Road Buddy 36 vs. A45

[bartleby]

Hi fellow Bihnians, since my new RB36 arrived just yesterday I took a couple of pics side by side to the A45, as some are debating about the comparison of the two...
I packed both of them with two reasonably full A45 packing cubes in the main compartment. In the A45 I added an insulated jacket in the main compartment, an A45 travel laundry stuff sack and an end pocket packing cube in the side pockets. In the RB36 I added a A45 end pocket packing cube and a crumpler bag for toiletries.



the difference in the dimensions are subtle but noticeable and they make a big difference in terms of the volume.





Ok, let's unpack the RB36



as others have remarked already: the A45 packing cubes fit nicely inside the main compartment...



you can stack two of them easily



The A45 end pocket packing cube (loaded with a pair of my running shoes size 11) fits in the end pocket, while my toiletries went in the other end pocket...



To me the main difference - besides the 9 liters in volume - is that the bags are built for different purposes. The A45 is a dedicated travel bag with a lot of details that are very handy while packing the bag or storing it in the overhead compartment of a plane (e.g. handles where you need them). The RB36 is a multi purpose bag that is lighter and a bit more basic in terms of design. However, both are great!

[weirdguy]

Awesome photos there, @bartleby.
The comparison are very neatly presented. Appreciate your time to share them here!

To me the main difference - besides the 9 liters in volume - is that the bags are built for different purposes. The A45 is a dedicated travel bag with a lot of details that are very handy while packing the bag or storing it in the overhead compartment of a plane (e.g. handles where you need them). The RB36 is a multi purpose bag that is lighter and a bit more basic in terms of design. However, both are great!

Looking at the bags, compare them one another through your photos. Yeah, I absolutely agree.
Both have their own respective awesomeness such as the open pocket in the main compartment and also a horizontal zip mesh pocket on the exterior of one side of the side compartment. I owned previous Gen A45 and my main intention has been one-bagging country to country. Though currently, it has changed as more of a duffel state due traveling with toddler. The Road Buddy sure present an attractive solution for my scenario. Perhaps, one day!

[bartleby]

Thanks @weirdguy!

I owned previous Gen A45 and my main intention has been one-bagging country to country. Though currently, it has changed as more of a duffel state due traveling with toddler. The Road Buddy sure present an attractive solution for my scenario. Perhaps, one day!

Yes, certainly the A45 is a great travel companion for one-bag travelling (although I prefer to have a second item for my personal belongings whenever possible...)

[Jeff A]

Do you know if the Travel Laundry Stuff Sack will fit in the end pockets of the Road Buddy 36? Thanks!!

[BWeaves]

The Laundry Stuff Sack should fit. I find the end pockets on the Road Buddy to be more generous in size than the A45. I can fit more in the road buddy pockets.

[Jeff A]

How useful are the small pockets in the main compartment of the Road Buddy?

I’ve used the A45 but do not own one. For $100 less I’m liking the RB 36, paired with my Synapse 25 travel, camping, etc.


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[backpack]

I didn't realize that the gray bag wasn't an Aeronaut until I saw the mesh side pocket. That pocket, to me, means car, as well as boat and train travel in the cabin, only no checking in the luggage area on a bus or plane.

For a bag that can withstand the checked luggage treatment on buses or planes, the Yeoman Duffel is the best, a no frill, tough as nail bag.

[BWeaves]

There's no problem with the mesh pocket when flying. I've flown many times with it.

[Threads]

So the RB36 meets overhead requirements? Its just a tad large but seems like it would. I am looking for a bag for flights and it seems perfect if so.

[b1gsky]

So the RB36 meets overhead requirements? Its just a tad large but seems like it would. I am looking for a bag for flights and it seems perfect if so.

Yes, quite well! I didn’t have a problem with it so far, especially if it isn’t stuffed to the gills. It’s a great bag.

[BWeaves]

Yes, the RB36 is smaller than the A45 when fully packed. And the A45 meets overhead requirements.

[bchaplin]

Thanks for this comparison! Yeah, the Road Buddy 36 looks pretty spacious when viewed next to the Aeronaut 45 (which is already on the large side for me).

Hoping my comment will bump this thread so that others will see it.

[Salmanila8]

Thanks for bumping this thread. It's a great comparison. I was thinking it was more square, but they are very similar.

[ittoujuu]

One thing I've been curious about is, how much larger is the Road Buddy 36 than the Aeronaut 30 (and conversely, how much smaller is it than the Aeronaut 45)? Not in terms of liters or linear dimensions - we can all look those up - but in terms of practical packing and carry. The RB36 sits basically in between the two Aeronauts, size-wise, and it's interesting to see that it doesn't LOOK all that much smaller than the Aeronaut 45. And more often than is true of backpacks, duffels often seem to hold more than their raw dimensions and stated capacity would suggest.

So, if you were to pack out an A30, then take that same stuff and move it to the RB36, what else would you have room for that didn't fit in the Aeronaut? A jacket or sweatshirt? A pair of shoes? A couple blu-rays?

No need to actually pack out a test-case, but if you own a RB and an Aeronaut, feel free to chime in.

[GoStanford]

ittoujuu I second your query. I have a Dyneema (now Halcyon) A30 that I’ve used as both carry-on and checked baggage as well as for car trips. It’s a handy bag for sure. I’m wondering how I might use the RB36 differently.