Deuter Ypsilon vs. Deuter Giga EL
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Deuter Ypsilon | Feature | Deuter Giga EL |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 4 | Opening | 4 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| removable | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| N | Laptop | 17in |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| Y | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| Y | Rain-fly | removable |
| 2 | Water Bottle Holder | 2 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| PES 600 Coat, 600D PES | 300D PES Ripstop |
Key differences between the Deuter Ypsilon and Deuter Giga EL
- Sternum strap: Removable on the Deuter Ypsilon; Yes on the Deuter Giga EL.
- Laptop sleeve: No on the Deuter Ypsilon; 17in on the Deuter Giga EL.
- Rain cover: Yes on the Deuter Ypsilon; Removable on the Deuter Giga EL.
Both have: backpack straps, hip belt, built-in organizer, 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. 75 accept both. 4 accept only the Deuter Ypsilon, and 94 accept only the Deuter Giga EL.
Only the Deuter Ypsilon fits
Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska.
Only the Deuter Giga EL fits
Air Asia, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air China, Air Macau, Air Malta, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Air Wisconsin, AirAsiaX, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Austrian, Avianca , Azerbaijan Airlines, Bahamasair, Bangkok Airways, Biman Bangladesh, Blue Air, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cathay Pacific, Cayman Airways, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern, CommutAir, Delta Airlines, Dragonair, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Eurowings, EVA Air, Fiji Airways, Flair Air, flybe, Garuda Indonesia, Hawaiian Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Icelandair, InselAir, jetBlue Airways, Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia, Juneyao Airlines, Kulula, Liat Airlines, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Luxair, Mahan Air, Malaysia Airlines, Mango, Meridiana Fly, Mesa Airlines, Nordwind Airlines, Norwegian, Pakistan International, Porter Airlines, Qantas Airways, Republic Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, S7, SAS Scandinavian, Scoot, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Skywest, Inc., South African Airways, SriLankan Airlines, Sun Express, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), Tiger Airways, Trans States, TUI, Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International, United Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, VIM Airlines (Closed), Virgin Atlantic, Volotea, WestJet, Xiamen.
Deuter Ypsilon vs. Deuter Giga EL: which should you pack?
The Deuter Giga EL carries 4L more than the Deuter Ypsilon (28L vs. 32L), while the Deuter Giga EL is the lighter pack at 1.05kg (vs. 1.2kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Deuter Giga EL fits 89% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Deuter Giga EL; if you want to travel lighter, the Deuter Giga EL is the better call.