Exped Core 25 vs. Exped Cascade 20
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Exped Core 25 | Feature | Exped Cascade 20 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 3 | Opening | 4 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | 13in |
| 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 | 420 D Oxford nylon, TPU film laminate, >10'000 mm water column |
Key differences between the Exped Core 25 and Exped Cascade 20
- Opening: Top flap on the Exped Core 25; Top zip on the Exped Cascade 20.
- Laptop sleeve: No on the Exped Core 25; 13in on the Exped Cascade 20.
Both have: backpack straps, hip belt, 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. 167 accept both. 0 accept only the Exped Core 25, and 9 accept only the Exped Cascade 20.
Only the Exped Cascade 20 fits
Air Niugini, Belavia, Etihad Airways, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Regional Express, Royal Jordanian, Virgin Australia, WestJet.
Exped Core 25 vs. Exped Cascade 20: which should you pack?
The Exped Core 25 carries 5L more than the Exped Cascade 20 (25L vs. 20L), while the Exped Core 25 is the lighter pack at 0.1kg (vs. 0.84kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Exped Cascade 20 fits 93% 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.