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REI Trail 40 Pack vs Patagonia Headway MLC 45L

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When comparing REI Trail 40 Pack vs Patagonia Headway MLC 45L, the Slant community recommends REI Trail 40 Pack for most people. In the question“What are the best carry on backpacks for travel that hold at least 30L?” REI Trail 40 Pack is ranked 4th while Patagonia Headway MLC 45L is ranked 25th. The most important reason people chose REI Trail 40 Pack is:

There is a [women-specific version](http://www.slant.co/topics/5119/viewpoints/7/~carry-on-travel-backpacks-for-women-that-hold-at-least-30l~rei-trail-40-pack-women-s) of the REI Trail 40 available, which has a slightly smaller torso fit range.

Specs

Capacity40L

Dimensions21.625 x 13.125 x 10.5 in

Torso fitM = 17 - 19 in; L = 18 - 20 in

Weight2 lbs. 14 oz.

Capacity45L

Dimensions22 x 16 x 9 in

Torso fit?

Weight3 lbs. 2.3 oz.

Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking

Common Questions

What are the best carry on backpacks for travel that hold at least 30L?

Pros

Pro
Women-specific version available

There is a women-specific version of the REI Trail 40 available, which has a slightly smaller torso fit range.

Pro
Pockets on the hip belt for easy access

The hip belt has two zippered pockets which lets you store things for easy access (such as papers, money or snacks).

Pro
Four zipper access to easily get to your belongings

The pack is front load with four zipper access, allowing you to unzip from either the top or bottom. This is great if you want to grab something from the bottom of your pack without opening it completely.

Pro
Includes raincover

The pack comes with a rain cover that stows away in it's own zip pocket.

Pro
Plenty of pockets for organization

There are many pockets on both the inside and out to help you stay organized.

Pro
Can be used as a duffel

This is a convertible pack that can also be worn/used as a duffel bag.

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Cons

Con
Pocket for hydration reservoir is difficult to access

The pocket for the hydration reservoir is external, located right behind the back panel. There is very little room, making it hard to access and can only fit a small amount of water (around 1.5L).

Con
Internal bungee compression system can get in the way

The internal compression straps are a bungee system, which does not unclip the way most do. When your pack is full, this can make it a very tight squeeze if you want to access something in the back.