Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. Exped Mountain Pro 40

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 3
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 Cordura420 D Oxford nylon, PU coated, 3'000 mm water column

Exped Mountain Pro 40

by Exped
Front facing view of the Exped Mountain Pro 40
Capacity42 L
Weight1.39 kg
Dimensions62×32×26 cm
Airline fit2%
Price$190

Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and Exped Mountain Pro 40

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. 3 accept both. 178 accept only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara, and 0 accept only the Exped Mountain Pro 40.

Only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara fits

Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Asia, Air Astana, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air Caraibes, Air China, Air Europa, Air France, Air India, Air Koryo, Air Macau, Air Malta, Air Mauritius, Air New Zealand, Air Niugini, Air Nostrum, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Air Tahiti, Air Tahiti Nui, 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, Azul Linhas, Bahamasair, Bangkok Airways, Belavia, Biman Bangladesh, Blue Air, Boliviana de Aviacion, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Cambodia Angkor Air, Caribbean Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Cayman Airways, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, CommutAir, Conviasa, Copa Airlines, Croatia Air, Cubana de Aviacion, 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, Hainan Airlines, 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, Korean Air, 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, Philippine Airlines, Porter Airlines, Qantas Airways, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Republic Airways, Royal Air Morocco, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, S7, SAS Scandinavian, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Scoot, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, SilkAir, Silver Airways, Singapore Airlines, Sky Airlines, Skywest, Inc., South African Airways, Southwest Airlines, SpiceJet, Spirit Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Sun Country, Sun Express, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, TAAG Angola, TAM Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Thai Airways, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), Tiger Airways, Trans States, Travel Service Airlines, TUI, Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International, United Airlines, Ural Airlines, Uzbekistan Air, Vietnam Airlines, VIM Airlines (Closed), Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia, Volotea, WestJet, WOW Airlines, Xiamen.

When it comes to backpacks that will keep your precious cargo safely stowed away and conveniently accessible, two of the most stand-out choices are the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and the Exped Mountain Pro 40. Both are built to be robust and reliable, but how they accomplish this, and what they offer to you, the user, is as different as night and day.

The Hill People Gear Tarahumara prides itself on a gorgeous and minimal design, made of robust 500D Cordura. It stands tall (44 inches) and comparatively narrow, with a depth of 10 inches. However, it's not a slouch in terms of storage space with a16-liter capacity and a weight of a nifty 0.7 pounds. Especially handy is the 100% airline compatibility. The Exped Mountain Pro 40, on the other hand, is a more of a workhorse. Crafted from 420D Oxford Nylon coated with PU, it’s the Swiss army knife of backpacks that boasts a 42-liter carrying capacity. Notably, it measures 26 inches tall, 32 inches wide, and 62 inches deep and weighs about 1.39 pounds. However, it compromises with a lower airline compatibility score of 19%.

Though both backpacks are undeniably well constructed, the user-friendly features make all the difference. In terms of convenience and the security they provide, the Hill People Gear Tarahumara comes out on top for its center zip that provides easy access to the main compartment. The Exped Mountain Pro 40, while it also serves well for hikers, shines for those who live for the outdoors, catering to these users with multiple attachment loops and a removable, weatherproof document bag.

In the end, the better backpack largely depends on your needs. The Hill People Gear Tarahumara is the perfect companion for day hiking adventures. It may not have the vast storage that the Exped Mountain Pro 40 has, but it's conveniently sized and offers excellent build quality. For those seeking a sturdy, weatherproof bag that isn't afraid of a heavy load, the Exped Mountain Pro 40 is the best bet. It's slightly heavier but prides itself on being durable and ready for any outdoor pursuit.