HEIMPLANET Monolith Rucksack 45+ vs. Ortlieb Messenger Bag

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

HEIMPLANET Monolith Rucksack 45+

Front facing view of the HEIMPLANET Monolith Rucksack 45+
Capacity45 L
Weight1.9 kg
Dimensions63×33×29 cm
Airline fit1%
Price$199

Feature by feature

HEIMPLANET Monolith Rucksack 45+FeatureOrtlieb Messenger Bag
Storage
Y Compression N
None Expanded Capacity None
4 Opening 2
N Passport N
N Passthrough N
Carry
Y Backpack Y
removable Hip Belt removable
removable Sternum Strap removable
Inside
15in Laptop N
1 Main Compartments 1
N Organizer N
Outside
× Hard Shell ×
N Rain-fly N
N Water Bottle Holder N
Y Water Resistant Y
Material
840 D Ballistic Nylon, PU coated 1680 D Ballistic Nylon, PU coatedPD620, PS620C

Ortlieb Messenger Bag

Front facing view of the Ortlieb Messenger Bag
Capacity39 L
Weight1.3 kg
Dimensions50×39×15 cm
Airline fit59%
Price$140

Key differences between the HEIMPLANET Monolith Rucksack 45+ and Ortlieb Messenger Bag

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. 2 accept both. 0 accept only the HEIMPLANET Monolith Rucksack 45+, and 109 accept only the Ortlieb Messenger Bag.

Only the Ortlieb Messenger Bag fits

Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Air Astana, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air Caraibes, Air China, Air Europa, Air Koryo, Air Malta, Air New Zealand, Air Nostrum, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Air Tahiti Nui, All Nipon Airways, ANA, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Atlas Global, Austrian, Azerbaijan Airlines, Azul Linhas, Belavia, Blue Air, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Caribbean Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Croatia Air, Cubana de Aviacion, Czech Airlines, EL AL, Enter Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Flair Air, Frontier Airlines, Gol Linhas Aereas, Hainan Airlines, Iberia, Icelandair, Interjet, Iran Air, Iran Aseman Air, Island Air, Japan Airlines, Jet2, Juneyao Airlines, Korean Air, Kuwait Air, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Luxair, Mahan Air, Meridiana Fly, Mesa Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Monarch Airlines, Nordwind Airlines, Norwegian, Oman Air, Onur Air, Peach, PenAir, Philippine Airlines, Porter Airlines, Royal Air Morocco, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, S7, SAS Scandinavian, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, SilkAir, Silver Airways, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines, SpiceJet, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country, Sun Express, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, TAAG Angola, TAM Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Thai Airways, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), Travel Service Airlines, TUI, Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International, Ural Airlines, Uzbekistan Air, VIM Airlines (Closed), Volotea, WOW Airlines, Xiamen.

HEIMPLANET Monolith Rucksack 45+ vs. Ortlieb Messenger Bag: which should you pack?

The HEIMPLANET Monolith Rucksack 45+ carries 6L more than the Ortlieb Messenger Bag (45L vs. 39L), while the Ortlieb Messenger Bag is the lighter pack at 1.3kg (vs. 1.9kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Ortlieb Messenger Bag fits 59% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the HEIMPLANET Monolith Rucksack 45+; if you want to travel lighter, the Ortlieb Messenger Bag is the better call.