Jansport Hatchet vs. Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Jansport Hatchet
| Capacity | 28 L |
| Weight | 0.6 kg |
| Dimensions | 46×31×20 cm |
| Airline fit | 94% |
| Price | $76 |
Feature by feature
| Jansport Hatchet | Feature | Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| Y | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 3 | Opening | 3 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| N | Hip Belt | N |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 15in | Laptop | 15in |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| Y | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2 | Water Bottle Holder | 2 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 600 Denier Polyester | 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 Jansport Hatchet and Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium
- Compression straps: Yes on the Jansport Hatchet; No on the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium.
- Built-in organizer: Yes on the Jansport Hatchet; No on the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium.
Both have: backpack straps, sternum strap, laptop sleeve, 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. 177 accept both. 0 accept only the Jansport Hatchet, and 4 accept only the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium.
Only the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium fits
Air Niugini, Air Tahiti, Great Lakes Airlines, Gulf Air.
Jansport Hatchet vs. Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium: which should you pack?
The Jansport Hatchet carries 8L more than the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium (28L vs. 20L), while the Jansport Hatchet is the lighter pack at 0.6kg (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 Jansport Hatchet; if you want to travel lighter, the Jansport Hatchet is the better call.