Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. Exped Whiteout 30

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 2
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 removable
2, side Water Bottle Holder N
Y Water Resistant Y
Material
500d CorduraDyneema® composite fabric (150 D polyester face fabric, Dyneema® fiber grid, TPU film inside), 20'000 mm water column

Exped Whiteout 30

by Exped
Front facing view of the Exped Whiteout 30
Capacity30 L
Weight0.685 kg
Dimensions57×27×22 cm
Airline fit17%
Price$279

Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and Exped Whiteout 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. 32 accept both. 149 accept only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara, and 0 accept only the Exped Whiteout 30.

Only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara fits

Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Asia, Air Astana, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air Caraibes, Air China, Air France, Air India, Air Macau, Air Malta, Air Mauritius, Air Niugini, Air Nostrum, 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, Atlas Global, Austrian, Avianca , Azerbaijan Airlines, Bahamasair, Bangkok Airways, Belavia, Biman Bangladesh, Blue Air, Boliviana de Aviacion, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern, CommutAir, Copa Airlines, 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, Garuda Indonesia, Gol Linhas Aereas, Great Lakes Airlines, Gulf Air, 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, 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, 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, Spirit Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Sun Express, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Thai Airways, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), Tiger Airways, Trans States, Travel Service Airlines, TUI, Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International, United Airlines, Uzbekistan Air, Vietnam Airlines, VIM Airlines (Closed), Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia, Volotea, WestJet, WOW Airlines, Xiamen.

Hill People Gear's Tarahumara and Exped's Whiteout 30 are both exceptional carry-on backpacks, yet they each excel in different areas. The Tarahumara is notably compact, making it the perfect companion for day hiking or casual day-to-day use. Despite its small stature, reviewers often remark on its surprisingly spacious interior, able to fit an abundance of daily essentials and even a jacket or two. The bag’s handy center zip is a winning feature, providing easy access to the main compartment while keeping your belongings secure. This backpack is also praised for its strong build quality and its use of reliable 500D Cordura materials—guaranteeing you a bag that will stand the test of time.

The Whiteout 30, on the other hand, is a behemoth of a backpack. With a whopping 30 litres of capacity, it's designed to hold all your outdoor gear with ease. It also pulls its weight in terms of durability, with its construction featuring a Dyneema® composite fabric and a 20,000 mm water column. This makes the Whiteout 30 fully waterproof and nearly indestructible, a dream come true for any alpinist or outdoor enthusiast. Its numerous attachment points ready for ice axes and ropes further enhance its propensity for outdoor adventures.

Despite the clear differences, both backpacks do share a few commonalities. Neither includes a laptop compartment and both receive high praise from their respective users. Reviewers of the Tarahumara consistently commend its simple, yet effective design and durable build. The Whiteout 30, on the other hand, is lauded for its extreme durability in harsh conditions and its simple, yet effective, white Dyneema design.

The choice between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and the Exped Whiteout 30 depends largely on personal needs and preference. If you're in need of a sturdy daypack for casual use or day hiking, the Tarahumara should be high on your list. For hardcore adventurers facing day-long trips or extreme weather conditions, the Whiteout 30’s durability and vast capacity make it the superior choice. Either way, both backpacks provide a high-quality solution to your carry-on needs.