Last updated on March 2nd, 2023 at 09:39 pm
Nomatic vs Aer – Today, we compare 2 of our top travel backpack choices – the Nomatic Navigator vs Aer Travel Pack 3 X-Pac to help you choose the backpack. Let’s look at the best features of these two bags and which one we think is the winner!
Read here for the solo reviews: Nomatic Navigator Bacpack Review and Aer Travel Pack Review
Read here for other comparisons: Tortuga Outbreaker Backpack Review, Aer Travel Backpack vs Tropicfeel and Tropicfeel Shell Backpack Review
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What to Look for in a Travel Backpack?
When looking for a travel backpack, there are several key factors to consider:
- Size: Consider the size of the backpack and how much it can hold. You’ll want something that is the right size for your needs, whether you’re going on a weekend trip or a longer journey. Two popular sizes to consider would be a carry-on, which ranges from weekend travel packs to up to 35L backpacks. We prefer the latter as we want the flexibility of packing more or less, and 35L carry-on backpacks are just the holy grail, for us, between, short trips and longer trips.
- Comfort: A backpack should have comfortable straps and a padded back panel to prevent discomfort and injury. Look for a backpack with a well-padded waist belt and straps that can be adjusted to fit your body. Check if the travel bag you’re getting is good for your height, and will be able to help you balance the load on your back. Especially if you’re purchasing a bag that will carry devices like laptops and cameras, as these can easily get heavy. Comfort is also important to consider when you’re planning to go on hikes and will need to carry your backpack with you.
- Durability: Consider the materials and construction of the backpack. Look for high-quality zippers and fabric that can withstand wear and tear. We like to have backpacks for a long time, and as we go on long and more frequent trips, we need to make sure bags are sturdy, handle in and out of transport all the time and can stand the test of time. Also, a good way to save money!
- Accessibility: Look for a backpack with multiple compartments and pockets that make it easy to access your items. A backpack with a front-loading design can be particularly useful for travel. Some side-loading bags are made especially for accessing cameras easier, so make sure you know exactly what you need your bag for to not miss on details you’d like to have.
- Weather resistance: If you plan to travel to a place with different weather conditions, look for a backpack that is made of water-resistant material or comes with a rain cover. Water resistance is almost a no-brainer for us as we love to travel in the tropics, or when you’re going out for a day, and need to visit the beach or a waterfall, it’s just easier not to have to worry about your things getting wet. Have a rain cover as an alternative always ready in one of the pockets.
- Security: Consider a backpack with lockable zippers or RFID-blocking pockets if you’re concerned about theft or loss of personal information.
- Price: Price is also an important factor to consider when choosing a backpack. Look for a backpack that offers a good balance of features, durability, and cost.
- Style: We don’t want to fully discount the right balance between durability, usefulness, and the right style for you. You can have a good backpack while having one that fits your “style” sense or what looks attractive to you! We normally choose darker bags so as not to worry about cleaning and washing bags during long trips, but we don’t mind adding some pop of color to our bags!
Nomatic Navigator vs Aer X-Pac 3 – Which Travel Backpack to Choose
Nomatic Navigator Travel Backpack 32L Backpack Top Features – What We Love
The Nomatic Navigator backpack features a number of compartments and pockets for organization and storage, including:
- A dedicated laptop compartment that can fit laptops up to 17 inches
- A main compartment with a built-in divider and multiple pockets for organization
- A front pocket with a built-in USB charging port
- A side pocket for a water bottle
- A top pocket for quick access items
- A hidden back pocket for valuables
- Expandable side pockets for additional storage
The backpack is made from durable, water-resistant materials and features padded straps and a back panel for comfort. The straps are also adjustable and can be hidden away when not in use. The backpack has a total capacity of 32 liters and is designed to be comfortable to wear even when fully loaded. It is a versatile backpack that is well-suited for travelers, commuters, and anyone who needs a durable and functional backpack for everyday use.
The backpack is made from a combination of durable, water-resistant polyester and nylon materials.
The main compartment features a built-in divider and multiple pockets for organization, including a mesh pocket for smaller items and a zippered pocket for added security.
The front pocket has a built-in USB charging port that allows you to charge your phone or other devices on the go. The charging port is connected to a built-in power bank (not included) that you can use to charge your devices.
Nomatic Backpack Review: The side pocket is designed to hold a water bottle and the top pocket is perfect for quick access items such as keys or sunglasses.
The hidden back pocket is located on the back panel of the backpack, which can be easily accessed by unzipping the back panel. It is designed for items that you want to keep secure and hidden.
The expandable side pockets are located on the sides of the backpack and can be expanded to increase the backpack’s storage capacity.
The backpack has a total capacity of 32 liters and can be easily expanded to up to 41 liters.
The padded straps and back panel are designed to provide comfort and support when carrying the backpack, even when it is fully loaded. The straps are also adjustable and can be hidden away when not in use.
The backpack has a sleek and modern design that is suitable for both men and women.
The Nomatic Navigator backpack is designed to be a highly functional and versatile backpack, perfect for travelers, commuters, and anyone who needs a durable and practical backpack for everyday use. It has a lot of compartments and pockets that allow y
Aer Travel Pack 3 X-Pac Top Features
Aer’s Travel Pack 3 X-Pac is a carry-on bag, that can pack a 35L volume – the weight allowed for international carry-on travel. Aer’s Travel Pack 3 uses the X-Pac fabric, high-quality sailcloth, durable, and 100% waterproof.
