Black Ember Citadel R3 COMPARISON Review (18L vs 25L // Which is better? 🤔)
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- Опубликовано: 6 авг 2024
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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.
🎒 Check best price → go.nomadsnation.com/black-emb...
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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.
👉🏼 Watch our review: bit.ly/3D3WJbY
👉🏼 Check the best price: go.nomadsnation.com/alpaka-el...
🔖 Use code AAR_15 to get 15% off your order!
❌ 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!
👉🏼 Watch our review: bit.ly/3XfMTv7
👉🏼 Check the best price: go.nomadsnation.com/black-emb...
❌ 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!
👉🏼 Watch our review: bit.ly/3RugeRy
👉🏼 Check the best price: go.nomadsnation.com/aer-city-...
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Specs/Features/Summary
To get the best price, use this link → go.nomadsnation.com/black-emb...
• 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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Looking to have YOUR backpack reviewed? Contact Aaron at aaron@nomadsnation.com
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Here at Nomads Nation™, we thrive to create the best travel content on the web! To do that we create EPIC videos that take a lot of time and money, so we monetize our videos with affiliate links. This means that if you click on one of our links and make a purchase, we make a small commission - at no extra cost to you!
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This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks man!
glad it helped!
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!
thanks for sharing and for the support!
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!
It’s gorgeous, I’m really impressed with both
FWIW they now have a bottle holder add-on for the 25L model.
@@Kryoxys Thank you!
I really like these! I’ll consider the small one (I have an iPad, don’t need a laptop when on the go)! Thx for yet another great review Aaron! I’ll go look at the Black Ember Forge too…
Happy to help!!
FINALLY we get a review of the Citadel R3!!! If I'm not mistaken, yours is the first. And a great review it is. I've had the 25L for more than a month, and I love it. Of course, what originally attracted me to it was that insanely gorgeous orange-red color I chose. It's a love it or hate it thing, but I think it's the most beautiful orange pack out there, blowing the burnt-orange Evergoods ones out of the water.. One thing that neither Black Ember nor most reviewers mention about these packs, and that's super unique and important, is that Black Ember uses bonding rather than stitching in their construction. And that means no seams, which means much better water resistance. Indeed, I'd bet this is the most water resistant "conventional" (i.e., non-roll-top) pack out there. Additionally, with that bit of heaviness not only comes some great materials but a lot of protection as well. The back panel on this pack is nice and thick, so much so that that I bet my laptop would survive a fall in this pack better than in almost any other pack out there, with the likely exception of that Mous pack. I get it that folks don't want to pay for one (or two) extra handles, but I think Black Ember wanted the default version of this pack to be super sleek, which also explains the lack of a water-bottle holder, though we'll see what they come up with this year. The compression straps are also extra, but they're super functional, and when you have that dark black contrasting with the ember orange, it's a work of art. My only gripe would be the deepness of the internal pockets. Not a big deal, but unless you have a bunch of documents, workbooks, keyboards, or tablets, there's no need for them to be so big. Also not sure I would've put the "Narnia pocket" in there, but maybe I'll find a use for it. Anyway, after trying out about 10 EDC packs this year, this is the one I stuck with. Love it, and thanks for doing it justice! PS--for anyone who wants to see that orange color in the light of day, as well as to read a bit more about the pack, check out my post on it: www.reddit.com/r/ManyBaggers/comments/18kp1zw/black_ember_citadel_r3_25l_ember_orange_quick/.
Great call on the bonding - I’ll be sure to highlight that more in future BE reviews!
@@Nomads.Nation They don't even mention it enough themselves. It's weird, especially when it's so important to those of us who care a lot about water resistance. You have Evergoods making a huge deal about the years of R&D they put into developing bonding as a technology for their Element line, and Black Ember's been doing it forever. I think they need a new PR person. Lol.
