Review topics: ["size","fit","bag","problem","straps","material","quality","pockets","feel","design","looks","colour","capacity","build","pack","backpack","zip","compartments","trip","space","handle","carry","travel","touch","features","clothes","side","section"].
Reviews
Flawed design
"One major flaw is that when the bag is on the ground flat, the small compartment opens towards the back so your stuff falls out. You have to flip the bag the wrong way up or up vertical to take your stuff out then flip it back again to get stuff out of the main compartment. Everything else is great apart from that one big annoyance."
— Alex V. (3/5)
Good but harness uncomfortable. . .
"Great bag especially for the price when on sale. I was ready to buy 2x but I didn't because the straps are too close to each other at the top seams so they bite at the nek!"
— Fed (3/5)
Needs bigger main compartment
"Bag useful for longweekend away but needs bigger main compartment"
— Louise F. (3/5)
Effortless Travel Starts with This Bag
"I recently took the Litehaul Carry On on a trip to Cambodia and couldn’t have been happier with it. It’s the perfect size for carry-on travel, spacious enough to fit everything I needed, while still being compact and easy to manage. The design is super practical, with well-thought-out compartments that made packing and accessing my things really easy, especially when moving between locations. It was also really comfortable to carry, even on longer travel days, which made a big difference. The quality feels excellent and durable, and it held up really well throughout the trip. Overall, such a reliable and stylish travel bag. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a functional carry-on for travel."
— Jessica M. (5/5)
So good I’ve got 3 for my family
"Excellent bag for carryon. Separate laptop and drink bottle pockets, suitcase style opening, good straps with mesh back. Love it for carryon only travel and have now bought 3. Only downside is that zips are slightly basic/small, perhaps manufacturer could use stronger zips on the next iteration of this model."
— Nadya Y. (5/5)
The Litehaul 38L
"Rugged, ergonomic, and flawlessly sized. The Litehaul 38L takes the stress out of packing and replaces it with pure efficiency. If you're looking for the ultimate balance of capacity and comfort, look no further. This is Kathmandu at its absolute best."
— alvin (5/5)
Just okay
"Needed a bag asap and living in a small town there wasn't much choice. Pro - Good size, thick material, harness is okay and stores away for transit, clamshell design. Cons - Zips are terrible, worse than terrible, use packing cubes or all of your items will fall out everywhere when you open it up, the laptop comp is a waste of space, the harness doesn't come off, the small compartment at the top is an odd shape and annoying to use. I should have gone with the Cotopaxi I was drooling over (but couldn't get to the store). I've had this thing for 2 years now and have used it once."
— Sharyn (3/5)
Nice , largely enough
"Nice , largely enough"
— Elaine C. (5/5)
Solid Build and Excellent Top Pocket for Tech – Just Needs Beefier Zippers.
"I haven't taken this backpack on any proper trips yet, so I can't speak to its real-world travel performance or durability under heavy use. That said, the overall construction feels very solid right out of the box—good materials, thoughtful design, and it looks like it will hold up well. The standout feature for me (and the main reason I chose this bag) is the top pocket. It's spacious, well-padded, and lined, making it perfect for quick-access tech gear. I can easily fit my small DSLR (with a standard lens attached) plus a couple of extra bits like batteries or a compact lens. It keeps everything secure and protected without having to dig into the main compartment. For photographers or anyone carrying cameras/lenses as everyday carry-on items, this pocket alone makes the bag a winner. The rest of the organization seems practical too, with good access points and a layout that should make packing straightforward once I test it on the road. My only real criticism is the zippers. They're on the smaller, lighter side (likely to keep weight down), but I find them a bit fiddly—they don't slide as smoothly or feel as robust as I'd like, especially when the bag is fully loaded. For comparison, my older Kathmandu Litehaul (from around 2015) has much chunkier, more substantial zippers that glide effortlessly and inspire more confidence for long-term use. If these were upgraded to bigger, heavier-duty pulls, this would easily be a 5-star bag for me."
— audrius l. (4/5)
Great for carryon
"Sturdy and enough space. Not a common colour so should be easy to spot among other bags. Wish the main compartment had a divider or compression straps at least, otherwise this would have been a perfect bag."
— RHEA G. (5/5)