Aer City Pack vs. Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Aer City Pack | Feature | Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| top | Passport | top |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | hideable |
| N | Hip Belt | removable |
| removable | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| 16in | Laptop | 16in |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 3 |
| 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 | 8.7-oz 300-denier 100% postconsumer recycled polyester ripstop with a postindustrial recycled TPU-film laminate |
Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L
| Capacity | 26 L |
| Weight | 1.3 kg |
| Dimensions | 52×30×18 cm |
| Airline fit | 88% |
| Price | $200 |
Key differences between the Aer City Pack and Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L
- Backpack straps: Yes on the Aer City Pack; Hideable on the Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L.
- Hip belt: No on the Aer City Pack; Removable on the Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L.
- Main compartments: 4 on the Aer City Pack; 3 on the Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L.
Both have: passport pocket, luggage passthrough, sternum strap, 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. 167 accept both. 11 accept only the Aer City Pack, and 0 accept only the Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L.
Only the Aer City Pack fits
Air Niugini, American Eagle, Belavia, easyJet, Etihad Airways, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Royal Jordanian, Virgin Australia.
Aer City Pack vs. Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L: which should you pack?
The Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L carries 12L more than the Aer City Pack (14L vs. 26L), while the Aer City Pack is the lighter pack at 1.1kg (vs. 1.3kg). 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 Patagonia Black Hole® Mini MLC® 26L; if you want to travel lighter, the Aer City Pack is the better call.