A few Aeronaut color comparison pics and some thoughts on the 45L size.

[BihnBag]

Hi, first off thanks for helping me out in the buying decision everyone on these forums it was great info.

So I picked up the Aeronaut 45 as a likely BIFL bag for travelling carry-on, but with it being so sturdy and the straps well enclosed still be able to check-in should I ever need to.

The biggest worry I had before buying is that it is bigger than the Hynes Eagle 38L that I used to travel around Europe for a month last year (which just about fits the tightest budget airlines sizings). I took the chance and I needn't have worried I don't think, it is not that much bigger at all when you glance at it. I noticed when getting on those budget flights that the people with soft bags (even a lot bigger than this) never seem to get pulled aside its always the hard and wheeled luggage people, so I think its will be fine 99/100. USA flights of course should be no problems at all.

I picked up the Steel + Island which is a very nice mix I'm sure you've all seen but I wanted to add some pictures to show the other color options I added. You'll see in the photos I put red zipper pulls on one side, blue on the other (and yellow in the middle) so I can tell easily which side I have things and which to put "forward" when carrying on shoulder. I have black pulls on the strap side.

For Canadians some info on duties I paid $488.00 USD total, with the UPS shipping. On top of that amount I had to pay $56.81 duty which includes $10 brokerage fee. Expensive, but this thing is clearly very well constructed with top notch materials and design.

[aedifica]

Welcome to the Forums! I agree, Steel/Island is lovely. I hope your Aeronaut will serve you well! (Not that I have any doubt.)

[G42]

Welcome! I have the same Steel/Island A45 - it's a great colour combo :)

Hope you have fun with it - when you go on your first adventure with it, be sure to post some pics

[bartleby]

A third welcome from me! Great bag and great color scheme! I am sure you like the thread of the Steel/Island Appreciation Society!

[Bogiesan]

My A30 is burnt orange because everything I own is one shade of orange or another. It is lined in grey and I’d have enjoyed any other color on the inside. Was not there a yellow at one time?

[G42]

My A30 is burnt orange because everything I own is one shade of orange or another. It is lined in grey and I’d have enjoyed any other color on the inside. Was not there a yellow at one time?

There was a dyneema/halcyon colour called Solar which was a lovely bright clear yellow. Unfortunately it's discontinued and highly sought after in the secondary market. There was also Zest (a true happy orange) and Monarch (a more red/orange) in that fabric.
In the exterior there is the Burnt Orange in 1050 and 525 ballistics... there was also an Orange-152 in Cordura, which is discontinued except possibly for some leftover organizer pouches... there may have been other Corduras, but that was before my time.

[Perseffect]

I’m a huge Steel/Island fan, it’s my favourite combination. We’ve been using our Navy/NWS A45 almost constantly recently for weekends away. Because of this I picked up a new to me A45 in Steel/NWS recently.

Looking forward to using it on my next weekend away.


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[cazique]

There was a dyneema/halcyon colour called Solar which was a lovely bright clear yellow. Unfortunately it's discontinued and highly sought after in the secondary market. There was also Zest (a true happy orange) and Monarch (a more red/orange) in that fabric.
In the exterior there is the Burnt Orange in 1050 and 525 ballistics... there was also an Orange-152 in Cordura, which is discontinued except possibly for some leftover organizer pouches... there may have been other Corduras, but that was before my time.

There was a Cayenne cordura, and Mars Red ballistic is kind of a dead ringer for it.

[BihnBag]

I took it for a week in UK on 3 flights total, with a budget airline that has tight-ish restrictions but nothing like Flybe or Ryanair to be fair. Zero issues whatsoever even in the small jet for the UK to UK section.

I think the internal frame purchase was a good one for me as well as the hip straps. I'm not sure it would be worth it with the 30 but on a fully loaded 45 I was thankful to have them on long walks to hotels etc.

The absolute strap is superb also, I use it with my regular day to day bag now too it makes heavy loads far more comfortable.

I think I might buy an Aeronaut 30 at some point too just for very short trips as I do think it could be overkill to take the 45 for a couple of days. It was useful to have the extra space on this trip for the extra clothes and I did buy some things to bring back that had some bulk but otherwise the 30 would have been fine I think.
I would love to get the green / grey or purple / wasabi variant of the 30 I think that is a great compliment to the steel / island I have, or maybe even a halcyon version, the ballistic is bomb proof but does add weight.

Very happy with the buy.

[BihnBag]

I'll add again to my love for the A45!

During Covid, especially after my gf totaled our car (doh!) so all my trips are done on bike or foot currently, having the A45 has been a god send for doing grocery shopping. It can pack a tons of stuff but still make it comfortable for walking stuff home.

Side pockets fits 2L bottles in fine, main compartment is cavernous obviously and I can pack it to the brim and the weight it well distributed on my shoulders and back with the added frame. I haven't needed to use the hip pads yet even with very heavy carries as I am not walking miles for days.

----

As an aside, on less bulky days I have been using the Synik 30 with a small shop bag in the bottom pocket for overflow. Also been awesome, the clamshell helps with the grocery packing there.

To make that config just a little more flexible I've just upgraded from small shop bag to small yeoman to fold into the Synik pocket for overflow (or in the A45 mesh pocket).
Thanks to folks who showed this is possible! This thread had a pic of it in an S25, so it it fits that it should definitely fit the Syn30 : https://forums.tombihn.com/accessori...lar-pouch.html

I'll likely post pics when they arrive and show the setup, although it's a shame the yeoman is going away, it would just be for folks who already have one of those I suppose.