Deuter Trans Alpine 28 SL vs. Exped Skyline 25
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Deuter Trans Alpine 28 SL
| Capacity | 28 L |
| Weight | 1.19 kg |
| Dimensions | 52×26×22 cm |
| Airline fit | 71% |
| Price | $145 |
Feature by feature
| Deuter Trans Alpine 28 SL | Feature | Exped Skyline 25 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| Y | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 4 | Opening | 4 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| Y | Hip Belt | Y |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | N |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| Y | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| Y | Rain-fly | Y |
| 2 | Water Bottle Holder | 2 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 210D PA, 600D PES | 210 D Robic HD Ripstop nylon, PU coated, 1'500 mm water column |
Key differences between the Deuter Trans Alpine 28 SL and Exped Skyline 25
- Compression straps: Yes on the Deuter Trans Alpine 28 SL; No on the Exped Skyline 25.
- Built-in organizer: Yes on the Deuter Trans Alpine 28 SL; No on the Exped Skyline 25.
Both have: backpack straps, hip belt, sternum strap, 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. 75 accept both. 59 accept only the Deuter Trans Alpine 28 SL, and 0 accept only the Exped Skyline 25.
Only the Deuter Trans Alpine 28 SL fits
Air Asia, Air Canada, Air Macau, Air Wisconsin, AirAsiaX, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Austrian, Avianca , Azerbaijan Airlines, Bahamasair, Bangkok Airways, Biman Bangladesh, Brussels Airlines, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cathay Pacific, Cayman Airways, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, CommutAir, Delta Airlines, Dragonair, Ethiopian Airlines, Eurowings, EVA Air, Fiji Airways, Flair Air, Garuda Indonesia, Hawaiian Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, jetBlue Airways, Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia, Kulula, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Mahan Air, Malaysia Airlines, Mango, Mesa Airlines, Norwegian, Pakistan International, Porter Airlines, Qantas Airways, Republic Airways, SAS Scandinavian, Scoot, Skywest, Inc., South African Airways, SriLankan Airlines, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, Tiger Airways, Trans States, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, WestJet.
Deuter Trans Alpine 28 SL vs. Exped Skyline 25: which should you pack?
The Deuter Trans Alpine 28 SL carries 3L more than the Exped Skyline 25 (28L vs. 25L), while the Exped Skyline 25 is the lighter pack at 1.03kg (vs. 1.19kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Deuter Trans Alpine 28 SL fits 71% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Deuter Trans Alpine 28 SL; if you want to travel lighter, the Exped Skyline 25 is the better call.