Hill People Gear Umlindi vs. Kifaru Urban Ruck
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Hill People Gear Umlindi
| Capacity | 23 L |
| Weight | 1.3 kg |
| Dimensions | 49×28×17 cm |
| Airline fit | 92% |
| Price | $220 |
Feature by feature
| Hill People Gear Umlindi | Feature | Kifaru Urban Ruck |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| Y | Compression | Y |
| None | Expanded Capacity | 27L |
| 4 | Opening | 3 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | N |
| 2 | Main Compartments | 3 |
| N | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2 | Water Bottle Holder | 2 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 500d Cordura | 500 Denier CorduraLined with 400 D packcloth |
Kifaru Urban Ruck
| Capacity | 22.9 L |
| Weight | 0.8 kg |
| Dimensions | 46×29×17 cm |
| Airline fit | 94% |
| Price | $231 |
Key differences between the Hill People Gear Umlindi and Kifaru Urban Ruck
- Opening: Top zip on the Hill People Gear Umlindi; Top flap on the Kifaru Urban Ruck.
- Sternum strap: Yes on the Hill People Gear Umlindi; Removable on the Kifaru Urban Ruck.
- Main compartments: 2 on the Hill People Gear Umlindi; 3 on the Kifaru Urban Ruck.
- Built-in organizer: No on the Hill People Gear Umlindi; Yes on the Kifaru Urban Ruck.
Both have: compression straps, backpack straps, hip belt, water bottle pockets, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 173 accept both. 1 accept only the Hill People Gear Umlindi, and 5 accept only the Kifaru Urban Ruck.
Only the Hill People Gear Umlindi fits
Great Lakes Airlines.
Only the Kifaru Urban Ruck fits
American Eagle, easyJet, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Virgin Australia.
Hill People Gear Umlindi vs. Kifaru Urban Ruck: which should you pack?
The Hill People Gear Umlindi carries 0.10000000000000142L more than the Kifaru Urban Ruck (23L vs. 22.9L), while the Kifaru Urban Ruck is the lighter pack at 0.8kg (vs. 1.3kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Kifaru Urban Ruck fits 94% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Hill People Gear Umlindi; if you want to travel lighter, the Kifaru Urban Ruck is the better call.