Exped Core 25 vs. Nomatic McKinnon Cube Pack
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Exped Core 25 | Feature | Nomatic McKinnon Cube Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 3 | Opening | 4 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | N |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | N |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 1680 D Ballistic nylon, PU coated, 1'500 mm water column | Nylon |
Nomatic McKinnon Cube Pack
| Capacity | 21 L |
| Weight | 0.6 kg |
| Dimensions | 45×34×19 cm |
| Airline fit | 95% |
| Price | $125 |
Key differences between the Exped Core 25 and Nomatic McKinnon Cube Pack
- Opening: Top flap on the Exped Core 25; Top zip on the Nomatic McKinnon Cube Pack.
- Hip belt: Removable on the Exped Core 25; No on the Nomatic McKinnon Cube Pack.
Both have: backpack straps, sternum strap, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 166 accept both. 1 accept only the Exped Core 25, and 13 accept only the Nomatic McKinnon Cube Pack.
Only the Exped Core 25 fits
Great Lakes Airlines.
Only the Nomatic McKinnon Cube Pack fits
Air Tahiti, American Eagle, Belavia, easyJet, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Royal Jordanian, Virgin Australia, WestJet.
Exped Core 25 vs. Nomatic McKinnon Cube Pack: which should you pack?
The Exped Core 25 carries 4L more than the Nomatic McKinnon Cube Pack (25L vs. 21L), while the Exped Core 25 is the lighter pack at 0.1kg (vs. 0.6kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Nomatic McKinnon Cube Pack fits 95% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Exped Core 25; if you want to travel lighter, the Exped Core 25 is the better call.