Black Ember Citadel R3 COMPARISON Review (18L vs 25L // Which is better? 🤔)

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00:00 - Intro
00:16 - Similarities
01:02 - Differences
03:17 - Front of the Pack
06:26 - Middle of the Pack
12:50 - Back of the Pack
14:56 - Pros and Cons
15:52 - Alternatives

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With its stunning materials, minimalist design, and anti-theft features, what can you ask more for a backpack?

The Black Ember Citadel R3 backpack comes in 18 and 25 liters. They both have a dark/minimalist design and weather-resistant fabric to give you a little peace of mind when something spills on them or if it unexpectedly rains.

📌 Similarities
The Black Ember Citadel R3 packs have a couple of things in common.
👉🏼 They are weatherproof! These bags are made with awesome materials
👉🏼 They have a spacious front compartment for your daily essentials.
👉🏼 They both have well-ventilated shoulder straps and back panels.

📌 Differences
👉🏼 Their capacity. They 18 liter pack is a great EDC pack for urban commute and the 25-liter pack is an excellent tech gear for a travel-work-gym lifestyle.
👉🏼 Their modular attachments. the 25-liter pack has a couple of attachment points where you can freely attach Black Ember's modular handles and compression straps.
👉🏼 Their laptop compartments. In the 18-liter pack, you'll find the laptop compartment inside the main compartment; while in the 25-liter pack, you'll find its own independent laptop compartment.

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DO NOT get the Black Ember Citadel (18L + 25L) Comparison if…

❌ You want a similar pack but you want more pockets and water bottle holders. Below's another alternative... 👇🏼

🎒 Alpaka Elements Backpack Pro
✍🏼 This pack has a similar dark, mysterious, minimalist vibe. The difference is its organization and external water bottle holders.

❌ You are in love with Black Ember and you can't quite choose between these two. Check below for another great option… 👇🏼

🎒 Black Ember Forge
✍🏼 This is another pack from Black Ember. If you are looking for an EDC pack that can also be your travel backpack, then this one is the perfect option for you. It's a 20-liter pack that expands up to 30 liters!

❌ You want another minimalist/urban pack with a similar vibe and more features. This is another recommended option for you… 👇🏼

🎒 Aer City Pack Pro
✍🏼 This has a large following because of its signature 'Aer-sthetic'. It's made with great materials and definitely more features!

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Specs/Features/Summary

• Capacity: 18 liters and 25 liters
• Color: black, blue, and orange
• CORDURA's latest re/cor™ RN66, 100% recycled fabric : 420 Velocity
• Multi-layer Polyurethane back side is waterproof
• BOND-STITCH high-precision construction
• YKK Aquaguard
• T6 aluminum hardware

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[brochg]

Thanks for the great review, Aaron! Deslpite being a HUGE hydration enthusiast, I stuck it out through the video. That 18L model is an awesome bag!

[emanuel.luayza]

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks man!

[jonuiuc]

Nice side by side comparison, I think the 18’s laptop solution is more “neat” but the 25 is just more easy to live with, I prefer separate, but sometimes that eats up space and depth. Good looking bags, I don’t know if I like clamshells or panel loaders with the zippers in the middle of the space, as opposed to the edge (forming more of a bucket). I suppose it’s all the same closed.

[luzziby]

18L would have been an instabuy with another zipper for the laptop compartment. Perfect size for a personal item bag, but imagine your clamshell swinging open and dumping everything because TSA made you take your laptop out. I already feel anxiety at security, no need to add to it. Love the shape and pulls and the additional handle on the 25L is really cool for travel. If there is a water bottle attachment that can hook to the handle area this may be a good buy.

[nal_er]

Nice work homie. Something that I wish reviewers did that might make you stand out is using a tape measure to measure out every compartment and detail in a quick cut editorial section of your video, called.... wait for it.... 'MEASUREMENTS!'

[Reli]

I have the 18L and loving it! It’s really water repellent and easy to clean. Looking forward to your own bag man, appreciate the newsletter via email!

[AvishayGor]

You said “et voila” without saying “and” before. I am proud of you.

