5.11 Rush 12 vs. Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| 5.11 Rush 12 | Feature | Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 2 | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| top | Passport | side |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | hideable |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| removable | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | N |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 5 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| Water-resistant 1050D nylon | 1050 denier ballistic nylon OR ultralight 400d Halcyon/420d nylon ripstop 200 denier Halcyon/nylon ripstop fabric lining |
Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L
| Capacity | 45 L |
| Weight | 1.4 kg |
| Dimensions | 56×36×23 cm |
| Airline fit | 45% |
| Price | $340 |
Key differences between the 5.11 Rush 12 and Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L
- Compression straps: 2 on the 5.11 Rush 12; No on the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L.
- Passport pocket: Top on the 5.11 Rush 12; Side on the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L.
- Backpack straps: Yes on the 5.11 Rush 12; Hideable on the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L.
- Main compartments: 4 on the 5.11 Rush 12; 5 on the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L.
Both have: 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. 85 accept both. 94 accept only the 5.11 Rush 12, and 0 accept only the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L.
Only the 5.11 Rush 12 fits
Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air Caraibes, Air China, Air France, Air India, Air Malta, Air Mauritius, Air Niugini, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, All Nipon Airways, American Eagle, ANA, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Austrian, Azerbaijan Airlines, Belavia, Blue Air, Boliviana de Aviacion, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Caribbean Airlines, Cayman Airways, China Eastern, Croatia Air, Czech Airlines, easyJet, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, 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, Oman Air, Pakistan International, Peach, Porter Airlines, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, 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), Virgin Australia, Volotea, WestJet, Xiamen.
5.11 Rush 12 vs. Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L: which should you pack?
The Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L carries 21L more than the 5.11 Rush 12 (24L vs. 45L), while the 5.11 Rush 12 is the lighter pack at 1.2kg (vs. 1.4kg). 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 Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L; if you want to travel lighter, the 5.11 Rush 12 is the better call.