ILE Apex XL vs. Arc'Teryx Granville 20

Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.

ILE Apex XL

by ILE
Front facing view of the ILE Apex XL
Capacity18 L
Weight0 kg
Dimensions51×28×13 cm
Airline fit90%
Price$165

Feature by feature

ILE Apex XLFeatureArc'Teryx Granville 20
Storage
N Compression N
None Expanded Capacity None
2 Opening 3
N Passport N
N Passthrough N
Carry
Y Backpack Y
N Hip Belt N
removable Sternum Strap Y
Inside
16in Laptop 15in
1 Main Compartments 1
N Organizer N
Outside
× Hard Shell ×
N Rain-fly N
N Water Bottle Holder N
Y Water Resistant Y
Material
Cordura, XPAC Sailcloth, or Waxed CanvasN400r-AC² nylon 6 ripstop

Arc'Teryx Granville 20

Front facing view of the Arc'Teryx Granville 20
Capacity20 L
Weight1.3 kg
Dimensions52×32×18 cm
Airline fit88%
Price$180

Key differences between the ILE Apex XL and Arc'Teryx Granville 20

Both have: 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. 167 accept both. 3 accept only the ILE Apex XL, and 0 accept only the Arc'Teryx Granville 20.

Only the ILE Apex XL fits

Great Lakes Airlines, Oman Air, Royal Jordanian.

ILE Apex XL vs. Arc'Teryx Granville 20: which should you pack?

The Arc'Teryx Granville 20 carries 2L more than the ILE Apex XL (18L vs. 20L), and the two are closely matched on weight. For carry-on flexibility, the ILE Apex XL fits 90% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Arc'Teryx Granville 20; if you want to travel lighter, the Arc'Teryx Granville 20 is the better call.