Black Ember Citadel R3 25 vs. Aer City Pack X-Pac
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 X-Pac |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 421 VELOCITY CORDURA re/cor RN66 | VX-42 X-Pac |
Key differences between the Black Ember Citadel R3 25 and Aer City Pack X-Pac
- Laptop sleeve: 14in on the Black Ember Citadel R3 25; 16in on the Aer City Pack X-Pac.
- Built-in organizer: No on the Black Ember Citadel R3 25; Yes on the Aer City Pack X-Pac.
- Water bottle pockets: No on the Black Ember Citadel R3 25; 2, side on the Aer City Pack X-Pac.
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 X-Pac.
Only the Aer City Pack X-Pac fits
Air Niugini, American Eagle, easyJet, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Virgin Australia.
Black Ember Citadel R3 25 vs. Aer City Pack X-Pac: which should you pack?
The Black Ember Citadel R3 25 carries 11L more than the Aer City Pack X-Pac (25L vs. 14L), while the Aer City Pack X-Pac is the lighter pack at 1.1kg (vs. 1.6kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Aer City Pack X-Pac 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 X-Pac is the better call.