Aer Flight Pack 2 vs. Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Aer Flight Pack 2 | Feature | Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| top | Passport | top |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| hideable | Backpack | hideable |
| N | Hip Belt | removable |
| N | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| 16in | Laptop | 16in |
| 4 | 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 | |
| 1680D Cordura ballistic nylon | 8.7-oz 300-denier 100% postconsumer recycled polyester ripstop with a postindustrial recycled TPU-film laminate |
Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L
| Capacity | 26 L |
| Weight | 1.3 kg |
| Dimensions | 52×30×18 cm |
| Airline fit | 88% |
| Price | $200 |
Key differences between the Aer Flight Pack 2 and Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L
- Hip belt: No on the Aer Flight Pack 2; Removable on the Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L.
- Sternum strap: No on the Aer Flight Pack 2; Removable on the Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L.
- Main compartments: 4 on the Aer Flight Pack 2; 3 on the Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L.
Both have: passport pocket, luggage passthrough, backpack straps, 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. 167 accept both. 10 accept only the Aer Flight Pack 2, and 0 accept only the Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L.
Only the Aer Flight Pack 2 fits
American Eagle, Belavia, easyJet, Etihad Airways, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Royal Jordanian, Virgin Australia.
Aer Flight Pack 2 vs. Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L: which should you pack?
The Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L carries 5L more than the Aer Flight Pack 2 (21L vs. 26L), while the Aer Flight Pack 2 is the lighter pack at 1.3kg (vs. 1.3kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Aer Flight Pack 2 fits 94% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L; if you want to travel lighter, the Aer Flight Pack 2 is the better call.