Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. Exped Verglas 30
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 | Exped Verglas 30 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 2 | Compression | Y |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 3 |
| back | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | N |
| 2 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 500d Cordura | 210 D Robic HD Ripstop Nylon Carbonate PU, 2'500 mm water column |
Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and Exped Verglas 30
- Compression straps: 2 on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Yes on the Exped Verglas 30.
- Opening: Other on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Top flap on the Exped Verglas 30.
- Passport pocket: Back on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the Exped Verglas 30.
- Main compartments: 2 on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 1 on the Exped Verglas 30.
- Water bottle pockets: 2, side on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the Exped Verglas 30.
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. 130 accept both. 51 accept only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara, and 0 accept only the Exped Verglas 30.
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, Etihad Airways, flybe, Great Lakes Airlines, Gulf Air, Icelandair, InselAir, Juneyao Airlines, Liat Airlines, Luxair, Meridiana Fly, Nordwind Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, S7, Scoot, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sun Express, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), Tiger Airways, TUI, Ukraine International, VIM Airlines (Closed), Virgin Australia, Volotea, WestJet, Xiamen.
When searching for a carry-on backpack, both functionality and durability are vital. Two options worthy of consideration are the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and the Exped Verglas 30. Both of these packs offer unique features tailored to different needs, whether you're an urban traveler or an outdoor enthusiast. The Tarahumara, standing at 44 inches tall, 24 inches wide, and 10 inches deep, is compact and lightweight at 0.7 pounds. On the other hand, the Verglas 30, with dimensions of 21 inches tall, 30 inches wide, and 55 inches deep, offers a bit more space, but comes in heavier at 1.5 pounds.
- Size: The Hill People Gear Tarahumara is taller but slimmer, while the Exped Verglas 30 is wider and deeper.
- Weight: Hill People Gear Tarahumara is lighter (0.7 lbs) than the Exped Verglas 30 (1.5 lbs).
- Capacity: The Exped Verglas 30 (30 liters) significantly outpaces the Hill People Gear Tarahumara in terms of carrying capacity (16 liters).
- Airline Compatibility: The Hill People Gear Tarahumara is accepted by all airlines, while the Exped Verglas 30 only by 63% of airlines.
- Material: The Hill People Gear Tarahumara is made of 500D Cordura, slightly less robust than the 210D Robic HD Ripstop Nylon Carbonate PU of the Exped Verglas 30.
- Laptop Compartment: Neither backpack provides a dedicated compartment to hold a laptop.
Both backpacks come highly recommended from users in various reviews. "It’s a well designed, well executed, well built bag that’ll last you a lifetime," one reviewer touted about the Tarahumara, while another focused on its carrying capacity despite the small size. Comparatively, the Exped Verglas garnered accolades as the "most weatherproof backpack of 2021", with reviewers noting its flawless performance even under challenging Alaskan conditions.
Of course, your final decision will depend on what you value in a backpack. The Hill People Gear Tarahumara boasts a great build quality that is hardy, well designed, and extremely airline friendly, while the Exped Verglas 30 shines in its high durability, weatherproof material, and abundance of attachment points for additional gear. Nonetheless, both backpacks will serve you well on your adventures, whether they take you to the city or the open trail.