Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. Deuter UP Sydney
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 UP Sydney |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 2 | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 3 |
| back | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | 15in |
| 2 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | 1 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 500d Cordura | 300D PES Ripstop, 500D rPES |
Deuter UP Sydney
| Capacity | 22 L |
| Weight | 0.88 kg |
| Dimensions | 50×30×16 cm |
| Airline fit | 92% |
| Price | $150 |
Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and Deuter UP Sydney
- Compression straps: 2 on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the Deuter UP Sydney.
- Opening: Other on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Top flap on the Deuter UP Sydney.
- Passport pocket: Back on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; No on the Deuter UP Sydney.
- Sternum strap: Yes on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Removable on the Deuter UP Sydney.
- Laptop sleeve: No on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 15in on the Deuter UP Sydney.
- Main compartments: 2 on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 1 on the Deuter UP Sydney.
- Built-in organizer: No on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; Yes on the Deuter UP Sydney.
- Water bottle pockets: 2, side on the Hill People Gear Tarahumara; 1 on the Deuter UP Sydney.
Both have: backpack straps, hip belt, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 173 accept both. 8 accept only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara, and 0 accept only the Deuter UP Sydney.
Only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara fits
Air Tahiti, American Eagle, easyJet, Great Lakes Airlines, Gulf Air, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Virgin Australia.
The Hill People Gear Tarahumara sits light on your back, tipping the scales at a mere 0.7 pounds. Built from 500D Cordura, it is sturdy and able to stand up to a lot of wear and tear. It's a tall pack, stretching to 44 inches and is rather slim - exactly 24 inches across and 10 inches deep. But don't let its slender figure fool you - it has a spacious 16 liters capacity. However, it'll disappoint tech lovers as it doesn't have a laptop compartment. It seems to be fighting out of its weight class in the world of carry-on bags, with full airline compatibility.
On the other hand, the Deuter UP Sydney is slightly heavier, clocking in at 0.88 pounds. Its fabric is a combination of 300D PES Ripstop and 500D rPES, indicating that it can take a beating just as well as the Tarahumara. It's shorter, wider and deeper than its counterpart - with dimensions are 16x30x50 inches respectively. The Sydney boasts a larger 22 liters capacity, along with a snug laptop compartment designed for a 15-inch laptop. It, however, loses out to the Tarahumara with a compatibility rating of only 82% with airlines.
To summarize the differences:
- The Tarahumara is taller but the Sydney is wider and deeper.
- The Sydney weighs more than the Tarahumara.
- The Sydney has a larger capacity (22 Liters) compared to the Tarahumara (16 Liters).
- The Tarahumara is compatible with 100% of airlines, while the Sydney only 82%.
- The Tarahumara is composed of 500D Cordura, while the Sydney is made with 300D PES Ripstop and 500D rPES.
- Only the Sydney has a laptop compartment.
Quoting reviewers, the Tarahumara is "well designed, well executed, and well built". And about the Sydney, it is described as having a "comfortable harness system, a slim profile, and enough compartmentalization for your gear". The Tarahumara shines for its size, making it perfect for day hiking and has a convenient center zip. Conversely, the Sydney excels in environmental friendliness as it’s made entirely from recycled materials and has a well-thought organization throughout the entire bag. The Tarahumara has been praised for its build quality while the suspended laptop compartment in the Sydney adds extra protection from unexpected drops.