I’m a huge fan of WaterField products and use them pretty much every day. So, when I write that the new WaterField Air Porter and Air Caddy are among the best products they have delivered, I mean it. Still, I can’t help but wonder if WaterField Waterfield isn’t making a mistake with these latest offerings.
We’ll get into Waterfield’s “mistake” in a bit. First, let’s dig into the Air Porter and Air Caddy a bit.
As with all WaterField products, the Air Porter is crafted in their own San Fransisco-based workshop. The pride Waterfield takes in their US-made offerings is evident in every one of their products. The Air Porter and Air Caddy are no exceptions. For simplicity, I’ll simply refer to the Air Porter for now and then return to the optional Air Caddy.
The Air Porter is available in your choice of a black nylon or waxed canvas base with naturally tanned leather accents. I opted for the waxed canvas. Both are great, but for me, Waterfield’s waxed canvas bags always seem to win.
The bag is fairly large measuring in at 15” x 10.25” x 4.5” and weighing in at 2.4 lbs. It’s not a heavy bag, but it is substantial. It is also built in as uncompromising way as you will find. The fit and finish are precise. There are no loose threads, and each piece of this rather complex bag fits perfectly with all the others. Waterfield uses splash-proof YKK zippers, has a water-protective material on either side of the zipper and a water-resistant lining, so items you place inside are nicely protected. No, this is not a waterproof bag, but it gets as close as possible for a bag such as this. Waterfield also employs hidden magnetic closures, so the flap stays closed without the need for unsightly straps or snaps. In all, this is a bag whose every detail was thoughtfully determined, and it shows!
The top of that bag has two handles —one on either side of the main zippers — so you can carry it like a briefcase.
The company also includes a removable suspension strap that connects to the D-Rings on either side of the bag.
This means you can choose how you carry the Air Porter and, if you aren’t using the shoulder strap, you can remove it and leave it at home to save some weight.
The front of the bag has a large pocket protected by a magnetically secured flap. Lifting it reveals a pocket that is sized to hold the Air Caddy and a smaller zippered pocket that is perfect for a passport and other small materials that need to be secure but accessible.
Between the zipper and the flap that hides it, I think you can be confident your items stay safe and secure.
On the back of the bag is a trolley strap that can slide over the handle of your rollaboard making it easier to wind your way through the chaos of the airport.
On either side of the bag, you will find an expandable water bottle holder. When not in use they can be collapsed and secured thanks to the strategically placed snap. Why would Waterfield put not one but two water bottle pockets? Well, for started it’s important to stay hydrated while you travel but, more than likely, the company realized that, when traveling, you want to have both a water bottle and a small collapsible umbrella within reach. With two pockets available you can do just that.
The main storage area of the Air Porter opens to reveal plenty of space for all the items you need on a trip. A light, contrasting colored material is used on the interior. This makes it easier to find the items you have placed inside.
There are a key tether, ample small pockets and a large space for more bulky items. It is enough organization to ensure you keep things organized but not so much as to make it confusing or, as I have seen on some bags, you are left with little space for larger items.
The other side of the bag also unzips. This reveals a TSA-Friendly padded laptop compartment that is secured with a telco-enhanced strap of material and additional pockets for items such as cables and laptop charging bricks.
It is large enough to accommodate a 15” MacBook Pro.
This area opens fully so you can lay the bag flap and run it through the X-ray machine without needing to remove the laptop.
One example of just how much thought Waterfield put into this bag can be seen in the cutout at the top of the laptop pocket. This cutout is in the exact location of the USB-C charging port on my MacBook Pro. It means I can charge the laptop without needing to remove it.
It is details like this that make Waterfield bags worth their not-insignificant price.
Finally, it is worth noting that the Air Porter has a flat bottom. As a result, you can place it on the ground, and it will remain upright. If you’ve ever been frustrated with a bag that constantly falls over when you set it down, then you will understand what a great feature this is.
Turning our attention to the Air Caddy, it is worth noting that this is an additional purchase but one you will want to consider when you order the Air Porter. It measures 12” x 8” x 1.25” and weighs just 5 oz.
It too is available in either black nylon or waxed canvas.
The Air Caddy is a tablet sleeve and organizer that unzips on two sides. This means you can easily access everything in it without worrying that the contents will spill out.
The interior of the Air Caddy has the same contrasting material used in the Air Porter which makes it easy to find items you’re placed inside. There are some small open pockets for pens, cables, and similar items. There’s a padded tablet compartment that will protect your precious tablet while still giving you easy access to it. And there is a main compartment that can hold a thin book, an AC adapter and more.
On the exterior, there is a zippered pocket that can hold a few additional small items.
I’ve used the Air Caddy to hold my 10.5” iPad Pro, a paperback, in-ear headphones, my Apple Pencil and a few other items. On its own, it is a fantastic tablet “sleeve, ” but when used with the Air Porter it is much more than that. (It is worth noting that the Air Caddy is perfect for the 10.5” iPad Pro but not large enough for the 12” model.
