Exped Impulse 30 vs. Fjallraven Kaipak 28
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Exped Impulse 30 | Feature | Fjallraven Kaipak 28 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| Y | Compression | Y |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 4 | Opening | 4 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | N |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| N | Organizer | |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | Y |
| 2 | Water Bottle Holder | 2 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 210 D Robic HD Ripstop Nylon Carbonate PU, 2'500 mm water column | G-1000® HeavyDuty Eco S: 65% polyester, 35% cotton 100% polyamide 500D |
Fjallraven Kaipak 28
| Capacity | 28 L |
| Weight | 1.05 kg |
| Dimensions | 57×28×21 cm |
| Airline fit | 17% |
| Price | $150 |
Key differences between the Exped Impulse 30 and Fjallraven Kaipak 28
- Sternum strap: Yes on the Exped Impulse 30; Removable on the Fjallraven Kaipak 28.
- Rain cover: No on the Exped Impulse 30; Yes on the Fjallraven Kaipak 28.
Both have: compression straps, backpack straps, hip belt, 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. 32 accept both. 98 accept only the Exped Impulse 30, and 0 accept only the Fjallraven Kaipak 28.
Only the Exped Impulse 30 fits
Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Asia, Air Astana, Air Canada, Air Caraibes, Air France, Air India, Air Macau, Air Mauritius, Air Nostrum, Air Wisconsin, AirAsiaX, Alaska Airlines, All Nipon Airways, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, ANA, Atlas Global, Austrian, Avianca , Azerbaijan Airlines, Bahamasair, Bangkok Airways, Biman Bangladesh, Boliviana de Aviacion, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, CommutAir, Copa Airlines, Czech Airlines, Delta Airlines, Dragonair, EL AL, Ethiopian Airlines, Eurowings, EVA Air, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Flair Air, Garuda Indonesia, Gol Linhas Aereas, Hawaiian Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Iberia, Indigo, Interjet, Iran Air, Iran Aseman Air, Japan Airlines, Jet Airways, Jet2, jetBlue Airways, Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia, Kenya Airways, KLM, Kulula, Kuwait Air, LATAM , LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Mahan Air, Malaysia Airlines, Mango, Mesa Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Monarch Airlines, Norwegian, Onur Air, Pakistan International, Peach, Porter Airlines, Qantas Airways, Republic Airways, SAS Scandinavian, Sky Airlines, Skywest, Inc., South African Airways, Spirit Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, Thai Airways, Trans States, Travel Service Airlines, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Uzbekistan Air, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, WOW Airlines.
Exped Impulse 30 vs. Fjallraven Kaipak 28: which should you pack?
The Exped Impulse 30 carries 2L more than the Fjallraven Kaipak 28 (30L vs. 28L), and the two are closely matched on weight. For carry-on flexibility, the Exped Impulse 30 fits 69% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Exped Impulse 30; if you want to travel lighter, the Fjallraven Kaipak 28 is the better call.