Review: Urth Aerolite Tote Bag
INTRODUCTION
Over the last few years, we have reviewed several tote bags, but these have generally been camera bags that can be carried in a similar manner to a tote bag. Helen currently uses the Peak Design Everyday Tote as her travel camera bag, as it has a larger capacity than our regular 10L sling bag. But beyond that, we don’t use tote bags for our photographic outings.
Some manufacturers, including Urth, are placing a lot of emphasis not only on the minimalist user but also on products that are dual-purpose and do not look like camera bags.
The Urth Aerolite Tote Bag is the latest product to join their Carry Range.
Urth kindly provided us with the Aerolite Tote Bag. Although we received the bag complimentary, this review is unbiased. Please read our disclaimer at the bottom of this post.
Above: Urth Aerolite Tote Bag
THE AEROLITE TOTE
“Aerolite” refers to several lightweight, high-performance products, and the Aerolite Tote certainly falls into that category, as it is as light as a feather at only 220g. Although the Aerolite Tote is massive, with a 22L capacity and dimensions of 320mm (W) x 460mm (H) x 150mm (D), it still folds down to a compact size, making it ideal to store or pack inside another bag. The shell of the tote is constructed with *100D Nylon Robic with *300D Poly Two-Tone Ripstop and a *UTS coating
*Nylon Ripstop – a proprietary formulation of Nylon that has a higher tenacity (resistance to breakage) than normal Nylon. It is commonly used in outdoor products because of its strength, weather resistance, and lightweight properties
*330D Poly Two-Tone Ripstop – refers to a durable, medium-weight polyester fabric with a reinforced weave pattern and a two-colour appearance
*UTS Coating – Ultra Tear Strength coatings that boost fabric durability
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The exterior has a nice soft padded feel to it that is also weatherproof (not waterproof). There are no external pockets, and since there is no base on the tote, it cannot stand upright if placed on a surface. The exterior only has two sets of handles: one set for the shoulder and the other for handholding. These are constructed with recycled nylon webbing. On the sides of the tote are cross-body strap attachment points, which could allow use with an alternative strap if desired.
The entrance to the tote is magnetised, which will automatically snap together rather than the need to fiddle with a zipper to close.
Inside the tote is a massive 46cm deep cavity that has a divider, should you want to carry up to a 16″ laptop or keep items separated. There’s also enough room to accommodate a Urth Arkose Camera Insert if you are using it as a camera bag.
Lastly, there’s a small zippered pocket that could accommodate your wallet, phone, circular lens filters or any other small accessories. That’s it, folks. There are no other features to this simplistic tote bag.
Above: Interior of the Urth Aerolite Tote Bag
PROS & CONS
PROS
Sustainability: 5 trees planted per sale; recycled materials.
Compact: easy to store when not in use
Stealthy: Doesn’t look like an expensive camera bag to potential thieves.
Versatility: Transitions perfectly from groceries to professional gear.
Laptop Protection: Dedicated 16″ sleeve is rare for lightweight totes.
Cross-body Attachment Points: allows you to use an alternate strap
CONS
Structure: Being a “soft” tote, it does not stand upright on its own when empty.
Add-ons: Requires a separate insert for professional camera protection, which will make it expensive
Limited Padding: The shell itself is thin; protection relies on your internal organisation.
Weatherproof: Although the shell is weatherproof, the entrance to the interior does not seal, so that water may ingress inside the bag.
Colours: Only available in Charcoal but that could change in the future
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Above: Easy access for a tablet or laptop
Above: Choice of 2 carry handles
THE FINAL WORD
The Urth Aerolite Tote Bag will not be everyone’s cup of tea. It’s a functional dual-purpose tote that will suit the minimalist photographer who wants to use it for other purposes as well. For those who want to use it as a camera bag, you will need to purchase the Arkose Camera Insert as well. This will make it a bit expensive compared to alternative options. We would have liked to have seen a zippered entrance instead of magnetised, as this would have been more weatherproof, especially if you are carrying a laptop.
Would we use the Urth Aerolite Tote Bag? No, at least not for camera gear; however, we would use the tote as an everyday bag for non-photography days.
For what it was designed for, the Urth Aerolite Tote bag is a great product; however, we’re unsure how popular it will be among photographers and how it will compete with the Urth Arkose Tote. Time will tell!
RATED: RECOMMENDED
PRICE
The Urth Aerolite Tote Bag is reasonably priced. To purchase the tote, click the “BUY HERE” button below. If used as a camera bag, it is ONLY compatible with the Arkose Camera Insert, as this opens from the top, making it easy to access the contents. The larger Urth Camera Insert will also fit in the tote; however, it is not practical to use this insert as you would need to remove it from the tote to access the contents. As the tote is only available in the Charcoal colourway, the closest matching colourway for the Arkose Camera Insert is Onyx.
URTH AEROLITE TOTE BAG
Charcoal
Every purchase funds tree planting in areas affected by severe deforestation — revitalising ecosystems and empowering local communities.
URTH ARKOSE CAMERA INSERT
Sand, Onyx, Moss, StoneEvery purchase funds tree planting in areas affected by severe deforestation — revitalising ecosystems and empowering local communities.
Other Gobe/Urth Filter Reviews
If you are interested in reading any of our other Gobe/Urth Filter reviews click the links below –
URTH ND8-128 Variable Filter
URTH 100mm Square ND Filter
URTH ND2-400 Variable Filter
First Impressions: GOBE Filters
URTH Night Filter
URTH Arkose 20L Modular Backpack
URTH Norite 24L Modular Backpack
URTH Magnetic Filter Kits
URTH Dolomite 5.1L Camera Sling
URTH Lens Cleaning Kit
URTH Dolomite 8L Camera Sling
URTH Film Pouches
URTH ND64-1000 Variable Filter
First Impressions: URTH Filters
URTH Night Filter v NiSi Natural Night Filter
URTH Square Filter Holders
URTH Filter Kits
URTH Core Camera Strap
URTH Zeolite Tech Organiser
URTH Magnetic Lens Filters
URTH Andesite Camera Pouch
URTH Arkose 18L Tote Bag
URTH Camera Lens Adapters
URTH Utility Sacoche Bag
URTH Aerolite Tote Bag
Disclaimer: This review is totally unbiased. As Professional Photographers we would never recommend the use of any product unless we have used the product ourselves. We always strive to give you our honest opinion in order to help you make the best choice. We did receive the product with compliments of URTH but were not paid for this review. We may also receive commissions on other links in this post.
