Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
| Capacity | 16 L |
| Weight | 0.7 kg |
| Dimensions | 44×24×10 cm |
| Airline fit | 100% |
| Price | $125 |
| Hill People Gear Tarahumara | Feature | Osprey Farpoint® Trek Pack 55 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| S | Compression | S |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 1 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| S | Backpack | S |
| R | Hip Belt | S |
| S | Sternum Strap | S |
| Inside | ||
| 0 | Laptop | 15 |
| 2 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | R |
| 2 | Water Bottle Holder | 2 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 500D Cordura | 420HD Nylon Packcloth |
| Capacity | 55 L |
| Weight | 1.9 kg |
| Dimensions | 73×36×23 cm |
| Airline fit | 88% |
| Price | $220 |
When it comes to the realm of high-grade backpacks, the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and the Osprey Farpoint® Trek Pack 55 stand out. Hill People Gear offers the Tarahumara, a rather robust pack with a streamlined design. It measures at 44 inches tall and is fashioned from hard-wearing 500D Cordura. Surprisingly lightweight at just 0.7 pounds, its 16 liters of storage space is manageable and efficient, perfect for a quick expedition or a day trip.
Contrasting this, the Osprey Farpoint® Trek Pack 55 is a beast of a backpack, intended for heavy-duty excursions with its whopping 55 liters of storage. It’s a tad heavier at 1.9 pounds, and measures in at 23 inches tall, yet its design conserves a sleek nature. Constructed from 420HD Nylon Packcloth, this behemoth is built to withstand wear and tear.
To give you a brief overview of their differences, let's summarize:
Most reviewers rave about Tarahumara's compactness and build quality. "...the Tara is still the best overall solution I’ve found to the one-daypack question. Stoutly built and elegantly simple, it can do just about anything 1000 cubic inches can do," one user gushes. In contrast, the Farpoint® is praised for its load-carrying prowess and versatility, receiving such comments like "The best for this bag is actually round-the-world or gap-year travelers who will travel mostly overland."
Ultimately, the best backpack depends on the user's needs. Both these carry-ons are acclaimed for their individual strengths—the Hill People Gear Tarahumara for its lightweight design and rugged materials, and the Osprey Farpoint® Trek Pack 55 for its superior carrying capacity and comfort.