Hill People Gear Tarahumara vs. Eagle Creek Expanse™ Hauler

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 Y
None Expanded Capacity None
0 Opening 1
back Passport N
N Passthrough N
Carry
Y Backpack hideable
removable Hip Belt N
Y Sternum Strap N
Inside
N Laptop 15in
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 Cordura420D Two-Tone Poly, 300D Diamond Ripstop Poly, 500D Oxford Poly

Eagle Creek Expanse™ Hauler

by Eagle Creek
Front facing view of the Eagle Creek Expanse™ Hauler
Capacity50 L
Weight0.96 kg
Dimensions56×35.5×23 cm
Airline fit45%
Price$109

Key differences between the Hill People Gear Tarahumara and Eagle Creek Expanse™ Hauler

Both have: water resistant.

Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on

We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 85 accept both. 96 accept only the Hill People Gear Tarahumara, and 0 accept only the Eagle Creek Expanse™ Hauler.

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, Caribbean Airlines, Cayman Airways, China Eastern, Croatia Air, 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 by Hill People Gear proves to be the epitome of robustness and utility. Standing 44 inches tall, 24 inches wide, and 10 inches deep, this backpack offers 16 liters of capacity, all in a sturdy frame weighing just 0.7 pounds. Constructed with 500D Cordura, this backpack ensures a resilient shield against wear and tear. Though lacking a laptop compartment, it compensates with universal airline compatibility and condensed size that suits day hiking adventures flawlessly. Its center zip is indeed a convenient feature, providing easy access to the main compartment whilst upholding security. In the words of a satisfied customer, "It’s a well-designed, well-executed, and well-built bag that'll last you a lifetime."

On the other hand, the Eagle Creek Expanse™ Hauler by Eagle Creek presents a union of versatility and substantial capacity. With dimensions of 23 inches in height, 56 inches in width, and 35.5 inches in depth, it boasts a whopping 50-litre volume despite weighing just 0.96 pounds. Its triple-blend construction of 420D Two-Tone Poly, 300D Diamond Ripstop Poly, and 500D Oxford Poly gives the backpack unwavering durability. Equipped with a laptop compartment capable of housing a 15-inch laptop, it diversifies its usability but unfortunately limits its airline compatibility to 47%. Its excellent feature, the clamshell opening, facilitates quick packing and unpacking.

Differences at a glance:

When it comes to purchasing decisions, the Tarahumara might win favor with minimalists and day hikers. Its excellent durability, compact size and full airline compatibility make it a marvelous, long-lasting bag for an excursion. Its perks include a perfect size for day hiking, impressive build quality and the convenience brought by the center zip.

Meanwhile, the Eagle Creek Expanse™ Hauler stands out for its space and multi-functional usability. Those requiring diverse packing options and a greater carrying capacity might swing away to the side of the Hauler. What makes it unique includes a clamshell opening for fast packing and unpacking, noteworthy durability, and the versatility to be used as a backpack, briefcase, or shoulder bag as per one's preferences or activities.