Exped Serac 25 vs. Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Exped Serac 25 | Feature | Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 3 | Opening | 3 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | Y |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | N |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | optional |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | 1 |
| Y | Water Resistant | N |
| Material | |
| 420 D ripstop nylon, TPU film laminate, >10'000 mm water column | 210 Nylon HT Rip Stop Cordura™, 210 Polyester Oxford |
Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack
| Capacity | 20 L |
| Weight | 0.44 kg |
| Dimensions | 46×25×22 cm |
| Airline fit | 75% |
| Price | $100 |
Key differences between the Exped Serac 25 and Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack
- Hip belt: Removable on the Exped Serac 25; Yes on the Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack.
- Rain cover: No on the Exped Serac 25; Optional on the Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack.
- Water bottle pockets: No on the Exped Serac 25; 1 on the Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack.
- Water resistant: Yes on the Exped Serac 25; No on the Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack.
Both have: backpack straps, sternum strap.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 131 accept both. 0 accept only the Exped Serac 25, and 10 accept only the Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack.
Only the Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack fits
Etihad Airways, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Royal Jordanian, Scoot, Tiger Airways, Virgin Australia, WestJet.
Exped Serac 25 vs. Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack: which should you pack?
The Exped Serac 25 carries 5L more than the Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack (25L vs. 20L), while the Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack is the lighter pack at 0.44kg (vs. 0.765kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack fits 75% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Exped Serac 25; if you want to travel lighter, the Kathmandu Dash 20L Lightweight Backpack is the better call.