much going on here, but we enjoy the look and durability of the materials and hardware.

Fit Notes

As mentioned, this is a pouch, and you should use it as one. That said, it comes with a strap, so we’ll go over using it as a makeshift sling bag.

There isn’t a back panel; however, we wouldn’t expect there to be one on a bag with such a small capacity, even if this was a dedicated sling.

The strap is very thin and lacks padding, which isn’t the most comfortable when you load the pouch with tech; however, it works for most uses. Plus, it’s removable so you can stow it inside the sling or your travel backpack. The bag is designed more like a sacoche, so we typically wear it lower than a sling. The strap tends to get twisted, which isn’t a big issue, but it can be uncomfortable.

This is a solid pairing for travel. The pouch is handy for getting to and from your destination or holding onto your essentials for your trek through the airport. When you arrive, use it as a sling at your destination or stow your important documents inside it and stash it inside the safe at the hotel. With the ability to add and remove the strap at will, the world (or this sling) is your oyster.

Inside The Pouch

The back side of the pouch has a large pocket without a topper. It can be challenging to use this space because we’re concerned that our gear could fall out; however, it does work well for a few uses. It’s a solid place to stow your passport or wallet while queuing at the airport or cafe. Or, leave a thick pair of gloves here if you’re worried about your hands getting too cold. You can stow wet gear here, too, but keep in mind that there isn’t a drainage hole to help them dry. We typically stowed the strap here when it wasn’t in use.

There are two compartments on the front side, and they share a mesh wall, allowing them to expand into one another. This is a double-edged sword; whereas we appreciate being able to stow larger gear in a pinch, it can be frustrating to keep the two pockets independent if you aren’t trying to share space. The lower pocket has a gusset on the front, allowing expansion outward, too. This came in handy when stowing our over-ear headphones in the main compartment since they cut into the front pocket’s space and the gusset provided enough extra room to store a few small items.

Neither of the pockets has any organization, but we didn’t really expect there to be. This pouch goes the extra mile for extreme water resistance, and adding pockets would likely add stitching. There could have been organization on the interior wall, but there’s that flex divider between the two pockets instead.

Overall, we dig the materials, hardware, and design; however, we have struggled to make it useful other than for specific trips that require a pouch with its dimensions. The gusset is handy for adding depth; however, the bag isn’t a great option for most tech items or other electronics like camera accessories or gaming gear.

Still, for certain people, it presents a solid place to stow documents, daily essentials, and some tech in a lightweight package that seamlessly transitions between pouch and sling.