Aer’s Travel Pack 3 Backpack allows you to organize all your important travel luggage – clothes, toiletries, emergency materials, camera gear, devices, documents, and more – without sacrificing design, and durability, and while keeping all your stuff in a carry-on backpack.
Read here Nomatic Navigator vs Tortuga Outbreaker, Tortuga Outbreaker Backpack Review, Tortuga Outbreaker vs Aer Travel Pack 3 X-Pac, Tropicfeel Shell Backpack Review, and Tortuga Outbreaker vs Tropicfeel Shell
Carry-on bags are the best if you want to travel faster and skip the check-in luggage time.
See the full features of the Aer’s Travel Pack 3 X-Pac below:
Features – Aer Backpack
• VX-42 X-Pac™ sailcloth exterior by Dimension-Polyant®
• YKK® AquaGuard® zippers for all major compartments
• Duraflex® plastic hardware
• High-visibility orange interior liner (bluesign® approved)
• Padded suspended laptop pocket with soft lining (fits up to 16″ laptop)
• Lay-flat main compartment for spacious storage and easy packing
• Compression straps with magnetic fasteners for stability and security
• Quick-access top and side pockets for small valuables
• Load lifters for support and comfort
• Handles on all sides for versatile carrying
• Expandable water bottle pocket
• Hidden smart tracker pocket
• Internal frame sheet provides structure and support
• Attachment points for a removable hip belt (sold separately)
• Luggage handle pass-through
• Lockable zippers for additional security
• Imported
One of our favorite features is the bright orange internal lining – makes the bag really beautiful without sacrificing organization and durability. In this image above you can see Aer’s organizational packs – Aer’s packing pouches are the best for travel luggage organization. Separate your clothes, accessories, documents, and toiletries, and access all your things easier once you unpack.
Check out the full-featured Aer’s Travel Pack 3 X-Pac by watching the video above! This will help you visualize the backpack you’re getting! We can attest to how good this is – our favorite for sure!
Pros And Cons – Nomatic Navigator vs Aer Travel Pack 3 X-Pac
Nomatic Navigator 32L Travel Pack – Pros and Cons
Pros – Nomatic Navigator 32L Travel Pack
Large capacity: With a 32L capacity, the backpack is able to hold a lot of items, making it ideal for longer trips or for those who like to pack a lot of items. It’s definitely the ultimate carry-on backpack to have!
Durable construction: The backpack is made of high-quality materials, including water-resistant fabric, that can withstand wear and tear.
Multiple compartments: The backpack features multiple compartments and pockets, making it easy to organize and access items.
Comfortable to wear: The backpack has padded shoulder straps and a waist belt that can be adjusted for a comfortable fit.
RFID-blocking pockets: The backpack comes with RFID-blocking pockets, which can help to protect your personal information from theft.
Cons – Nomatic Navigator 32L
Expensive: The backpack is relatively expensive, which may be a drawback for some people. It’s definitely an investment that we generally think is okay if you’re looking at a backpack that will stand the test of time.
No rain cover: The backpack does not come with a rain cover immediately, which can be an issue for those who plan to travel to places with different weather conditions. Good thing is that this is easily solvable with any their own accessory rain covers you can get. You can get your Nomatic Navigator Raincover here. Without the rain cover though, the Nomatic backpack is made with 840D Ballistic Nylon & durable water-resistant materials, so it should be able to stand some instances of water splashes. But to err on the safe side, get their accessories as well!
Structure: The Nomatic Navigator backpack has a rigid and structured design, which could make it hard to fit in tight spaces or in overhead compartments of airplanes. Now this can be a pro or con, depending on how you look at it, but for us, it’s more of a pro (than a con) as if you travel to so many places, these bags with rigid structures are just more durable, movement-proof, time-tested, and the things you have inside are more protected against getting squished.
Aer Travel Pack 3 X-Pac – Pros and Cons
Pros – Aer Travel Pack 3 X-Pac
The main pro of Aer is its X-Pac fabric which is waterproof. That means whatever weather you’ll be traveling in, especially in the tropics when it can rain any time or there’s a significant time of rainy weather the whole year, you’ll be safe.
The organization pockets are also good and there’s definitely a good ample space for a good carry-on bag.
Cons – Aer Travel Pack 3 X-Pac
The Aer Travel Pack 3 is a 35L backpack. The only con with this is if you’re really looking for a suitcase as a travel bag and if you need something that will fit more than 35L.
Final Verdict Nomatic Navigator vs Aer Travel Pack 3 X-Pac
WINNER: Nomatic Navigator Backpack 32L
We pick the Nomatic Navigator Backpack 32L for this battle! Although Aer is great if you’re looking for an outright waterproof backpack, Nomatic Navigator stands out with its sturdy structure, expandable storage, and its charging system. It definitely ticks all the boxes we’re looking for from a complete travel backpack. Let us know which you ended up choosing and good luck with all your travels. Let us know if you have any questions in the comments below!
About the Author: Ruben, co-founder of Gamintraveler.com since 2014, is a seasoned traveler from Spain who has explored over 100 countries since 2009. Known for his extensive travel adventures across South America, Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Africa, Ruben combines his passion for adventurous yet sustainable living with his love for cycling, highlighted by his remarkable 5-month bicycle journey from Spain to Norway. He currently resides in Spain, where he continues to share his travel experiences alongside his partner, Rachel, and their son, Han.