Patagonia Refugio Backpack 28L vs. ILE Radius XL

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

Patagonia Refugio Backpack 28L

Front facing view of the Patagonia Refugio Backpack 28L
Capacity28 L
Weight0.666 kg
Dimensions49×31×21 cm
Airline fit73%
Price$89

Feature by feature

Patagonia Refugio Backpack 28LFeatureILE Radius XL
Storage
Y Compression Y
None Expanded Capacity None
4 Opening 4
N Passport N
N Passthrough N
Carry
Y Backpack Y
N Hip Belt Y
Y Sternum Strap removable
Inside
15in Laptop 15in
1 Main Compartments 1
N Organizer N
Outside
× Hard Shell ×
N Rain-fly N
2 Water Bottle Holder 2
Y Water Resistant Y
Material
630-denier 100% nylon, 450-denier 100% polyester (56% recycled) ripstopDurable Cordura Nylon, XPAC Sailcloth, or Waxed Canvas

ILE Radius XL

Front facing view of the ILE Radius XL
Capacity40 L
Weight0 kg
Dimensions53.3×30.5×20.3 cm
Airline fit70%
Price$280

Key differences between the Patagonia Refugio Backpack 28L and ILE Radius XL

Both have: compression straps, backpack straps, laptop sleeve, water bottle pockets, water resistant.

Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on

We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 133 accept both. 5 accept only the Patagonia Refugio Backpack 28L, and 0 accept only the ILE Radius XL.

Only the Patagonia Refugio Backpack 28L fits

Etihad Airways, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, WestJet.

Patagonia Refugio Backpack 28L vs. ILE Radius XL: which should you pack?

The ILE Radius XL carries 12L more than the Patagonia Refugio Backpack 28L (28L vs. 40L), and the two are closely matched on weight. For carry-on flexibility, the Patagonia Refugio Backpack 28L fits 73% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the ILE Radius XL; if you want to travel lighter, the Patagonia Refugio Backpack 28L is the better call.