@@maicco333 its a great point and highlights something that a lot of us bag nerds don't always talk about - marketing. Not saying that Evergoods bags aren't as great as people think, but a huge portion of that is bc of how great Evergoods is at educating its users on their materials/contstruction/features/etc. If BE did the same, they would probably have a bit more of a cult-like following like Evergoods does, etc
@@Nomads.Nation You are SO right. Evergoods and Goruck. No other companies can compare to those two, though Carryology itself is kind of the same thing even if it's not a backpack company. Alpaka puts out tons of products and does a fair amount of advertising, but they don't get the same attention. My main travel pack--an ILE Default--is unmentioned on the Internet as far as I can tell. They told me they prefer their slow, organic growth. I respect that stance, though if folks saw all the products and skews ILE has in a really social-media-savvy way, I bet they could increase their sales by 500%. Kudos to them for not caring or even wanting to, I guess.
@@maicco333 maybe, but thats one of those things that some small companies say to make themselves feel better. I have a sneaking suspicion they wouldn’t mind doubling their sales if ya get what I mean. I’ll be sure to check them out though!
You said “et voila” without saying “and” before. I am proud of you.
Did it just for you babe 😘
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!'
what else would you like me to measure aside from the actual bag dimensions?
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. 😢
Thanks so much! No Thule reviews yet, hoping to soon. The Fyro backpack will be live on Kickstarter in a few weeks - be sure to subscribe to our email list to get access to our launch one-time low price 👉🏼 nomadsnation.com/building-a-backpack
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.
thanks dude! and agreed, the seperate laptop compartment has its pros and cons (but I still prefer to have a seperate compartment myself)
Thanks Aaron. Awesome video.
Glad you liked it!
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.
really appreciate your feedback!
I have a 25L coming to see if i can use it as a do it all thats a little less bulky than the ctb26. Actually love the idea of personalizing with the modular equipment, especially if i can get a bottle holder just when i want to travel with it ( i just keep a bubba keg at work haha)
The straps at the bottom are a nice touch for looks and function for traveling with a jacket!
great points!
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.
Glad it was helpful - if you pick one up be sure to let us know what you think about it!
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.
Unfortunately I don’t think the water bottle holder can attach to the R3
Love this material, love the review, appreciate Aaron
Glad you enjoyed it!
i have to admit i watch your videos of course for your honest reviews but also for transporting me to HK where i had a lot of good and naughty memories. bag is nice but still waiting for Fyro
Fyro and more HK videos coming soon! 🇭🇰
Any chance we could see a quick review of the updated 2024 version of the 25L? It has the new Load Lifters for the shoulder straps. They also now have a water bottle add-on.
if you get them to send me one, absolutely!
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.
Thanks for subbing! We just haven’t gotten across to Chrome yet - so many bag companies out there and so little time lol. Hoping to this year
Hi Aaron! what would be your pick between aer city pack pro and citadel r3 25L? congrats on successful kickstarter campaign!
Thanks so much! Can’t go wrong with either but I’d give the slight edge to Aer due to being more comfortable imo
I don’t know why but the access into narnia almost brought me to tears. What a magical pocket.
🪄 😂
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?
thanks! I'd recommend getting the dimensions and double checking with Black Ember customer support as I don't have a PD Camera cube
I pulled it off this weekend. Yes, can confirm the 25L can fit the small Peak Design camera cube. Love the bag, especially the fabric-so clean, smooth and nice feeling.
Beautiful bags, but I’ve never been able to convince myself of Black Ember’s functionality. I’d love to hear about volume management in both bags. It looks like any volume in the inner front Narnia pockets eats a fair chunk of the volume of the outer front slash pocket. Thoughts?
Also, can’t quite figure out that inner front Narnia setup: not really sure what I would use any of that for, and kinda wish it it was just some simple mesh zipper pockets so that the main compartment capacity would be uninterrupted.
it eats a bit but nothing crazy. I agree that the pocket configuration is different, maybe innovative, but definitely not normal
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
Cheers dude!
