Ortlieb Messenger Bag vs. Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest
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 | Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | 5 |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 2 | Opening | 2 |
| N | Passport | |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | Y |
| removable | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | N |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | 2, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| PD620, PS620C | Dyneema® 200-denier |
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest
| Capacity | 40 L |
| Weight | 0.8 kg |
| Dimensions | 70×28×17 cm |
| Airline fit | 12% |
| Price | $380 |
Key differences between the Ortlieb Messenger Bag and Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest
- Compression straps: No on the Ortlieb Messenger Bag; 5 on the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest.
- Hip belt: Removable on the Ortlieb Messenger Bag; Yes on the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest.
- Water bottle pockets: No on the Ortlieb Messenger Bag; 2, side on the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest.
Both have: backpack straps, sternum strap, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 23 accept both. 88 accept only the Ortlieb Messenger Bag, and 0 accept only the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest.
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, Caribbean Airlines, China Eastern, Croatia Air, Czech Airlines, EL AL, Enter Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Flair Air, Frontier Airlines, Gol Linhas Aereas, Iberia, Icelandair, Interjet, Iran Air, Iran Aseman Air, Island 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, PenAir, Porter Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, S7, SAS Scandinavian, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country, 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.
Ortlieb Messenger Bag vs. Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest: which should you pack?
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest carries 1L more than the Ortlieb Messenger Bag (39L vs. 40L), while the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest is the lighter pack at 0.8kg (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 Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest; if you want to travel lighter, the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest is the better call.