Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium vs. ILE Race Day Bag
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium
| Capacity | 20 L |
| Weight | 0.96 kg |
| Dimensions | 44×28×13 cm |
| Airline fit | 96% |
| Price | $180 |
Feature by feature
| Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium | Feature | ILE Race Day Bag |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 3 | Opening | 1 |
| N | Passport | Y |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| N | Hip Belt | N |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 15in | Laptop | N |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2 | Water Bottle Holder | 2 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| G-1000® HeavyDuty Eco: 65% polyester, 35% cotton | XPAC sailcloth |
ILE Race Day Bag
| Capacity | 21 L |
| Weight | 0 kg |
| Dimensions | 50.8×27.9×15.2 cm |
| Airline fit | 90% |
| Price | $240 |
Key differences between the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium and ILE Race Day Bag
- Opening: Top flap on the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium; Clamshell on the ILE Race Day Bag.
- Passport pocket: No on the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium; Yes on the ILE Race Day Bag.
- Laptop sleeve: 15in on the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium; No on the ILE Race Day Bag.
Both have: backpack straps, sternum strap, water bottle pockets, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 170 accept both. 11 accept only the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium, and 0 accept only the ILE Race Day Bag.
Only the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium fits
Air Niugini, Air Tahiti, American Eagle, Belavia, easyJet, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Virgin Australia.
Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium vs. ILE Race Day Bag: which should you pack?
The ILE Race Day Bag carries 1L more than the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium (20L vs. 21L), and the two are closely matched on weight. For carry-on flexibility, the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium fits 96% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the ILE Race Day Bag; if you want to travel lighter, the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium is the better call.