Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L

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

Hill People Gear Tarahumara

by Hill People Gear
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

Storage
2 Compression Y
None Expanded Capacity None
0 Opening 0
back Passport N
N Passthrough N
Carry
Y Backpack Y
removable Hip Belt Y
Y Sternum Strap Y
Inside
N Laptop N
2 Main Compartments 1
N Organizer
Outside
× Hard Shell ×
N Rain-fly Y
2, side Water Bottle Holder 2
Y Water Resistant Y
Material
500d Cordura140-denier 100% recycled nylon ripstop, 210-denier 100% recycled nylon ripstop

Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L

by Patagonia
Front facing view of the Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L
Capacity36 L
Weight0.992 kg
Dimensions60×31×27 cm
Airline fit3%
Price$179

Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L

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 Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L.

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 Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L are two great options for carry-on backpacks, each with their own unique strengths. The Tarahumara, shining in the realm of lightweight efficiency, stands at 44 inches tall, 24 inches wide, and 10 inches deep. It's a featherlight pack, tipping the scales at only 0.7 pounds. On the other hand, the Altvia Pack 36L provides more storage space at 27 inches tall, 31 inches wide, and 60 inches deep, though it is slightly heavier at 0.992 pounds.

Both packs feature quality construction materials, with the Tarahumara's 500D Cordura contrasting the Altvia Pack 36L's recycled nylon ripstop. Though, neither pack can accommodate a laptop, they more than make up for it with their notebook-enhanced features. For the Tarahumara, it's well-regarded for being a "well designed, well executed, and well-built bag that'll last you a lifetime." Reviewers also lauded its size as perfect for day hiking, its excellent build quality, and the convenience of its center zip. For the Altvia Pack 36L, one reviewer even praised its capacity to handle their full climbing load despite its lightweight design.

Prospective buyers ought to consider that while the Tarahumara is compatible with 100% of airlines, the Altvia Pack 36L's compatibility is significantly lower at 19%. This, alongside reviews praising the Tarahumara's enduring quality and convenient design, establishes it as a reliable option. The Altvia Pack 36L manages to shine through with reviews praising its lightweight and durable construction, proficient storage, and comfort during prolonged use. Each pack’s unique features and strengths warrant proper consideration, ensuring the best fit for your travel needs.