Aer Pro Pack 20L vs. Portland Gear Cascade Backpack Standard
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Aer Pro Pack 20L | Feature | Portland Gear Cascade Backpack Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 0 |
| top | Passport | side |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| N | Hip Belt | N |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 16in | Laptop | 15in |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 2 |
| Y | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | 2, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 840D CORDURA re/cor recycled nylon | 100% polyester with TPU matte coating |
Portland Gear Cascade Backpack Standard
| Capacity | 21 L |
| Weight | 1.1 kg |
| Dimensions | 41×28×22 cm |
| Airline fit | 75% |
| Price | $110 |
Key differences between the Aer Pro Pack 20L and Portland Gear Cascade Backpack Standard
- Opening: Clamshell on the Aer Pro Pack 20L; Other on the Portland Gear Cascade Backpack Standard.
- Passport pocket: Top on the Aer Pro Pack 20L; Side on the Portland Gear Cascade Backpack Standard.
- Laptop sleeve: 16in on the Aer Pro Pack 20L; 15in on the Portland Gear Cascade Backpack Standard.
- Main compartments: 4 on the Aer Pro Pack 20L; 2 on the Portland Gear Cascade Backpack Standard.
Both have: luggage passthrough, backpack straps, sternum strap, 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. 141 accept both. 38 accept only the Aer Pro Pack 20L, and 1 accept only the Portland Gear Cascade Backpack Standard.
Only the Aer Pro Pack 20L fits
Air Baltic, Air China, Air Malta, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Air Tahiti, American Eagle, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Belavia, Blue Air, Bulgaria Air, China Eastern, easyJet, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, flybe, Icelandair, InselAir, Juneyao Airlines, Liat Airlines, Luxair, Meridiana Fly, Nordwind Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, Ryanair, S7, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sun Express, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), TUI, Ukraine International, VIM Airlines (Closed), Volotea, Xiamen.
Only the Portland Gear Cascade Backpack Standard fits
Great Lakes Airlines.
Aer Pro Pack 20L vs. Portland Gear Cascade Backpack Standard: which should you pack?
The Portland Gear Cascade Backpack Standard carries 1L more than the Aer Pro Pack 20L (20L vs. 21L), while the Aer Pro Pack 20L is the lighter pack at 1.1kg (vs. 1.1kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Aer Pro Pack 20L fits 95% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Portland Gear Cascade Backpack Standard; if you want to travel lighter, the Aer Pro Pack 20L is the better call.