Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. Exped Black Ice 30

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 2
back Passport N
N Passthrough N
Carry
Y Backpack Y
removable Hip Belt removable
Y Sternum Strap Y
Inside
N Laptop N
2 Main Compartments 1
N Organizer N
Outside
× Hard Shell ×
N Rain-fly N
2, side Water Bottle Holder N
Y Water Resistant Y
Material
500d Cordura400 D HD ripstop nylon, TPU film laminated, 10'000 mm water column

Exped Black Ice 30

by Exped
Front facing view of the Exped Black Ice 30
Capacity30 L
Weight0.1 kg
Dimensions57×27×23 cm
Airline fit17%
Price$175

Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and Exped Black Ice 30

Both have: backpack straps, hip belt, 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. 32 accept both. 149 accept only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara, and 0 accept only the Exped Black Ice 30.

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 France, Air India, Air Macau, Air Malta, Air Mauritius, Air Niugini, Air Nostrum, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Air Tahiti, 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, Bahamasair, Bangkok Airways, Belavia, Biman Bangladesh, Blue Air, Boliviana de Aviacion, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern, CommutAir, Copa Airlines, 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, Garuda Indonesia, Gol Linhas Aereas, Great Lakes Airlines, Gulf Air, 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, 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, Porter Airlines, Qantas Airways, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Republic Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, S7, SAS Scandinavian, Scoot, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sky Airlines, Skywest, Inc., South African Airways, Spirit Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Sun Express, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Thai Airways, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), Tiger Airways, Trans States, Travel Service Airlines, TUI, Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International, United Airlines, Uzbekistan Air, Vietnam Airlines, VIM Airlines (Closed), Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia, Volotea, WestJet, WOW Airlines, Xiamen.

Both the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and the Exped Black Ice 30 offer quality carry-on options for travelers and adventurers alike. However, their features vary based on design, durability, and functionality.

The Hill People Gear Tarahumara impresses with its rough and ready design. Its size (44 inches tall, 24 inches wide, and 10 inches deep) makes it perfect for day hiking. It is surprisingly lightweight, yet stoutly built, weighing in at 0.7 pounds. This bag is crafted from 500D Cordura, it holds up incredibly well under a variety of conditions. Its 16-litre capacity feels deceptively spacious and can accommodate a wide range of items. The bag also won praises for its convenient center zip.

On the other hand, the Exped Black Ice 30 is a smaller, but equally robust option. Measuring 23 inches tall, 27 inches wide and 57 inches deep, it weighs a mere 0.1 pounds. It’s made of 400 D HD ripstop nylon, TPU film laminated, managing a 10'000 mm water column, this bag is magnificently weatherproof. Despite its minimalistic design, the bag’s 30-liter capacity ensures room for your essentials. Another important feature is the multiple attachment points for your outdoor gear, further underscoring its versatility.

Here’s a simplified bullet point comparison:

Both packs have their unique strengths. The Hill People Gear Tarahumara packs a punch into a compact bag with high-quality materials and a design that is robust and reliable. The Exped Black Ice 30 offers an ideal balance between versatility and functionality for those demanding outdoor adventures. Detailed and clever design features like multiple attachment points make this bag easy to integrate into your chosen activity. Whichever one you select, you can be assured that you're investing in a high-quality bag that's built to last.