5.11 Rush 12 vs. ULA Equipment Ultra 36L Dragonfly
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| 5.11 Rush 12 | Feature | ULA Equipment Ultra 36L Dragonfly |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 2 | Compression | 2 |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| top | Passport | top |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| removable | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | 17in |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 4 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | 2, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| Water-resistant 1050D nylon | Challenge ULTRA, ULTRA TX, UltraStretch |
ULA Equipment Ultra 36L Dragonfly
| Capacity | 36 L |
| Weight | 0.9 kg |
| Dimensions | 52×30×19 cm |
| Airline fit | 88% |
| Price | $320 |
Key differences between the 5.11 Rush 12 and ULA Equipment Ultra 36L Dragonfly
- Laptop sleeve: No on the 5.11 Rush 12; 17in on the ULA Equipment Ultra 36L Dragonfly.
- Water bottle pockets: No on the 5.11 Rush 12; 2, side on the ULA Equipment Ultra 36L Dragonfly.
Both have: compression straps, passport pocket, backpack straps, hip belt, sternum strap, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 167 accept both. 12 accept only the 5.11 Rush 12, and 0 accept only the ULA Equipment Ultra 36L Dragonfly.
Only the 5.11 Rush 12 fits
Air Niugini, American Eagle, Belavia, easyJet, Etihad Airways, Great Lakes Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Royal Jordanian, Virgin Australia.
5.11 Rush 12 vs. ULA Equipment Ultra 36L Dragonfly: which should you pack?
The ULA Equipment Ultra 36L Dragonfly carries 12L more than the 5.11 Rush 12 (24L vs. 36L), while the ULA Equipment Ultra 36L Dragonfly is the lighter pack at 0.9kg (vs. 1.2kg). For carry-on flexibility, the 5.11 Rush 12 fits 95% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the ULA Equipment Ultra 36L Dragonfly; if you want to travel lighter, the ULA Equipment Ultra 36L Dragonfly is the better call.