Exped Cascade 20 vs. Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Exped Cascade 20 | Feature | Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Y |
| 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 | 420D PA Ripstop Clear TPU, 330D PA 6.6 Ripstop |
Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL
| Capacity | 32 L |
| Weight | 1.26 kg |
| Dimensions | 56×35×18 cm |
| Airline fit | 46% |
| Price | $144 |
Key differences between the Exped Cascade 20 and Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL
- Laptop sleeve: 13in on the Exped Cascade 20; No on the Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL.
- Built-in organizer: No on the Exped Cascade 20; Yes on the Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL.
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. 87 accept both. 89 accept only the Exped Cascade 20, and 0 accept only the Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL.
Only the Exped Cascade 20 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, All Nipon Airways, ANA, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Austrian, Azerbaijan Airlines, Belavia, Blue Air, Boliviana de Aviacion, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Cayman Airways, China Eastern, Czech Airlines, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, Fiji Airways, Flair Air, flybe, Gol Linhas Aereas, Great Lakes Airlines, 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, 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.
Exped Cascade 20 vs. Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL: which should you pack?
The Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL carries 12L more than the Exped Cascade 20 (20L vs. 32L), while the Exped Cascade 20 is the lighter pack at 0.84kg (vs. 1.26kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Exped Cascade 20 fits 93% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Deuter Freerider Pro 32+ SL; if you want to travel lighter, the Exped Cascade 20 is the better call.