Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. Exped Serac 35

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 N
2, side Water Bottle Holder N
Y Water Resistant Y
Material
500d Cordura400 D HD ripstop nylon, TPU film laminated, 10'000 mm water column

Exped Serac 35

by Exped
Front facing view of the Exped Serac 35
Capacity35 L
Weight0.82 kg
Dimensions62×30×23 cm
Airline fit13%
Price$209

Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and Exped Serac 35

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. 24 accept both. 157 accept only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara, and 0 accept only the Exped Serac 35.

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, Caribbean Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Cayman Airways, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern, CommutAir, Conviasa, Copa Airlines, Croatia Air, 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, Frontier Airlines, 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, PenAir, 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, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Sun Country, 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.

The Hill People Gear Tarahumara and the Exped Serac 35 are both robust and reliable carry-on backpack options. They come from reputable manufacturers, both promise longevity, and each provides distinctly unique features to meet a variety of traveller requirements.

The Tarahumara by Hill People Gear stands out for its simplicity and compactness. Being portable and lightweight at just 0.7 pounds, it provides 16 litres of capacity—a practical choice for day hiking and daily commuting. Despite its considerably small size, it maximizes storage with a design that reviewers praised as “spacious despite its diminutive exterior appearance.” Furthermore, its 100% airline compatibility makes it a hassle-free travel companion. The Tarahumara’s sturdy and durable 500D Cordura construction guarantees a long-lasting pack. While it doesn't offer space for a laptop, this pack makes up for it with its utility and durability.

Meanwhile, the Exped Serac 35 advertises strength with its 400D HD ripstop nylon laminated with TPU film—an incredibly strong build that ensures its water resistance up to a 10,000 mm water column. It more than doubles Tarahumara's capacity at 35 liters, accommodating more gear for those who need it. However, this added size means the Serac 35 is compatible with fewer airlines (only 30%). At 0.82 pounds, it's slightly heavier but still categorizes as lightweight. Like the Tarahumara, it doesn’t include a laptop compartment, but reviewers appreciated its robustness and multitude of attachment points for outdoor gear, making it a trustworthy partner for alpine adventures.

Here are the key comparison points:

In summary, both the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and the Exped Serac 35 make for excellent carry-on backpacks. The Tarahumara is compact, lightweight and durable, ideal for those who travel light and prefer a straightforward, fuss-free pack. On the other hand, the Serac 35 with its excellent weatherproofing and larger storage, shines out as the companion of choice for more adventurous souls. Ultimately, your selection between these two packs would ride on your personal needs and adventure preferences.