Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium vs. Cotopaxi Cusco Backpack 26L
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium
| Capacity | 20 L |
| Weight | 0.96 kg |
| Dimensions | 44×28×13 cm |
| Airline fit | 96% |
| Price | $180 |
Feature by feature
| Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium | Feature | Cotopaxi Cusco Backpack 26L |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 3 | Opening | 4 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| N | Hip Belt | N |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 15in | Laptop | 15in |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2 | Water Bottle Holder | 2 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| G-1000® HeavyDuty Eco: 65% polyester, 35% cotton | 100% repurposed 600D polyester |
Cotopaxi Cusco Backpack 26L
| Capacity | 26 L |
| Weight | 0.7 kg |
| Dimensions | 53×33×23 cm |
| Airline fit | 70% |
| Price | $110 |
Key differences between the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium and Cotopaxi Cusco Backpack 26L
- Opening: Top flap on the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium; Top zip on the Cotopaxi Cusco Backpack 26L.
- Built-in organizer: No on the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium; Yes on the Cotopaxi Cusco Backpack 26L.
Both have: backpack straps, sternum strap, 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. 132 accept both. 49 accept only the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium, and 0 accept only the Cotopaxi Cusco Backpack 26L.
Only the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium fits
Air Baltic, Air China, Air Malta, Air Niugini, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Air Tahiti, American Eagle, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Belavia, Blue Air, Bulgaria Air, China Eastern, easyJet, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, Etihad Airways, flybe, Great Lakes Airlines, Gulf Air, Icelandair, InselAir, Juneyao Airlines, Liat Airlines, Luxair, Meridiana Fly, Nordwind Airlines, Oman Air, Pakistan International, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, S7, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sun Express, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), TUI, Ukraine International, VIM Airlines (Closed), Virgin Australia, Volotea, Xiamen.
Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium vs. Cotopaxi Cusco Backpack 26L: which should you pack?
The Cotopaxi Cusco Backpack 26L carries 6L more than the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium (20L vs. 26L), while the Cotopaxi Cusco Backpack 26L is the lighter pack at 0.7kg (vs. 0.96kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Fjallraven Rucksack No. 21 Medium fits 96% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Cotopaxi Cusco Backpack 26L; if you want to travel lighter, the Cotopaxi Cusco Backpack 26L is the better call.