Black Ember Forge Max vs. ebags Professional Slim Weekender
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 | ebags Professional Slim Weekender |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 4 | Compression | N |
| 30L | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| back | Passport | back |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| hideable | Backpack | hideable |
| N | Hip Belt | N |
| removable | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| 15in | Laptop | 17in |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 7 |
| 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 | 840D & 900D Twisted Poly High-visibility 210D orange nylon lining |
ebags Professional Slim Weekender
| Capacity | 32 L |
| Weight | 2.3 kg |
| Dimensions | 53×36×20 cm |
| Airline fit | 81% |
| Price | $120 |
Key differences between the Black Ember Forge Max and ebags Professional Slim Weekender
- Compression straps: 4 on the Black Ember Forge Max; No on the ebags Professional Slim Weekender.
- Laptop sleeve: 15in on the Black Ember Forge Max; 17in on the ebags Professional Slim Weekender.
- Main compartments: 4 on the Black Ember Forge Max; 7 on the ebags Professional Slim Weekender.
- Water bottle pockets: No on the Black Ember Forge Max; 1, side on the ebags Professional Slim Weekender.
Both have: passport pocket, 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. 153 accept both. 24 accept only the Black Ember Forge Max, and 0 accept only the ebags Professional Slim Weekender.
Only the Black Ember Forge Max fits
Aerolineas Argentinas, Air France, Air India, Air Mauritius, American Eagle, Belavia, Boliviana de Aviacion, Cayman Airways, easyJet, Etihad Airways, flybe, Indigo, InselAir, Jet Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM, LATAM , Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Royal Jordanian, Sky Airlines, Virgin Australia.
Black Ember Forge Max vs. ebags Professional Slim Weekender: which should you pack?
The ebags Professional Slim Weekender carries 12L more than the Black Ember Forge Max (20L vs. 32L), while the Black Ember Forge Max is the lighter pack at 1.6kg (vs. 2.3kg). 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 ebags Professional Slim Weekender; if you want to travel lighter, the Black Ember Forge Max is the better call.