Nomatic Navigator Travel Backpack vs. Tom Bihn Smart Alec
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Nomatic Navigator Travel Backpack
| Capacity | 32 L |
| Weight | 2.4 kg |
| Dimensions | 56×36×23 cm |
| Airline fit | 45% |
| Price | $400 |
Feature by feature
| Nomatic Navigator Travel Backpack | Feature | Tom Bihn Smart Alec |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| 41L | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 0 |
| Y | Passport | |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| removable | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| 17in | Laptop | 17in |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 0 |
| Y | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2 | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 820D Ballistic Nylon | |
Tom Bihn Smart Alec
| Capacity | 26 L |
| Weight | 0.9 kg |
| Dimensions | 47×30×21 cm |
| Airline fit | 74% |
| Price | $190 |
Key differences between the Nomatic Navigator Travel Backpack and Tom Bihn Smart Alec
- Opening: Clamshell on the Nomatic Navigator Travel Backpack; Other on the Tom Bihn Smart Alec.
- Water bottle pockets: 2 on the Nomatic Navigator Travel Backpack; No on the Tom Bihn Smart Alec.
Both have: backpack straps, hip belt, sternum strap, laptop sleeve, 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. 85 accept both. 0 accept only the Nomatic Navigator Travel Backpack, and 55 accept only the Tom Bihn Smart Alec.
Only the Tom Bihn Smart Alec fits
Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Canada, Air Caraibes, Air France, Air India, Air Mauritius, All Nipon Airways, ANA, Austrian, Azerbaijan Airlines, Boliviana de Aviacion, Brussels Airlines, Caribbean Airlines, Cayman Airways, Croatia Air, Czech Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, Fiji Airways, Flair Air, Gol Linhas Aereas, Iberia, Indigo, Interjet, Iran Air, Japan Airlines, Jet Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM, LATAM , Liat Airlines, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Mahan Air, Mesa Airlines, Norwegian, Oman Air, Pakistan International, Peach, Porter Airlines, Qatar Airways, Regional Express, Royal Jordanian, SAS Scandinavian, Scoot, Sky Airlines, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, Tiger Airways, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Australia, WestJet.
Nomatic Navigator Travel Backpack vs. Tom Bihn Smart Alec: which should you pack?
The Nomatic Navigator Travel Backpack carries 6L more than the Tom Bihn Smart Alec (32L vs. 26L), while the Tom Bihn Smart Alec is the lighter pack at 0.9kg (vs. 2.4kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Tom Bihn Smart Alec fits 74% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Nomatic Navigator Travel Backpack; if you want to travel lighter, the Tom Bihn Smart Alec is the better call.