Mystery Ranch Blitz 30 vs. Tom Bihn Brain Bag

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

Mystery Ranch Blitz 30

Front facing view of the Mystery Ranch Blitz 30
Capacity30 L
Weight1.7 kg
Dimensions52×34×33 cm
Airline fit1%
Price$290

Feature by feature

Mystery Ranch Blitz 30FeatureTom Bihn Brain Bag
Storage
4 Compression 4
None Expanded Capacity None
1 Opening 4
top Passport top
N Passthrough N
Carry
Y Backpack Y
removable Hip Belt removable
removable Sternum Strap removable
Inside
15in Laptop N
4 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
500D CORDURA525 Ballistic Nylon

Tom Bihn Brain Bag

Front facing view of the Tom Bihn Brain Bag
Capacity36 L
Weight1.3 kg
Dimensions46×36×23 cm
Airline fit66%
Price$240

Key differences between the Mystery Ranch Blitz 30 and Tom Bihn Brain Bag

Both have: compression straps, passport pocket, 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. 2 accept both. 0 accept only the Mystery Ranch Blitz 30, and 123 accept only the Tom Bihn Brain Bag.

Only the Tom Bihn Brain Bag fits

Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Air Asia, Air Astana, Air Canada, Air Caraibes, Air Europa, Air Koryo, Air Macau, Air New Zealand, Air Nostrum, Air Tahiti Nui, Air Wisconsin, AirAsiaX, Alaska Airlines, All Nipon Airways, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, ANA, Atlas Global, Austrian, Avianca , Azerbaijan Airlines, Azul Linhas, Bahamasair, Bangkok Airways, Biman Bangladesh, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cambodia Angkor Air, Caribbean Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, China Southern, CommutAir, Conviasa, Copa Airlines, Croatia Air, Cubana de Aviacion, Czech Airlines, Delta Airlines, Dragonair, EL AL, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, EVA Air, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Flair Air, Frontier Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Gol Linhas Aereas, Hainan Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Iberia, Interjet, Iran Air, Iran Aseman Air, Island Air, Japan Airlines, Jet2, jetBlue Airways, Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia, Korean Air, Kulula, Kuwait Air, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Mahan Air, Malaysia Airlines, Mango, Mesa Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Monarch Airlines, Norwegian, Oman Air, Onur Air, Peach, PenAir, Philippine Airlines, Porter Airlines, Qantas Airways, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Republic Airways, Royal Air Morocco, Royal Jordanian, SAS Scandinavian, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Scoot, Sichuan Airlines, SilkAir, Silver Airways, Singapore Airlines, Skywest, Inc., South African Airways, Southwest Airlines, SpiceJet, Spirit Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Sun Country, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, TAAG Angola, TAM Airlines, Thai Airways, Tiger Airways, Trans States, Travel Service Airlines, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Ural Airlines, Uzbekistan Air, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, WestJet, WOW Airlines.

Mystery Ranch Blitz 30 vs. Tom Bihn Brain Bag: which should you pack?

The Tom Bihn Brain Bag carries 6L more than the Mystery Ranch Blitz 30 (30L vs. 36L), while the Tom Bihn Brain Bag is the lighter pack at 1.3kg (vs. 1.7kg). 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 Tom Bihn Brain Bag is the better call.