Exped Metro 20 vs. Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Exped Metro 20 | Feature | Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 3 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| N | Hip Belt | N |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 15in | Laptop | 15in |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2 | Water Bottle Holder | 2 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 600 D ripstop polyester, PU coated, 1'200 mm water column | G-1000® HeavyDuty Eco: 65% polyester, 35% cotton |
Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium
| Capacity | 20 L |
| Weight | 0.96 kg |
| Dimensions | 44×28×13 cm |
| Airline fit | 96% |
| Price | $180 |
Key differences between the Exped Metro 20 and Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium
- Opening: Clamshell on the Exped Metro 20; Top flap on the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium.
Both have: backpack straps, sternum strap, laptop sleeve, 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. 174 accept both. 0 accept only the Exped Metro 20, and 7 accept only the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium.
Only the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium fits
Air Tahiti, American Eagle, easyJet, Gulf Air, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Virgin Australia.
Exped Metro 20 vs. Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium: which should you pack?
The Exped Metro 20 carries the same capacity as the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium (20L vs. 20L), while the Exped Metro 20 is the lighter pack at 0.72kg (vs. 0.96kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium fits 96% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Exped Metro 20; if you want to travel lighter, the Exped Metro 20 is the better call.