Exped Skyline 15 vs. 5.11 Skyweight 36L Pack
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Exped Skyline 15 | Feature | 5.11 Skyweight 36L Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 4 | Compression | 4 |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| front | Passport | top |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| Y | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | N |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 4 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| Y | Rain-fly | Y |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | 2, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | N |
| Material | |
| 210D Robic HD Ripstop Nylon, PU Coated 1500mm | 330D ripstop nylon |
5.11 Skyweight 36L Pack
| Capacity | 36 L |
| Weight | 1.1 kg |
| Dimensions | 56×33×22 cm |
| Airline fit | 47% |
| Price | $200 |
Key differences between the Exped Skyline 15 and 5.11 Skyweight 36L Pack
- Passport pocket: Front on the Exped Skyline 15; Top on the 5.11 Skyweight 36L Pack.
- Hip belt: Yes on the Exped Skyline 15; Removable on the 5.11 Skyweight 36L Pack.
- Water resistant: Yes on the Exped Skyline 15; No on the 5.11 Skyweight 36L Pack.
Both have: compression straps, backpack straps, sternum strap, rain cover, water bottle pockets.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 88 accept both. 80 accept only the Exped Skyline 15, and 0 accept only the 5.11 Skyweight 36L Pack.
Only the Exped Skyline 15 fits
Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air Caraibes, Air China, Air France, Air India, Air Malta, Air Mauritius, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, All Nipon Airways, ANA, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Austrian, Azerbaijan Airlines, Blue Air, Boliviana de Aviacion, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, China Eastern, Czech Airlines, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Eurowings, Fiji Airways, Flair Air, flybe, Gol Linhas Aereas, Great Lakes Airlines, Iberia, Icelandair, Indigo, InselAir, Interjet, Iran Air, Japan Airlines, Jet Airways, Juneyao Airlines, Kenya Airways, KLM, LATAM , Liat Airlines, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Luxair, Mahan Air, Meridiana Fly, Mesa Airlines, Nordwind Airlines, Norwegian, Pakistan International, Peach, Porter Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, Ryanair, S7, SAS Scandinavian, Scoot, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sky Airlines, Sun Express, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), Tiger Airways, TUI, Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International, VIM Airlines (Closed), Volotea, WestJet, Xiamen.
Exped Skyline 15 vs. 5.11 Skyweight 36L Pack: which should you pack?
The 5.11 Skyweight 36L Pack carries 21L more than the Exped Skyline 15 (15L vs. 36L), while the Exped Skyline 15 is the lighter pack at 1.1kg (vs. 1.1kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Exped Skyline 15 fits 89% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the 5.11 Skyweight 36L Pack; if you want to travel lighter, the Exped Skyline 15 is the better call.