Aer Flight Pack 2 vs. Arc'teryx Blade 28
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Aer Flight Pack 2 | Feature | Arc'teryx Blade 28 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| top | Passport | back |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| hideable | Backpack | hideable |
| N | Hip Belt | N |
| N | Sternum Strap | N |
| Inside | ||
| 16in | Laptop | 15in |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 4 |
| Y | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 1, side | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 1680D Cordura ballistic nylon | N210p-HT nylon 6,6 N630p-HT nylon 6,6 |
Arc'teryx Blade 28
| Capacity | 28 L |
| Weight | 1.5 kg |
| Dimensions | 54×31×16 cm |
| Airline fit | 88% |
| Price | $160 |
Key differences between the Aer Flight Pack 2 and Arc'teryx Blade 28
- Passport pocket: Top on the Aer Flight Pack 2; Back on the Arc'teryx Blade 28.
- Laptop sleeve: 16in on the Aer Flight Pack 2; 15in on the Arc'teryx Blade 28.
- Water bottle pockets: 1, side on the Aer Flight Pack 2; No on the Arc'teryx Blade 28.
Both have: luggage passthrough, backpack straps, built-in organizer, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 166 accept both. 11 accept only the Aer Flight Pack 2, and 0 accept only the Arc'teryx Blade 28.
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, WestJet.
Aer Flight Pack 2 vs. Arc'teryx Blade 28: which should you pack?
The Arc'teryx Blade 28 carries 7L more than the Aer Flight Pack 2 (21L vs. 28L), while the Aer Flight Pack 2 is the lighter pack at 1.3kg (vs. 1.5kg). 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 Arc'teryx Blade 28; if you want to travel lighter, the Aer Flight Pack 2 is the better call.