The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L vs. Black Ember Citadel R3 25
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L
| Capacity | 21 L |
| Weight | 1.3 kg |
| Dimensions | 50×30×15 cm |
| Airline fit | 92% |
| Price | $325 |
Feature by feature
| The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L | Feature | Black Ember Citadel R3 25 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| front | Passport | top |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| N | Hip Belt | N |
| removable | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| 15in | Laptop | 14in |
| 2 | Main Compartments | 4 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| Challenge® Sailcloth EPX400 | 421 VELOCITY CORDURA re/cor RN66 |
Black Ember Citadel R3 25
| Capacity | 25 L |
| Weight | 1.6 kg |
| Dimensions | 50×31×18 cm |
| Airline fit | 91% |
| Price | $280 |
Key differences between the The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L and Black Ember Citadel R3 25
- Passport pocket: Front on the The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L; Top on the Black Ember Citadel R3 25.
- Laptop sleeve: 15in on the The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L; 14in on the Black Ember Citadel R3 25.
- Main compartments: 2 on the The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L; 4 on the Black Ember Citadel R3 25.
Both have: luggage passthrough, backpack straps, sternum strap, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 172 accept both. 1 accept only the The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L, and 0 accept only the Black Ember Citadel R3 25.
Only the The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L fits
Air Niugini.
The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L vs. Black Ember Citadel R3 25: which should you pack?
The Black Ember Citadel R3 25 carries 4L more than the The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L (21L vs. 25L), while the The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L is the lighter pack at 1.3kg (vs. 1.6kg). For carry-on flexibility, the The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L fits 92% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Black Ember Citadel R3 25; if you want to travel lighter, the The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L is the better call.