Patagonia Pares Its Legendary Black Hole Into the Perfect Compact Carry-On Pack

This iconic bag line is ready to conquer the rigors of frequent travel while adhering to more stringent airplane cabin storage policies.

Patagonia Black Hole Micro MLC Backpack closeup

By Sean Tirman

Published 14 hours ago

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In the wise words of Mr. Bob Dylan, “The times they are a-changin’.” It seems like every year, there are new rules and regulations for airline travel — planes are smaller, seats are tighter and the overhead bins are about as overstuffed as they can get.

To adapt to this ever-changing landscape, the folks at one of the biggest, most venerated outdoor brands have a solution. The Patagonia Black Hole Micro MLC Backpack is one of the best compact carry-on bags the brand has released to date.

The “MLC” in Patagonia Black Hole Micro MLC Backpack stands for “Maximum Legal Carry-on.”

Overhead binge

For the uninitiated, Patagonia has an ongoing sub-lineup of Black Hole bags slapped with an MLC qualifier in their name. MLC is short for “Maximum Legal Carry-on,” meaning these bags are specifically designed to meet air travel standards.

The Black Hole Micro MLC Backpack has a little trick that the others don’t share. Unlike most of its MLC siblings, this bag isn’t built for the overhead bin. Instead, with its generous 22-liter capacity, it’s made to fit under the seat in front of you.

Patagonia Black Hole Micro MLC Backpack straps and on back — While quite compact, this bag still has a generous 22-liter capacity alongside a bevy of convenient features.

It still has enough room to fit a weekend’s worth of clothes and gear, but it’s compact enough to allow you to avoid the overhead bin entirely. That’s big news for a trio of reasons.

First, it means you could potentially avoid the scramble for overhead space (and the scramble to get off the plane while snagging your bag from above people) altogether. Second, it means the bag is small enough to qualify as a “personal item,” allowing you a second carry-on for overhead storage.

Lastly, this bag is an ideal candidate to function as an auxiliary day pack while traveling. You can use a checked bag for your primary gear, an overhead carry-on for additional storage, and this bag for snacks, books, headphones and other travel accessories.

Patagonia Black Hole Micro MLC Backpack carried two ways — This bag is sneakily a 3-in-1, working as a backpack, over-shoulder bag and briefcase.

Back in black (hole)

While its compact form factor makes this bag unique, it’s also still a Black Hole bag, which comes with some big expectations. Thankfully, this bag meets (and exceeds) those promises.

Like its siblings, it’s made with a tough blend of recycled materials and sports a weatherproof TPU-film laminate. Inside, along with its generous capacity, it has a padded laptop pouch and numerous internal organizational pockets for clothes, accessories and more.

Patagonia Black Hole Micro MLC Backpack interior — This bag is appropriately equipped with numerous internal organizers of varying size, shape and capacity.

Like its siblings, it also has external lash points — webbing to which you can attach additional gear and accessory bags. This helps expand its capacity beyond its internal space.

It even comes with a trio of carry options. As mentioned, it’s a backpack, so it has stowable backpack straps. However, it also has suitcase carry handles (on the top and side) and a shoulder strap if you prefer crossbody carry.

Patagonia Black Hole Micro MLC Backpack colorways — This new bag is available in a quartet of unique colorways, including an all-black one.

Available now

The Patagonia Black Hole Micro MLC Backpack is now available on the brand’s site for $149, making it one of the more affordable options in the Black Hole lineup.