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 | 44×24×10 cm |
| Airline fit | 100% |
| Price | $125 |
Feature by feature
| Hill People Gear Tarahumara | Feature | Deuter UP Sydney |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| S | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 3 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| S | Backpack | S |
| R | Hip Belt | R |
| S | Sternum Strap | R |
| Inside | ||
| 0 | Laptop | 15 |
| 2 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2 | 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 | 82% |
| Price | $150 |
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.