Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. Kathmandu Parker 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 | Kathmandu Parker Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 2 | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 4 |
| back | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | N |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | 17in |
| 2 | Main Compartments | 2 |
| N | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | optional |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | N |
| Material | |
| 500d Cordura | 100% Recycled Polyester |
Kathmandu Parker Pack
| Capacity | 28 L |
| Weight | 0.89 kg |
| Dimensions | 50×29×24 cm |
| Airline fit | 41% |
| Price | $90 |
Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and Kathmandu Parker Pack
- Compression straps: 2 on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the Kathmandu Parker Pack.
- Opening: Other on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Top zip on the Kathmandu Parker Pack.
- Passport pocket: Back on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the Kathmandu Parker Pack.
- Hip belt: Removable on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the Kathmandu Parker Pack.
- Laptop sleeve: No on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 17in on the Kathmandu Parker Pack.
- Built-in organizer: No on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Yes on the Kathmandu Parker Pack.
- Rain cover: No on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Optional on the Kathmandu Parker Pack.
- Water bottle pockets: 2, side on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the Kathmandu Parker Pack.
- Water resistant: Yes on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the Kathmandu Parker Pack.
Both have: backpack straps, sternum strap.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 77 accept both. 104 accept only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara, and 0 accept only the Kathmandu Parker Pack.
Only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara fits
Air Asia, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air China, Air Macau, Air Malta, Air Niugini, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Air Tahiti, Air Wisconsin, AirAsiaX, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, American Eagle, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Austrian, Avianca , Azerbaijan Airlines, Bahamasair, Bangkok Airways, Belavia, Biman Bangladesh, Blue Air, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cathay Pacific, Cayman Airways, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern, CommutAir, Delta Airlines, Dragonair, easyJet, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Eurowings, EVA Air, Fiji Airways, Flair Air, flybe, Garuda Indonesia, Great Lakes Airlines, Gulf Air, Hawaiian Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Icelandair, InselAir, jetBlue Airways, Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia, Juneyao Airlines, Kulula, Liat Airlines, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Luxair, Mahan Air, Malaysia Airlines, Mango, Meridiana Fly, Mesa Airlines, Nordwind Airlines, Norwegian, Pakistan International, Porter Airlines, Qantas Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Republic Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, S7, SAS Scandinavian, Scoot, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen 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.
We set two bags head-to-head - the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and the Kathmandu Parker Pack. Two packs, one battle. Tarahumara, smaller yet tall in stature, is built with a heart of 500D Cordura. Sturdy as it is, it weighs less - 0.7 pounds, and gives you 16 liters of stuffing capacity. An honest pack with no airplane constraints - 100% airline compatibility; it's a bag for all lands. Well designed, well built, a watchman with a zip-up center for the safe custody of your stuff.
But no daisy chain is cast of one flower, the other bag in contention, Kathmandu Parker Pack, weighs a bit more yet flaunts more space – 28 liters. It’s made of 100% recycled Polyester - as green as a backpack gets. It fits easily into just about half of the world's airlines (49% compatibility). But it does have an advantage, a compartment for a 17-inch laptop for the tech-savvy traveler. Fully functional with external webbing straps for your gear and toys.
Comparatively,
- Tarahumara is taller, yet Parker Pack is wider and deeper.
- Tarahumara weighs less (0.7 pounds) than Parker Pack (0.89 pounds).
- Parker Pack offers more space (28 liters) compared to Tarahumara (16 liters).
- Tarahumara scores high on airline compatibility.
- The Parker Pack boasts a laptop compartment that Tarahumara lacks.
- Both bags are sturdy – Tarahumara with 500D Cordura and Parker Pack with 100% Recycled Polyester.
Both packs are well-reviewed and loved, but each carries its virtues and quirks. The tale of Tarahumara is that of a minimalist's delight - spacious, lightweight, and lifelong. User reviews speak highly of its build quality, design, and the ease of access. The Parker Pack story, on the other hand, is that of functional organization. Users point out its superbly eco-built and spacious accommodation, and the external straps allowing for gear attachment; unfortunately, it's the laptop compartment that gives it the edge. Two impressive packs. To choose - only a matter of preference.