Deuter Freerider 28 SL vs. Patagonia Guidewater Backpack 29L
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Deuter Freerider 28 SL | Feature | Patagonia Guidewater Backpack 29L |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| Y | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 4 | Opening | 4 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| Y | Hip Belt | Y |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | N |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| Y | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | |
| Material | |
| 330D PA 6.6 Ripstop, 210D PA Ripstop | 00% recycled nylon plain weave |
Patagonia Guidewater Backpack 29L
| Capacity | 29 L |
| Weight | 0.96 kg |
| Dimensions | 54×35×23 cm |
| Airline fit | 69% |
Key differences between the Deuter Freerider 28 SL and Patagonia Guidewater Backpack 29L
- Compression straps: Yes on the Deuter Freerider 28 SL; No on the Patagonia Guidewater Backpack 29L.
- Built-in organizer: Yes on the Deuter Freerider 28 SL; No on the Patagonia Guidewater Backpack 29L.
Both have: backpack straps, hip belt, sternum strap.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 130 accept both. 37 accept only the Deuter Freerider 28 SL, and 0 accept only the Patagonia Guidewater Backpack 29L.
Only the Deuter Freerider 28 SL fits
Air Baltic, Air China, Air Malta, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Blue Air, Bulgaria Air, Cayman Airways, China Eastern, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, flybe, Icelandair, InselAir, Juneyao Airlines, Liat Airlines, Luxair, Meridiana Fly, Nordwind Airlines, Pakistan International, 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, WestJet, Xiamen.
Deuter Freerider 28 SL vs. Patagonia Guidewater Backpack 29L: which should you pack?
The Patagonia Guidewater Backpack 29L carries 1L more than the Deuter Freerider 28 SL (28L vs. 29L), while the Patagonia Guidewater Backpack 29L is the lighter pack at 0.96kg (vs. 0.98kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Deuter Freerider 28 SL fits 88% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Patagonia Guidewater Backpack 29L; if you want to travel lighter, the Patagonia Guidewater Backpack 29L is the better call.