Gregory Alpaca 40 vs. Patagonia Black Hole® Duffel Bag 55L
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Gregory Alpaca 40
| Capacity | 40 L |
| Weight | 1.2 kg |
| Dimensions | 57.9×33.8×28.7 cm |
| Airline fit | 1% |
| Price | $140 |
Feature by feature
| Gregory Alpaca 40 | Feature | Patagonia Black Hole® Duffel Bag 55L |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 1 |
| side | Passport | side |
| N | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| removable | Backpack | removable |
| N | Hip Belt | N |
| N | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | N |
| 3 | Main Compartments | 2 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 40% Recycled 900D Polyester Ripstop with TPU Weather resistant coating | 100% recycled polyester ripstop with a matte, recycled TPU-film laminate |
Patagonia Black Hole® Duffel Bag 55L
| Capacity | 55 L |
| Weight | 1.2 kg |
| Dimensions | 58×34×24 cm |
| Airline fit | 5% |
| Price | $170 |
Key differences between the Gregory Alpaca 40 and Patagonia Black Hole® Duffel Bag 55L
- Opening: Other on the Gregory Alpaca 40; Clamshell on the Patagonia Black Hole® Duffel Bag 55L.
- Luggage passthrough: No on the Gregory Alpaca 40; Yes on the Patagonia Black Hole® Duffel Bag 55L.
- Sternum strap: No on the Gregory Alpaca 40; Yes on the Patagonia Black Hole® Duffel Bag 55L.
- Main compartments: 3 on the Gregory Alpaca 40; 2 on the Patagonia Black Hole® Duffel Bag 55L.
Both have: passport pocket, backpack straps, 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 Gregory Alpaca 40, and 8 accept only the Patagonia Black Hole® Duffel Bag 55L.
Only the Patagonia Black Hole® Duffel Bag 55L fits
Adria Airways, Air New Zealand, Conviasa, Frontier Airlines, Island Air, PenAir, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country.
Gregory Alpaca 40 vs. Patagonia Black Hole® Duffel Bag 55L: which should you pack?
The Patagonia Black Hole® Duffel Bag 55L carries 15L more than the Gregory Alpaca 40 (40L vs. 55L), while the Gregory Alpaca 40 is the lighter pack at 1.2kg (vs. 1.2kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Patagonia Black Hole® Duffel Bag 55L fits 5% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Patagonia Black Hole® Duffel Bag 55L; if you want to travel lighter, the Gregory Alpaca 40 is the better call.