The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L vs. Black Ember Citadel 18
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 18 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| Challenge® Sailcloth EPX400 | 420 VELOCITY CORDURA re/cor RN66 |
Black Ember Citadel 18
| Capacity | 18 L |
| Weight | 1.3 kg |
| Dimensions | 43×29×16 cm |
| Airline fit | 95% |
| Price | $240 |
Key differences between the The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L and Black Ember Citadel 18
- Passport pocket: Front on the The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L; Top on the Black Ember Citadel 18.
- Laptop sleeve: 15in on the The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L; 14in on the Black Ember Citadel 18.
- Main compartments: 2 on the The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L; 3 on the Black Ember Citadel 18.
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. 173 accept both. 0 accept only the The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L, and 7 accept only the Black Ember Citadel 18.
Only the Black Ember Citadel 18 fits
Air Tahiti, American Eagle, easyJet, Gulf Air, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Virgin Australia.
The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L vs. Black Ember Citadel 18: which should you pack?
The The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L carries 3L more than the Black Ember Citadel 18 (21L vs. 18L), while the The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L is the lighter pack at 1.3kg (vs. 1.3kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Black Ember Citadel 18 fits 95% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L; if you want to travel lighter, the The Brown Buffalo Conceal Pack 21L is the better call.