Bellroy Shift Backpack vs. Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Bellroy Shift Backpack
| Capacity | 22 L |
| Weight | 1.25 kg |
| Dimensions | 55×30×20 cm |
| Airline fit | 86% |
| Price | $169 |
Feature by feature
| Bellroy Shift Backpack | Feature | Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 3 | Opening | 3 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| N | Hip Belt | N |
| removable | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 15in | Laptop | 15in |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 1 | Water Bottle Holder | 2 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| Venture-weave polyester | G-1000® HeavyDuty Eco: 65% polyester, 35% cotton |
Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium
| Capacity | 20 L |
| Weight | 0.96 kg |
| Dimensions | 44×28×13 cm |
| Airline fit | 96% |
| Price | $180 |
Key differences between the Bellroy Shift Backpack and Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium
- Sternum strap: Removable on the Bellroy Shift Backpack; Yes on the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium.
- Water bottle pockets: 1 on the Bellroy Shift Backpack; 2 on the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium.
Both have: backpack straps, laptop sleeve, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 163 accept both. 0 accept only the Bellroy Shift Backpack, and 18 accept only the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium.
Only the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium fits
Air Niugini, Air Tahiti, American Eagle, Belavia, easyJet, Etihad Airways, Great Lakes Airlines, Gulf Air, Liat Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Royal Jordanian, Scoot, Tiger Airways, Virgin Australia, WestJet.
Bellroy Shift Backpack vs. Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium: which should you pack?
The Bellroy Shift Backpack carries 2L more than the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium (22L vs. 20L), while the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium is the lighter pack at 0.96kg (vs. 1.25kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium fits 96% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Bellroy Shift Backpack; if you want to travel lighter, the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium is the better call.