Ortlieb Messenger Bag vs. Exped Whiteout 30
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Ortlieb Messenger Bag
| Capacity | 39 L |
| Weight | 1.3 kg |
| Dimensions | 50×39×15 cm |
| Airline fit | 59% |
| Price | $140 |
Feature by feature
| Ortlieb Messenger Bag | Feature | Exped Whiteout 30 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 2 | Opening | 2 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| removable | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | N |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | removable |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| PD620, PS620C | Dyneema® composite fabric (150 D polyester face fabric, Dyneema® fiber grid, TPU film inside), 20'000 mm water column |
Exped Whiteout 30
| Capacity | 30 L |
| Weight | 0.685 kg |
| Dimensions | 57×27×22 cm |
| Airline fit | 17% |
| Price | $279 |
Key differences between the Ortlieb Messenger Bag and Exped Whiteout 30
- Sternum strap: Removable on the Ortlieb Messenger Bag; Yes on the Exped Whiteout 30.
- Rain cover: No on the Ortlieb Messenger Bag; Removable on the Exped Whiteout 30.
Both have: backpack straps, hip belt, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 30 accept both. 81 accept only the Ortlieb Messenger Bag, and 2 accept only the Exped Whiteout 30.
Only the Ortlieb Messenger Bag fits
Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Air Astana, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air Caraibes, Air China, Air Malta, Air Nostrum, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, All Nipon Airways, ANA, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Atlas Global, Austrian, Azerbaijan Airlines, Belavia, Blue Air, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, China Eastern, Czech Airlines, EL AL, Enter Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Flair Air, Gol Linhas Aereas, Iberia, Icelandair, Interjet, Iran Air, Iran Aseman Air, Japan Airlines, Jet2, Juneyao Airlines, Kuwait Air, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Luxair, Mahan Air, Meridiana Fly, Mesa Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Monarch Airlines, Nordwind Airlines, Norwegian, Oman Air, Onur Air, Peach, Porter Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, S7, SAS Scandinavian, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Express, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Thai Airways, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), Travel Service Airlines, TUI, Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International, Uzbekistan Air, VIM Airlines (Closed), Volotea, WOW Airlines, Xiamen.
Only the Exped Whiteout 30 fits
Cayman Airways, Conviasa.
Ortlieb Messenger Bag vs. Exped Whiteout 30: which should you pack?
The Ortlieb Messenger Bag carries 9L more than the Exped Whiteout 30 (39L vs. 30L), while the Exped Whiteout 30 is the lighter pack at 0.685kg (vs. 1.3kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Ortlieb Messenger Bag fits 59% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Ortlieb Messenger Bag; if you want to travel lighter, the Exped Whiteout 30 is the better call.