Exped Skyline 15 vs. REI Co-op Trail 40
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Exped Skyline 15 | Feature | REI Co-op Trail 40 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 4 | Compression | 4 |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| front | Passport | top |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| Y | Hip Belt | Y |
| Y | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | N |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 5 |
| N | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| Y | Rain-fly | Y |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | 2, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 210D Robic HD Ripstop Nylon, PU Coated 1500mm | 210-denier ripstop nylon |
REI Co-op Trail 40
| Capacity | 40 L |
| Weight | 1.2 kg |
| Dimensions | 56×30×23 cm |
| Airline fit | 47% |
| Price | $130 |
Key differences between the Exped Skyline 15 and REI Co-op Trail 40
- Passport pocket: Front on the Exped Skyline 15; Top on the REI Co-op Trail 40.
- Sternum strap: Yes on the Exped Skyline 15; Removable on the REI Co-op Trail 40.
- Main compartments: 4 on the Exped Skyline 15; 5 on the REI Co-op Trail 40.
- Built-in organizer: No on the Exped Skyline 15; Yes on the REI Co-op Trail 40.
Both have: compression straps, backpack straps, hip belt, rain cover, 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. 88 accept both. 80 accept only the Exped Skyline 15, and 0 accept only the REI Co-op Trail 40.
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. REI Co-op Trail 40: which should you pack?
The REI Co-op Trail 40 carries 25L more than the Exped Skyline 15 (15L vs. 40L), while the Exped Skyline 15 is the lighter pack at 1.1kg (vs. 1.2kg). 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 REI Co-op Trail 40; if you want to travel lighter, the Exped Skyline 15 is the better call.