Aer City Pack vs. Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Aer City Pack | Feature | Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 16in | Laptop | 16in |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 5 |
| 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 exterior | Axoflux 400D ripstop nylon |
Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack
| Capacity | 30 L |
| Weight | 1.5 kg |
| Dimensions | 47×28×18 cm |
| Airline fit | 93% |
| Price | $200 |
Key differences between the Aer City Pack and Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack
- Sternum strap: Removable on the Aer City Pack; Yes on the Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack.
- Main compartments: 4 on the Aer City Pack; 5 on the Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack.
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. 175 accept both. 3 accept only the Aer City Pack, and 1 accept only the Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack.
Only the Aer City Pack fits
American Eagle, easyJet, Ravn Alaska.
Only the Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack fits
Great Lakes Airlines.
Aer City Pack vs. Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack: which should you pack?
The Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack carries 16L more than the Aer City Pack (14L vs. 30L), while the Aer City Pack is the lighter pack at 1.1kg (vs. 1.5kg). 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 Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack; if you want to travel lighter, the Aer City Pack is the better call.