Exped Cascade 20 vs. Macpac Rapaki 22
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Exped Cascade 20 | Feature | Macpac Rapaki 22 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 4 | Opening | 4 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 13in | Laptop | N |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | 2 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 420 D Oxford nylon, TPU film laminate, >10'000 mm water column | 200D Polyester, 420D Oxford Nylon |
Macpac Rapaki 22
| Capacity | 22 L |
| Weight | 0.7 kg |
| Dimensions | 10×10×10 cm |
| Airline fit | 100% |
| Price | $118 |
Key differences between the Exped Cascade 20 and Macpac Rapaki 22
- Laptop sleeve: 13in on the Exped Cascade 20; No on the Macpac Rapaki 22.
- Water bottle pockets: No on the Exped Cascade 20; 2 on the Macpac Rapaki 22.
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. 176 accept both. 0 accept only the Exped Cascade 20, and 13 accept only the Macpac Rapaki 22.
Only the Macpac Rapaki 22 fits
Air Tahiti, American Eagle, easyJet, Gulf Air, LC Perú, Linea Aerea Amaszonas, Lion Air Group, Ravn Alaska, Spring Airlines, Tianjin Airlines (E145), VivaColombia, Volaris, Wizz Air.
Exped Cascade 20 vs. Macpac Rapaki 22: which should you pack?
The Macpac Rapaki 22 carries 2L more than the Exped Cascade 20 (20L vs. 22L), while the Macpac Rapaki 22 is the lighter pack at 0.7kg (vs. 0.84kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Macpac Rapaki 22 fits 100% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Macpac Rapaki 22; if you want to travel lighter, the Macpac Rapaki 22 is the better call.