Review topics: ["fit","size","straps","issues","bag","quality","looks","pack","design","capacity","build","pockets","feel","backpack","zip","trip","space","version","compartments","carry","handle","travel","colour","touch","features","section","clothes","australia","side"].
Reviews
Perfect Size
"Chose this bag because it opens like a suitcase and can be worn like a backpack. I’m very much a senior, I pack the standard 5 undies/4tops/3bottoms2footwear/1coat + numerous misc items. Love the separate open storage at the top I use for sponge bag/wallet/sweets. Has been on twk riad trips, its a keeper"
— Patricia M. (5/5)
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)
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)
packed to go
"lightweight, easy to carry, will use all options, holds what I need for my trips away, easy to pack, good quality, very well made, would recommend this one , only thing I could not work out was the placement of the laptop t though this was not a problem for me as I don't take it often."
— lesley (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)
More than just a Carry On
"I recently used your Lighthaul Carry-On v. 3 in backpack configuration with a Glueon as an attached frontpack to complete the 800km Camino Frances pilgrimage walk from Saint Jean Pied de Port in France, over the Pyrenees and finishing in Santiago de Compostela. The bags and system as I put it together were great being comfortable, durable, and with ample capacity to carry gear between 25km to 31km each day for the 43 day experience. The Lighthaul I have now bought another 4 of in the last few weeks so the entire family has one each. It is an excellent versatile product."
— Shayne B. (5/5)