Just received my citadel r3 25l in blue and honestly couldn't resist that bright orange, so I got their sling in orange too 😅 can't wait to put both to good use through work and travel
Glad you like them! I’d love to hear your full thoughts on the bags after testing for a few weeks 💪🏻
@@Nomads.Nation Ofcourse! I'll chime in after a couple of weeks!
@@Zydain May I ask what you think after it after using it for several months? I'm considering whether it's worth the price, especially after hearing complaints about the usability of the given 25-liter space, alleged discomfort due to a stiff backpanel?! (mainly by smaller people) and loosening straps. Many thanks in advance!
@@40797 I'm pleasently surprised by the quality of black ember. It is true that the main compartment is narrower/slimmer than expected, but if I open the bag all the way through the clamshell it's not a problem. The bag will expand as needed. Yeah the straps do come loose from time to time, especially if you one-strap carry but it's easily adjusted back.
In general it's a great bag, but since I live in Europe I got punked by taxes and import taxes which made the bag cost me 150-200$ dollars more! I'd probably look into alpaka's element series if you live in Europe, but other than that the bag gets the job done for me.
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
💯
I saw that BE has just released and upgraded version of Citadel 25L. It's SS24 version, where they added an additional Load Lifters.
Do you believe it's going to be a dealbreaker for this backpack? I'm just wandering whether I should return my R3 and wait for a SS24 when available.
I can’t say for sure until I review it, but I’m intrigued
Hi looking for some help.
I have to use two laptops (13inch for both) for work. So I have to carry 2 laptops, a wire pouch, eye glasses, toiletry pouch, small edc pouch, packable down jacket, and a water bottle daily.
I was stuck between the Alpaka Elements Pro, Citadel R3 and the Aer City Pack Pro.
I’m not sure if the Elements pro will be able to hold 2 laptops.
If you can offer some help that would be great!
I wouldn’t want to steer you in the wrong direction, so I’d recommend reaching out to the brands you are considering and ask them so they can give you an exact answer
Hi Aaron
Do you think this will fit the Dell Precision 7750 17.3” laptop?
unfortunately I do not have one so I can't say for sure - be sure to reach out to Black Ember customer support and let us know what they say!
your video's absolutely rock! Do these backpacks stand up on their own (or if packed to some degree?) I think it would be helpful to just drop that statement for your reviews too for future reviews, as I see that being noted by other backpack reviewers. I'm sorry if I missed that in the video. Thank you!
thanks for your comment! 95% of bags don't self stand, so I only mention it in the case that it does. These might self-stand if you pack it the right way and pray hard enough, but no, they are not desiged for that 💪
@@Nomads.Nation wow, thank you for actually replying!! Thank you for this insight, wishing you all the best and excited to see what bag you end up creating 😁
@@call_me_lazarus cheers!
Great review, I had a hard time deciding on my first "Nice" backpack but just picked up the Citadel 18 for $180. I was torn between the Citadel 18 or 25, AER City Pack Pro, and the Alpaka Elements.
good pick! be sure to let us know what you think about it after testing for a few weeks
Will do! I'm hoping it's not too small! I was planning to use this as my EDC, and I suppose I'll just need to pick up another bag for light travel. Looking forward to seeing more of the Fyru bag!@@Nomads.Nation
@@jondough7823 its a 22L that can expand to 26L - sound perfect ;)
@@Nomads.Nation sounds great 👍 I’m looking forward to the Kickstarter!
After using the the BE Citadel R3 18L for a couple weeks I am really liking it. I chose the bag mainly for the aesthetic, which I think it looks even better in person. But it also fits my needs as an EDC bag pretty well. My only complaint so far is that the main compartment is pretty small, but I knew that was likely the case going into it.
It’s perfect for what I’m using it for, but I’m definitely going to be looking for something else to use for light travel/weekend adventures.
@@jondough7823 sounds like the Fyro T22 will be an ideal bag for your use case, and it might even replace your EDC ;)
I would love to see this format with Black Ember's Forge bags!
Noted!
