Exped Impulse 20 vs. Exped Mountain Pro 20
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Exped Impulse 20 | Feature | Exped Mountain Pro 20 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 3 | Opening | 3 |
| 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 | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| Body: 210 D Robic HD ripstop nylon Carbonate PU, 2500 mm water column, Oeko-Tex 100 certified, PFC-free | 420 D Oxford nylon, PU coated, 3'000 mm water column |
Exped Mountain Pro 20
| Capacity | 20 L |
| Weight | 1.12 kg |
| Dimensions | 50×29×17 cm |
| Airline fit | 92% |
| Price | $250 |
Key differences between the Exped Impulse 20 and Exped Mountain Pro 20
- Passport pocket: Yes on the Exped Impulse 20; No on the Exped Mountain Pro 20.
- Water bottle pockets: 2 on the Exped Impulse 20; No on the Exped Mountain Pro 20.
Both have: backpack straps, hip belt, sternum strap, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 167 accept both. 1 accept only the Exped Impulse 20, and 6 accept only the Exped Mountain Pro 20.
Only the Exped Impulse 20 fits
Great Lakes Airlines.
Only the Exped Mountain Pro 20 fits
Air Niugini, Belavia, Etihad Airways, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian.
Exped Impulse 20 vs. Exped Mountain Pro 20: which should you pack?
The Exped Impulse 20 carries the same capacity as the Exped Mountain Pro 20 (20L vs. 20L), while the Exped Impulse 20 is the lighter pack at 0.88kg (vs. 1.12kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Exped Mountain Pro 20 fits 92% 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.