Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L vs. The North Face Borealis Backpack
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L
| Capacity | 40 L |
| Weight | 2 kg |
| Dimensions | 55×35×20 cm |
| Airline fit | 86% |
| Price | $350 |
Feature by feature
| Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L | Feature | The North Face Borealis Backpack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | 4 |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 4 |
| top | Passport | top |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 16in | Laptop | 16in |
| 5 | Main Compartments | 4 |
| Y | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | 2, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | N |
| Material | |
| SHELL200 | 210D recycled nylon ripstop with non-PFC durable water-repellent (non-PFC DWR) finish |
The North Face Borealis Backpack
| Capacity | 28 L |
| Weight | 1.1 kg |
| Dimensions | 50×31×17 cm |
| Airline fit | 91% |
| Price | $100 |
Key differences between the Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L and The North Face Borealis Backpack
- Compression straps: No on the Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L; 4 on the The North Face Borealis Backpack.
- Opening: Clamshell on the Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L; Top zip on the The North Face Borealis Backpack.
- Main compartments: 5 on the Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L; 4 on the The North Face Borealis Backpack.
- Water resistant: Yes on the Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L; No on the The North Face Borealis Backpack.
Both have: passport pocket, backpack straps, hip belt, sternum strap, laptop sleeve, built-in organizer, water bottle pockets.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 162 accept both. 0 accept only the Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L, and 10 accept only the The North Face Borealis Backpack.
Only the The North Face Borealis Backpack fits
Belavia, Cayman Airways, Etihad Airways, Liat Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, Scoot, Tiger Airways, WestJet.
Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L vs. The North Face Borealis Backpack: which should you pack?
The Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L carries 12L more than the The North Face Borealis Backpack (40L vs. 28L), while the The North Face Borealis Backpack is the lighter pack at 1.1kg (vs. 2kg). For carry-on flexibility, the The North Face Borealis Backpack fits 91% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Tortuga Travel Backpack Pro 40L; if you want to travel lighter, the The North Face Borealis Backpack is the better call.