Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. Jansport Agave

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 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 Cordura420 Polyester Dobby, 210 Nylon Point Dobby

Jansport Agave

by Jansport
Front facing view of the Jansport Agave
Capacity32 L
Weight0.7 kg
Dimensions49×35×22 cm
Airline fit72%
Price$70

Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and Jansport Agave

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. 136 accept both. 45 accept only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara, and 0 accept only the Jansport Agave.

Only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara fits

Air Baltic, Air China, Air Malta, Air Niugini, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Air Tahiti, American Eagle, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Belavia, Blue Air, Bulgaria Air, Cayman Airways, China Eastern, easyJet, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, flybe, Great Lakes Airlines, Gulf Air, Icelandair, InselAir, Juneyao Airlines, Liat Airlines, Luxair, Meridiana Fly, Nordwind Airlines, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Royal Brunei Airlines, Ryanair, S7, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sun Express, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), TUI, Ukraine International, VIM Airlines (Closed), Virgin Australia, Volotea, Xiamen.

The Hill People Gear Tarahumara is a rugged and utilitarian backpack, designed for carrying on the essentials. It stands tall and sturdy, measuring 44 inches in height, 24 inches in width and 10 inches in depth. Weighing in at 0.7 pounds, its deceptively lightweight structure doesn't compromise on the space; it offers a 16 liter capacity. Designed with 500D Cordura, it's set for a long lifespan of rugged use. Though it lacks a laptop compartment, this backpack's compatibility with 100% of airlines makes it a great travel companion.

On the other hand, the Jansport Agave exhibits a more sleek, modern design. Towering 22 inches tall, with a capacious width of 35 inches and a whopping depth of 49 inches, it is a voluminous carry-on choice. Like the Tarahumara, it weighs 0.7 pounds, but offers double the space with a 32 liter capacity. Though made of a blend of 420 Polyester Dobby and 210 Nylon Point Dobby, it's sturdy and built for the long haul. The Agave goes one up with a 15-inch laptop compartment, however, its compatibility rate slips to 67% with airlines.

The Hill People Gear Tarahumara comes highly recommended by reviewers for its simple design, supreme build quality, and for being a lifetime investment. A perfect solution for day-hiking, its center zip feature is praised for its security and accessibility. Conversely, the standout features of the Jansport Agave include its ergonomic breathable straps and an admin pocket for organized storage which, according to reviewers, can pack a lot more than it seems. Thus, the right choice hinges on your specific needs and preferences. Whether you're looking for a sturdy, simple design with all-around compatibility, or a more capacious backpack with handy extras, both these backpacks shine in their respective categories.