Osprey Porter 46 vs. The North Face Router
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Osprey Porter 46 | Feature | The North Face Router |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 2 | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 4 |
| top | Passport | N |
| Y | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| hideable | Backpack | Y |
| hideable | Hip Belt | Y |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 16in | Laptop | 15in |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 2 |
| Y | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | 2 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| bluesign®-approved Recycled 500D Nylon Packcloth PFC Free DWR | 500D Nylon Oxford Slub, 420 D Nylon, 210D Cordura® Nylon Ripstop |
The North Face Router
| Capacity | 40 L |
| Weight | 1.5 kg |
| Dimensions | 54×35.6×26.7 cm |
| Airline fit | 3% |
| Price | $149 |
Key differences between the Osprey Porter 46 and The North Face Router
- Compression straps: 2 on the Osprey Porter 46; No on the The North Face Router.
- Opening: Clamshell on the Osprey Porter 46; Top zip on the The North Face Router.
- Passport pocket: Top on the Osprey Porter 46; No on the The North Face Router.
- Luggage passthrough: Yes on the Osprey Porter 46; No on the The North Face Router.
- Backpack straps: Hideable on the Osprey Porter 46; Yes on the The North Face Router.
- Hip belt: Hideable on the Osprey Porter 46; Yes on the The North Face Router.
- Laptop sleeve: 16in on the Osprey Porter 46; 15in on the The North Face Router.
- Main compartments: 4 on the Osprey Porter 46; 2 on the The North Face Router.
- Water bottle pockets: No on the Osprey Porter 46; 2 on the The North Face Router.
Both have: sternum strap, built-in organizer, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 6 accept both. 110 accept only the Osprey Porter 46, and 0 accept only the The North Face Router.
Only the Osprey Porter 46 fits
Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Air Asia, Air Astana, Air Canada, Air Caraibes, Air Europa, Air Koryo, Air Macau, Air Nostrum, Air Tahiti Nui, Air Wisconsin, AirAsiaX, Alaska Airlines, All Nipon Airways, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, ANA, Atlas Global, Austrian, Avianca , Azerbaijan Airlines, Azul Linhas, Bahamasair, Bangkok Airways, Biman Bangladesh, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cambodia Angkor Air, Caribbean Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, China Southern, CommutAir, Conviasa, Copa Airlines, Cubana de Aviacion, Czech Airlines, Delta Airlines, Dragonair, EL AL, Ethiopian Airlines, Eurowings, EVA Air, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Flair Air, Frontier Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Gol Linhas Aereas, Hainan Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Iberia, Interjet, Iran Air, Iran Aseman Air, Japan Airlines, Jet2, jetBlue Airways, Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia, Korean Air, Kulula, Kuwait Air, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Mahan Air, Malaysia Airlines, Mango, Mesa Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Monarch Airlines, Norwegian, Onur Air, Peach, PenAir, Philippine Airlines, Porter Airlines, Qantas Airways, Republic Airways, Royal Air Morocco, SAS Scandinavian, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, SilkAir, Silver Airways, Singapore Airlines, Skywest, Inc., South African Airways, Southwest Airlines, SpiceJet, Spirit Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, TAAG Angola, TAM Airlines, Thai Airways, Trans States, Travel Service Airlines, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Ural Airlines, Uzbekistan Air, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, WOW Airlines.
The Osprey Porter 46, made by Osprey, is an adaptable and resilient backpack, designed with substantial capacity in mind. It's built from sturdy Nylon material and known for its roominess -- boasting 46 liters of carrying ability. The pack is compatible with close to half the airlines (47% to be exact), making it fit for the frequent traveler. Its laptop compartment can accommodate equipment sized up to 1 inch. According to reviews, users highlight its durability, excellent value, large capacity, and smart design features. Particular kudos are given to the bag's efficient compression strap and its convenience due to the clamshell opening, making packing and unpacking a breeze.
Turning to look at the second contender, The North Face Router is made by The North Face. This backpack comes with a unique construction, combining 500D Nylon Oxford Slub, 420 D Nylon, and 210D Cordura® Nylon Ripstop for a strong, resilient design. Surprisingly, even though it's slightly larger than the Osprey Porter 46 in dimensions, its capacity is less, totaling 40 liters. In airline compatibility, it trails the Osprey Porter 46, being compatible with only 19% of airlines. The Router's laptop compartment fits a significantly larger unit, up to 15 inches. The Router does not elicit as many reviews as the Osprey Porter 46.
Here, we'll summarize the differences for a side-by-side comparison:
- The Osprey Porter 46 is of pure Nylon construction, while The North Face Router has a composite Nylon build.
- The Porter 46 has larger capacity (46L) as compared to The Router (40L).
- The Porter 46 is compatible with 47% of airlines versus the 19% compatibility of The Router.
- The laptop compartment in Porter 46 can fit a 1 inch laptop, whereas in The Router it fits up to a 15 inch laptop.
Closing remarks both backpacks weigh an equal 1.5 pounds, making them equal competitors in terms of load handling. Each pack comes with unique strengths. The Osprey Porter 46 tips the scale in favour of greater capacity, larger airline compatibility, and stellar reviews, suggesting satisfactory customer experience. Meanwhile, The North Face Router champions in robust composition and larger laptop carrying capacity, though reviewers remain largely silent. Your choice between the two would depend on your prioritized features whether it's size, design material, capacity, or airline compatibility. Choose wisely!