Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. Cotopaxi Allpa Travel Pack 42L

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 1
back Passport front
N Passthrough Y
Carry
Y Backpack hideable
removable Hip Belt hideable
Y Sternum Strap Y
Inside
N Laptop 15in
2 Main Compartments 3
N Organizer Y
Outside
× Hard Shell ×
N Rain-fly N
2, side Water Bottle Holder 1, side
Y Water Resistant Y
Material
500d Cordura100% recycled 840D TPU-coated nylon

Cotopaxi Allpa Travel Pack 42L

by Cotopaxi
Front facing view of the Cotopaxi Allpa Travel Pack 42L
Capacity42 L
Weight1.4 kg
Dimensions56×36×27 cm
Airline fit2%
Price$250

Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and Cotopaxi Allpa Travel Pack 42L

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. 4 accept both. 177 accept only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara, and 0 accept only the Cotopaxi Allpa Travel Pack 42L.

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 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 exceptional carry-on backpacks, both the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and the Cotopaxi Allpa Travel Pack 42L are up there with the best. Both backpacks offer excellent build quality, fantastic features, and rave reviews—but with differing specifications.

The Tarahumara from Hill People Gear is a nice, sleek pack. At a compact 44 inches tall, 24 inches wide and 10 inches deep, and weighing in at a feather-light 0.7 pounds, this bag is perfect for the minimalist traveler. Despite its small size, it packs a punch with a capacity of 16 liters. It plays well with airlines too, boasting 100% compatibility, and it is made with a sturdy 500D Cordura material. While it lacks a laptop compartment, reviewers praise this bag for its well-thought design, longevity, and interior space.

On the other hand, the Cotopaxi Allpa Travel Pack 42L is impressively substantial. It achieves more capacity at 42 liters, but it’s a bit larger and heavier at 22.5 inches tall, 34 inches wide, 55 inches deep, and 1.905 pounds. It’s constructed with a TPU-coated 1000D polyester shell and even boasts a laptop compartment that can house a 15-inch laptop. However, it only has a 63% airline compatibility rating. Reviewers have highlighted its excellent internal organization, great storage space, and multiple carry options.

Comparison points:

Now let’s take a look at real-life experiences of users. The Hill People Gear Tarahumara is beloved by hikers for its perfect day-hiking size and reliable materials. The center zip is celebrated for security and easy access. Conversely, people appreciate the Allpa Pack for its harness system that stays comfortable even when full. The well-thought organization of the bag is lauded, as is the inclusion of a rain cover that increases weather protection.

In essence, the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and the Cotopaxi Allpa Travel Pack 42L serve different types of travelers. If you want a smaller, lighter backpack for simple day trips or hikes, the Tarahumara should suffice. But if you're looking for substantial storage, laptop compatibility, and a well-organized interior for longer travels, consider the Cotopaxi Allpa Travel Pack 42L. You won't be disappointed with either backpack's durability and excellent design.