Two backpacks worth lining up side by side. Both are solid; the right one depends on the specs you care about most.
| Deuter Aircontact Core 60+10 | REI Co-op Traverse 60 | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 67✓ | 63 |
| Capacity | 60 L | 60 L |
| Weight | 5 lb 2 oz | 4 lb 8 oz✓ |
| Rated load | 44 lb | 45 lb✓ |
| Fabric denier | 500 D✓ | 210 D |
| Price | $300 | $269✓ |
| Type | Expedition | Backpacking |
| Frame | Internal | Internal |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Aircontact Core 60+10 in blue, Traverse 60 in amber. A blank spec is never counted as a win. Capacity is shown for context and is not scored, since more volume is a sizing choice rather than better. GearScore is the overall rating (0 to 100); re-weight it on the full backpack comparison. Prices are current MSRP.
The Deuter Aircontact Core 60+10 and REI Co-op Traverse 60 take different routes to the same job. The Aircontact Core 60+10 wins on durability, and the Traverse 60 pushes back on low weight and load carry.
The Aircontact Core 60+10 is tougher fabric (500D vs 210D). The Traverse 60 is 10 oz lighter, a higher rated load (45 vs 44 lb), and $31 cheaper. On the default GearScore the Aircontact Core 60+10 leads 67 to 63.
Pick the Aircontact Core 60+10 if you care most about durability, which makes it the better call for rough ground and hard use. Pick the Traverse 60 if low weight and load carry matter more to you, or you are focused on counting grams on long miles.
The REI Co-op Traverse 60. It is 10 oz lighter than the Aircontact Core 60+10.
The REI Co-op Traverse 60. It is a higher rated load (45 vs 44 lb) than the Aircontact Core 60+10.
The Deuter Aircontact Core 60+10, 67 to 63 on the default algorithm. You can re-weight the factors to match your trip.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Aircontact Core 60+10 for durability, or the Traverse 60 for low weight. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.