Black Ember Forge 40 vs Think Tank Airport Commuter 31L
The Black Ember Forge 40 is 30L and 2.25kg5lb; the Think Tank Airport Commuter 31L is 31L and 2.2kg4.9lb. The Think Tank Airport Commuter 31L is 0.05kg0.1lb lighter. The Think Tank Airport Commuter 31L costs $85.25 less. The Black Ember Forge 40 fits the carry-on limit of 35 of 36 major airlines and the Think Tank Airport Commuter 31L fits 1; under the seat, 0 and 0 of 26.
| Spec | Black Ember Forge 40 | Think Tank Airport Commuter 31L |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $375 | $289.75Best |
| Volume | 30L | 31L |
| Expands to | 40L | n/a |
| Weight | 2.25kg5lb | 2.2kg4.9lbBest |
| Carry-on compliance | 97%Best | 3% |
| Personal-item compliance | 0% | 0% |
| Dimensions | 51×31×20cm20×12×8in | 48.5×33×26cm19×13×10in |
| Laptop | 16" | 16" |
| Compartments | 3 | n/a |
| Bottle pockets | n/a | 2 |
| Opening | external fast access panel, top pocket, two exterior pockets that pass through to the interior, separate laptop and tablet compartment, expansion zip | n/a |
| Warranty | Lifetime | Lifetime |
| Organizer | Yes | Yes |
| Shoe compartment | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | No | No |
| Frame sheet | No | No |
| Water-resistant | Yes | No |
| Rain cover | No | Yes |
| MOLLE | No | No |
| Hip belt | Insert sold separately | Removable |
| Sternum strap | Removable | No |
| Load lifters | Yes | No |
| Shoulder strap | Insert sold separately | No |
| Luggage pass-through | Yes | Yes |
| Camera compartment | No | Yes |
| Material | EmberTex PFAS-free 1220x600D nylon 6 with bonded laser-cut Hypalon panels, 210D ripstop nylon lining, YKK Aquaguard zippers, T6 anodized aluminum hardware | 600D polyester, 1260D ballistic nylon, 420D nylon ripstop, DWR |
| Last checked | 2026-10 | 2026-09 |
Where their airline fit differs
| Airline | Limit | Black Ember Forge 40 | Think Tank Airport Commuter 31L |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Arabia | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| Air Canada | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| Air France | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| Air India | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| AirAsia | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| Alaska Airlines | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| Allegiant Air | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| American Airlines | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| ANA (All Nippon Airways) | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| Avianca | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| British Airways | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| Cebu Pacific | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| Delta Air Lines | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| easyJet | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| Emirates | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| Frontier Airlines | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| Gol Linhas Aereas | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| IndiGo | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| JetBlue Airways | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| KLM | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| LATAM Airlines | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| Lufthansa | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| Norwegian Air Shuttle | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| Qantas | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| Ryanair | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| SAS | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| Southwest Airlines | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| Turkish Airlines | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| United Airlines | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| Vietjet Air | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| Volaris | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| Vueling | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| WestJet | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
| Wizz Air | Carry-on | Fits | Too big |
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Specs come from each brand's own product page. Fit uses listed dimensions in any orientation. How we score carry-on fit.