Aer Travel Pack 2 vs. Alpaka Gear Elements Travel Backpack
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Aer Travel Pack 2 | Feature | Alpaka Gear Elements Travel Backpack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 4 | Compression | 2 |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| top | Passport | front, side |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| optional | Hip Belt | hideable |
| removable | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| 16in | Laptop | 16in |
| 5 | Main Compartments | 3 |
| Y | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 1, side | Water Bottle Holder | 1, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| Grey: 900D eco-dyed polyester Black / Blue: 1680D Cordura® ballistic nylon exterior | X-Pac VX42 in Black Axoflux Recycled Fabric (POLY 600D) in Black, Army Green & Blue |
Alpaka Gear Elements Travel Backpack
| Capacity | 35 L |
| Weight | 1.6 kg |
| Dimensions | 52×31×20 cm |
| Airline fit | 88% |
| Price | $260 |
Key differences between the Aer Travel Pack 2 and Alpaka Gear Elements Travel Backpack
- Compression straps: 4 on the Aer Travel Pack 2; 2 on the Alpaka Gear Elements Travel Backpack.
- Passport pocket: Top on the Aer Travel Pack 2; Front, side on the Alpaka Gear Elements Travel Backpack.
- Hip belt: Optional on the Aer Travel Pack 2; Hideable on the Alpaka Gear Elements Travel Backpack.
- Main compartments: 5 on the Aer Travel Pack 2; 3 on the Alpaka Gear Elements Travel Backpack.
Both have: luggage passthrough, backpack straps, sternum strap, laptop sleeve, built-in organizer, 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. 130 accept both. 0 accept only the Aer Travel Pack 2, and 37 accept only the Alpaka Gear Elements Travel Backpack.
Only the Alpaka Gear Elements Travel Backpack fits
Air Baltic, Air China, Air Malta, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Blue Air, Bulgaria Air, China Eastern, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, flybe, Icelandair, InselAir, Juneyao Airlines, Liat Airlines, Luxair, Meridiana Fly, Nordwind Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, Ryanair, S7, Scoot, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sun Express, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), Tiger Airways, TUI, Ukraine International, VIM Airlines (Closed), Volotea, WestJet, Xiamen.
Aer Travel Pack 2 vs. Alpaka Gear Elements Travel Backpack: which should you pack?
The Alpaka Gear Elements Travel Backpack carries 2L more than the Aer Travel Pack 2 (33L vs. 35L), while the Alpaka Gear Elements Travel Backpack is the lighter pack at 1.6kg (vs. 1.7kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Alpaka Gear Elements Travel Backpack fits 88% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Alpaka Gear Elements Travel Backpack; if you want to travel lighter, the Alpaka Gear Elements Travel Backpack is the better call.