Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. The North Face Router
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Hill People Gear Tarahumara
| Capacity | 16 L |
| Weight | 0.7 kg |
| Dimensions | 43×23×10 cm |
| Airline fit | 96% |
| Price | $175 |
Feature by feature
| Hill People Gear Tarahumara | Feature | The North Face Router |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 2 | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 4 |
| back | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | Y |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | 15in |
| 2 | Main Compartments | 2 |
| N | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | 2 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 500d Cordura | 500D Nylon Oxford Slub, 420 D Nylon, 210D Cordura® Nylon Ripstop |
The North Face Router
| Capacity | 40 L |
| Weight | 1.5 kg |
| Dimensions | 54×35.6×26.7 cm |
| Airline fit | 3% |
| Price | $149 |
Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and The North Face Router
- Compression straps: 2 on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the The North Face Router.
- Opening: Other on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Top zip on the The North Face Router.
- Passport pocket: Back on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the The North Face Router.
- Hip belt: Removable on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Yes on the The North Face Router.
- Laptop sleeve: No on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 15in on the The North Face Router.
- Built-in organizer: No on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Yes on the The North Face Router.
- Water bottle pockets: 2, side on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 2 on the The North Face Router.
Both have: backpack straps, 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. 6 accept both. 175 accept only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara, and 0 accept only the The North Face Router.
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, Conviasa, 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, Frontier Airlines, 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, PenAir, 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, Southwest Airlines, 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.
The Hill People Gear Tarahumara and The North Face Router are two distinct backpacks with different features to offer. The Tarahumara, from Hill People Gear, is a well-executed and ingeniously designed bag made from 500D Cordura. Standing 44 inches tall, 24 inches wide, and 10 inches deep, it's a light 0.7-pound pack with a capacity of 16 liters. Despite its lack of a laptop compartment, the Tarahumara offers compatibility with all airlines and has garnered positive reviews for its perfect day hiking size, excellent build quality, and centrality of security through its zip design.
The North Face Router, on the other hand, offers different yet advantageous qualities. This larger bag measures 26.7 inches tall, 35.6 inches wide, and 54 inches deep and. Remarkably, it offers a remarkable 40 liters of storage and even accommodates a 15-inch laptop in its designated compartment. A little heavier at 1.5 pounds, the Router is made from a combination of 500D Nylon Oxford Slub, 420 D Nylon, 210D Cordura® Nylon Ripstop. Yet, this bag's compatibility with airlines is notably less, accepted by only 19% of them.
Here’s how they compare:
-
Dimensions:
- Hill People Gear Tarahumara: 44" x 24" x 10"
- The North Face Router: 26.7" x 35.6" x 54"
-
Weight:
- Hill People Gear Tarahumara: 0.7 pounds
- The North Face Router: 1.5 pounds
-
Capacity:
- Hill People Gear Tarahumara: 16 liters
- The North Face Router: 40 liters
-
Airline Compatibility:
- Hill People Gear Tarahumara: 100% of airlines
- The North Face Router: 19% of airlines
-
Material:
- Hill People Gear Tarahumara: 500D Cordura
- The North Face Router: 500D Nylon Oxford Slub, 420 D Nylon, 210D Cordura® Nylon Ripstop
-
Laptop Compartment:
- Hill People Gear Tarahumara: No
- The North Face Router: Yes, fits 15-inch laptop
According to several reviewers, the Tarahumara is a "well-designed, well-executed bag which lasts a lifetime"; it's "stoutly built and elegantly simple" and can function as the best overall solution for a daypack. Similarly, its ample space, despite the relatively smaller exterior, garners much praise.
On the whole, when choosing between these two backpacks, one must consider personal preferences and usage requirements. The Tarahumara is perfect for portable lightweight day trips, while The North Face Router is better suited for larger loads and offers the convenience of a laptop compartment. Both bags promise great durability and quality, characteristics emblematic of their respective manufacturers.