Exped Cascade 20 vs. Millican Smith 15L
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Exped Cascade 20 | Feature | Millican Smith 15L |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 4 | Opening | 2 |
| N | Passport | side |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| 13in | Laptop | 13in |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 3 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 420 D Oxford nylon, TPU film laminate, >10'000 mm water column | Weatherproof Bionic Canvas |
Millican Smith 15L
| Capacity | 15 L |
| Weight | 0.8 kg |
| Dimensions | 45×28×10 cm |
| Airline fit | 96% |
| Price | $115 |
Key differences between the Exped Cascade 20 and Millican Smith 15L
- Opening: Top zip on the Exped Cascade 20; Rolltop on the Millican Smith 15L.
- Passport pocket: No on the Exped Cascade 20; Side on the Millican Smith 15L.
- Sternum strap: Yes on the Exped Cascade 20; Removable on the Millican Smith 15L.
- Main compartments: 1 on the Exped Cascade 20; 3 on the Millican Smith 15L.
Both have: backpack straps, hip belt, laptop sleeve, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 176 accept both. 0 accept only the Exped Cascade 20, and 5 accept only the Millican Smith 15L.
Only the Millican Smith 15L fits
Air Tahiti, American Eagle, easyJet, Gulf Air, Ravn Alaska.
Exped Cascade 20 vs. Millican Smith 15L: which should you pack?
The Exped Cascade 20 carries 5L more than the Millican Smith 15L (20L vs. 15L), while the Millican Smith 15L is the lighter pack at 0.8kg (vs. 0.84kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Millican Smith 15L fits 96% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Exped Cascade 20; if you want to travel lighter, the Millican Smith 15L is the better call.