Avio Gear Apex Travel Backpack vs. Black Ember Citadel 18
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Avio Gear Apex Travel Backpack
| Capacity | 20 L |
| Weight | 1.7 kg |
| Dimensions | 50×33×21 cm |
| Airline fit | 73% |
| Price | $300 |
Feature by feature
| Avio Gear Apex Travel Backpack | Feature | Black Ember Citadel 18 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| 30L | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| top | Passport | top |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| N | Hip Belt | N |
| Y | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| 17in | Laptop | 14in |
| 3 | Main Compartments | 3 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 900D high-density elastic yarn | 420 VELOCITY CORDURA re/cor RN66 |
Black Ember Citadel 18
| Capacity | 18 L |
| Weight | 1.3 kg |
| Dimensions | 43×29×16 cm |
| Airline fit | 95% |
| Price | $240 |
Key differences between the Avio Gear Apex Travel Backpack and Black Ember Citadel 18
- Sternum strap: Yes on the Avio Gear Apex Travel Backpack; Removable on the Black Ember Citadel 18.
- Laptop sleeve: 17in on the Avio Gear Apex Travel Backpack; 14in on the Black Ember Citadel 18.
- Water bottle pockets: 2, side on the Avio Gear Apex Travel Backpack; No on the Black Ember Citadel 18.
Both have: passport pocket, luggage passthrough, backpack straps, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 138 accept both. 0 accept only the Avio Gear Apex Travel Backpack, and 42 accept only the Black Ember Citadel 18.
Only the Black Ember Citadel 18 fits
Air Baltic, Air China, Air Malta, Air Niugini, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Air Tahiti, American Eagle, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Belavia, Blue Air, Bulgaria Air, China Eastern, easyJet, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, flybe, Gulf Air, Icelandair, InselAir, Juneyao Airlines, Luxair, Meridiana Fly, Nordwind Airlines, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Royal Brunei Airlines, Ryanair, S7, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sun Express, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), TUI, Ukraine International, VIM Airlines (Closed), Virgin Australia, Volotea, Xiamen.
Avio Gear Apex Travel Backpack vs. Black Ember Citadel 18: which should you pack?
The Avio Gear Apex Travel Backpack carries 2L more than the Black Ember Citadel 18 (20L vs. 18L), while the Black Ember Citadel 18 is the lighter pack at 1.3kg (vs. 1.7kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Black Ember Citadel 18 fits 95% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Avio Gear Apex Travel Backpack; if you want to travel lighter, the Black Ember Citadel 18 is the better call.