Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. Osprey Farpoint® Trek Pack 55

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 TarahumaraFeatureOsprey Farpoint® Trek Pack 55
Storage
2 Compression Y
None Expanded Capacity None
0 Opening 1
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 1
N Organizer
Outside
× Hard Shell ×
N Rain-fly removable
2, side Water Bottle Holder 2
Y Water Resistant Y
Material
500d Cordura420HD Nylon Packcloth

Osprey Farpoint® Trek Pack 55

Front facing view of the Osprey Farpoint® Trek Pack 55
Capacity55 L
Weight1.9 kg
Dimensions73×36×23 cm
Airline fit1%
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.