Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. Nomatic Mckinnon Camera Pack
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 | Nomatic Mckinnon Camera Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 2 | Compression | Y |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 1 |
| back | Passport | Y |
| N | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | 15in |
| 2 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | 2 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 500d Cordura | Tarpaulin material |
Nomatic Mckinnon Camera Pack
| Capacity | 35 L |
| Weight | 2.6 kg |
| Dimensions | 56×35×23 cm |
| Airline fit | 46% |
| Price | $400 |
Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and Nomatic Mckinnon Camera Pack
- Compression straps: 2 on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Yes on the Nomatic Mckinnon Camera Pack.
- Opening: Other on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Clamshell on the Nomatic Mckinnon Camera Pack.
- Passport pocket: Back on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Yes on the Nomatic Mckinnon Camera Pack.
- Luggage passthrough: No on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Yes on the Nomatic Mckinnon Camera Pack.
- Laptop sleeve: No on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 15in on the Nomatic Mckinnon Camera Pack.
- Main compartments: 2 on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 1 on the Nomatic Mckinnon Camera Pack.
- Water bottle pockets: 2, side on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 2 on the Nomatic Mckinnon Camera Pack.
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. 86 accept both. 95 accept only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara, and 0 accept only the Nomatic Mckinnon Camera Pack.
Only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara fits
Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air Caraibes, Air China, Air France, Air India, Air Malta, Air Mauritius, Air Niugini, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Air Tahiti, All Nipon Airways, American Eagle, ANA, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Austrian, Azerbaijan Airlines, Belavia, Blue Air, Boliviana de Aviacion, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Cayman Airways, China Eastern, Croatia Air, Czech Airlines, easyJet, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, Fiji Airways, Flair Air, flybe, Gol Linhas Aereas, Great Lakes Airlines, Gulf Air, Iberia, Icelandair, Indigo, InselAir, Interjet, Iran Air, Japan Airlines, Jet Airways, Juneyao Airlines, Kenya Airways, KLM, LATAM , Liat Airlines, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Luxair, Mahan Air, Meridiana Fly, Mesa Airlines, Nordwind Airlines, Norwegian, Oman Air, Pakistan International, Peach, Porter Airlines, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, S7, SAS Scandinavian, Scoot, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sky Airlines, Sun Express, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), Tiger Airways, TUI, Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International, VIM Airlines (Closed), Virgin Australia, Volotea, WestJet, Xiamen.
Diving straight into discussing two incredible backpacks today; the Hill People Gear Tarahumara by Hill People Gear and the Nomatic Mckinnon Camera Pack by Nomatic. Aesthetically pleasing and practical, these packs will make you the envy of your travel buddies.
Deceptively simple, the Tarahumara is an exquisite piece of gear, standing at 44 inches tall, 24 inches wide, and 10 inches deep. Weighing it at a modest 0.7 pounds, it packs an impressive 16 liters of capacity. Walls of durable 500D Cordura guarantee a lifetime of adventures, while it is compatible with 100% of airlines, and a plethora of pockets for maximum storage make this a winner for the frequent flyer. "It’s a well-designed, well-executed, and well-built bag that’ll last you a lifetime", as one perfect pack member attested.
In the other corner, the Nomatic Mckinnon Camera Pack is a behemoth, measuring at 23 inches tall, 35 inches wide, and 56 inches deep. Slightly heavier, it weighs 2.6 pounds but offers an impressive 35-litre capacity. Made of sturdy Tarpaulin material, it is compatible with 97% of airlines and features a handy laptop compartment that fits a 15-inch laptop- an ideal companion for digital nomads. Admirers have dubbed it a "stylish and incredibly functional travel and camera backpack."
Comparison Points:
- Hill People Gear Tarahumara is taller, narrower, and deeper.
- Nomatic Mckinnon Camera Pack is shorter, wider, and shallower.
- Hill People Gear Tarahumara is significantly lighter.
- Nomatic Mckinnon Camera Pack has a greater capacity.
- Hill People Gear Tarahumara is compatible with all airlines, but the Nomatic Mckinnon Camera Pack isn’t far behind.
- Nomatic Mckinnon Camera Pack has a laptop compartment that can fit a 15-inch laptop, while the Tarahumara does not have one.
- Admirers of the Tarahumara laud its practicality and time-tested build.
- Fans of the Nomatic Mckinnon Camera Pack are all in praise for its comfort and versatility.
Deciding on which one to buy is dependent on your need. If you're a day hiker, seek great build quality and desire convenient access to the main compartment, Hill People Gear Tarahumara is the superior choice. However, if your preference lies with great suspension, loads of organization, good protection for your camera accessories, and an expandable bag, then Nomatic Mckinnon Camera Pack is the way to go.