Exped Transit 40 vs. Ortlieb Gear-Pack
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Exped Transit 40 | Feature | Ortlieb Gear-Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| Y | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 2 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| removable | Backpack | removable |
| N | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | N |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 840 D Oxford nylon, PU coated, 1'500 mm water column Oeko-Tex 100 certified | PD620, PS620C |
Ortlieb Gear-Pack
| Capacity | 32 L |
| Weight | 1.2 kg |
| Dimensions | 64×29×18 cm |
| Airline fit | 14% |
| Price | $185 |
Key differences between the Exped Transit 40 and Ortlieb Gear-Pack
- Compression straps: Yes on the Exped Transit 40; No on the Ortlieb Gear-Pack.
- Opening: Other on the Exped Transit 40; Rolltop on the Ortlieb Gear-Pack.
- Hip belt: No on the Exped Transit 40; Removable on the Ortlieb Gear-Pack.
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. 5 accept both. 5 accept only the Exped Transit 40, and 21 accept only the Ortlieb Gear-Pack.
Only the Exped Transit 40 fits
Conviasa, Frontier Airlines, PenAir, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country.
Only the Ortlieb Gear-Pack fits
Air Europa, Air Koryo, Air Tahiti Nui, Azul Linhas, Caribbean Airlines, China Southern, Croatia Air, Cubana de Aviacion, Hainan Airlines, Korean Air, Philippine Airlines, Royal Air Morocco, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, SilkAir, Silver Airways, Singapore Airlines, SpiceJet, TAAG Angola, TAM Airlines, Ural Airlines.
Exped Transit 40 vs. Ortlieb Gear-Pack: which should you pack?
The Exped Transit 40 carries 8L more than the Ortlieb Gear-Pack (40L vs. 32L), while the Exped Transit 40 is the lighter pack at 0.8kg (vs. 1.2kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Ortlieb Gear-Pack fits 14% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Exped Transit 40; if you want to travel lighter, the Exped Transit 40 is the better call.