Exped Impulse 30 vs. Deuter Giga SL
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Exped Impulse 30 | Feature | Deuter Giga SL |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| Y | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 4 | Opening | 4 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | 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 | |
| 210 D Robic HD Ripstop Nylon Carbonate PU, 2'500 mm water column | 300D PES Ripstop |
Key differences between the Exped Impulse 30 and Deuter Giga SL
- Compression straps: Yes on the Exped Impulse 30; No on the Deuter Giga SL.
- Laptop sleeve: No on the Exped Impulse 30; 17in on the Deuter Giga SL.
- Rain cover: No on the Exped Impulse 30; Removable on the Deuter Giga SL.
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. 130 accept both. 0 accept only the Exped Impulse 30, and 44 accept only the Deuter Giga SL.
Only the Deuter Giga SL fits
Air Baltic, Air China, Air Malta, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Belavia, Blue Air, Bulgaria Air, China Eastern, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, Etihad Airways, flybe, Icelandair, InselAir, Juneyao Airlines, Liat Airlines, Luxair, Meridiana Fly, Nordwind Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Regional Express, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, S7, Scoot, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sun Express, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), Tiger Airways, TUI, Ukraine International, VIM Airlines (Closed), Virgin Australia, Volotea, WestJet, Xiamen.
Exped Impulse 30 vs. Deuter Giga SL: which should you pack?
The Exped Impulse 30 carries 2L more than the Deuter Giga SL (30L vs. 28L), and the two are closely matched on weight. For carry-on flexibility, the Deuter Giga SL fits 92% 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 Deuter Giga SL is the better call.