The Moderne Explorer Backpack vs. Lo & Sons "The Hakuba"

Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.

The Moderne Explorer Backpack

Front facing view of the The Moderne Explorer Backpack
Capacity35 L
Weight0 kg
Dimensions47×35×20 cm
Airline fit90%
Price$149

Feature by feature

The Moderne Explorer BackpackFeatureLo & Sons "The Hakuba"
Storage
N Compression N
None Expanded Capacity None
1 Opening 4
Y Passport Y
N Passthrough N
Carry
Y Backpack Y
N Hip Belt N
Y Sternum Strap N
Inside
15in Laptop 15in
1 Main Compartments 0
N Organizer
Outside
× Hard Shell ×
N Rain-fly N
2 Water Bottle Holder 2
Y Water Resistant Y
Material
PolyesterRecycled Poly

Lo & Sons "The Hakuba"

Front facing view of the Lo & Sons "The Hakuba"
Capacity35.5 L
Weight1.1 kg
Dimensions56×34×21 cm
Airline fit47%
Price$165

Key differences between the The Moderne Explorer Backpack and Lo & Sons "The Hakuba"

Both have: passport pocket, backpack straps, laptop sleeve, water bottle pockets, water resistant.

Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on

We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 87 accept both. 84 accept only the The Moderne Explorer Backpack, and 1 accept only the Lo & Sons "The Hakuba".

Only the The Moderne Explorer Backpack fits

Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air Caraibes, Air China, Air France, Air India, Air Malta, Air Mauritius, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, All Nipon Airways, ANA, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Austrian, Azerbaijan Airlines, Belavia, Blue Air, Boliviana de Aviacion, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, China Eastern, Czech Airlines, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, Fiji Airways, Flair Air, flybe, Gol Linhas Aereas, 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, 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), Volotea, WestJet, Xiamen.

Only the Lo & Sons "The Hakuba" fits

Cayman Airways.

The Moderne Explorer Backpack vs. Lo & Sons "The Hakuba": which should you pack?

The Lo & Sons "The Hakuba" carries 0.5L more than the The Moderne Explorer Backpack (35L vs. 35.5L), and the two are closely matched on weight. For carry-on flexibility, the The Moderne Explorer Backpack fits 90% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Lo & Sons "The Hakuba"; if you want to travel lighter, the Lo & Sons "The Hakuba" is the better call.