Patagonia Black Hole® Pack 25L vs. Waterfield Bolt
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Patagonia Black Hole® Pack 25L
| Capacity | 25 L |
| Weight | 0.6 kg |
| Dimensions | 48×28×15 cm |
| Airline fit | 93% |
| Price | $149 |
Feature by feature
| Patagonia Black Hole® Pack 25L | Feature | Waterfield Bolt |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 4 | Opening | 4 |
| top | Passport | front |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| N | Hip Belt | N |
| Y | Sternum Strap | N |
| Inside | ||
| 15in | Laptop | 15in |
| 3 | Main Compartments | 3 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | 2, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 8.7-oz 300-denier 100% postconsumer recycled polyester ripstop with a TPU-film laminate | Durable waxed canvas OR 1050 Denier Ballistic nylon |
Waterfield Bolt
| Capacity | 17 L |
| Weight | 1.5 kg |
| Dimensions | 41×32×13 cm |
| Airline fit | 95% |
| Price | $370 |
Key differences between the Patagonia Black Hole® Pack 25L and Waterfield Bolt
- Passport pocket: Top on the Patagonia Black Hole® Pack 25L; Front on the Waterfield Bolt.
- Sternum strap: Yes on the Patagonia Black Hole® Pack 25L; No on the Waterfield Bolt.
Both have: luggage passthrough, backpack straps, laptop sleeve, water bottle pockets, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 174 accept both. 2 accept only the Patagonia Black Hole® Pack 25L, and 5 accept only the Waterfield Bolt.
Only the Patagonia Black Hole® Pack 25L fits
Air Niugini, Great Lakes Airlines.
Only the Waterfield Bolt fits
Air Tahiti, American Eagle, easyJet, Gulf Air, Ravn Alaska.
Patagonia Black Hole® Pack 25L vs. Waterfield Bolt: which should you pack?
The Patagonia Black Hole® Pack 25L carries 8L more than the Waterfield Bolt (25L vs. 17L), while the Patagonia Black Hole® Pack 25L is the lighter pack at 0.6kg (vs. 1.5kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Waterfield Bolt fits 95% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Patagonia Black Hole® Pack 25L; if you want to travel lighter, the Patagonia Black Hole® Pack 25L is the better call.