If you have both in stock, could you manage a Short? (I know the Forge is not new info in the release cycle)
@@JordanKarim I don’t have - shoot them a message to send me one! If they send one I’ll make the short the day I get it - promise 💪🏻
If you show them the Citadel versus video as an example, I give you a 50% chance of them sending me one 💪🏻
Thanks for the great review! I was really considering the 18L one in my search for an EDC backpack between 15-20L. I like when you show how much actually fits in the backpack because I kind of got the idea that the 18L couldn't fit much. Unfortunately this 18L backpack would cost me €280 after taxes here in the Netherlands, which is much more compared to the other one I was also considering, the Aer Day Pack 2, which would cost me €185. I can't really justify the much higher price of the Black Ember one and overall I kind of prefer the Aer one. Maybe a weird/hard question to answer, but the Aer Day Pack 2 was released in 2020, are we expecting a new version any time ''soon''? I know Alpaka said they would be releasing a 18-20L version of their Metro Backpack 12L backpack sometime this year, which I will be considering as well.
I have no insider information, but it might be worth it to wait it out a few months if you can as they do seem due for an upgrade
zelfde voor m.. Mukama got them and they are based in Scandinavia thus not much cheaper. Aer u can get in London Underground but with brexit... Alpaka is sound. I never had customs to pay ever. Groeten uit Damsko
@@beijingpengzi4056 really? no customs for Alpaka?
@@Nomads.Nation I can definitely wait a couple of months. After watching more of your videos I think I will be getting the Aer City Pack Pro for weekend trips, I’m really liking what I see from that backpack. In the meanwhile I can also use it as an EDC backpack, even though it is a little too big for that, but until I find the right EDC backpack. Thanks again for the great reviews and help with this new addiction of mine for slings and backpacks Aaron!
@@C4LCH3X4SS glad to help! I'd love to know what you think about the CPP after testing for a few weeks
I would carefully call it inspiration, but design wise this bag looks VERY similar to the AER CPP 😉
Very similar, but I don’t think Aer created that aesthetic - they certainly popularized it though
I have the Citadel 25L. The external material is amazing, but I think the bag’s pocket layout is lacking and could have used more pockets for more flexible storage.
Looking forward to Fyro!
Agreed on the materials and the fact that a few more pockets wouldn't suck - cheers!
I believe Black Ember sells an external water bottle holder for their Forge bag. Wouldn't that external water bottle holder be able to attach to this 25L bag on the side?
Nevermind - I saw that the external water bottle holder has 3 straps and this 25L bag only has slots for 2 straps.
I totally forgot to mention this but thank you for clarifying
Cowabunga.! Hmm..no bottle holder & no admin compartment.? Perhaps it is design for a specific purpose. Nevertheless it looks sexy but the cost & having to buy the extras may turn potentials to check out the Fyro.
I won’t complain ;)
Hi do you have any recommend for a Do-it-all backpack? Sometthing like a carry-on size; rolltop for expandable; rugged and tough to handle any cut and abrasion; a bit or totally waterproof if possible; security features like hide backpanel open or zipper lock to avoid someone steal or plant stuff on my bag; using less zipper is safer in case it broke, have a few bag broke zipper now so its not that trustworthy;can hang stuff or other bags outside like a molle system but dont look llike military style bag. A bag that I can utilize all 40l while travel and expand when needed, and can go from urban office to the country side or travel any where.
Is there any bag like that? Or am I being too greedy to ask to much stuff for a singular bag? Thank you in advance
Way too greedy lol. If you specify your 3-4 most important features I can try and direct you to a bag that might work, otherwise I’d recommend making your own lol
@@Nomads.Nation haha I thought so too. Maybe I'll try and myog someday If I'm not too lazy.
@@sylas9762 do it!
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 RUclips reviewer say that they will purchase with their own money and it will be their new go-to carry option.
