Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. KS Ultralight Tao

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 N
None Expanded Capacity None
0 Opening 0
back Passport top
N Passthrough N
Carry
Y Backpack Y
removable Hip Belt removable
Y Sternum Strap removable
Inside
N Laptop N
2 Main Compartments 2
N Organizer N
Outside
× Hard Shell ×
N Rain-fly N
2, side Water Bottle Holder N
Y Water Resistant Y
Material
500d CorduraX-pac VX 07YKK "waterproof zip"

KS Ultralight Tao

by KS Ultralight Gear
Front facing view of the KS Ultralight Tao
Capacity35 L
Weight0.3 kg
Dimensions71×30×18 cm
Airline fit1%
Price$150

Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and KS Ultralight Tao

Both have: backpack straps, hip belt, water resistant.

Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on

We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 2 accept both. 179 accept only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara, and 0 accept only the KS Ultralight Tao.

Only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara fits

Adria Airways, 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 New Zealand, 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, Island 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 Country, 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 is a compact, well-built backpack that's perfect for day trips or light packing. It's made from durable 500D Cordura, providing strength, resilience, and less weight. It's smaller than the KS Ultralight Tao, but it's highly compatible and efficient - accommodating to all airlines. Plus, a laptop compartment, though it doesn't fit any laptop size, adds value. Reviewers appreciate its capacity, simple design, and lasting durability. They liken its internal space to a "Tardis", surprisingly vast despite its outward appearance.

Then, there's the KS Ultralight Tao, a lighter and spacious alternative for the intrepid traveler valuing minimal weight. The pack impressively weighs just 0.3 pounds but carries plenty, with a capacity of 35 litres. Although not as universally airline-friendly as the Tarahumara (89%), the Tao still fares well in this regard. It's made of X-pac VX 07YKK "waterproof zip", providing more than just durability but waterproof customization too. Its laptop compartment doesn't fit any size either, but its frameless, comfortable-to-carry design soothes.

In bullet form, the key contrasts are:

The Tarahumara excels in build quality and material reliability, with the center zip drawing specific praise for its security and accessibility. It's a perfect pack for day hiking or light adventure, offering a great combination of dependability, size, and function.

The Tao, on the other hand, captures attention for its remarkably light weight, while not compromising on comfort or durability. Its spacious design and comfortable shoulder straps make it an alluring pick for those seeking lightness and simplicity. Respective merits considered, both backpacks offer great value, each appealing to different travel styles and preferences. Think of what your journey demands; then, choose accordingly.