Black Ember Citadel R3 25 vs. Bellroy Venture Travel Pack 26L
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 | Bellroy Venture Travel Pack 26L |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 5 |
| 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 | Element Coated Nylon |
Bellroy Venture Travel Pack 26L
| Capacity | 26 L |
| Weight | 1.1 kg |
| Dimensions | 55×35×16 cm |
| Airline fit | 86% |
| Price | $330 |
Key differences between the Black Ember Citadel R3 25 and Bellroy Venture Travel Pack 26L
- Laptop sleeve: 14in on the Black Ember Citadel R3 25; 16in on the Bellroy Venture Travel Pack 26L.
- Main compartments: 4 on the Black Ember Citadel R3 25; 5 on the Bellroy Venture Travel Pack 26L.
- Built-in organizer: No on the Black Ember Citadel R3 25; Yes on the Bellroy Venture Travel Pack 26L.
- Water bottle pockets: No on the Black Ember Citadel R3 25; 1, side on the Bellroy Venture Travel Pack 26L.
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. 162 accept both. 10 accept only the Black Ember Citadel R3 25, and 0 accept only the Bellroy Venture Travel Pack 26L.
Only the Black Ember Citadel R3 25 fits
Belavia, Cayman Airways, Etihad Airways, Liat Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, Scoot, Tiger Airways, WestJet.
Black Ember Citadel R3 25 vs. Bellroy Venture Travel Pack 26L: which should you pack?
The Bellroy Venture Travel Pack 26L carries 1L more than the Black Ember Citadel R3 25 (25L vs. 26L), while the Bellroy Venture Travel Pack 26L is the lighter pack at 1.1kg (vs. 1.6kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Black Ember Citadel R3 25 fits 91% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Bellroy Venture Travel Pack 26L; if you want to travel lighter, the Bellroy Venture Travel Pack 26L is the better call.