Arc’teryx Aerios 30 Pack for Men and Women

The Arc’teryx Aerios 30 Pack for Men and Women is ultralight and unique, with many pockets and attachment options, and built from a Cordura fabric.

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Key features & benefits

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What this is about

This Arc’teryx Aerios 30 pack is a part of a series that includes also Aerios 15 and Aerios 45 packs. All of them are gender-specific and built separately for men and women.

In view of its volume, this is a day pack, and it is a panel-loading type with a top zipper. It is hydration compatible and this means you have an inner hydration attachment loop, the picture below, and dual ports on the top so you can pass the pipe over any of the shoulder straps. But it is a pity they did not add a sleeve here.

Suspension system

The pack has no metal frame, but it is with a breathable AeroForm back panel with an inner anti-barreling frame sheet. The torso length is not adjustable, I am not sure why there are statements around about its adjustability. But you can choose between two different sizes.

The shoulder harness is with padded straps, and here you have dual sternum cords, see the picture below, which is a feature that you would see in trail running packs.

These sternum straps attachment is ladder type with several loops for attachment at different positions, see some details in the picture below. I have seen some people complaining that those clips and loops are too small and difficult to use.

Note also that you have uniquely designed load lifter cords. The picture below shows how they look, as you see they are thin but very strong cords, so these are not bungee type strings.

The hip belt is with a light padding, completely adequate for the pack’s size, see how it looks:

Pockets

You have them many here, so see what it offers:

• There are two long zippered pockets on the shoulder straps with the access from their sides. The picture below shows some details:

• On top of these two zippered pockets, you have additional pockets on the shoulder straps with the access from above.
• There is a small zippered top pocket on the front.
• You have two very large side pockets with unique cords that serve as compression straps. One is shown below. 

• There are also two hip belt pockets. One of them is zippered, and the other is not. I would rather have zippers on both sides.
• One small inner pocket is behind the pack panel. It is equipped with a key clip.

Attachment elements

Here too you have plenty of stuff, and some of these elements are unique. 

• Note that you have something similar to Osprey’s stove-on-the-Go attachment system for trekking poles, see the picture below. You have this on both sides, contrary to Osprey’s design which is always with the system on the left side, you can compare it with my Osprey Stratos 24 pack.

• There is also a cord on the front, you have seen it in one of the pictures above. So you can use it to store your wet stuff or a jacket that you use on the go. It is attached to a dual daisy chain which is on the front, see the details:

• There are several side webbing loops for attachment, they are visible in some of the pictures shown above.
• Dual loops are on the bottom for ice axe(s), see them above.
• A carry strap is on the top.

Materials

They use a high-tenacity 100D and 210D Cordura nylon. I have seen a statement that it is with a liquid crystal polymer ripstop grid to stand up to heavy use on the trail.

Now what is liquid crystal polymer? So this is a material which this brand has been introducing in its products in the past a few years, and it is a special type of thermoplastics. From what I read, it exhibits properties between highly ordered solid crystalline materials and amorphous disordered liquids, and this holds over a well defined temperature range. You can read more here. 

There is no info about harness padding and about those numerous cords that you have everywhere.

Please see more in this short video:

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Who is it for

Regarding the size and best use: This is a rather technical day pack with lots of attachment options. It has all the features you would want to have in a trail running pack, plus extras that you need in a technical hiking day pack.

But they build it in gender-specific versions, so this means differences in the harness shape to fit anatomical differences between men and women.

The dimensions are such that it should be eligible for standard carry-on baggage.

Regarding the weight, it is in the range of very light, or even ultralight packs. The volume to weight ratio of 33 liters/kg is close to what you have in Big Agnes Ditch Rider 32L Pack and practically identical to Osprey Sportlite 25 Pack.

Regarding the price, it is quite steep, but you would expect it from this brand and from such a quality product.

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Specifications

• Type: day pack.
• Two sizes: regular (R), tall (T).
• Volume: 1831 in³ (30 l).
• Weight:
  – Men’s pack: 32 oz (900 g).
  – Women’s pack: 30 oz (840 g).
• Dimensions (H x W x D): 21.7 x 13.4 x 7.9 in (55 x 34 x 20 cm).
• Torso length:
  – Men’s pack R: 19.7 in (50 cm).
  – Men’s pack T: 20.8 in (53 cm).
  – Women’s pack R: 17.6 in (45 cm).
  – Women’s pack T: 19.3 in (49 cm).
• These are ideal measurements, but they have a certain range that applies to all their packs.

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Final thoughts & rating

Below you can see how I rate it against my usual rating criteria so that you can easily compare it with other items of this type:

 

BEST PLACEs TO BUY

REI

Amazon

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