Osprey Kestrel 48 vs. Gregory Jade 43L
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Osprey Kestrel 48 | Feature | Gregory Jade 43L |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 6 | Compression | 6 |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 0 |
| top | Passport | top |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| Y | Hip Belt | Y |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | N |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 3 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| Y | Rain-fly | N |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | 2, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| ecycled 420D nylon, DWR treatments made without PFAS | 40% Recycled 400D Polyester Ripstop with C0 DWR: designed without PFAS |
Key differences between the Osprey Kestrel 48 and Gregory Jade 43L
- Main compartments: 4 on the Osprey Kestrel 48; 3 on the Gregory Jade 43L.
- Rain cover: Yes on the Osprey Kestrel 48; No on the Gregory Jade 43L.
Both have: compression straps, passport pocket, backpack straps, hip belt, sternum strap, 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. 1 accept both. 0 accept only the Osprey Kestrel 48, and 1 accept only the Gregory Jade 43L.
Only the Gregory Jade 43L fits
Virgin America.
Osprey Kestrel 48 vs. Gregory Jade 43L: which should you pack?
The Osprey Kestrel 48 carries 5L more than the Gregory Jade 43L (48L vs. 43L), while the Gregory Jade 43L is the lighter pack at 1.6kg (vs. 2kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Osprey Kestrel 48 fits 1% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Osprey Kestrel 48; if you want to travel lighter, the Gregory Jade 43L is the better call.