Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. Patagonia Tres 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 Tres MLC® 45L |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 2 | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 1 |
| back | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | hideable |
| removable | Hip Belt | N |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | 15in |
| 2 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 500d Cordura | 630-denier nylon, 200-denier 100% recycled polyeste |
Patagonia Tres MLC® 45L
| Capacity | 45 L |
| Weight | 1.5 kg |
| Dimensions | 54×41×18 cm |
| Airline fit | 26% |
| Price | $179 |
Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and Patagonia Tres MLC® 45L
- Compression straps: 2 on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the Patagonia Tres MLC® 45L.
- Opening: Other on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Clamshell on the Patagonia Tres MLC® 45L.
- Passport pocket: Back on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the Patagonia Tres MLC® 45L.
- Luggage passthrough: No on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Yes on the Patagonia Tres MLC® 45L.
- Backpack straps: Yes on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Hideable on the Patagonia Tres MLC® 45L.
- Hip belt: Removable on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the Patagonia Tres MLC® 45L.
- Laptop sleeve: No on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 15in on the Patagonia Tres MLC® 45L.
- Main compartments: 2 on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 1 on the Patagonia Tres MLC® 45L.
- Built-in organizer: No on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Yes on the Patagonia Tres MLC® 45L.
- Water bottle pockets: 2, side on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the Patagonia Tres MLC® 45L.
Both have: 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. 49 accept both. 132 accept only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara, and 0 accept only the Patagonia Tres MLC® 45L.
Only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara fits
Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Asia, Air Baltic, Air Canada, 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, Conviasa, Copa Airlines, Croatia Air, 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, Icelandair, Indigo, InselAir, Interjet, 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, Middle East Airlines, Monarch 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.
Two micro-monster packs of the carry on world, the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and the Patagonia Tres MLC® 45L are like night and day, similar in some ways, wildly different in others. The Tarahumara from Hill People Gear is a crafted beast made with 500D Cordura, versatile enough for the wilds or the concrete jungle. It's lean, weighing in at a featherweight 0.7 pounds, and is sized just right for day tripping at 44 inches tall, 24 inches wide, and 10 inches deep. Don't let the size fool you though; its 16-liter capacity will surprise you with its Tardis-like performance.
The Patagonia Tres MLC® 45L, on the other hand, is the carry on big brother made with a cocktail mix of 630-denier nylon woven together with 200-denier 100% recycled polyeste. It's a bit more hefty at 1.5 pounds, larger too, standing 18 inches tall, a hefty 41 inches wide, and a whopping 54 inches deep in capacity terms. This on-the-go office for your back has room for a 15-inch laptop.
The major differences in a nutshell:
- Size: The Hill People Gear is more compact and lighter, with the Patagonia bag offering a significantly larger carrying capacity.
- Material: The Hill People Gear uses a robust 500D Cordura while the Patagonia is made of a mix of 630-denier nylon and 200-denier 100% recycled polyeste.
- Laptop Compartment: The Hill People Gear doesn’t offer a dedicated laptop compartment, while the Patagonia can fit a 15-inch laptop.
- Airline Compatibility: The Hill People Gear is compatible with 100% of airlines, while the Patagonia is compatible with 91%.
- Weight: The Hill People Gear tips the scales at a svelte 0.7 pounds, while the Patagonia weighs in at a stubbier 1.5 pounds.
Reviewers are raving about both. The Tarahumara is known for its simple elegance, capable of handling anything within its cubic inch capacity. Critics say it's well-built, designed to last, and its central zipper is lauded for its convenience. The Patagonia Tres MLC® 45L is appreciated for its versatility, with options to be carried as a messenger bag, duffle bag, or backpack. Praise for its spacious main compartment and organizational features alongside its stowable ergonomic shoulder straps are also noted.
In a conclusion, if you're looking for a bag that's more substantial and able to handle a larger load, the Patagonia Tres MLC® 45L is your go-to. However, if a sleek, versatile, and compact bag for day trips is more your speed, you cannot go wrong with the Hill People Gear Tarahumara.