Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L vs. Timbuk2 Scheme
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L
| Capacity | 45 L |
| Weight | 1.4 kg |
| Dimensions | 56×36×23 cm |
| Airline fit | 45% |
| Price | $340 |
Feature by feature
| Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L | Feature | Timbuk2 Scheme |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| side | Passport | side |
| N | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| hideable | Backpack | hideable |
| removable | Hip Belt | N |
| removable | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | 15in |
| 5 | Main Compartments | 6 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 1050 denier ballistic nylon OR ultralight 400d Halcyon/420d nylon ripstop 200 denier Halcyon/nylon ripstop fabric lining | |
Key differences between the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L and Timbuk2 Scheme
- Luggage passthrough: No on the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L; Yes on the Timbuk2 Scheme.
- Hip belt: Removable on the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L; No on the Timbuk2 Scheme.
- Laptop sleeve: No on the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L; 15in on the Timbuk2 Scheme.
- Main compartments: 5 on the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L; 6 on the Timbuk2 Scheme.
Both have: passport pocket, 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. 85 accept both. 0 accept only the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L, and 95 accept only the Timbuk2 Scheme.
Only the Timbuk2 Scheme fits
Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air Caraibes, Air China, Air France, Air India, Air Malta, Air Mauritius, Air Niugini, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Air Tahiti, All Nipon Airways, American Eagle, ANA, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Austrian, Azerbaijan Airlines, Belavia, Blue Air, Boliviana de Aviacion, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Caribbean Airlines, Cayman Airways, China Eastern, Croatia Air, Czech Airlines, easyJet, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, Fiji Airways, Flair Air, flybe, Gol Linhas Aereas, Gulf Air, Iberia, Icelandair, Indigo, InselAir, Interjet, Iran Air, Japan Airlines, Jet Airways, Juneyao Airlines, Kenya Airways, KLM, LATAM , Liat Airlines, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Luxair, Mahan Air, Meridiana Fly, Mesa Airlines, Nordwind Airlines, Norwegian, Oman Air, Pakistan International, Peach, Porter Airlines, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, S7, SAS Scandinavian, Scoot, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sky Airlines, Sun Express, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), Tiger Airways, TUI, Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International, VIM Airlines (Closed), Virgin Australia, Volotea, WestJet, Xiamen.
Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L vs. Timbuk2 Scheme: which should you pack?
The Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L carries 24L more than the Timbuk2 Scheme (45L vs. 21L), while the Timbuk2 Scheme is the lighter pack at 1.2kg (vs. 1.4kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Timbuk2 Scheme fits 95% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Tom Bihn Aeronaut 45L; if you want to travel lighter, the Timbuk2 Scheme is the better call.