Exped Impulse 20 vs. Matador Freerain28 Waterproof Packable Backpack
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Exped Impulse 20 | Feature | Matador Freerain28 Waterproof Packable Backpack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 3 | Opening | 0 |
| Y | Passport | |
| N | Passthrough | |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | N |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2 | Water Bottle Holder | 2 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| Body: 210 D Robic HD ripstop nylon Carbonate PU, 2500 mm water column, Oeko-Tex 100 certified, PFC-free | 70D Robic® nylon UHMWPE, PU waterproofing 50D nylon mini ripstop |
Matador Freerain28 Waterproof Packable Backpack
| Capacity | 28 L |
| Weight | 0.35 kg |
| Dimensions | 54.6×27.9×20.3 cm |
| Airline fit | 69% |
| Price | $125 |
Key differences between the Exped Impulse 20 and Matador Freerain28 Waterproof Packable Backpack
- Opening: Top flap on the Exped Impulse 20; Other on the Matador Freerain28 Waterproof Packable Backpack.
Both have: 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. 131 accept both. 37 accept only the Exped Impulse 20, and 0 accept only the Matador Freerain28 Waterproof Packable Backpack.
Only the Exped Impulse 20 fits
Air Baltic, Air China, Air Malta, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Blue Air, Bulgaria Air, China Eastern, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, flybe, Icelandair, InselAir, Juneyao Airlines, Liat Airlines, Luxair, Meridiana Fly, Nordwind Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, Ryanair, S7, Scoot, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sun Express, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), Tiger Airways, TUI, Ukraine International, VIM Airlines (Closed), Volotea, WestJet, Xiamen.
Exped Impulse 20 vs. Matador Freerain28 Waterproof Packable Backpack: which should you pack?
The Matador Freerain28 Waterproof Packable Backpack carries 8L more than the Exped Impulse 20 (20L vs. 28L), while the Matador Freerain28 Waterproof Packable Backpack is the lighter pack at 0.35kg (vs. 0.88kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Exped Impulse 20 fits 89% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Matador Freerain28 Waterproof Packable Backpack; if you want to travel lighter, the Matador Freerain28 Waterproof Packable Backpack is the better call.