Exped Impulse 20 vs. Exped Impulse 30
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Exped Impulse 20 | Feature | Exped Impulse 30 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | Y |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 3 | Opening | 4 |
| Y | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | N |
| 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 | 210 D Robic HD Ripstop Nylon Carbonate PU, 2'500 mm water column |
Key differences between the Exped Impulse 20 and Exped Impulse 30
- Compression straps: No on the Exped Impulse 20; Yes on the Exped Impulse 30.
- Opening: Top flap on the Exped Impulse 20; Top zip on the Exped Impulse 30.
- Passport pocket: Yes on the Exped Impulse 20; No on the Exped Impulse 30.
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. 130 accept both. 38 accept only the Exped Impulse 20, and 0 accept only the Exped Impulse 30.
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, Great Lakes Airlines, 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. Exped Impulse 30: which should you pack?
The Exped Impulse 30 carries 10L more than the Exped Impulse 20 (20L vs. 30L), and the two are closely matched on weight. 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 Exped Impulse 30; if you want to travel lighter, the Exped Impulse 20 is the better call.