Black Ember Forge Max vs. Pakt Aero Travel Backpack
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Black Ember Forge Max
| Capacity | 20 L |
| Weight | 1.6 kg |
| Dimensions | 46×31×15 cm |
| Airline fit | 94% |
| Price | $343 |
Feature by feature
| Black Ember Forge Max | Feature | Pakt Aero Travel Backpack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 4 | Compression | 4 |
| 30L | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| back | Passport | front |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| hideable | Backpack | hideable |
| N | Hip Belt | removable |
| removable | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| 15in | Laptop | 16in |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 4 |
| Y | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | 1, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 500D CORDURA re/cor RN66 AIR TEXTURED MATTE FINISH 1000D HYPALON | Aeroweave 210D Nylon ripstop |
Pakt Aero Travel Backpack
| Capacity | 35 L |
| Weight | 1 kg |
| Dimensions | 50×30×24 cm |
| Airline fit | 41% |
| Price | $260 |
Key differences between the Black Ember Forge Max and Pakt Aero Travel Backpack
- Passport pocket: Back on the Black Ember Forge Max; Front on the Pakt Aero Travel Backpack.
- Hip belt: No on the Black Ember Forge Max; Removable on the Pakt Aero Travel Backpack.
- Laptop sleeve: 15in on the Black Ember Forge Max; 16in on the Pakt Aero Travel Backpack.
- Water bottle pockets: No on the Black Ember Forge Max; 1, side on the Pakt Aero Travel Backpack.
Both have: compression straps, luggage passthrough, backpack straps, sternum strap, built-in organizer, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 77 accept both. 100 accept only the Black Ember Forge Max, and 0 accept only the Pakt Aero Travel Backpack.
Only the Black Ember Forge Max fits
Air Asia, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air China, Air Macau, Air Malta, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Air Wisconsin, AirAsiaX, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, American Eagle, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Austrian, Avianca , Azerbaijan Airlines, Bahamasair, Bangkok Airways, Belavia, Biman Bangladesh, Blue Air, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cathay Pacific, Cayman Airways, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern, CommutAir, Delta Airlines, Dragonair, easyJet, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Eurowings, EVA Air, Fiji Airways, Flair Air, flybe, Garuda Indonesia, Hawaiian Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Icelandair, InselAir, jetBlue Airways, Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia, Juneyao Airlines, Kulula, Liat Airlines, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Luxair, Mahan Air, Malaysia Airlines, Mango, Meridiana Fly, Mesa Airlines, Nordwind Airlines, Norwegian, Pakistan International, Porter Airlines, Qantas Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Republic Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, S7, SAS Scandinavian, Scoot, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Skywest, Inc., South African Airways, SriLankan Airlines, Sun Express, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), Tiger Airways, Trans States, TUI, Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International, United Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, VIM Airlines (Closed), Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia, Volotea, WestJet, Xiamen.
Black Ember Forge Max vs. Pakt Aero Travel Backpack: which should you pack?
The Pakt Aero Travel Backpack carries 15L more than the Black Ember Forge Max (20L vs. 35L), while the Pakt Aero Travel Backpack is the lighter pack at 1kg (vs. 1.6kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Black Ember Forge Max fits 94% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Pakt Aero Travel Backpack; if you want to travel lighter, the Pakt Aero Travel Backpack is the better call.