AER CITY SLING 2 X-PAC: REVIEW
FOREWORD
I love large slings. After reviewing and extensively testing the Code of Bell X-Pod (S), Heimplanet Sling Pocket XL, Greenroom136 Metrorunner, Trakke Kelso, and other bags in my personal rotation I got very hooked on having a compact, yet capable option when I don’t want to carry a backpack. With so many items we need to carry on a daily basis thanks to the ongoing pandemic (extra face masks, sanitizer, additional paperwork, etc) having an oversized sling just feels right.
So I was very excited to try out the AER City Sling 2 in a brilliant and stylish X-Pac edition.
Read on to find out what I think about this bad boy.
WHO IT SUITS
Anyone looking for a sleek minimal sling that would work brilliantly in the city
Those who want a versatile bag that can double as a tech pouch/organizer inside a large bag
If you are looking for some of the best materials and build without breaking the bank
WHO IT DOESN’T
Those who need to carry a small tablet, kindle, water bottle, and just generally more stuff than a 2.5L bag can fit should look elsewhere
ABOUT THE BAG
PRICE: $109
WEIGHT (bag only): 0.4 kg
DIMENSIONS: L: 13" (33 cm) W: 4.75" (12 cm) D: 3.5" (9 cm)
CAPACITY: 2.5L
DESIGN & FEATURES
For the size, the City Sling 2 hits the right balance of design and functionality. It has a wide silhouette and quite a distinct look. The only sling that looks like the City Sling 2 is the previous iterations of the bag :)
One of the main features of the bag is its brilliant organization:
On the front of the sling, there is a handy quick-access pocket with a key chain inside. The pocket is somewhat shallow so don’t expect to cram too much there but I quickly made it the default place for my keys and did not put anything else there, so I was quite content with the size and the depth of it.
The main compartment is accessed from the top and features a dual-zip opening which allows closing and opening the sling from either direction. The compartment itself offers a fair amount of organization, with both mesh and zippered pockets, and is a joy to use thanks to the signature high visibility orange liner that looks absolutely gorgeous and also helps navigate the bag.
There is one more flat pocket on the back of the sling that I found ideal for a phone or passport.
Another useful feature is the top grab handle. I found it to be a godsend in both sling and tech pouch mode. It lays flat when not used yet easy to reach when you need to quickly grab the bag. It’s perfect and I wouldn’t change a thing.
What makes the City Sling 2 special is the ability to stowaway the straps and basically convert the sling into tech pouch. The whole process is simple and does not feel like a chore, but dramatically increases the use cases of the sling. Among the slings I tested ( Trakke Kelso, Greenroom136, Heimplanet Pocket XL, Code of Bell X-Pod, etc) the AER City Sling 2 is the only sling that could seamlessly turn into a tech pouch and I absolutely loved it!
To sum up, the City Sling 2 knocks it out of the park with its simple modern design and just the right, yet all useful features. More brands should take notice!
COMFORT
The shoulder strap is appropriately sized for this kind of bag. There is obviously no padding nor does the shoulder strap feature a stabilizer strap but I found it generally comfortable and easy to use. The width of the strap is perfect and the Fidlock buckle makes taking the bag on and off fun and easy.
I preferred to carry the City Sling 2 across my body, cinched tight so it sat high and stable on me. For occasional jogging sessions, I tried using it as a hip pack with my phone, keys, and wallet inside but I did not enjoy how the sling was rocking up and down while I was running so I switched back to the cross-body mode.
Overall, an A for the comfort, though I personally recommend carrying the City Sling 2 crossbody.
MATERIALS
Across the board, the materials used by AER on the City Sling 2 are just superb. A trusty VX42 X-Pac is perfect for water resistance yet light and durable.
The YKK Aquaguard zippers reinforce the weather resistance of the bag. In my experience, the front compartment is a bit tricky to open, I found myself using both hands to operate the stiff zipper. This is a plus security-wise, however.
The aircraft-grade aluminum used for the compression of the sling is top-notch quality and I don’t imagine it breaking even in most extreme conditions.
The german magnetic Fidlock buckle adds to the cool factor and is also a breeze to use.
To sum up, the City Sling 2 X-Pac is severely overbuilt but in the best possible way. I don’t imagine any materials or overall construction failing me
WHAT’S HOT
A brilliant combination of excellent build, materials, and quality make this a great value proposition
With straps tucked away the City Sling 2 can quickly turn into a small tech/org pouch akin to Evergoods CAP2 or Remote Equipment Org pouch. Excellent versatility!
Absolutely stunning and useful high visibility signature orange liner
Perfect amount of organization - everything has its place, yet no overwhelming amount of pockets to lose track of
Subtle minimal branding. Love it!
Top grab handle! A simple thing missing from the majority of the slings on the market
WHAT’S NOT
Not the bag’s fault but the City Sling 2 X-Pac is often out of stock/in pre-order so be prepared to not be able to buy this immediately
The shape of the bag might not work for everyone (it’s compact and a bit chubby when full)
VERDICT
I have to say, AER has created something special. The City Sling 2 is small, yet packed with just the right amount of features and organization to be the one and only compact sling you need. For prudent users who hate when things are not used very often, the City Sling 2 can double as a small organizer to be carried with you at all times in an EDC backpack or travel bag. This versatility and seamless transition between the daily sling into the organizer pouch makes the City Sling 2 a perfect bag to have in your personal collection and also an ideal holiday gift to anyone who appreciates thoughtful, stylish carry solutions.
Everything about the bag just feels right and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Just be prepared to wait in the pre-order if the sling is out of stock.