Thule Subterra 34L vs. Tortuga Daily Carry Pro
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Thule Subterra 34L
| Capacity | 34 L |
| Weight | 1.2 kg |
| Dimensions | 52×31×23 cm |
| Airline fit | 70% |
| Price | $180 |
Feature by feature
| Thule Subterra 34L | Feature | Tortuga Daily Carry Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 2 | Opening | 1 |
| side | Passport | top |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| N | Hip Belt | N |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 15in | Laptop | 16in |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 4 |
| Y | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 1, side | Water Bottle Holder | 2, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 800D nylon | ECOPAK™ EPX200 waterproof sailcloth |
Tortuga Daily Carry Pro
| Capacity | 25 L |
| Weight | 1.2 kg |
| Dimensions | 45×30×19 cm |
| Airline fit | 95% |
| Price | $250 |
Key differences between the Thule Subterra 34L and Tortuga Daily Carry Pro
- Opening: Rolltop on the Thule Subterra 34L; Clamshell on the Tortuga Daily Carry Pro.
- Passport pocket: Side on the Thule Subterra 34L; Top on the Tortuga Daily Carry Pro.
- Laptop sleeve: 15in on the Thule Subterra 34L; 16in on the Tortuga Daily Carry Pro.
- Water bottle pockets: 1, side on the Thule Subterra 34L; 2, side on the Tortuga Daily Carry Pro.
Both have: luggage passthrough, backpack straps, sternum strap, 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. 132 accept both. 0 accept only the Thule Subterra 34L, and 48 accept only the Tortuga Daily Carry Pro.
Only the Tortuga Daily Carry Pro fits
Air Baltic, Air China, Air Malta, Air Niugini, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Air Tahiti, American Eagle, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Belavia, Blue Air, Bulgaria Air, China Eastern, easyJet, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, Etihad Airways, flybe, Gulf Air, Icelandair, InselAir, Juneyao Airlines, Liat Airlines, Luxair, Meridiana Fly, Nordwind Airlines, Oman Air, Pakistan International, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, 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.
Thule Subterra 34L vs. Tortuga Daily Carry Pro: which should you pack?
The Thule Subterra 34L carries 9L more than the Tortuga Daily Carry Pro (34L vs. 25L), while the Thule Subterra 34L is the lighter pack at 1.2kg (vs. 1.2kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Tortuga Daily Carry Pro fits 95% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Thule Subterra 34L; if you want to travel lighter, the Thule Subterra 34L is the better call.