Bellroy Lite Travel Pack 30L vs. Black Ember Citadel R3 25
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Bellroy Lite Travel Pack 30L
| Capacity | 30 L |
| Weight | 1 kg |
| Dimensions | 50×36×12 cm |
| Airline fit | 84% |
| Price | $199 |
Feature by feature
| Bellroy Lite Travel Pack 30L | Feature | Black Ember Citadel R3 25 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| top | Passport | top |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| hideable | Backpack | Y |
| N | Hip Belt | N |
| removable | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| 16in | Laptop | 14in |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 4 |
| Y | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| N | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 100% recycled Dura Lite nylon | 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 Bellroy Lite Travel Pack 30L and Black Ember Citadel R3 25
- Backpack straps: Hideable on the Bellroy Lite Travel Pack 30L; Yes on the Black Ember Citadel R3 25.
- Laptop sleeve: 16in on the Bellroy Lite Travel Pack 30L; 14in on the Black Ember Citadel R3 25.
- Built-in organizer: Yes on the Bellroy Lite Travel Pack 30L; No on the Black Ember Citadel R3 25.
- Water resistant: No on the Bellroy Lite Travel Pack 30L; Yes on the Black Ember Citadel R3 25.
Both have: passport pocket, luggage passthrough, sternum strap.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 158 accept both. 0 accept only the Bellroy Lite Travel Pack 30L, and 14 accept only the Black Ember Citadel R3 25.
Only the Black Ember Citadel R3 25 fits
Aerolineas Argentinas, Air France, Air India, Air Mauritius, Boliviana de Aviacion, Cayman Airways, flybe, Indigo, InselAir, Jet Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM, LATAM , Sky Airlines.
Bellroy Lite Travel Pack 30L vs. Black Ember Citadel R3 25: which should you pack?
The Bellroy Lite Travel Pack 30L carries 5L more than the Black Ember Citadel R3 25 (30L vs. 25L), while the Bellroy Lite Travel Pack 30L is the lighter pack at 1kg (vs. 1.6kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Black Ember Citadel R3 25 fits 91% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Bellroy Lite Travel Pack 30L; if you want to travel lighter, the Bellroy Lite Travel Pack 30L is the better call.