Deuter Gigant vs. Fjallraven Vardag 28
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Deuter Gigant | Feature | Fjallraven Vardag 28 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 2 | Compression | 2 |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 4 | Opening | 4 |
| top | Passport | top |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| 17in | Laptop | 15in |
| 6 | Main Compartments | 3 |
| Y | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | 2, side |
| N | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 300D PES Ripstop, PFAS free | 100% polyester 600D (recycled) |
Fjallraven Vardag 28
| Capacity | 28 L |
| Weight | 0.8 kg |
| Dimensions | 50×29×18 cm |
| Airline fit | 92% |
| Price | $100 |
Key differences between the Deuter Gigant and Fjallraven Vardag 28
- Sternum strap: Yes on the Deuter Gigant; Removable on the Fjallraven Vardag 28.
- Laptop sleeve: 17in on the Deuter Gigant; 15in on the Fjallraven Vardag 28.
- Main compartments: 6 on the Deuter Gigant; 3 on the Fjallraven Vardag 28.
- Built-in organizer: Yes on the Deuter Gigant; No on the Fjallraven Vardag 28.
- Water resistant: No on the Deuter Gigant; Yes on the Fjallraven Vardag 28.
Both have: compression straps, passport pocket, backpack straps, hip belt, 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. 137 accept both. 0 accept only the Deuter Gigant, and 36 accept only the Fjallraven Vardag 28.
Only the Fjallraven Vardag 28 fits
Air Baltic, Air China, Air Malta, Air Niugini, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Belavia, Blue Air, Bulgaria Air, China Eastern, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, flybe, Icelandair, InselAir, Juneyao Airlines, Liat Airlines, Luxair, Meridiana Fly, Nordwind Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, Ryanair, S7, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sun Express, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), TUI, Ukraine International, VIM Airlines (Closed), Volotea, Xiamen.
Deuter Gigant vs. Fjallraven Vardag 28: which should you pack?
The Deuter Gigant carries 4L more than the Fjallraven Vardag 28 (32L vs. 28L), while the Fjallraven Vardag 28 is the lighter pack at 0.8kg (vs. 1.1kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Fjallraven Vardag 28 fits 92% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Deuter Gigant; if you want to travel lighter, the Fjallraven Vardag 28 is the better call.