Exped Cascade 20 vs. Macpac Kahu AzTec® 22
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Exped Cascade 20 | Feature | Macpac Kahu AzTec® 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 | Y |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 13in | Laptop | 15in |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 2 |
| 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 | Eco AzTec® 8 Canvas — 80% Polyester, 20% Cotton |
Macpac Kahu AzTec® 22
| Capacity | 22 L |
| Weight | 0.7 kg |
| Dimensions | 10×10×10 cm |
| Airline fit | 100% |
| Price | $90 |
Key differences between the Exped Cascade 20 and Macpac Kahu AzTec® 22
- Hip belt: Removable on the Exped Cascade 20; Yes on the Macpac Kahu AzTec® 22.
- Laptop sleeve: 13in on the Exped Cascade 20; 15in on the Macpac Kahu AzTec® 22.
- Main compartments: 1 on the Exped Cascade 20; 2 on the Macpac Kahu AzTec® 22.
Both have: backpack straps, 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 Kahu AzTec® 22.
Only the Macpac Kahu AzTec® 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 Kahu AzTec® 22: which should you pack?
The Macpac Kahu AzTec® 22 carries 2L more than the Exped Cascade 20 (20L vs. 22L), while the Macpac Kahu AzTec® 22 is the lighter pack at 0.7kg (vs. 0.84kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Macpac Kahu AzTec® 22 fits 100% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Macpac Kahu AzTec® 22; if you want to travel lighter, the Macpac Kahu AzTec® 22 is the better call.