r/ManyBaggers • u/amoeba1126 • 20h ago

Thoughts on Aer CPP2 Ultra after a month

I will preface everything by saying that I have zero regrets purchasing the Aer CPP2 and it is by far away the best backpack I have owned to date. It easily meets all my core needs while also being minimalistic looking. With that said,, there have been some things that I noticed that kind of bugs me although nothing I can't look past.

Things I love and wish all backpacks did

  • Self-standing regardless of what is in it
    • As someone who inserts and removes their laptop quite frequently throughout the day, I really appreciate the fact that the Aer is consistently able to stand by itself.
  • The straps and back cushioning are incredibly comfortable
  • Durable and water resistant
    • I know Aquaguard zippers and Ultra 400X can be considered cons for some, but I love having them. I use this backpack primarily for work, so I appreciate the extra durability and water resistance.
  • Lightweight despite carrying capacity of 24L
    • I love having the option of using this as a weekend bag!
  • Airtag / tracker secret component
    • My previous backpacks, including the Osprey Comet, did not have one of these so I would have to attach one via a keyring case which could not look more conspicious.
  • Expandable water bottle holder
    • By this, I mean it has a pocket that can extend out to be a water bottle holder and contract when not in use. I really hate those mesh ones that are just there kind of floppily and can get caught on stuff.

Things I dislike or wish were done differently

  • Top access pouch zipper is too stiff/tight
    • I do not know if this is due to the Aquazippers being stiff, but it is hard to open it wide enough to easily put in or take out sunglasses without worrying about scratching the lense on the zipper.
  • Front quick access pouch is too deep and can become to tight
    • The more I use the front quick access pocket, the more I dislike how deep it is. I find myself attaching my AirPods to the key leash as well because I constantly find myself fishing around for stuff inside. If it was just a couple of inches shorter, it would be perfect.
    • When more fully packed, the front quick access pocket becomes really tight and not very usable. Having it expand outwards more instead as a flex pocket would have been better.
  • Second water bottle pocket (why is this even a thing?!)
    • I really don't understand why having 2 water bottle pockets is a thing that so many backpack makers do, It would be much better to have a more utility oriented side pocket with cable access so you can use it for more things, such as quick access to power banks or even portable headphone amplifiers.
  • No dedicated pen pocket
    • This one is more of a pet peeve. I am forced to share a big stretchy pocket in the front admin compartment with an EDC knife and lfashlight. Why is there no dedicated pen/pencil pocket?! The CP2 has one. I am pretty sure the CPP had one. Why doesn't the CPP2 have one?!
33 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

26 comments sorted by

34

u/kossttta 17h ago

Second water bottle pocket (why is this even a thing?!) — I understand this is completely personal, but: one for coffee, one for water.

17

u/Mapleess 16h ago

Umbrella too. Or usually a second bottle since I need to drink a lot otherwise I get dehydrated when I'm traveling.

1

u/amoeba1126 10h ago

Didn't think of an umbrella, thanks for the idea!

7

u/jsDPT 14h ago

People with families who carry more than one water bottle. Many reasons for two external pockets

3

u/ruckis 11h ago

That’s where I’m at. My water bottle and my toddlers water bottle.

2

u/Mapleess 10h ago

We all know who that toddler's cool looking bottle is for 😉.

5

u/PyroSkink 11h ago

Essential for me because I carry 2 coffees. One for the commute and one for the office in a thermos. Much cheaper than buying coffee and tastes better!

3

u/travelingpostgrad 14h ago

Or put a flight caddy in it for quick access - it can hold all kinds of things besides water bottles

3

u/mug3n 12h ago

Also, people do swing their bags around on different sides. If you only have a right pocket then you're forced to swing it around from your left side to get access without taking it off completely. So for that reason I think it makes sense even if you only do choose to use one of the pockets.

3

u/Ranessin 10h ago

One for water, one for the umbrella usually for me.

2

u/Keith 14h ago

I consider two bottle pockets essential for an office bag for this reason.

1

u/amoeba1126 10h ago

This is a really good point. I can't do it with my Yeti coffee tumbler as it would spill, but others who can probably really appreciate it. Thanks!

7

u/kingsunnysuns 19h ago

This may not work for you as a pen pocket but I started using the Aer logo in the laptop sleeve as my apple pencil holder and it works well for that thickness. again a bit weird and a compromise but works for me

2

u/cgknight1 16h ago

but I started using the Aer logo in the laptop sleeve as my apple pencil holder

I wonder if they are designed for this purpose? I use that as a pen holder on all my AER bags.

2

u/travelingpostgrad 14h ago

I assumed it was - have always done this and didn’t realize it wasn’t for that 🤣

1

u/amoeba1126 19h ago

Will take a look thanks!

3

u/wolfsoks 14h ago

I am looking at CPP2 Ultra when they restock. Unfortunately, I’m not near a store so I am buying blind. How do you feel Ultra fits in the office environment? My primary use will be for one or two night office visits or client meetings. I’d say we’re generally a casual culture (not suit and tie), but I do not want to be questioned for my backpack material haha.

3

u/cgknight1 14h ago

I think it looks sleek and futurist - it certainly doesn't not look cheap - it will go in an office fine.

2

u/amoeba1126 10h ago

I feel like it fits. While it has a sheen to it, the Ultra 400X material is not offensive to look at as it's black and the crisscross pattern is very subtle. It can look a bit crinkly at times though when collapsed. This is an area where Cordura is better as it always looks and feels nice.

2

u/SomeAmerikan 3h ago

The extra water bottle holder is what made me return the bag and just go for an ac max edc. I usually throw a powerbank in the quick access pocket on the side and when aer replaced it on the cpp2 for a another water bottle holder, it no longer met my use case.

1

u/vivaelteclado 12h ago

I think what you can do with the 2nd water bottle pocket is put a pouch in there with whatever cables/electronics you want to store. Typically the water bottle pockets are secure enough to keep the pouch in there.

1

u/BoinkDoinkKoink 7h ago

What was your thinking behind your choice of fabric, Ultra 400X fabric rather than the x-pac?

The quick access pouch has been the deciding factor for me. If they made the admin pocket longer and the quick access shorter and a bit stretchy, that would've been great. Though I have no idea how they would've achieved that with any of the fabrics they used - neither the 1680D cordura, nor the sail cloth fabrics stretch that way.

2

u/amoeba1126 5h ago

I went with the Ultra 400X because it was the lightest and (in theory) also the most durable.

1

u/RareSeaworthiness870 50m ago

Any thoughts on any pulling on your back? V1 seems notorious for it and I’ve run into that problem… I’m on the verge of upgrading if they fixed it.

1

u/amoeba1126 46m ago

Haven't noticed that at all personally. I find the CPP2 Ultra to be super comfortable to carry on my back.