Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. Patagonia Black Hole® MLC® 45L
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 | Patagonia Black Hole® MLC® 45L |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 2 | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 1 |
| back | Passport | top |
| N | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | N |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | 15in |
| 2 | Main Compartments | 5 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | 2, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 500d Cordura | 14.1-oz 900-denier 100% postconsumer recycled polyester ripstop with a postindustrial recycled TPU-film laminate |
Patagonia Black Hole® MLC® 45L
| Capacity | 45 L |
| Weight | 1.7 kg |
| Dimensions | 56×37×19 cm |
| Airline fit | 26% |
| Price | $240 |
Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and Patagonia Black Hole® MLC® 45L
- Compression straps: 2 on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the Patagonia Black Hole® MLC® 45L.
- Opening: Other on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Clamshell on the Patagonia Black Hole® MLC® 45L.
- Passport pocket: Back on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Top on the Patagonia Black Hole® MLC® 45L.
- Luggage passthrough: No on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Yes on the Patagonia Black Hole® MLC® 45L.
- Hip belt: Removable on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the Patagonia Black Hole® MLC® 45L.
- Laptop sleeve: No on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 15in on the Patagonia Black Hole® MLC® 45L.
- Main compartments: 2 on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 5 on the Patagonia Black Hole® MLC® 45L.
Both have: backpack straps, sternum strap, water bottle pockets, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 49 accept both. 132 accept only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara, and 0 accept only the Patagonia Black Hole® MLC® 45L.
Only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara fits
Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Asia, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air Caraibes, Air China, Air France, Air India, Air Macau, Air Malta, Air Mauritius, Air Niugini, 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, Austrian, Avianca , Azerbaijan Airlines, Bahamasair, Bangkok Airways, Belavia, Biman Bangladesh, Blue Air, Boliviana de Aviacion, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cathay Pacific, Cayman Airways, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern, CommutAir, Copa Airlines, Czech Airlines, Delta Airlines, Dragonair, easyJet, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, EVA Air, Fiji Airways, 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, Japan Airlines, Jet Airways, jetBlue Airways, Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia, Juneyao Airlines, Kenya Airways, KLM, Kulula, LATAM , Liat Airlines, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Luxair, Mahan Air, Malaysia Airlines, Mango, Meridiana Fly, Mesa Airlines, Nordwind Airlines, Norwegian, Oman 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, SriLankan Airlines, Sun Express, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), Tiger Airways, Trans States, TUI, Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International, United Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, VIM Airlines (Closed), Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia, Volotea, WestJet, Xiamen.
Let's talk about two of the best carry-on backpacks on the market – the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and the Patagonia Black Hole® MLC® 45L. Each of these packs has been meticulously engineered, offering unique qualities that make them stand out in the highly competitive world of backpacks. What decides which is the right fit for you? The answer lies in their subtle differences, the intricacies aligned with your specific needs.
The Tarahumara, named for a tribe renowned for long-distance runners, inherently offers a compact yet capable design. With dimensions of 44 by 24 by 10 inches, it carries up to 16 liters of capacity. The pack's 500D Cordura build guarantees durability while maintaining an ultralight weight of 0.7 pounds. In contrast, the Patagonia Black Hole® MLC® 45L showcases wider dimensions (37 by 22 by 58 inches) and a capacity nearly thrice as much (45 liters), accommodated within a durable 900-Denier recycled polyester ripstop. This feature-heavy pack weighs in at 1.7 pounds.
- Dimensions: The HPG Tarahumara measures 44 by 24 by 10 inches. The Patagonia Black Hole is 37 by 22 by 58 inches.
- Weight: The Tarahumara backpack weighs 0.7 pounds, while the Black Hole MLC is 1.7 pounds.
- Capacity: The Tarahumara has a capacity of 16 liters; the Black Hole MLC has 45 liters.
- Airline Compatibility: The Tarahumara is compatible with 100% of airlines; the Black Hole MLC is compatible with 91% of airlines.
- Material: The Tarahumara is made of 500D Cordura, the Black Hole MLC is crafted from 900-Denier recycled polyester ripstop with 200-Denier recycled polyester lining.
- Laptop Compartment Size: The Tarahumara does not have a laptop compartment – its focus is gear not gadgets; the Black Hole MLC fits a laptop of up to 15 inches.
The user reviews reveal a deep admiration for these two packs born of experience. For the Tarahumara, reviewers praise its size, versatility, and build quality, highlighting it as the "best overall solution." The Patagonia Black Hole® MLC® 45L, is lauded for its durability, innovative design, and versatility in carrying style, being suitable for "anything from airport travel to car camping trips."
So, why choose one over the other? The Hill People Gear Tarahumara offers a lean, centered design perfect for day hiking and long-term comfort on the go. Its superior build quality guarantees longevity. The Patagonia Black Hole® MLC® 45L is the workhorse of versatility – a travel bag, backpack, messenger bag, or duffel bag. Its design is intuitive and simplifies your travel plans with a clamshell opening and stowable straps for compact storage. Your choice depends on your travel style and needs – both packs, no doubt, are excellent companions for life's adventures.