Aer Simple Tote Review

The Aer Simple Tote utilizes durable, lightweight materials and has the same smart organization we’re used to seeing from Aer. However, we’re curious how well this bag’s fabric and design work for everyday use and travel.

External Components

Instead of Aer’s typical CORDURA® construction, the tote utilizes ULTRA ECOPAK™ fabric, a 100D polyethylene/polyester blend with a RUV™ film backing, which adds durability. When empty, it feels like it would be awkward to use. However, the tote is rugged and relatively easy to load, even with such stiff materials. It’s lightweight and tough but not packable, which is the Achilles heel of the bag. If that isn’t your most important feature, you have nothing to worry about. Well, maybe the organization, but we’ll get to that later.

This tote has just one zipper, and it’s a YKK, the best brand in the business. It has a PU coating and a sizeable Hypalon pull, making the pocket more water-resistant and straightforward to open.

A FIDLOCK fastener over the top of the main compartment ensures larger items don’t tumble out, though smaller gear can still escape and its open design doesn’t offer theft protection.

The simple exterior has a small Aer logo on a Hypalon tab, which is minimalistic and sleek-looking. Additionally, there are two attachment loops on the top, which is handy for adding gear to the bag. You’ll have to use your own carabiners or clips, and we don’t find ourselves using this feature often, but there’s no harm in its inclusion.

The bag looks very technical, and the material is a bit wrinkly at first, but we’ve noticed that softens over time so long as you don’t leave it folded for an extended period. It looks at home in the city but doesn’t look out of place in the woods, either. This is a tote that can do both!

Fit Notes

The back side has a zippered pocket, and while you can technically put either side on the front, we typically wear it as designed. It allows us to stow more sensitive items in the zippered pocket, keeping them closer to us and out of reach. There’s no back panel on the tote, no matter how you configure it, though we didn’t expect one for this type of bag. However, things can get a little uncomfortable if you stow awkward-sized items on the wall that rests against your body. You can normally get around that by packing more strategically.

The straps are rough and tough, which we appreciate for durability, but they aren’t the most comfortable on bare skin or even with a thin shirt on. They do soften over time, and we like that they’re not easy to break. We have no doubt that the handles can take on an overstuffed bag—it’s just a matter of whether your shoulders can.

As we mentioned when testing the Aer Simple Pouch, products that use the ULTRA fabric Aer uses are lightweight and durable but not very packable. The Aer Simple Tote isn’t easy to fold and stow inside a travel backpack or daypack; however, it’s pretty thin, so it feels at home inside rolling luggage. You can make it work inside a large travel backpack; however, there are better options for packability. On the other hand, the Aer model is one of the most durable totes we’ve tested in its weight class, so keep that in mind.

Inside The Tote

The front side has two large pockets with no toppers or organization. They have drainage holes, which are handy for stowing wet gear, like a swimsuit or an umbrella. When it isn’t raining, or you aren’t going to the beach, you can stow snacks, over-ear travel headphones, and other large items you want semi-quick access to. The drainage holes aren’t tiny, so we wouldn’t recommend stowing things with small parts here; even a small earbud could fall through. When the main compartment is fully packed, it’s harder to stow big items here. However, in most situations, you can fit larger gear here, like a packable jacket or a hat and gloves.

On the backside is the zippered pocket we mentioned earlier. A passport, small tablet or eReader, or travel documents do well here, but we recommend keeping it to flat gear. If you try to stow something larger in this pocket, you’ll likely feel it press against you while carrying the tote.

As mentioned, the main compartment of the tote secures with a FIDLOCK fastener. You can loosen or tighten it based on how much gear you have inside, and it’ll keep larger items from falling out of the bag. When we’re overpacked and have a lot of small items floating around outside of a packing cube or tech pouch, we like to stuff a large item on top and secure it with the FIDLOCK fastener, like a jacket, to act as the cork in a bottle of wine, keeping everything inside from flowing out.

Inside, there’s no organization, a hallmark of Aer’s new Simple line. We don’t mind much for a tote; we typically use our own organization here. However, if you don’t plan to use pouches and cubes, you may find that this place is hard to use without gear getting lost in the sauce.

Given the pockets and large main compartment, we love this tote for use while commuting or exploring the city on weekends. It works well for the same purpose while traveling, too; however, it isn’t the easiest bag to bring with you on a trip if you don’t have large rolling luggage to stow it flat inside. You can fold it, but better options are available if you’re looking for a packable tote. As mentioned, this bag is durable and innovative, which you won’t find in most packable tote designs.