Exped Black Ice 30 vs. Arc'Teryx Mantis 32 Backpack
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Exped Black Ice 30
| Capacity | 30 L |
| Weight | 0.1 kg |
| Dimensions | 57×27×23 cm |
| Airline fit | 17% |
| Price | $175 |
Feature by feature
| Exped Black Ice 30 | Feature | Arc'Teryx Mantis 32 Backpack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 2 | Opening | 1 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | N |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | 2 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 400 D HD ripstop nylon, TPU film laminated, 10'000 mm water column | 420d HD nylon plain weave |
Arc'Teryx Mantis 32 Backpack
| Capacity | 32 L |
| Weight | 0 kg |
| Dimensions | 53×32×30 cm |
| Airline fit | 12% |
| Price | $120 |
Key differences between the Exped Black Ice 30 and Arc'Teryx Mantis 32 Backpack
- Opening: Rolltop on the Exped Black Ice 30; Clamshell on the Arc'Teryx Mantis 32 Backpack.
- Built-in organizer: No on the Exped Black Ice 30; Yes on the Arc'Teryx Mantis 32 Backpack.
- Water bottle pockets: No on the Exped Black Ice 30; 2 on the Arc'Teryx Mantis 32 Backpack.
Both have: backpack straps, hip belt, 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. 23 accept both. 9 accept only the Exped Black Ice 30, and 0 accept only the Arc'Teryx Mantis 32 Backpack.
Only the Exped Black Ice 30 fits
Caribbean Airlines, Cayman Airways, Conviasa, Croatia Air, Frontier Airlines, Island Air, PenAir, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country.
Exped Black Ice 30 vs. Arc'Teryx Mantis 32 Backpack: which should you pack?
The Arc'Teryx Mantis 32 Backpack carries 2L more than the Exped Black Ice 30 (30L vs. 32L), and the two are closely matched on weight. For carry-on flexibility, the Exped Black Ice 30 fits 17% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Arc'Teryx Mantis 32 Backpack; if you want to travel lighter, the Exped Black Ice 30 is the better call.