The Tabinistas
Aer SF
City Sling
Review
Chic, expandable and effortlessly utilitarian. Aer SF's City Sling is great in almost every category we review.
Find out why it should be on your radar.
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Quick Breakdown
9/10
We tested the black, Condura Woven model and although there is an X-Pac model the price difference was about $20-30 more. The outer shell feels durable and element ready. We like that you can get extended strap lengths, but it wasn't necessary for us. The magnetic buckle was a great touch and the way the strap wove into the adjustable buckles was just magic.
8/10
For a semi-skeletal, expanding bag we were really impressed at dividers and pockets for organization. We especially like the center divider as we could put wallet or passes in them and as easily as they are taken out you can put them right back.
8/10
No RFID blocking but the bag does feel secure on your person and the YKK zippers are near impossible to open without intention especially given the weather coating over them. The pocket tucked in the back is perfect for a phone or tickets, keeping it secure and tight to your body.
8/10
Weighing in at 0.9lb stuffing this little guy you will feel your belongings. That said, the more weight you add the less you feel it as has tension locks, meant for security but the happy consequence is it distributes the weight more.
9/10
Despite it's 2.5L capacity this little sling can expand to about 3L. It does get a little awkward expanding out instead of up but it's very forgivable as not many bags in this range have this capability.
8/10
Sporting a more minimalist style, this bag is matching with more of a city street style. In black, the different textures of black are a nice touch moving from satin to matte. It's a pretty rugged bag it and yet ideal for every situation.
In-Depth Review
First Impressions
The Aer SF City Sling might be easy to pass up in a line up of products especially given it's not of any renowned outside of the City of SF. This brand from the Bay has a lot more up it's sleeve than it leads on. From the product description it seems like the load this bad boy down with everything from the top shelf and it's one of those just because we can efforts but we're here to tell you it's quality right from first look.
You won't turn any heads just by wearing this bag but you will feel like a million bucks using it. The zippers slide easy and the magnetic clasp is far more ergonomic than it looks. I think this stood out to me more at first than many of the rest of the features of this sling simply because I had never seen it before. With a normal buckle you expect that thing to go flying when you click it off and true to physics it does. With the City Sling 2, the magnet slides up and down for release but securely snaps shut when closing.
This bad boy is very well built down to the tiniest stitch and really does feel like a solid piece that will handle the torment of travel.
Build Quality
X-Pac is a no joke, but Condura might be your best friend. It all depends how you like the material of your bag. If you like the kind of outer shell that's slick go X-Pac if you want a more organic textured feel go Condura. The bag itself isn't super flexible but enough that when expanded won't be awkward to carry. It has just enough rigidity that we could reach in and grab something but we might have to move something aside to put it back in. We couldn't really fold and stuff it away in another bag and the strap isn't completely removable so you can't stuff it in it's back pocket.
The strap is slick, durable and yet soft not quite seat belt material. My only complaint is how thin straps are sure they're adjustable on both sides but the width is just over an inch and I can't say it distributes the weight as good as a wider one. The straps are locked an infinite loop with a tension lock which leads to awkward pressure where they touch your body, especially at full capacity. Aer did give this guy a honky magnetic buckle that is cool as hell and with the infinite loops on either side you can adjust where you want the center buckle which is nice in case you don't want it square in the middle of your chest.
The zippers are stiff as all get up at first but that is a given because of the weather proofing silicone coating. The coating is a blessing especially when weather gets wet as it will prevent most water from entering your bag. Sporting YKK zippers, the City Sling 2 is smooth moving action when opening and yet honky which we hope leads to a good long life. Overall the plastic pieces feel solid and so far have not been prone to being sticky or brittle over the few years we've had this.
Security
The fabric itself is exceedingly durable, hard to cut or tear unless done very intentionally with a razor it's tough to get through but not impossible. Condura is tough, military grade even but if you are worried about someone slashing it you might want to upgrade to an X-Pac version as the weave in those bags are more resistant to knives. An adult could yank on the strap when another person is wearing it and the buckle will not come loose which is a great peace of mind if you ask us, especially since it's a magnet. Because of the design of the magnetic lock you must slide it according to the arrows to get it off which is nice because with a buckle someone could just snap it off and make a run for it. Sliding it takes a lot more intention than clicking a buckle so if you're wearing it on your back you would have to put a lot more force on the lock than simply pinching a spring loaded buckle.
The zippers are made from YKK, a serious name in the zipper industry, and yes a zipper does make a difference. Paired with a waterproof lip I'd say unless you are a professional pick pocket or you are able to get your hands on this bag for more than a few minutes you could work a ball point pen into it.
