Aer Travel Kit 3 Small Review

A toiletry kit doesn’t need to be huge to keep our travel essentials organized. The Aer Travel Kit 3 Small takes the same approach as its full-size sibling, offering a structured hanging design, multiple compartments, and a triangular shape that helps it fit alongside other gear. The main difference is capacity. At 2 liters, it holds half a liter less than the regular Aer Travel Kit 3, and most of that reduction comes from its shorter profile. That makes it an appealing option for travelers who don’t need as much room for toiletries or want something that takes up less space in their bag.

Despite its smaller dimensions, the Aer Travel Kit 3 Small doesn’t sacrifice the features that make the larger version practical. It has the same pocket layout, hanging hook, and stiff panel that keep the kit from flopping around when suspended. We also appreciate that it retains much of the regular version’s depth, allowing it to accommodate some wider items without much trouble. However, the reduced height makes it trickier to fit taller toiletries, and the triangular shape may not work as efficiently with every packing setup. Let’s see how this smaller version handles our everyday travel essentials.

External Components

The Aer Travel Kit 3 Small shares the same overall design as the regular Travel Kit 3, but its dimensions make it noticeably more compact. It measures approximately 9 in wide, 5 in tall, and 2.75 in deep (22.9 x 12.7 x 6.99 cm), compared with the regular version, which is an inch taller and a quarter of an inch deeper. In other words, it loses about an inch in height and a quarter inch in depth while keeping the same width. It’s a modest reduction on paper, but it can make a difference when we’re trying to fit a toiletry kit into an already packed backpack.

The triangular shape is one of the design’s defining features. It resembles the Aer Pro Kit, so the two stack together more neatly inside a larger bag. If we’re already carrying other Aer gear, this shape can help create a more organized packing arrangement. However, travelers who don’t own the Pro Kit may find that the angled profile leaves some awkward gaps when packed alongside rectangular pouches or other items.

The hanging hook is another feature carried over from the full-size model. It lets you suspend the kit from a suitable hook in a bathroom, keeping your toiletries accessible without taking up precious counter space. A stiff panel helps the kit maintain its shape when hanging, which we appreciate more than we initially expected. Rather than collapsing or flopping around when we reach for something, it stays structured enough to make gear easier to access. The hook doesn’t swivel, and the kit hangs at a slight angle, but neither issue seems particularly troublesome in everyday use.

When it’s time to pack up, the hook tucks into a small sleeve behind the back panel, keeping it out of the way. The materials also feel consistent with what we’d expect from other Aer gear. 1680D CORDURA® ballistic nylon and YKK zippers are familiar names we’ve seen in their other products, and we’ve always found them tough for most use cases. There’s nothing particularly groundbreaking about the construction, but the overall design feels purposeful, especially when that stiff panel makes a noticeable difference in how the kit hangs.

There’s also a zippered pocket on the front exterior. This is a handy spot for small accessories such as bobby pins, hair ties, medications, and other odds and ends that we don’t want getting lost among larger toiletries. Having these items separated from the main storage areas makes them easier to locate, particularly when we’re getting ready in a hurry.

Inside The Toiletry Kit

Inside, the Aer Travel Kit 3 Small has the same split layout as the regular version. The upper half accommodates makeup, makeup brushes, and other toiletries, while a long zippered pocket holds smaller grooming tools such as razors, tweezers, and nail clippers. Two thick elastic loops sit at the front of this pocket, giving toothbrushes their own dedicated spots.

The lower half contains the main dual-access pocket, which can hold brushes and other larger items. Its two-way access is particularly helpful when the kit is hanging. The bottom effectively becomes the top when the kit is suspended, helping prevent gear from spilling out when you open it. Combined with the stiff panel, this design makes the kit easier to use without taking it down every time we need something.

The biggest consideration is how the reduced height affects packing. At 2L, the Travel Kit 3 Small offers less overall room than its larger sibling, yet retains a similar depth. That means wider items can still fit comfortably, including a large Cadence Capsule. We don’t necessarily lose much practical space for items that fit in the bottom portion of the kit; instead, the reduced height is the limiting factor.

Taller bottles and toiletries may be harder to accommodate or stack, so we’d recommend thinking about the height of your usual travel essentials before choosing between the two sizes. If you mostly pack shorter containers, brushes, and smaller grooming accessories, the Small should work well. If you regularly carry taller bottles or several bulky products, the regular Travel Kit 3 offers more flexibility.

Overall, the interior organization remains one of the Small’s strengths. You get the same dedicated storage areas without needing to learn a new layout, and the smaller footprint makes sense for a streamlined toiletry setup. The main compromise is vertical room rather than a complete overhaul of the packing experience.