Thule Aion Journey Pack Assessment

Backside Line

The Thule Aion is a glossy and trim backpack that blends the light-weight efficiency of a backpack with the options and group of a suitcase. Whereas minimally featured on the skin, the within of the pack is a distinct story. Its distinctive options and well-thought-out design make it certainly one of our high journey backpacks.

The Aion’s clamshell-style fundamental compartment makes for simple packing and unpacking, and inside compression straps maintain gear safe. A detachable TPU-coated bag is included, which is ideal for separating soiled garments or footwear from clear gear. The padded laptop computer compartment, accessible from the facet, affords fast entry and stable safety for electronics and is without doubt one of the largest laptop computer compartments we’ve seen. A number of inside mesh pockets, a hidden valuables pocket, and exterior attachment factors make this bag extremely useful for quite a lot of journeys.

Nonetheless, it’s not an ideal journey backpack. The forty-liter capability matches most airways’ carry-on necessities, however it could really feel a bit cosy for over-packers or prolonged journeys. Though the waxed canvas exterior provides sturdiness and water resistance, it additionally will increase the load, and the fabric scuffs and dirties rapidly. Moreover, the skinny shoulder straps and lack of a waist belt implies that the pack rapidly turns into uncomfortable with a heavy load.

How We Examined

Each journey backpack examined obtained put by a standardized packing take a look at the place we investigated the group of the bag by packing it with every part we wanted for a five-day journey. We carried the bag up and down stairs, by airports, and on trails to check its sturdiness, consolation, and efficiency throughout a number of months of use.

Group & Storage

The Thule Aion 40L affords glorious group and storage that blends components of a light-weight backpack with a heavier suitcase. The principle compartment opens clamshell-style, permitting for simple packing and entry to your gear. Inner compression straps maintain gadgets safe, whereas a number of mesh pockets assist separate smaller necessities like toiletries or equipment.

One standout characteristic is the detachable TPU-coated bag that’s each water and smell-proof. It’s good for isolating soiled garments or muddy footwear from the remainder of the bag’s contents. The pack additionally has a big laptop computer compartment becoming as much as a 16-inch laptop. It’s rapidly accessed from the facet. The underside of the lid comes geared up with a big mesh zip pocket, good for stowing garments. The Aion is without doubt one of the extra organized and largest quantity pure backpacks we examined. Whereas we have been in a position to match every week’s price of garments and gadgets into it, it could lack the amount for longer journeys or these requiring extra gear. General our favourite issues in regards to the backpack are its group and its sustainable development.

Options

The Thule Aion is manufactured from fully recycled supplies which might be bluesign licensed sustainable. The waxed canvas and PFC-free DWR coating give this pack glorious climate resistance. It’s good for these touring by wet environments. Although the Aion is straightforward and glossy on the skin, we have been glad that it got here geared up with an exterior water bottle sleeve – essential for lengthy journey days.

The outside zipper sliders could be locked collectively for added safety and your complete bag is rapidly opened because of its clamshell design. The Thule Aion Sling Bag (bought individually) could be added to function a supportive hip belt and supplies additional storage. This backpack could also be easy in options, however the options it does have present nice performance and improve the efficiency of this glossy and trim pack.

Consolation & Match

Though some folks want a easy and trim pack, the Thule Aion leaves some room for enchancment in relation to its consolation. When full of every week’s price of things, the pack extends removed from the again. This in flip pulls on the comparatively skinny and slim shoulder straps, digging into the neck and shoulders uncomfortably. With none waist belt, there isn’t a solution to alleviate any of the load on the shoulders. The general body dimension of the bag runs giant, making the backpack really feel outsized on small torsos. If you happen to’re searching for a bag to hold heavy hundreds, it’s possible you’ll look elsewhere. The Aion performs greatest as a light-weight backpack to hold lighter gadgets.

Sturdiness & Safety

With 600 denier polyester canvas that’s waxed for added climate resistance, the Thule Aion has glorious safety. It’s constructed to face up to brief publicity to rain whereas nonetheless maintaining your gadgets dry. Nevertheless, we discovered that the fabric scuffs and dirties faster than others examined. When uncovered to grime in parking tons and on dusty airport flooring, the material simply held onto grime. 

The laptop computer compartment is effectively padded and enormous sufficient so as to add extra safety by tucking a t-shirt in for additional padding. So far as pure backpacks go, the Thule Aion supplies nice sturdiness and safety.

Ought to You Purchase The Thule Aion Journey Pack?

The Thule Aion is a superb weekend bag or carry-on to accompany bigger quantity baggage on an extended journey. Whereas it’s the largest pure backpack-style bag of any in our lineup, we discovered that it doesn’t fairly have sufficient capability for an extended journey. It’s good for anybody searching for a glossy and reasonably light-weight carry-on or a weekend pack. Nevertheless, with solely a skinny shoulder strap and missing any load tensioners or waistbelt, it rapidly turns into uncomfortable when weighted. It’s not our best choice for lengthy walks, nevertheless it’s nonetheless light-weight and cozy sufficient for fast journeys.

What Different Journey Backpacks Ought to You Take into account?

Try our full gear information to see all of our favourite journey backpacks.

Osprey Nebula Assessment: A barely smaller bag, the Nebula affords a extra streamlined and decrease quantity bag for shorter journeys and day excursions.

Matador GlobeRider45 Assessment: If you happen to’re searching for a extra supportive backpack, the GloberRider45 has glorious shoulder straps and waistbelt for carrying a heavy load.

Osprey Sojourn Porter 46 Assessment: One of many burliest and most protecting packs we examined, the Sojourn Porter supplies extra quantity if the Aion didn’t have fairly sufficient.