Alpha One-Niner Evade 1.5 Backpack vs. 5.11 Rush 12 2.0

Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.

Alpha One-Niner Evade 1.5 Backpack

Front facing view of the Alpha One-Niner Evade 1.5 Backpack
Capacity22 L
Weight1.5 kg
Dimensions47×31×14 cm
Airline fit92%
Price$225

Feature by feature

Alpha One-Niner Evade 1.5 BackpackFeature5.11 Rush 12 2.0
Storage
2 Compression 2
None Expanded Capacity None
1 Opening 1
back Passport front, side
N Passthrough N
Carry
Y Backpack Y
removable Hip Belt optional
removable Sternum Strap removable
Inside
16in Laptop 15in
5 Main Compartments 6
Y Organizer Y
Outside
× Hard Shell ×
N Rain-fly N
2, side Water Bottle Holder N
Y Water Resistant Y
Material
Dimension-Polyant’s X42, Cordura 500D Nylon, 630D HD Twill1050D nylon (MultiCam® 1000D nylon)

5.11 Rush 12 2.0

by 5.11
Front facing view of the 5.11 Rush 12 2.0
Capacity24 L
Weight1.4 kg
Dimensions46×28×17 cm
Airline fit95%
Price$110

Key differences between the Alpha One-Niner Evade 1.5 Backpack and 5.11 Rush 12 2.0

Both have: compression straps, backpack straps, sternum strap, built-in organizer, water resistant.

Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on

We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 174 accept both. 0 accept only the Alpha One-Niner Evade 1.5 Backpack, and 5 accept only the 5.11 Rush 12 2.0.

Only the 5.11 Rush 12 2.0 fits

Air Niugini, American Eagle, easyJet, Great Lakes Airlines, Ravn Alaska.

Alpha One-Niner Evade 1.5 Backpack vs. 5.11 Rush 12 2.0: which should you pack?

The 5.11 Rush 12 2.0 carries 2L more than the Alpha One-Niner Evade 1.5 Backpack (22L vs. 24L), while the 5.11 Rush 12 2.0 is the lighter pack at 1.4kg (vs. 1.5kg). For carry-on flexibility, the 5.11 Rush 12 2.0 fits 95% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the 5.11 Rush 12 2.0; if you want to travel lighter, the 5.11 Rush 12 2.0 is the better call.