Bottom Line
The Thule Aion is a sleek and trim backpack that blends the lightweight performance of a backpack with the features and organization of a suitcase. While minimally featured on the outside, the inside of the pack is a different story. Its unique features and well-thought-out design make it one of our top travel backpacks.
The Aion’s clamshell-style main compartment makes for easy packing and unpacking, and interior compression straps keep gear secure. A removable TPU-coated bag is included, which is perfect for separating dirty clothes or shoes from clean gear. The padded laptop compartment, accessible from the side, offers quick access and solid protection for electronics and is one of the biggest laptop compartments we’ve seen. Multiple interior mesh pockets, a hidden valuables pocket, and external attachment points make this bag highly functional for a variety of trips.
Still, it’s not a perfect travel backpack. The forty-liter capacity fits most airlines’ carry-on requirements, but it may feel a bit snug for over-packers or extended journeys. Although the waxed canvas exterior adds durability and water resistance, it also increases the weight, and the material scuffs and dirties quickly. Additionally, the thin shoulder straps and lack of a waist belt means that the pack quickly becomes uncomfortable with a heavy load.
How We Tested
Every travel backpack tested got put through a standardized packing test where we investigated the organization of the bag by packing it with everything we needed for a five-day trip. We carried the bag up and down stairs, through airports, and on trails to test its durability, comfort, and performance across multiple months of use.
Quick Specs
Thule Aion Travel Pack
Organized and Sustainably Made Backpack
CleverHiker Rating: 4.3/5.0
Price: $200
Volume: 40 L
Weight: 3 lb. 3 oz.
Dimensions: 20.5 x 13 x 9 in
Pros
- Sleek design
- Included dry bag
- Water resistant
- durable
- Made from recycled materials
Cons
- No waistbelt
- Uncomfortable shoulder straps
Organization & Storage
The Thule Aion 40L offers excellent organization and storage that blends elements of a lightweight backpack with a heavier suitcase. The main compartment opens clamshell-style, allowing for easy packing and access to your gear. Internal compression straps keep items secure, while several mesh pockets help separate smaller essentials like toiletries or accessories.
One standout feature is the removable TPU-coated bag that is both water and smell-proof. It is perfect for isolating dirty clothes or muddy shoes from the rest of the bag’s contents. The pack also has a large laptop compartment fitting up to a 16-inch computer. It is quickly accessed from the side. The underside of the lid comes equipped with a large mesh zip pocket, perfect for stowing clothes. The Aion is one of the more organized and largest volume pure backpacks we tested. While we were able to fit a week’s worth of clothes and items into it, it may lack the volume for longer trips or those requiring more gear. Overall our favorite things about the backpack are its organization and its sustainable construction.
Features
The Thule Aion is made of completely recycled materials that are bluesign certified sustainable. The waxed canvas and PFC-free DWR coating give this pack excellent weather resistance. It is perfect for those traveling through rainy environments. Even though the Aion is simple and sleek on the outside, we were happy that it came equipped with an external water bottle sleeve – a must-have for long travel days.
The exterior zipper sliders can be locked together for added security and the entire bag is quickly opened thanks to its clamshell design. The Thule Aion Sling Bag (sold separately) can be added to serve as a supportive hip belt and provides further storage. This backpack may be simple in features, but the features it does have provide great functionality and enhance the performance of this sleek and trim pack.
Comfort & Fit
Although some people prefer a simple and trim pack, the Thule Aion leaves some room for improvement when it comes to its comfort. When packed with a week’s worth of items, the pack extends far from the back. This in turn pulls on the relatively thin and narrow shoulder straps, digging into the neck and shoulders uncomfortably. Without any waist belt, there is no way to alleviate any of the weight on the shoulders. The overall frame size of the bag runs large, making the backpack feel oversized on small torsos. If you’re looking for a bag to carry heavy loads, you may look elsewhere. The Aion performs best as a lightweight backpack to carry lighter items.
Durability & Protection
With 600 denier polyester canvas that is waxed for added weather resistance, the Thule Aion has excellent protection. It’s built to withstand short exposure to rain while still keeping your items dry. However, we found that the material scuffs and dirties quicker than others tested. When exposed to dirt in parking lots and on dusty airport floors, the fabric easily held onto grime.
The laptop compartment is well padded and large enough to add more protection by tucking a t-shirt in for extra padding. As far as pure backpacks go, the Thule Aion provides great durability and protection.
Should You Buy The Thule Aion Travel Pack?
The Thule Aion is a great weekend bag or carry-on to accompany larger volume luggage on a longer trip. While it is the largest pure backpack-style bag of any in our lineup, we found that it doesn’t quite have enough capacity for a longer trip. It’s perfect for anyone looking for a sleek and moderately lightweight carry-on or a weekend pack. However, with only a thin shoulder strap and lacking any load tensioners or waistbelt, it quickly becomes uncomfortable when weighted. It’s not our top choice for long walks, but it’s still lightweight and comfortable enough for quick trips.
What Other Travel Backpacks Should You Consider?
Check out our full gear guide to see all of our favorite travel backpacks.
Osprey Nebula Review: A slightly smaller bag, the Nebula offers a more streamlined and lower volume bag for shorter trips and day excursions.
Matador GlobeRider45 Review: If you’re looking for a more supportive backpack, the GloberRider45 has excellent shoulder straps and waistbelt for carrying a heavy load.
Osprey Sojourn Porter 46 Review: One of the burliest and most protective packs we tested, the Sojourn Porter provides more volume if the Aion didn’t have quite enough.
