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Cost: $140 (25% off October)
Capacity: 44 liters (43 tested)
Dimensions: 20.1″ x 14.2″ x 7.1″ (51 x 36 x 18 cm)
Style: Panel loading
Weight: 2.4 lbs (1.1 kg)
Laptop: 17” Laptop sleeve
Materials: 1000D nylon; water resistant coating; YKK Zips
Cabin Zero Military 44L Comparison
Cabin Zero is one of my favorite brands for high-quality gear at very reasonable prices. I have already reviewed the Military 28, which is a very good personal item pack that fits on many European budget airlines’ sizers.
In this review, however, I want to cover the larger 44-liter carry-on version, do a quick packing demo so you can see the difference in what these two sizes can hold, and highlight some amazing sales Cabin Zero has going on at the moment.
Dimensions
I have tested several styles of Cabin Zero packs so far on this channel and in my travels. For example, I have the:
- Military 28
- Classic 36
- Classic Pro 32
- And now the Military 44
I like these styles of packs because they each have a simple, large main compartment that prioritizes packing volume.
The different styles increase features as you progress, adding a more comfortable carry system and more organization, but with the tradeoff of weight and price.
The Classic is the simplest pack. It is bare bones, lightweight, inexpensive, and does not have many bells and whistles.
If you want a better carry system, the Classic Plus is almost an identical design but with thicker back padding and backpack straps that are also stowable, and it adds a luggage pass-through sleeve.
Next, the Classic Pro has the same carry system as the Plus, but adds further organization with a separate front panel pocket.
Finally, the Military version that I will show you here does a good job of splitting the difference between the Classic and Pro.
It keeps the core simple design, very similar to the Classic and Plus, with a large main compartment and only one small front panel pocket, but with more comfortable backpack straps than the Classic. The straps are not as thick as the Pro or Plus, and they are not stowable.
Capacity
One thing I like about Cabin Zero is that these packs all come in a variety of sizes. The smallest is 28 liters, and they also have options in 32, 36, and the largest 44 liters.
They also have a great filter option on their website that lets you filter by airline or bag size if you want to find a bag that will fit on a specific airline you are traveling on.
As far as the actual tested capacity of Cabin Zero bags, sometimes they come in slightly lower than the listed specs when I measure them with packing peanuts.
I have shown in several reviews already that the Military 28 measures slightly lower, between about 23 to 25 liters, depending on how it is packed.
So, for this comparison, I started out with a true capacity test of the Military 44 to see how it stacks up. It measures very close to about 43 liters, almost true to size.
Packing Cube Options For the Cabin Zero Military 44L
For packing the larger Military 44, I have a set of Cabin Zero packing cubes to show you: one large and two medium cubes.
Cabin Zero has three styles of cubes:
- Classic
- Ultralight
- Lux
All are the same size but with different features.
The Ultralight cubes are the lightest, but they do not keep their shape as well and tend to bulge. The Classic cubes are sturdier with a mesh window.
The Lux set I have here has reinforced edges so they keep their shape, and a side-opening clamshell style that makes them easier to pack.
All these cube sets are designed to fit into each size pack in different configurations. For example, two large cubes will stack nicely in the Military 28 with some room on top for a tech or toiletry pouch.
The 44-liter Military version will hold several different configurations. The medium cubes are half the size of the large, so you can either stack two large cubes side by side on the bottom, or one large and two medium. The bag is big enough for a second layer, so the same options apply here on the top layer.
In practice, you can fit any combination, such as:
- Four large cubes
- Two large and four medium cubes
Or you can leave some cubes out so you have room for other gear like a tech pouch and toiletry bag.
What Fits Inside the Cubes
What you can fit in the cubes will obviously vary widely depending on how large or thick your clothes are. I am 5’11” or about 180 cm tall and usually wear extra large, so of course, I will be able to fit fewer items of clothing in each cube compared to someone with smaller clothes.
As an example, in the large cube I can fit two pairs of pants, one pair of shorts, and two button-up shirts. In a medium cube, I can fit about four T-shirts, or about six pairs of underwear and six pairs of socks.
This is about the maximum amount of clothes I generally take for trips with mild weather. I recommend what is called a capsule wardrobe, which is a combination of clothes that can be mixed together to create different matching outfits.
For example, a typical capsule might be two to three pairs of pants, three to four shirts, several tops such as polos or button-ups, and four or so pairs of socks and underwear.
If I were traveling in the summer, this would be all I would take for clothes. However, I may need a larger bag like the 44-liter Military if the weather is colder and I need more room for a jacket, hat, gloves, and maybe a second pair of shoes.
Packing for Colder Weather
In that case, bumping up to a larger carry-on like the Military 44 makes sense. In addition to the clothing I already mentioned, I would add a sweater I can layer with a puffy jacket, a couple of pairs of thin leggings I can wear under my pants for extra warmth, and a lighter pair of comfortable shoes.
In addition, I would add a small toiletry bag, a small tech cube with charger, battery, and cords, and some minimalist camera gear.
The front pocket does have its own volume, so I would reserve that for things I may need quick access to. Depending on what I am doing, I can store a slim tech cube in here, or even a light jacket, a small pair of shoes, or sandals.
Final Weight
Fully packed this way, this is what the Military 44 looks like. The weight is about 17.4 pounds, or 7.9 kg. That is easily enough clothes for a full-time trip to a colder climate.
If you are traveling somewhere warmer, you will have lots of options for using smaller bags or different configurations inside the same pack.
Cabin Zero Military 44L Bundles
Cabin Zero has a big sale going on, which is a good opportunity to get a bag and some cubes. Most of their bags are on sale right now, and the Military 44, Classic Plus, and Classic Pro are all 25 percent off. You can check their sale page here while it lasts.
Overall, Cabin Zero is a solid, practical brand with bags that focus on usable space and a straightforward carry-on design. Personally, I think the Military 44 is a great option, especially if you like to travel carry-on in colder weather, or just need a bit of extra gear.
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