Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. Kathmandu Shuttle 40L Convertible Backpack Cargo

Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.

Hill People Gear Tarahumara

Front facing view of the Hill People Gear Tarahumara
Capacity16 L
Weight0.7 kg
Dimensions43×23×10 cm
Airline fit96%
Price$175

Feature by feature

Hill People Gear TarahumaraFeatureKathmandu Shuttle 40L Convertible Backpack Cargo
Storage
2 Compression N
None Expanded Capacity None
0 Opening 1
back Passport N
N Passthrough N
Carry
Y Backpack Y
removable Hip Belt N
Y Sternum Strap N
Inside
N Laptop N
2 Main Compartments 1
N Organizer N
Outside
× Hard Shell ×
N Rain-fly N
2, side Water Bottle Holder N
Y Water Resistant N
Material
500d CorduraNylon 840D JR Ballistic 2xPU, Polyester 135D 2xPU

Kathmandu Shuttle 40L Convertible Backpack Cargo

Front facing view of the Kathmandu Shuttle 40L Convertible Backpack Cargo
Capacity40 L
Weight0.8 kg
Dimensions60×32×24 cm
Airline fit5%
Price$130

Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and Kathmandu Shuttle 40L Convertible Backpack Cargo

Both have: backpack straps.

Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on

We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 10 accept both. 171 accept only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara, and 0 accept only the Kathmandu Shuttle 40L Convertible Backpack Cargo.

Only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara fits

Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Asia, Air Astana, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air Caraibes, Air China, Air Europa, Air France, Air India, Air Koryo, Air Macau, Air Malta, Air Mauritius, Air Niugini, Air Nostrum, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Air Tahiti, Air Tahiti Nui, Air Wisconsin, AirAsiaX, Alaska Airlines, All Nipon Airways, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, American Eagle, ANA, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Atlas Global, Austrian, Avianca , Azerbaijan Airlines, Azul Linhas, Bahamasair, Bangkok Airways, Belavia, Biman Bangladesh, Blue Air, Boliviana de Aviacion, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Cambodia Angkor Air, Caribbean Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Cayman Airways, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, CommutAir, Copa Airlines, Croatia Air, Cubana de Aviacion, Czech Airlines, Delta Airlines, Dragonair, easyJet, EL AL, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, EVA Air, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Flair Air, flybe, Garuda Indonesia, Gol Linhas Aereas, Great Lakes Airlines, Gulf Air, Hainan Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Iberia, Icelandair, Indigo, InselAir, Interjet, Iran Air, Iran Aseman Air, Japan Airlines, Jet Airways, Jet2, jetBlue Airways, Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia, Juneyao Airlines, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, Kulula, Kuwait Air, LATAM , Liat Airlines, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Luxair, Mahan Air, Malaysia Airlines, Mango, Meridiana Fly, Mesa Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Monarch Airlines, Nordwind Airlines, Norwegian, Oman Air, Onur Air, Pakistan International, Peach, Philippine Airlines, Porter Airlines, Qantas Airways, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Republic Airways, Royal Air Morocco, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, S7, SAS Scandinavian, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Scoot, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, SilkAir, Silver Airways, Singapore Airlines, Sky Airlines, Skywest, Inc., South African Airways, SpiceJet, Spirit Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Sun Express, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, TAAG Angola, TAM Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Thai Airways, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), Tiger Airways, Trans States, Travel Service Airlines, TUI, Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International, United Airlines, Ural Airlines, Uzbekistan Air, Vietnam Airlines, VIM Airlines (Closed), Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia, Volotea, WestJet, WOW Airlines, Xiamen.

At first glance, the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and the Kathmandu Shuttle 40L Convertible Backpack Cargo might seem worlds apart. The Hill People Gear Tarahumara is a robust, yet compact pack designed for days when you want to pack light, while the Kathmandu Shuttle strikes a balance of convenience and space.

To compare, the Hill People Gear Tarahumara is tailored from 500D Cordura, ensuring durability that can withstand years of abuse. On the other hand, the Kathmandu Shuttle is crafted from Nylon 840D JR Ballistic 2xPU, Polyester 135D 2xPU – a mixture of synthetic materials known for their strength and resilience against wear and tear. Despite the apparent heft of the latter, both backpacks are surprisingly lightweight, with the Tarahumara tipping the scale at only 0.7 pounds and the Shuttle just a tad heavier at 0.8 pounds.

Testimonials from reviewers reveal users' appreciation for the reliable build quality and perfect day hiking size of the Hill People Gear Tarahumara. The elegant simplicity and sturdiness of this bag have garnered praise as the go-to solution for a one-day pack. The Kathmandu Shuttle, alternatively, offers versatility as a carrying medium, easily transforming from backpack to duffle bag or messenger bag.

When it comes to practicality, the Shuttle wins hands down with a capacity of 40 liters – more than double what the Tarahumara offers. However, the smaller pack shines in terms of airline compatibility being fully compliant with carry-on restrictions of all airlines, putting the Kathmandu Shuttle's 19% compatibility to shame. Each pack has its merits – choose based on which best suits your needs.