Appreciate your thoughts, but I clearly disagree on the fabric. It feels and looks amazing imo, and it being recycled is just a cherry on top (but not something I heavily consider when evaluating fabrics). Would this be my #1 bag choice? Probably not, but our reviews are meant to show the pros and cons through my perspective so the buyer can make an educated decision that’s best for them
I like this bag, 18L fits my needs so well compared to the Aer City Pro at 24L, but man charging extra on a $240 product for something as essential as handles seems almost mean spirited.
It rubs a lot of ppl the wrong way, but it’s possible the bag would have cost $265 with handles, they are just not including them to lower the price for ppl who don’t want the handles…
Love the theft deterrent zippers
probably my faves!
Per Black Ember, modular water bottle holder is coming in 2024… supposedly using the same attachment points as the handles use.
I saw that, too, but now I don't remember where. Where did they announce that?
Good to know - cheers!
I remember commenting in a DaveSam video how I wished Black Ember would combine the Citadel and Shadow and now it looks like they have.
I’d like to think you made it happen
@@Nomads.NationI promise to only use this power for good
@@darioprime 😂
That’s a smart looking bag, but I can’t pull the trigger on anything until I get my eyes on the Fyro bag!
😏
Did you say it fits a 1 ounce Yeti water bottle in the front pocket. How many sips you get out of a one ounce bottle ? 😅😅
oops! meant 'liter' lol
As an owner of a 22L black ember shadow (which is a "previous version" they merged their shadow and citadel together for this one) - one more con. As I can see, they kept the design of the front pocket from shadow, so when your main compartment is full - forget about the front pocket. The fabric stretches towards the front, which takes a lot of space from + makes it nearly inaccessible.
As an alternative that Aaron did not mention - alpaka elements travel pack, since it's bigger than just the pro version and got more organisation.
Thanks for your comment! I do agree that this is an issue with this pack, but to be honest, this is an issue with every backpack in the world. All fabrics stretch when they are pushed. The only ones that don't are the ones that have heavy padding, but that padding severely compromises the bag's ability to pack out, at least in my experience
@@Nomads.Nation true, just thought it was worth mentioning for those who considered buying. Actually, to be totally honest, I have a feeling that on the shadow there's less fabric to stretch in the first place, which makes it less comfortable. And god, I miss the organization of the integrated tech pouch from the original, it is super convenient.
@@Dusterius1that tech pouch was very controversial, but I agree that I quite liked it (minus the fact that it collapsed the top of the bag when it wasn’t fully packed out)
What tripod are you packing in this video?
A cheap one I found in a random market in Hong Kong lol, but it’s basically like this - a.co/d/ioLvBxe
Thanks!
“Ain’t no one got time for that “😂🤣
🤷🏻♂️ 😂
Just curious are the zipper tags removable?
yes, probably by hand and definitely by scissors
@@Nomads.Nation awesome thank you. Also how many inches would you say the main compartment has depth wise for small boxes?
@@legion564 that's a great question that is outside my pay grade haha, I'd recommend asking Black Ember customer support - please let us know what they say!
Great in depth review again, and the winner goes to ....Aer. 😁
Appreciated!
Black ember products are super nice and very well made.
Agreed and agreed
Did he mean 1L bottle, instead of 1oz bottle? (At 4:48) lol still dope and thorough review as always!!
yes haha, good catch
[Zoolander voice] what is this, a water bottle for *ants*??
@@ericweis1108 easily my favorite comment of the month 😂
Where do u rank these backpacks with last years list?
Also how do u compare these to the shadow 22l?
which list?
Ah shit I could've sworn I saw a list of like EDC backpacks by you last year 😅@@Nomads.Nation Alright well how do they fair with other EDC backpacks from last year if u rank them lol
the shadow has like some nicer internal organization
@@loremipsum9372 yes it has more organization for sure, something not everyone prefers
I feel like the Narnia pocket would be good for business papers.
