Most luggage brands claim to have the simplest, strongest, and most feature-rich spinner-wheel carry-on. Aer is one of those asserting its Carry-On is minimal, ultra-durable, and moves smoothly. After using it on an international trip, it’s not all hyperbole. The Aer Carry-On is a true travel companion with real benefits that can make your trip easier.
While I haven’t personally tried all the best carry-ons available, I have tested and extensively used several, including ones from Bellory and Away. Before I took off, I was focused on the Carry-On’s space allocation. But once I arrived at the departures terminal, I was hyper aware of the bag’s durability and utility. Aer advertises a braking system for the spinner wheels, and I was curious if this feature made a difference in the real world.
After making it halfway around the world and back, I’m convinced more four-wheel spinners should incorporate brakes. If you’re going to have ultra-smooth wheels, then you also need to have a way to keep your bag from sliding away.
Aer Carry-On
Aer’s hardshell bag stands out for its unique wheel lock system; a rarity in rolling bags. It’s sleek and solidly built, but on the heavier side for a carry-on.
Design and specs
The Aer Carry-On is deceptively simple. People with an eye toward minimalism will undoubtedly be drawn to this luggage, which is unhindered by any visible flourishes. The suitcase measures 21.7 by 14 by 9 inches, has a 41-liter volume, and weighs 8.2 pounds. This Carry-On is listed as being compatible with all airlines, and I didn’t have a problem traveling internationally with it.
The two grab handles — one on the top and one on the side — have a touch of personality with their raised styling and rectangular holes that can act as attachment points. Beyond that, the Carry-On is plain and nondescript.
It comes in four colors: black, white, olive, and orange. I find the bag looks sleek and appealing in the black color, but I can also understand it could be bland to some. In that case, I recommend the bold orange color.
It’s hard to glean all the specs and features of the bag just from looking at it. But it is well endowed with Hinomoto miraclent ball bearing wheels, a Hinomoto wheel braking system, and a puncture-resistant YKK RCW zipper. Along the side, there’s the common TSA-approved combination lock.
Tyler Hayes/Business Insider
Inside is a Cordura re/cor recycled nylon liner. It feels like a great mix of durable and functional. One side of the bag can be completely enclosed by a zipper, and the other side has a compression system with a magnetic fastener.
What it’s like to use
To give the Aer Carry-On a good, real-world hands-on experience, I used it on a weeklong international trip. I threw it into the fire to see if it could hold up across taxis and planes in a foreign country. I didn’t need any formal wear, but still packed the bag with slacks, jeans, and sweats. I had various types of shirts, from polos to basic tees. I also made sure to include some clothes and shoes to exercise in, as well as the normal amounts of socks and underwear.
Tyler Hayes/Business Insider
The Carry-On doesn’t expand, so the space you see is the space you get. In fact, you may get a little less space because the handle system eats into the available area underneath the lining material. I reorganized a few times, trying to make the most of my space to squeeze in running shoes, a toiletry bag, and other odds and ends. I’m open to the idea that I’m not the best packer, but the bag doesn’t feel like it has an abundance of room.
When I tested the Bellroy Lite Carry-On, I was pleasantly surprised by its ability to absorb one more item at the end of packing. I didn’t feel the same way about the Aer Carry-On. Maybe that’s because it felt less ideal to make use of the two mesh pockets with both sides stuffed full. Either way, Aer’s luggage comes as advertised, but no more.
Although the smoothness and durability of the spinner wheels might ultimately make or break a hard shell suitcase like this one, I find a telescoping handle to be the most critical piece of a carry-on. If need be, you can drag a bag from the street curb to the hotel, but if a handle won’t retract or stay engaged, it can be a much bigger deal. To that end, the patented pending “triangular trolley system” on the Carry-On is a winner.
The telescoping handle is truly sturdy with very little wiggle and sway. The four heights are fine. I primarily yanked the handle up to the top spot when rolling the bag around. I didn’t notice any awkwardness in the other heights, but I also didn’t rely on them much.
Tyler Hayes/Business Insider
I found the wheels perfectly adequate. The bag rolls as expected and quite quietly. I dragged the wheels across asphalt, concrete, carpet, and hard surfaces. They always held up and remained silent after the trip.
