Exped Metro 30 vs. Eagle Creek Wayfinder 40L
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Exped Metro 30 | Feature | Eagle Creek Wayfinder 40L |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 2 | Opening | 4 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| hideable | Hip Belt | hideable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 15in | Laptop | 17in |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | removable |
| 2 | Water Bottle Holder | 2 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 600 D ripstop polyester, PU coated, 1'200 mm water column | 300D Dual-Diamond Heather Ripstop, 500D Poly RPVB Coating |
Eagle Creek Wayfinder 40L
| Capacity | 40 L |
| Weight | 1.17 kg |
| Dimensions | 53×35.5×21 cm |
| Airline fit | 65% |
| Price | $130 |
Key differences between the Exped Metro 30 and Eagle Creek Wayfinder 40L
- Opening: Rolltop on the Exped Metro 30; Top zip on the Eagle Creek Wayfinder 40L.
- Laptop sleeve: 15in on the Exped Metro 30; 17in on the Eagle Creek Wayfinder 40L.
- Rain cover: No on the Exped Metro 30; Removable on the Eagle Creek Wayfinder 40L.
Both have: backpack straps, hip belt, sternum strap, 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. 87 accept both. 1 accept only the Exped Metro 30, and 35 accept only the Eagle Creek Wayfinder 40L.
Only the Exped Metro 30 fits
Cayman Airways.
Only the Eagle Creek Wayfinder 40L fits
Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Air Canada, Air Caraibes, All Nipon Airways, ANA, Austrian, Azerbaijan Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Czech Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Eurowings, Fiji Airways, Flair Air, Gol Linhas Aereas, Iberia, Interjet, Iran Air, Japan Airlines, Liat Airlines, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Mahan Air, Mesa Airlines, Norwegian, Pakistan International, Peach, Porter Airlines, SAS Scandinavian, Scoot, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, Tiger Airways, Turkish Airlines, WestJet.
Exped Metro 30 vs. Eagle Creek Wayfinder 40L: which should you pack?
The Eagle Creek Wayfinder 40L carries 12L more than the Exped Metro 30 (28L vs. 40L), while the Exped Metro 30 is the lighter pack at 0.8kg (vs. 1.17kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Eagle Creek Wayfinder 40L fits 65% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Eagle Creek Wayfinder 40L; if you want to travel lighter, the Exped Metro 30 is the better call.