Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL
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 | Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 2 | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 4 |
| 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 | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 500d Cordura | 420D PA Ripstop Clear TPU, 330D PA 6.6 Ripstop |
Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL
| Capacity | 32 L |
| Weight | 1.26 kg |
| Dimensions | 56×35×18 cm |
| Airline fit | 46% |
| Price | $144 |
Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL
- Compression straps: 2 on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL.
- Opening: Other on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Top zip on the Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL.
- Passport pocket: Back on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL.
- Main compartments: 2 on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 1 on the Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL.
- Built-in organizer: No on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Yes on the Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL.
- Water bottle pockets: 2, side on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL.
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. 87 accept both. 94 accept only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara, and 0 accept only the Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL.
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, 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.
The Hill People Gear Tarahumara and the Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL, are two worthy adversaries in the carry on backpack game. Simple, yet highly functional, the Tarahumara stands just 44 inches tall. This smaller stature is balanced with its dimensionally generous 24-inch width, letting it snugly fit within the carry on guidelines of any airline you throw at it.
The Deuter Freerider, on the other hand, is a bold beast. Bigger in all dimensions, this 18 inch tall and 35 inch wide pack is quite the armful, yet its oversized dimensions limit its airline compatibility to 47%. Don't let this dissuade you, though, as the Freerider beats out the Tarahumara in both overall weight and carrying capacity, coming in at 1.26 pounds with a whopping 32 liters of space. Take that how you will.
When comparing these two powerhouses, the differences stand out:
- The Tarahumara weighs less than the Freerider (0.7 lb vs 1.26 lb)
- The Freerider has double the capacity of the Tarahumara (32 liters vs 16 liters)
- The Tarahumara is airline compliant with 100% of airlines, while the Freerider only 47%
- The Tarahumara is comprised of a solid 500D Cordura fabric, while the Freerider is constructed of a mix of 420D PA Ripstop Clear TPU and 330D PA 6.6 Ripstop
- Both bags can accommodate a 0 inch laptop
Although the Freerider seems to win in the numbers match, its compatibility limitations might make it a less suitable carry on option for frequent flyers. However, the bag certainly doesn't lack in praise. Many users commend the bag for its hierarchical design and its SL carry system which fits shorter individuals remarkably well.
The Tarahumara, by contrast, has received enthusiastic comments on its build quality and perfect dimensions for day hiking. The general consensus states that this pack was crafted with attention to detail and a well-thought-out design. So if you value simplicity and utility over added features and weight, the Tarahumara is sure to be your pack of choice. Just don't count on carrying your laptop. But hey, less screen-time has never put anyone off the beaten path. The world's your oyster. Go conquer it.