MEC Outpost 40L Travel Pack vs. Kathmandu Litehaul Pack 38L
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
MEC Outpost 40L Travel Pack
| Capacity | 40 L |
| Weight | 1.4 kg |
| Dimensions | 50×35×23 cm |
| Airline fit | 71% |
| Price | $200 |
Feature by feature
| MEC Outpost 40L Travel Pack | Feature | Kathmandu Litehaul Pack 38L |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 4 | Compression | 4 |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| top | Passport | top |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| hideable | Backpack | hideable |
| removable | Hip Belt | N |
| removable | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 15in | Laptop | 17in |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 4 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 1, side | Water Bottle Holder | 1, side |
| N | Water Resistant | N |
| Material | |
| PU coated 300-denier ripstop | 100% RENU recycled polyester. |
Kathmandu Litehaul Pack 38L
| Capacity | 38 L |
| Weight | 1.4 kg |
| Dimensions | 57×33×25 cm |
| Airline fit | 15% |
| Price | $300 |
Key differences between the MEC Outpost 40L Travel Pack and Kathmandu Litehaul Pack 38L
- Hip belt: Removable on the MEC Outpost 40L Travel Pack; No on the Kathmandu Litehaul Pack 38L.
- Sternum strap: Removable on the MEC Outpost 40L Travel Pack; Yes on the Kathmandu Litehaul Pack 38L.
- Laptop sleeve: 15in on the MEC Outpost 40L Travel Pack; 17in on the Kathmandu Litehaul Pack 38L.
Both have: compression straps, passport pocket, luggage passthrough, backpack straps, water bottle pockets.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 29 accept both. 106 accept only the MEC Outpost 40L Travel Pack, and 0 accept only the Kathmandu Litehaul Pack 38L.
Only the MEC Outpost 40L Travel Pack fits
Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Asia, Air Astana, Air Canada, Air Caraibes, Air France, Air India, Air Macau, Air Mauritius, Air Nostrum, Air Wisconsin, AirAsiaX, Alaska Airlines, All Nipon Airways, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, ANA, Atlas Global, Austrian, Avianca , Azerbaijan Airlines, Bahamasair, Bangkok Airways, Biman Bangladesh, Boliviana de Aviacion, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cambodia Angkor Air, Caribbean Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, CommutAir, Copa Airlines, Croatia Air, Czech Airlines, Delta Airlines, Dragonair, EL AL, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, EVA Air, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Flair Air, Garuda Indonesia, Gol Linhas Aereas, Hawaiian Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Iberia, Indigo, Interjet, Iran Air, Iran Aseman Air, Japan Airlines, Jet Airways, Jet2, jetBlue Airways, Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia, Kenya Airways, KLM, Kulula, Kuwait Air, LATAM , LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Mahan Air, Malaysia Airlines, Mango, Mesa Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Monarch Airlines, Norwegian, Oman Air, Onur Air, Peach, Porter Airlines, Qantas Airways, Qatar Airways, Republic Airways, Royal Jordanian, SAS Scandinavian, Scoot, Sky Airlines, Skywest, Inc., South African Airways, Spirit Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, Thai Airways, Tiger Airways, Trans States, Travel Service Airlines, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Uzbekistan Air, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, WestJet, WOW Airlines.
MEC Outpost 40L Travel Pack vs. Kathmandu Litehaul Pack 38L: which should you pack?
The MEC Outpost 40L Travel Pack carries 2L more than the Kathmandu Litehaul Pack 38L (40L vs. 38L), while the MEC Outpost 40L Travel Pack is the lighter pack at 1.4kg (vs. 1.4kg). For carry-on flexibility, the MEC Outpost 40L Travel Pack fits 71% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the MEC Outpost 40L Travel Pack; if you want to travel lighter, the MEC Outpost 40L Travel Pack is the better call.