Tom Bihn Techonaut 30 vs. Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Tom Bihn Techonaut 30
| Capacity | 30 L |
| Weight | 1 kg |
| Dimensions | 50×32×21 cm |
| Airline fit | 73% |
| Price | $400 |
Feature by feature
| Tom Bihn Techonaut 30 | Feature | Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| top | Passport | top |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| hideable | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | N |
| removable | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 16in | Laptop | 16in |
| 5 | Main Compartments | 5 |
| N | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 1, side | Water Bottle Holder | 1, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 400d Halcyon/420d nylon ripstop exterior | Axoflux 400D ripstop nylon |
Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack
| Capacity | 30 L |
| Weight | 1.5 kg |
| Dimensions | 47×28×18 cm |
| Airline fit | 93% |
| Price | $200 |
Key differences between the Tom Bihn Techonaut 30 and Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack
- Backpack straps: Hideable on the Tom Bihn Techonaut 30; Yes on the Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack.
- Hip belt: Removable on the Tom Bihn Techonaut 30; No on the Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack.
- Sternum strap: Removable on the Tom Bihn Techonaut 30; Yes on the Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack.
- Built-in organizer: No on the Tom Bihn Techonaut 30; Yes on the Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack.
Both have: passport pocket, luggage passthrough, laptop sleeve, water bottle pockets, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 138 accept both. 0 accept only the Tom Bihn Techonaut 30, and 38 accept only the Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack.
Only the Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack fits
Air Baltic, Air China, Air Malta, Air Niugini, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Belavia, Blue Air, Bulgaria Air, China Eastern, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, flybe, Great Lakes Airlines, Icelandair, InselAir, Juneyao Airlines, Luxair, Meridiana Fly, Nordwind Airlines, Regional Express, 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), Virgin Australia, Volotea, Xiamen.
Tom Bihn Techonaut 30 vs. Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack: which should you pack?
The Tom Bihn Techonaut 30 carries the same capacity as the Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack (30L vs. 30L), while the Tom Bihn Techonaut 30 is the lighter pack at 1kg (vs. 1.5kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Alpaka Gear Traverse Backpack fits 93% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Tom Bihn Techonaut 30; if you want to travel lighter, the Tom Bihn Techonaut 30 is the better call.