I've been searching for a bag that would fit my requirements for about 9 months, and I'm happy I found the Able Carry, even if it was by accident.
I have an Aer Duffel Pack 2 and love it, but it has certain EDC / outdoor limitations, not to mention it doesn't fit the best in an office setting.
The Able Carry is a worthy successor and it checks all the boxes for me; it's spacious, I can put tons of stuff inside it while keeping it organised, the design is low profile but also clean, and it isn't out of the question if it'll fit in an office setting or on a hike.
The comfort is 9/10 and it doesn't present issues when carried for several hours.
From my perspective I am more than pleased with my purchase and will only look forward to using the bag in as many scenarios as possible.
Current checklist:
- fits perfectly for flying, having clothes, snacks, gear inside
- is comfortable for hiking for 3+ hours
- works in an office setting as an EDC**
** I prefer my bags to be in the slightly bulkier department, that can fit a lot of miscellaneous stuff, so for people looking at a more low-profile bag it might not check all the boxes if they stuff it with everything and expect it to still be sleek.
The only negative points I could give it if I wanted to:
- after 5 years of Aer backpack usage, getting used to the Able Carry takes a tad; the straps and bag positioning on me need a bit of adjusting
- the straps have places where you can stow extra elements (like the strap that you can connect across your chest for more stability and hiking) but it doesn't fully fit so it kind of juts out awkwardly.
- some zippers also don't fully fall inside the crease / cover of the pocket they're a part of
The last two parts are a slight bother if you pack some things in, zip it all up and expect everything to be flush, but for the non min-maxers out there, I don't expect it to be a problem.
All in all, while pricey I am glad I've made the purchase as it's going to be a bag I'll use for the next decade or so, at least.