Arcido Saxon vs. Black Ember Citadel R3 25
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Arcido Saxon | Feature | Black Ember Citadel R3 25 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| N | Passport | top |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| N | Hip Belt | N |
| Y | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| 15in | Laptop | 14in |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 4 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| Kodra 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 Arcido Saxon and Black Ember Citadel R3 25
- Passport pocket: No on the Arcido Saxon; Top on the Black Ember Citadel R3 25.
- Sternum strap: Yes on the Arcido Saxon; Removable on the Black Ember Citadel R3 25.
- Laptop sleeve: 15in on the Arcido Saxon; 14in on the Black Ember Citadel R3 25.
- Main compartments: 1 on the Arcido Saxon; 4 on the Black Ember Citadel R3 25.
Both have: luggage passthrough, backpack straps, 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. 7 accept only the Arcido Saxon, and 0 accept only the Black Ember Citadel R3 25.
Only the Arcido Saxon fits
Air Tahiti, American Eagle, easyJet, Gulf Air, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Virgin Australia.
Arcido Saxon vs. Black Ember Citadel R3 25: which should you pack?
The Arcido Saxon carries the same capacity as the Black Ember Citadel R3 25 (25L vs. 25L), while the Arcido Saxon is the lighter pack at 0.8kg (vs. 1.6kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Arcido Saxon fits 95% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Arcido Saxon; if you want to travel lighter, the Arcido Saxon is the better call.