Gregory Border 25 vs. Troubadour Ridge Backpack
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Gregory Border 25
| Capacity | 25 L |
| Weight | 0.9 kg |
| Dimensions | 50×33×23 cm |
| Airline fit | 72% |
| Price | $140 |
Feature by feature
| Gregory Border 25 | Feature | Troubadour Ridge Backpack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 0 |
| top | Passport | top, front |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| N | Hip Belt | N |
| Y | Sternum Strap | N |
| Inside | ||
| 15in | Laptop | 17in |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 7 |
| Y | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 1, side | Water Bottle Holder | 2, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| PVC-Free Coated 210D High Density 66 Nylon & 100% Recycled 450D Polyester with C0 DWR: designed without PFAS | Recycled polyester. |
Troubadour Ridge Backpack
| Capacity | 25 L |
| Weight | 1.3 kg |
| Dimensions | 47×30×18 cm |
| Airline fit | 93% |
| Price | $325 |
Key differences between the Gregory Border 25 and Troubadour Ridge Backpack
- Passport pocket: Top on the Gregory Border 25; Top, front on the Troubadour Ridge Backpack.
- Sternum strap: Yes on the Gregory Border 25; No on the Troubadour Ridge Backpack.
- Laptop sleeve: 15in on the Gregory Border 25; 17in on the Troubadour Ridge Backpack.
- Main compartments: 4 on the Gregory Border 25; 7 on the Troubadour Ridge Backpack.
- Water bottle pockets: 1, side on the Gregory Border 25; 2, side on the Troubadour Ridge Backpack.
Both have: luggage passthrough, backpack straps, 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. 136 accept both. 0 accept only the Gregory Border 25, and 39 accept only the Troubadour Ridge Backpack.
Only the Troubadour Ridge Backpack fits
Air Baltic, Air China, Air Malta, Air Niugini, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Belavia, Blue Air, Bulgaria Air, China Eastern, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, flybe, Icelandair, InselAir, Juneyao Airlines, Liat Airlines, Luxair, Meridiana Fly, Nordwind Airlines, Pakistan International, Regional Express, Royal Brunei Airlines, Ryanair, S7, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sun Express, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), TUI, Ukraine International, VIM Airlines (Closed), Virgin Australia, Volotea, Xiamen.
Gregory Border 25 vs. Troubadour Ridge Backpack: which should you pack?
The Gregory Border 25 carries the same capacity as the Troubadour Ridge Backpack (25L vs. 25L), while the Gregory Border 25 is the lighter pack at 0.9kg (vs. 1.3kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Troubadour Ridge Backpack fits 93% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Gregory Border 25; if you want to travel lighter, the Gregory Border 25 is the better call.