Features:
- Splash-proof YKK Zippers
- Hidden magnetic closure
- Slip over rolling suitcase handle
- TSA-friendly laptop-sleeve compartment opens flat; dual handles facilitate quick grab after TSA screening
- Zippered pocket under front flap grants quick-but-secure access
- Leather flap closes with magnets at two settings allowing front pocket to be fully or partly packed and remain secured
- Padded laptop sleeve with corner cut-outs permits laptop charging while inside case
- External water-bottle/umbrella pockets snap closed when not in keeping bag svelte
- Air Porter fits Air Caddy in front pocket
- Air Caddy fits in front airline seat
- Dual main compartments keep tech and personal items separated
- Slim and stands upright under airline seats leaving ample legroom
- Waterproof exterior zippers and water-resistant lining help block the elements
- Interior key fob stores home keys for easy recovery after a long return flight
All of this leads to the name and intended purpose of the Air Porter and Air Caddy. The products were, of course, designed for travel. The Air Porter was designed based on feedback from over two thousand Waterfield customers regarding what they want and need during travel. That feedback helped determine the dimensions and the features of the Air Porter. As Waterfield explains:
The Air Porter Carry-on was designed specifically to carry all the items deemed essential to have at your fingertips when flying. [It] stands upright under the seat and can be easily pulled in and out to access in-flight items, like your headphone, magazines, or laptop. You can also charge your laptop while leaving it in the Air Porter.
The Air Caddy came into being for the same reason. Based on feedback, Waterfield realized that people who travel want a carry-on bag that is easy to organize and carry but that they also want access to specific items and would prefer not to dig into a large bag during a flight.
The Air Caddy is, by design, intended to be pulled from the Air Porter- It fits perfectly in the front pocket beneath the flap- and placed into the seat back pocket on the plane.
For example, on a recent trip, I rolled through the airport with everything I needed in the Air Porter. My 13” MacBook Pro was in the laptop sleeve. My paperwork was in the zippered pocket beneath the bag’s flap. My over-the-ear headphones were in the main compartment of the bag along with medication that I didn’t want to risk being lost in checked baggage. I also slipped my “Go-Pouch” into the main pocket. (My “Go-Pouch” is a discontinued Waterfield pouch similar to their Gear Pouch that holds some cables, a wall adapter, and an external backup battery. I take it pretty much everywhere with me.)
My iPad Pro, my noise-canceling in-ear headphones, my Apple Pencil and a few other assorted items were also in it. When I got onto the plane, I pulled the Air Caddy out of the bag and slipped it into the seat pocket in front of me. I placed the Air Porter beneath the seat. Because the Air Porter sits upright, it left plenty of room for my feet. For most of the trip, the items in the Air Caddy were all I needed. At one point, however, I wanted the over-the-ear headphones (the in-ear had started to bother me) and my laptop. So I pulled them out for a bit. Then, before we landed, I put the headphones, the laptop and there Air Caddy back into the bag. When it came time to deplane, I didn’t have to worry about whether or not I had left anything on the plane.
Optimize legroom. Keep essentials close by. The Air Porter with Air Caddy helps travelers stay productive and comfortable at 35,000 feet. Designed with input from customers who fly a lot, the feature-rich Air Porter is designed to fit under the seat, and the Air Caddy fits behind the seat back pocket for easy access.
Where Waterfield Got It Wrong
Waterfield set out to make a great travel bag and … mission accomplished. Whether you only get the Air Porter or you get the Air Porter in combination with the Air Caddy, you are sure to appreciate the design, the craftsmanship and, most importantly, the functionality of this Waterfield offering; both are great for travel. I do, however, think Waterfield may have misstepped when they position the Air Porter as a travel bag. It is, after all, a fantastic bag for day to day use. It holds plenty without becoming unwieldy. It has a decent amount organization, it is built to exacting standards, and it looks pretty great. In other words, despite how WaterField is marketing them, the Air Porter and Air Caddy are not just for travel.
I’ll say it again: Despite how WaterField is marketing them, the Air Porter and Air Caddy are not just for travel.
That’s why I think this product page…
Should look like this…
At $379, the Air Porter and Air Caddy are pricey but, as I have stated previously, Waterfield bags are an investment. You’ll love carrying it from day one, and it will only get better with time. Check it out here.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review samples of the Air Porter and Air Caddy
What I Like: Amazing quality; Offers just enough organization; Fantastic for use while traveling; Works equally well day-to-day; Can be carried by handles or using the included shoulder strap; TSA compliant; Laptop compartment is padded and offers access to charging while in the bag; Two water bottle pockets; Magnets hold flap down; Looks great
What Needs Improvement: Pricey; Waterfield positions this as a travel product, but it is equally awesome for day-to-day use