Of course, even before rolling into the airport, the braking system was heavily on my mind. I was curious not only about its functionality and whether it worked as advertised, but also its real-world utility. Do you really need brakes for spinner wheels? The short answer: yes.
Tyler Hayes/Business Insider
If you don’t have brakes, you might not notice how much you’re repositioning the bag so as not to let it scoot away in one circumstance or another. It’s the curse of having smooth-rolling wheels. Travel consists of a lot of waiting, it turns out — and brakes are good for those situations. I found myself using the brakes constantly: on the sidewalk, waiting for an Uber; at the airport, waiting in line; in the hotel lobby, waiting for my room. Even in the hotel itself, I left the wheels in park so the bag was stationary in the corner of the room.
Despite its plain internal organization and compartments, I didn’t experience any shifting of clothes during the trip. Everything stayed put and was how it was when I packed it in. But because of the simple organization, the suitcase will likely work best when it’s relatively full.
What makes it stand out
After my trip, I was thoroughly impressed by the bag’s durability. I checked it on my return trip and found its condition to be nearly perfect, save for a few minor scratches. I’m not sure how rough the bag handlers were with it, but I’m sure it wasn’t coddled.
Tyler Hayes/Business Insider
The durability is great, but the highlight feature is easily the braking system for the spinner wheels. If you’ve ever tried to park your bag while grabbing a coffee, then you probably know that spinners are going to spin and wheels are going to roll. It may be a bit surprising, but the feature lived up to any hype it had.
What’s better is that if the wheels or braking system doesn’t hold up, they should be covered by Aer’s lifetime warranty. Normal wear and tear isn’t included in warranty coverage, but if the luggage doesn’t hold up across its zippers, hardshell, or handles, then it should be eligible.
Cons to consider
If there is a downside to the brakes, it’s that the switch to engage them isn’t always immediately accessible. A few times, I locked the wheels and then forgot to unlock them before trying to roll the bag away. It would be ideal to have this functionality in the hand-hold of the telescoping handle. I’ll leave the logistics of making that work to the company. One minor thing I would like to see is a bright, visual indicator on the brake slider to show whether it’s engaged or not.
People looking for a robust organization system or lots of individual pockets will probably be disappointed with the Aer Carry-On. Aside from the wheel brakes, it just doesn’t get creative around packing. Instead, the company focused most of its efforts on building a highly durable and reliable shell.
One other thing to note, but hard to quantify, is that the bag does feel a bit heavy. It’s 8.2 pounds is heavier than Bellroy’s hardshell carry-on by about 1.5 pounds. I didn’t pack up both the same way to compare them directly, so it’s possible it is mostly a perception issue. Still, there is at least a little weight tax to having a sturdy telescoping handle and braking wheels.
What are your alternatives?
People shopping for the Aer Carry-On should also be considering the Bellroy Transit Carry-On. The two are visually similar enough that if you like Aer’s refined, minimalist style, you’ll also like Bellroy’s. The Transit Carry-On doesn’t have Aer’s braking system, but it does come with removable packing cubes, and its total weight is less. Read my full Bellroy Transit Carry-On review.
If you like the Aer Carry-On but just want a little more space, the company also offers the Carry-On Max, which offers seven more liters of volume for $20 more, but it does fall outside some airlines’ guaranteed sizing guides.
For a cheaper option, the Quince Carry-On retails for $130, includes YKK zippers, and has a 365-day trial period. The Travelpro Platinum Elite is our best overall pick and offers a lot more packing organization through multiple pockets and compartments. It retails for around $365. You can read more in our Quince luggage review, Travelpro Platinum Elite review, and best carry-on guide.
The bottom line
Tyler Hayes/Business Insider
The Aer Carry-On is an easy bag to like. It’s understated, but fully capable of handling all the needs of a five- to seven-day trip. It’s clever in places it needs to be to make travel easy without being fussy. The bag’s minimalism may be its biggest downside for people who want a luxurious piece of luggage for a premium price. However, this is an easy carry-on to recommend to anyone who doesn’t have a strict budget.