[JuanPoraul]

Hey Aaron great review. I've been looking to go lighter from my Black Ember forge 30L. Just feel its too heavy and not maximizing it fully as a EDC x Travel bag. You being in HK, im sure you know about HK express airlines new strict carry on luggage. For starts i think my Black ember forge might not make the cut.

So now im looking at this 18L Citadel or go for the shadow 22L. Bit torn to be honest. Im changing my usage to just tech and EDC stuff. if ever there will be clothes prolly just 1-3 days worth of super thin and light clothes.

Which you reckon i can go for, and by any chance you know that either the citadel or shadow can fit HK express requirements? My take that its a backpack so I can squeeze it in to the restrictions lol.

[dennishowe]

I really like your backpack reviews - highly informative and fun! I might have missed it but have you reviewed any of the Thule backpacks? Also do you have any estimate of timing for your bag? I’d love the option to buy it but have some near-term need to consider. 😢

[SkipHarper]

I purchased a Black Ember Forge with their recycled RN66 material and it was a disappointment as it felt thin and cheap. Using the term “RECYCLED “ doesn’t make the material great. In addition the grab handles they sold me were thin and fairly awful compared to other bags. It also attracted pet hair. If you include the handles with the 25l it pushes the price over $300. Black Ember is far behind other great bag makers I own like Alpha One Niner, Able Carry and Goruck. I have yet to see a YouTube reviewer say that they will purchase with their own money and it will be their new go-to carry option.

[undustfixation]

What's the difference between the Citadel 18 and 20?

[macmutant]

Both are great. Agree that the 18 looks good for EDC, and 25 would be right for a few days travel. My only glitch is that I need to carry a 13" laptop and an 11"s iPad Pro. I guess if it came down to it, I could just EDC the 25, but plan on putting the iPad in a sleeve and carrying it in the main compartment. Thanks for another great review.

[Stacio]

New subscriber here. I'm thinking of picking up a AER travel sling 2. I was wondering why there's no chrome industry reviews on your Chanel.

[dwilfred]

Hi Aaron! what would be your pick between aer city pack pro and citadel r3 25L? congrats on successful kickstarter campaign!

[wickdheathen]

Lack of water bottle and side pocket and side handle that was a choice … and I’m not a fan of how it gives duffel vibes non the less another great video nomad nation

[marshalleq]

Definitely prefer having the separate laptop opening. Curious to know if it fits a 16" M1 MacBook Pro

[pitcheung]

I am 5foot4 only and i carry a 20L everyday, i feel its enough for daily (wind jacket, charger, umbrella, water bottle, buying food, etc.)

For travel, some airline let you put a 20L-ish backpack under the front seat, i would like a 18L with my 20inch luggage case.
if i use one pack for travel, i would like to use a 30-35L

[mjtowib]

I just got the Aer Day Pack 3 I will be using for EDC. This coming pay day, I might get the 25L Citadel for work/travel. 😃

[DaveStern]

good video and was able to get the 18L on sale. for anyone looking at this pack, it's really nice (probably moreso than you can tell by looking at it online) - the design, build quality, beautiful materials inside and out are super-nice. got it in orange and it's not quite as bright as it looks online. and, it can hold my dell xps 15", just without the magnets closing - bit of a squeeze but works totally fine (I think they spec it for 14" to allow the magnets to close). the back panel is really beefy and overall I'm really impressed. the zipper design is a little interesting in that the back tapers in on all sides just a little as you move away from the back panel so it's not just a 'ruck' looking shape. the interior is minimal but not too much so with the narnia pocket, slip pocket, tablet pocket etc - I think they strike a really nice balance of some pockets but not too many. also if you're concerned about removing the laptop and having everything come out, since there are two sliders on the main zip, you can unzip each side a little and remove the laptop without unzipping the whole clamshell. looking forward to using this one a bit more, very happy with the purchase.

[marcomaio]

Hi Aaron, great reviews, just an information about this incredible backpack, in the 25L version can I fit a Peak Design small camera cube, if not what canera cube fits inside?