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The perfect everyday pack blurs the lines between backpack and duffel. I’m a morning gym person, and I leave the house with a very packed bag, including:
- work clothes
- work shoes
- flip flops for the gym shower so I don’t get Athlete’s foot
- book for my commute
- laptop
- water bottle
- protein shaker bottle
- wallet, keys and other catch-all items
It’s a lot, and I usually pack the night before. I’ve experimented handling my morning with two smaller bags (standard backpack and tote), but at that point you’re begging for a fight on the subway. The ideal option for my scenario, and anything similar, is a multi-functional backpack/duffel hybrid, like the Aer Duffel Pack 2.
We’ve been on the Aer train for a little while now. The SF brand makes gym bags, dopp kits and commuting-specific bags, always in a muted-but-sexy black or heather gray. The simple exterior, though, belies the innovation within. The Duffel Pack 2 has a front-load compartment, a ventilated shoe compartment, a padded laptop pocket, a top pocket for valuables, a water bottle pocket, and interior pockets. It features an ergonomic shoulder strap if you want to wear it like a backpack, and top straps if you want to carry it like a duffel.
I’d recommend it for a morning workout routine, but also as a reliable weekender. Find it on Huckberry here in grey and black, currently with a $35 discount.
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