Carry Community humor at it's finest 😂
A bag without a dedicated laptop compartment is a dealbreaker for sure.
it has its pros though as it doesn't eat up the capacity of the main compartment as much, but I agree, I still prefer the seperation
such a nice bag but after you pointed out the zip pullers I just cant look at them the same. Theyre horrible looking
I don't hate them haha, but yea maybe it's one of those things that when you see you can't un-see
I was waiting for you to drop the bags on the floor for dust test 😂..you did that before…but this bag is too pricey and has too little pockets and organization…
its def very minimalist, which is not everyone's cup of tea
Charging $280 for a bag with minimal features, no bottle pocket and then trying to charge extra for a side handle... SMH!
That's only topped by the Nomatic x McKinnon $300 camera bag that you can't actually use for for camera gear w/o paying extra for the dividers.
PS: even if the absence of a waterbottle pocket is a deal breaker, I'm still here till the end, cause I enjoy your reviews/find them entertaining.
Thanks for your comment and for watching!
Backpack would have been perfect if only the luggage strap orientation was vertical instead of horizontal.
It would have helped a lot, I agree
If a backpack doesn't have a separate laptop compartment, then I would never buy it. A bonus would be if the separate laptop compartment, not only comes with a laptop pocket, but a tablet pocket too. Like mous 25L or Tomtoc backpacks. Any backpack with double or even triple pockets in a separate compartment is a big win for me. I say triple because some people would use that third pocket for maybe a Nintendo switch or a smaller tablet and use the tablet pocket as a smaller laptop and the laptop pocket as a big laptop. I have the tomtoc and that has three pockets, one for 14 inch macbook one for galaxy tablet and one for anything else
I too prefer a separate laptop compartment, but they do take up space from the main compartment
@@Nomads.Nation I don't mind tbh. I hope your backpack has a separate compartment. But laptop and tablet pocket please, not just laptop pocket. If someone wants more space, they can always get a bigger backpack. For me, I just need something compact, but also big enough to carry my laptop, tablet and a few other things. That's why I stated 15-20L is an ideal size
@@mohammedfaiisal noted on your preferences - thanks!
12:36 Black ember makes a modular water bottle holder that can attach to the side of the 25l instead of a grab handle.
It doesn’t work with the r3, just the r2.
@@GVBrandon Stand corrected. Thought it fit all black ember stuff
You have to pay for a freaking side handle. What’s next? Zips? Lining? Straps?
Yea it’s an interesting move for sure. But Black Ember is growing quickly so there seems to be a market for it
Holly Molly.. this bag similar to my Aer Travel Pack 3 small 😂
Wow orange colour.. that’s fire 🔥 😂
Similar for sure, but less features yet much better materials
2:37 oops the 25L cannot fit the 16inch MacBook Pro. Then I give this backpack a pass 😂
@@sglatitude yea I was a bit surprised by that myself
@@Nomads.Nation bring in on the Fyro; the champ 🤭
Narnia pocket! Copyright that!
😂
I personally like the original citadel better
it def was a great bag
To be honest, I was a bit surprised when Black Ember released new colors. But I was absolutely shocked when one of them was Hideous Orange. I understand how orange is trending for internal colors, such as on the Aer City Sling 2 X-Pac for higher visibility when trying to find small accessories, but an entire backpack skin, from Black Ember of all companies. I have a feeling this Hideous Orange color will be phased out and on clearance within a couple of years. I just can't imagine Black Ember clientele (myself one of them) flocking to it. The blue wasn't even the best - It could have been less saturated (more slate / grey in color). As far as alternative color schemes go, I think Aer definitely has it nailed on the exact hues of blue and greens.
Judging by some of the comments here the orange is liked by some. Even bag reviewer Bo Ismono told me he loves it… to each their own haha
"Ember" in my language means bucket. So, you're reviewing the "Black Bucket" backpacks. 😅
That’s one expensive bucket lol
@@Nomads.Nation Yup! Lol
No water bottle, no purchase.
🫡
No water bottle pocket. No separate laptop compartment. Pass.
Thanks for the review, though.
Glad to help!
Btw the 25L does have a separate laptop compartment (but no water bottle holder)