Osprey Skarab 30 vs. Tom Bihn Brain Bag
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Osprey Skarab 30 | Feature | Tom Bihn Brain Bag |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 4 | Compression | 4 |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 4 |
| top | Passport | top |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | N |
| 2 | Main Compartments | 6 |
| N | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | 1, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| bluesign® APPROVED, 100% recycled 100Dx210D high-tenacity nylon, DWR treatment made without PFAS | 525 Ballistic Nylon |
Tom Bihn Brain Bag
| Capacity | 36 L |
| Weight | 1.3 kg |
| Dimensions | 46×36×23 cm |
| Airline fit | 66% |
| Price | $240 |
Key differences between the Osprey Skarab 30 and Tom Bihn Brain Bag
- Opening: Other on the Osprey Skarab 30; Top zip on the Tom Bihn Brain Bag.
- Sternum strap: Yes on the Osprey Skarab 30; Removable on the Tom Bihn Brain Bag.
- Main compartments: 2 on the Osprey Skarab 30; 6 on the Tom Bihn Brain Bag.
- Built-in organizer: No on the Osprey Skarab 30; Yes on the Tom Bihn Brain Bag.
- Water bottle pockets: 2, side on the Osprey Skarab 30; 1, side on the Tom Bihn Brain Bag.
Both have: compression straps, passport pocket, backpack straps, hip belt, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 62 accept both. 12 accept only the Osprey Skarab 30, and 63 accept only the Tom Bihn Brain Bag.
Only the Osprey Skarab 30 fits
Aerolineas Argentinas, Air France, Air India, Air Mauritius, Boliviana de Aviacion, Great Lakes Airlines, Indigo, Jet Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM, LATAM , Sky Airlines.
Only the Tom Bihn Brain Bag fits
Aer Lingus, Air Asia, Air Canada, Air Macau, Air Wisconsin, AirAsiaX, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Austrian, Avianca , Azerbaijan Airlines, Bahamasair, Bangkok Airways, Biman Bangladesh, Brussels Airlines, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, CommutAir, Delta Airlines, Dragonair, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, EVA Air, Fiji Airways, Flair Air, Garuda Indonesia, Hawaiian Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, jetBlue Airways, Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia, Kulula, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Mahan Air, Malaysia Airlines, Mango, Mesa Airlines, Norwegian, Oman Air, Porter Airlines, Qantas Airways, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Republic Airways, Royal Jordanian, SAS Scandinavian, Scoot, Skywest, Inc., South African Airways, SriLankan Airlines, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, Tiger Airways, Trans States, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, WestJet.
Osprey Skarab 30 vs. Tom Bihn Brain Bag: which should you pack?
The Tom Bihn Brain Bag carries 6L more than the Osprey Skarab 30 (30L vs. 36L), while the Osprey Skarab 30 is the lighter pack at 0.9kg (vs. 1.3kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Tom Bihn Brain Bag fits 66% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Tom Bihn Brain Bag; if you want to travel lighter, the Osprey Skarab 30 is the better call.