Capacity
There could be much to be desired about how much we could stuff in this 2.5L bag. Lucky it does expand. That said, at peak use: I shoved all of the above and my phone in the interior most pocket, along with pack of travel sized tissues and then I could still fit a few gacha balls, 3 to be exact and that was max capacity.
The skeletal structure of this bag is similar to a pair of new canvas sneakers. It more or less conforms to the structure but can be pushed out because of the canvas like material so expansion feels natural.
An older OHOVIV 50k mAH Power Bank, 0.5m Lightning Cord, slim wallet and Japanese Pocket Wifi (mobile hotspot) and it was a very snug fit not to mention very heavy. In my opinion you are not wearing one of these to replace a backpack but rather for convenience and peace of mind so it shouldn't weigh you down. However, if you're trying to take one bag on a day trip, don't take this one. Instead try the larger Max 6L sling but it will not look the same.
Organization
If you're not over stuffing this bag it's super easy to get in and out of the bag what you need and put it back in the same spot. The front pocket has an center zip which is nice if you keep smaller items in there but anything taller than a few inches will have to be contorted to get in/out. The center divider has an open format that forms more of a border than organizational pocket but is nice for storing your wallet, or other items stored in there, out, is a breeze.
We did have some gripe with getting items out of the back as the zipper kind of tucks in awkwardly at fuller capacities, however, that does give me peace of mind to how hard it would be to get it out of there as a pickpocket.
Weight
Weighing in at 0.9lbs it's a light bag, but when it weighs as much as a phone already it's not a turn off but it does add to what you're carrying on your body. That's said, what's great is that it distributes the weight very well across the bag when fully loaded, might be better if the straps had more girth. While not the lightest bag we've tested we get some rest at night knowing that the weight is also attributed to build quality.
The one peculiarity is that with the location of the straps to front of bag the tighter it holds to your body. It's a strange combination of physics and material but it does seem more secure the heavier it gets but if you have to loosen the straps to make it more comfortable that's okay because the weight still is very well distributed to your body. It is important to note. that the heavier it is the more comfortable it is on the back versus the front given it's more structural design.
Style
It come in several colors but I essentially like black, it matching more of a my city street style. I liked that it had two different blacks and two different olives, either model I think would look fantastic. The bright orange interior fabric of the X-Pac was a huge selling point but not the added price point ($30) . The orange on the black was very appealing but there's something classic about the monotone look of the standard model. I am liking the look of the base model, it's a great option when looking for more of a mellower look.
The buckle release is cool as hell and the center alignment will hit a broad audience. It works for wearing it over either shoulder but it makes it convenient to wear either on your back or your front. It's got a large profile than most bags and on your body it takes up a medium amount of real estate making it ideal to wear by itself or with a backpack. Overall it's stylish bag with great organization, good for smooth in and outs but damn, does look good with the right ensemble.
The
Verdict
Well, Is this bag worth it?
This is an absolute, YES. For all it's shortcomings it finds it's place in use time and time again. This bag is really for people who want a stylish bag that they can access what they need without any difficulty and have a little extra room, just in case. The zippers are secure, your belongings waterproofed and the magnetic facets are impossible to live without. The material is dependable and the hidden pockets with zippers are a fantastic added peace of mind making this bag kinda hard to pass up. You could get it in X-Pac, if you desire but to be honest the Condura is plenty enough for travel, daily life and the gym.
Score Summary
9/10
This is a fantastic choice, but it's not without it's limitations. This is a one of a kind piece from Aer as other bags do not have the kind a utility in the 2.5l capacity and in the larger capacity lineup none come close to this design.
Our Opinion
This is one of the nicest slings I've owned. It has survived 3 trips to Japan, CA Disneyland and numerous day trips around the California Bay Area. The starting price is typically higher than something you'd find on Amazon and try as they will, they will find it hard to duplicate the value in utility you can find in this bag. Speaking on price, you can find it normally for $89.00, which is pretty standard for branded bags like Alpaka, Moment and Matador. X-Pac will run you $110.00 and the Ultra, which upgrades material and buckles at $129.00. If you compare apples to apples, the other brands might not compare, in my opinion but check out our comparison guide and see what works for you.
This bag just fits my everyday life. It looks good, it fits what I want to use daily and it's highly useful when traveling. There is no reason that this brand shouldn't be on your radar. If this is you're first time learning about Aer SF then browse their website below because they have plenty to offer. It's odd that we never thought to review bags until I began raving about this one, so being the origin of what we're starting here I'd say it's worth mentioning, at least once.
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Reviewed by
Darin
Style, convenience and aesthetics are a huge game changer when it comes to travel. The more efficient you can carry your gear with style and finesse the better only because you know, you are getting your money's worth. It's just like gaming, the more complicated you make it the less you like what you're playing.
