Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. Ortlieb Atrack ST
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 | Ortlieb Atrack ST |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 2 | Compression | Y |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 4 |
| back | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | Y |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | N |
| 2 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | 2 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 500d Cordura | PS33 |
Ortlieb Atrack ST
| Capacity | 25 L |
| Weight | 1.41 kg |
| Dimensions | 56×26×25 cm |
| Airline fit | 27% |
| Price | $250 |
Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and Ortlieb Atrack ST
- Compression straps: 2 on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Yes on the Ortlieb Atrack ST.
- Opening: Other on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Top zip on the Ortlieb Atrack ST.
- Passport pocket: Back on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the Ortlieb Atrack ST.
- Hip belt: Removable on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Yes on the Ortlieb Atrack ST.
- Main compartments: 2 on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 1 on the Ortlieb Atrack ST.
- Water bottle pockets: 2, side on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 2 on the Ortlieb Atrack ST.
Both have: backpack straps, 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. 51 accept both. 130 accept only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara, and 0 accept only the Ortlieb Atrack ST.
Only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara fits
Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Asia, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air Caraibes, Air China, Air France, Air India, Air Macau, Air Malta, Air Mauritius, Air Niugini, 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, Austrian, Avianca , Azerbaijan Airlines, Bahamasair, Bangkok Airways, Belavia, Biman Bangladesh, Blue Air, Boliviana de Aviacion, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cathay Pacific, Cayman Airways, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern, CommutAir, Czech Airlines, Delta Airlines, Dragonair, easyJet, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, EVA Air, Fiji Airways, Flair Air, flybe, Garuda Indonesia, Gol Linhas Aereas, Gulf Air, Hawaiian Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Iberia, Icelandair, Indigo, InselAir, Interjet, Iran Air, Japan Airlines, Jet Airways, jetBlue Airways, Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia, Juneyao Airlines, Kenya Airways, KLM, Kulula, LATAM , Liat Airlines, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Luxair, Mahan Air, Malaysia Airlines, Mango, Meridiana Fly, Mesa Airlines, Nordwind Airlines, Norwegian, Oman 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, 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.
The Hill People Gear Tarahumara and the Ortlieb Atrack ST are both striking contenders in the field of carry-on backpacks, each offering unique assets to the discerning traveler. Common features between the two include laptop compartments without any extra space.
Crafted by Hill People Gear, the Tarahumara boasts a substantial height of 44 inches which looks deceiving. Appreciated for its compactness and stellar build quality, the Tarahumara is disco-tight and tiny from the outside but with more interior space than you'd expect. Weighing a mere 0.7 pounds, it's as light as a feather but does not compromise a bit when it comes to durability. "It’s a well-designed, well-executed, and well-built bag that’ll last you a lifetime," one reviewer observed. Another praised its compatibility with 100% of airlines. And the cherry on top, it is made from 500D Cordura, widely known for its sturdiness.
The Ortlieb Atrack ST, on the other hand, lays a heavier set at 1.41 pounds and spreads wider with dimensions of 25 inches tall, 26 inches wide, and 56 inches deep. Despite being compatible with only 38% of airlines probably due to its wider build, this backpack offers an impressive storage capacity of 25 liters, well above Tarahumara's 16 liters, while also being crafted from PS33 known for its resistance properties. This backpack also boasts a unique feature of zip lining on the frame side which enhances the security even further, something that one reviewer muses: "It carefully integrates all the aspects I love about travel-specific bags, like easy access and a design that inhibits theft."
To sum it up:
- The Hill People Gear Tarahumara's overall dimension is larger, both are laptop-compartment-less, but weighs much less than the Ortlieb Atrack ST.
- The Ortlieb Atrack ST is made from a different material (PS33) than the Tarahumara which is made of 500D Cordura.
- Tarahumara has fewer storage capacity (16 liters) than the Ortlieb Atrack ST (25 liters).
- The Tarahumara is compatible with all airlines, whereas the Atrack ST is only compatible with 38% of carriers.
In the end, both backpacks shine in their unique ways. Tarahumara's size seems perfect for those who opt for lightweight day hiking. Its center zip is also very convenient for accessing the main compartment. The Ortlieb Atrack ST, however, distinctly suits individuals with shorter torsos and brims with multiple attachment points for outdoor gears. Their construction, either, is no less outstanding than the other with their materials offering long-time reliability. The final decision boils down to individual needs and preferences.