Black Ember Citadel R3 25 vs. Aer City Pack
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Black Ember Citadel R3 25
| Capacity | 25 L |
| Weight | 1.6 kg |
| Dimensions | 50×31×18 cm |
| Airline fit | 91% |
| Price | $280 |
Feature by feature
| Black Ember Citadel R3 25 | Feature | Aer City Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| top | Passport | top |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| N | Hip Belt | N |
| removable | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| 14in | Laptop | 16in |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 4 |
| N | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | 1, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 421 VELOCITY CORDURA re/cor RN66 | 1680D Cordura® ballistic nylon exterior |
Key differences between the Black Ember Citadel R3 25 and Aer City Pack
- Laptop sleeve: 14in on the Black Ember Citadel R3 25; 16in on the Aer City Pack.
- Built-in organizer: No on the Black Ember Citadel R3 25; Yes on the Aer City Pack.
- Water bottle pockets: No on the Black Ember Citadel R3 25; 1, side on the Aer City Pack.
Both have: passport pocket, luggage passthrough, backpack straps, 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. 172 accept both. 0 accept only the Black Ember Citadel R3 25, and 6 accept only the Aer City Pack.
Only the Aer City Pack fits
Air Niugini, American Eagle, easyJet, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Virgin Australia.
Black Ember Citadel R3 25 vs. Aer City Pack: which should you pack?
The Black Ember Citadel R3 25 carries 11L more than the Aer City Pack (25L vs. 14L), while the Aer City Pack is the lighter pack at 1.1kg (vs. 1.6kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Aer City Pack fits 94% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Black Ember Citadel R3 25; if you want to travel lighter, the Aer City Pack is the better call.