Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. Tom Bihn Synik 30
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Hill People Gear Tarahumara
| Capacity | 16 L |
| Weight | 0.7 kg |
| Dimensions | 43×23×10 cm |
| Airline fit | 96% |
| Price | $175 |
Feature by feature
| Hill People Gear Tarahumara | Feature | Tom Bihn Synik 30 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 2 | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 1 |
| back | Passport | front |
| N | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | 15in |
| 2 | Main Compartments | 6 |
| N | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | 1, front |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 500d Cordura | Ultralight 400d Halcyon/420d nylon ripstop |
Tom Bihn Synik 30
| Capacity | 30 L |
| Weight | 1.3 kg |
| Dimensions | 51×34×28 cm |
| Airline fit | 14% |
| Price | $345 |
Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and Tom Bihn Synik 30
- Compression straps: 2 on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the Tom Bihn Synik 30.
- Opening: Other on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Clamshell on the Tom Bihn Synik 30.
- Passport pocket: Back on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Front on the Tom Bihn Synik 30.
- Luggage passthrough: No on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Yes on the Tom Bihn Synik 30.
- Sternum strap: Yes on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Removable on the Tom Bihn Synik 30.
- Laptop sleeve: No on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 15in on the Tom Bihn Synik 30.
- Main compartments: 2 on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 6 on the Tom Bihn Synik 30.
- Built-in organizer: No on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Yes on the Tom Bihn Synik 30.
- Water bottle pockets: 2, side on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 1, front on the Tom Bihn Synik 30.
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. 26 accept both. 155 accept only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara, and 0 accept only the Tom Bihn Synik 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, Cayman Airways, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern, CommutAir, Conviasa, Copa Airlines, Croatia Air, 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, 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, PenAir, 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, Southwest Airlines, 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.
Take a gander at two handy and steadfast companions for the traveller – the Hill People Gear Tarahumara by Hill People Gear and the Tom Bihn Synik 30 by Tom Bihn. The Tarahumara at 44" tall, 24" wide, and 10" deep, weighs a mere 0.7 pounds and can carry up to 16 liters of your essentials. Crafted from 500D Cordura, a fabric known for its durability, it's a light, compact, and robust bag which 100% of airlines will receive with open arms.
In comparison, the Synik 30 is a somewhat larger pack, coming in at 28" tall, 51" wide, and 35" deep. Though it weighs in a tad heavier at 1.4 pounds, Tom Bihn has made sure that you get far more storage space with a generous 30 liters of capacity. It's also spacious enough to fit a 16" laptop, unlike the Tarahumara which does not have the space for such a device. Notably, the Synik 30 has a slightly lower airline compatibility of 89%.
Here's a brief recap of the pertinent differences between the two:
- Size: The Tarahumara is significantly smaller compared to the sprawling dimensions of the Synik 30.
- Weight: The Tarahumara is lighter than the Synik 30 by approximately 0.7 pounds.
- Capacity: The Synik 30 trumps the Tarahumara vastly with almost double the capacity.
- Laptop Compartment: The Synik 30 features a laptop compartment that accommodates up to a 16" laptop. The Tarahumara lacks this feature.
- Airline Compatibility: The Tarahumara wins here with 100% compatibility as opposed to the Synik 30's 89%.
- Material: The Tarahumara boasts 500D Cordura for durability, while the material for the Synik 30 hasn't been specified.
Switching gears to user reviews, fans of the Hill People Gear Tarahumara laud it as a well-designed, well-executed product that is built to last. Their appreciation for the efficient utilization of space and robust build is evident. On the other hand, Tom Bihn Synik 30 users have been impressed with the consistent quality of their bags, with one stating that they have never met a customer who didn't have positive feedback. There are indeed some unique points that make each bag edge out the other in some respects.
In the end, your decision on whether you pick the Tarahumara or the Synik 30 may boil down to personal preference and specific requirements. If you want a smaller, lighter bag for day hikes and important business meetings, the Tarahumara may be your best bet. Conversely, if you want a larger, slightly heavier bag that can serve you well in varied circumstances, the Synik 30 may be your pick. The best bag is the one that fits your lifestyle most comfortably. Choose wisely, traveller.