San Francisco–based travel brand Aer and the gear experts at GearJunkie’s sister site Pack Hacker looked at existing slings on the market and came away with one bold idea: Make the ultimate sling bag. The result is their first-ever design collaboration, the Aer x Pack Hacker Ultra Sling.
Born from a 17-month development process that saw the teams testing prototypes from Lisbon to Seoul, this 2L sling bridges the gap between minimalist everyday carry and rugged travel utility. Check out a first look at the new bag below.
The Design
Built for the Elements
The new, standout feature of this sling is the Challenge Sailcloth Ultra200X fabric. This material offers a superior strength-to-weight ratio and high-end weather resistance — and the brands tested it in heavy rain to be sure.
Paired with reverse-coil YKK zippers and Hypalon pulls, the Ultra Sling is built to keep electronics dry in unpredictable conditions while resisting UV fading over time.
Refined Ergonomics
The design team tried out several silhouettes, ultimately choosing a rectangular design with rounded corners to better contour the body. The carry system is where this bag really shines. Its features include:
- Pivoting Duraflex buckles: The strap attachment points swivel, allowing the bag to sit flat against the chest or back regardless of the user’s frame or movement.
- Removable straps: The shoulder strap can be completely detached via a center-press button, transforming the sling into a standalone tech organizer or packing pouch.
- Mesh back panel: Unlike standard nylon backs that can slide against rain shells or puffer jackets, the Ultra Sling features a textured mesh panel for better grip and breathability.
Small Package, Lots of Organization
When you fully pack up some small slings (and you’re going to fill them up), they can look lumpy and lie weirdly on the body. To avoid that, PackHacker and Aer split up the interior into multiple sections.
The accordion front pocket has three distinct sections for small items like AirPods, lip balm, and keys. In the main compartment, there’s a padded slip pocket for a Kindle or notebook, plus room for a camera or power bank. Like any house, any bag also has a junk drawer: For this sling, it’s a zippered internal mesh pocket for loose currency, receipts, or cables.
If you’re concerned about pickpockets, there’s a handy hidden rear zippered pocket with a fabric welt to conceal the zipper track, as well as a hidden, dedicated spot for an AirTag or Tile.
Where to Buy
The Aer x Pack Hacker Ultra Sling is a limited-edition release and costs $99. It’s available now on Aer’s website.
