Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. Deuter Gigant
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 | Deuter Gigant |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 2 | Compression | 2 |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 4 |
| back | Passport | top |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | 17in |
| 2 | Main Compartments | 6 |
| N | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | 2, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | N |
| Material | |
| 500d Cordura | 300D PES Ripstop, PFAS free |
Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and Deuter Gigant
- Opening: Other on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Top zip on the Deuter Gigant.
- Passport pocket: Back on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Top on the Deuter Gigant.
- Laptop sleeve: No on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 17in on the Deuter Gigant.
- Main compartments: 2 on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 6 on the Deuter Gigant.
- Built-in organizer: No on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Yes on the Deuter Gigant.
- Water resistant: Yes on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the Deuter Gigant.
Both have: compression straps, backpack straps, hip belt, sternum strap, water bottle pockets.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 137 accept both. 44 accept only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara, and 0 accept only the Deuter Gigant.
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, 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.
When sizing up carry-on backpacks, the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and the Deuter Gigant top my list. The Tarahumara is the taller of the two, standing at 44 inches, while the Gigant tapers off at 22 inches. Yet, the Deuter Gigant outmatches the Tarahumara in width and depth. And with twice the capacity at 32 liters, you won't be leaving much behind.
Despite their physical differences, when it comes to weight, these backpacks are lying in the same ballpark. The Tarahumara is the lighter option, tipping the scales at a mere 0.7 pounds, while the Gigant comes in a bit heavier at 1.1 pounds. Perhaps this difference in weight is due to the fact that the Gigant caters to the tech-savvy crowd, providing a secure spot for a 17-inch laptop. The Tarahumara, on the other hand, doesn't offer a designated laptop compartment.
Here are their differences in a nutshell:
- Size: Tarahumara (44x24x10 inches) vs. Gigant (22x33x50 inches)
- Weight: Tarahumara (0.7 pounds) vs. Gigant (1.1 pounds)
- Capacity: Tarahumara (16 liters) vs. Gigant (32 liters)
- Laptop compartment: Tarahumara (none) vs. Gigant (17 inches)
Material is crucial when selecting a heavy-duty backpack. The Tarahumara rocks a 500D Cordura construction for ruggedness and durability. The Gigant opts for a lightweight yet tear-resistant 300D PES Ripstop fabric. Both backpacks got rave reviews from users, with praises for the Tarahumara’s compact design and the Gigant’s versatility.
Whichever backpack you decide on, it's clear that both the Tarahumara and Gigant have their merits. The Tarahumara is a compact and robust companion for day hikes, with a handy center zip allowing quick access to your belongings. Meanwhile, the Gigant is a traveler's delight, packing ample storage, a handy document compartment, and a sophisticated ventilation system.