Exped Impulse 20 vs. Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Exped Impulse 20 | Feature | Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 3 | Opening | 3 |
| Y | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | N |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | 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 | |
| Body: 210 D Robic HD ripstop nylon Carbonate PU, 2500 mm water column, Oeko-Tex 100 certified, PFC-free | 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 Impulse 20 and Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium
- Passport pocket: Yes on the Exped Impulse 20; No on the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium.
- Hip belt: Removable on the Exped Impulse 20; No on the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium.
- Laptop sleeve: No on the Exped Impulse 20; 15in on the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium.
Both have: backpack straps, 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. 168 accept both. 0 accept only the Exped Impulse 20, and 13 accept only the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium.
Only the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium fits
Air Niugini, Air Tahiti, American Eagle, Belavia, easyJet, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Royal Jordanian, Virgin Australia.
Exped Impulse 20 vs. Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium: which should you pack?
The Exped Impulse 20 carries the same capacity as the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium (20L vs. 20L), while the Exped Impulse 20 is the lighter pack at 0.88kg (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 Impulse 20; if you want to travel lighter, the Exped Impulse 20 is the better call.