Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. Osprey Flapjack

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
None Expanded Capacity None
0 Opening 0
back Passport side
N Passthrough N
Carry
Y Backpack Y
removable Hip Belt removable
Y Sternum Strap
Inside
N Laptop 15in
2 Main Compartments 3
N Organizer Y
Outside
× Hard Shell ×
N Rain-fly N
2, side Water Bottle Holder
Y Water Resistant Y
Material
500d Cordura600D Polyspun

Osprey Flapjack

by Osprey
Front facing view of the Osprey Flapjack
Capacity21 L
Weight0.9 kg
Dimensions49×34×23 cm
Airline fit72%
Price$110

Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and Osprey Flapjack

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. 136 accept both. 45 accept only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara, and 0 accept only the Osprey Flapjack.

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, Pakistan International, 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.

The Hill People Gear Tarahumara and the Osprey Flapjack are highly-regarded carry on backpacks in the market, both recognized for their distinct features and substantial value. Made by Hill People Gear, the Tarahumara stands 44" tall, 24" wide, and 10" deep. It is lightweight, with a mass of just 0.7 pounds, and offers a decent 16-liter capacity. Made of 500D Cordura fabric, it is compatible with 100% of airlines and impressively doesn't offer a dedicated laptop compartment. Customers relish its minimalistic design and robust build quality, complimenting its perfect size for day hiking and the convenience offered by the center zip.

Contrastingly, the Osprey Flapjack is a heftier backpack with a height of 49", width of 34", and depth of 23". Despite its larger size, it only weighs 0.9 pounds and offers a slightly higher capacity of 21 liters. Crafted from 600D Polyspun, it is compatible with 98% of airlines and has earned praises for its spacious laptop compartment that can fit a 15-inch laptop. Reviewers uniformly agree, the Flapjack offers a well-rounded solution to their backpacking needs.

Differences in the two models can be summarized as:

Despite the differences, both backpacks are formidable contenders. While the Tarahumara thrives on simplicity and rugged resilience, the Flapjack touts a greater capacity, wider compatibility with airlines, and inclusive design that accommodates even a hefty laptop. In essence, your choice between the two boils down to your specific needs: if simplicity, practicality, and longevity are what you crave, the Tarahumara might be your perfect pick. If space, flexibility, and modern refinement are what you seek, the Flapjack might be a better fit. Each backpack offers superior value — a testament to the quality and thoughtfulness infused into their design and execution.