Osprey Porter 46 vs. Away The Zip Backpack
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Osprey Porter 46 | Feature | Away The Zip Backpack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 2 | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 4 |
| top | Passport | Y |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| hideable | Backpack | Y |
| hideable | Hip Belt | N |
| Y | Sternum Strap | N |
| Inside | ||
| 16in | Laptop | 14in |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| Y | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | 1 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| bluesign®-approved Recycled 500D Nylon Packcloth PFC Free DWR | Nylon with leather |
Away The Zip Backpack
| Capacity | 20 L |
| Weight | 1.1 kg |
| Dimensions | 45×30.5×15 cm |
| Airline fit | 95% |
| Price | $236 |
Key differences between the Osprey Porter 46 and Away The Zip Backpack
- Compression straps: 2 on the Osprey Porter 46; No on the Away The Zip Backpack.
- Opening: Clamshell on the Osprey Porter 46; Top zip on the Away The Zip Backpack.
- Passport pocket: Top on the Osprey Porter 46; Yes on the Away The Zip Backpack.
- Backpack straps: Hideable on the Osprey Porter 46; Yes on the Away The Zip Backpack.
- Hip belt: Hideable on the Osprey Porter 46; No on the Away The Zip Backpack.
- Sternum strap: Yes on the Osprey Porter 46; No on the Away The Zip Backpack.
- Laptop sleeve: 16in on the Osprey Porter 46; 14in on the Away The Zip Backpack.
- Main compartments: 4 on the Osprey Porter 46; 1 on the Away The Zip Backpack.
- Built-in organizer: Yes on the Osprey Porter 46; No on the Away The Zip Backpack.
- Water bottle pockets: No on the Osprey Porter 46; 1 on the Away The Zip Backpack.
Both have: luggage passthrough, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 116 accept both. 0 accept only the Osprey Porter 46, and 63 accept only the Away The Zip Backpack.
Only the Away The Zip Backpack fits
Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Baltic, Air China, Air France, Air India, Air Malta, Air Mauritius, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Air Tahiti, American Eagle, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Belavia, Blue Air, Boliviana de Aviacion, Bulgaria Air, Cayman Airways, China Eastern, Croatia Air, easyJet, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, Etihad Airways, flybe, Gulf Air, Icelandair, Indigo, InselAir, Jet Airways, Juneyao Airlines, Kenya Airways, KLM, LATAM , Liat Airlines, Luxair, Meridiana Fly, Nordwind Airlines, Oman Air, Pakistan International, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, S7, Scoot, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sky Airlines, Sun Express, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), Tiger Airways, TUI, Ukraine International, VIM Airlines (Closed), Virgin Australia, Volotea, WestJet, Xiamen.
Looking at the Osprey Porter 46 and the Away’s The Zip Backpack, two carry-on backpack comparisons can be made. Designed for the avid traveler who needs carrying capacity, the Osprey Porter 46 is a beast. Sporting a dimension of 23 x 36 x 56 inches, it's considerably larger than the Zip Backpack, which is 45 x 15 x 30.5 inches. The Porter 46 has a sizable 46-liter capacity, allowing you to store more of your essentials. Compared to this, the Zip Backpack offers a much modest 20-liter capacity. The Porter models itself as a deluxe duffel bag designed for gear-hauling, earning rave reviews for its ample storage and durable construction.
- Dimensions: Osprey Porter 46 (23" x 36" x 56"), Away The Zip Backpack (45" x 15" x 30.5")
- Weight: Osprey Porter 46 (1.5 pounds), Away The Zip Backpack (1.1 pounds)
- Capacity: Osprey Porter 46 (46 liters), Away The Zip Backpack (20 liters)
- Material: Osprey Porter 46 (Nylon), Away The Zip Backpack (Nylon with leather)
- Airline Compatibility: Osprey Porter 46 (47%), Away The Zip Backpack (84%)
- Laptop Compartment Size: Osprey Porter 46 (1 inch), Away The Zip Backpack (14 inches)
In contrast, The Zip Backpack by Away serves the minimalist well. It offers sleek lines and leather accents, appealing to those who prefer a sophisticated aesthetic. Although smaller than the Porter, it’s feature-packed: an external back hidden zip pocket to secure your valuables and well-organized interiors that keep contents tidy. These design considerations have made Away's backpack a favorite among tidy packers and the style conscious. The plus point is the high airline compatibility of this backpack, at a whopping 84%.
In the end, the decision to go with the sizable and rugged Osprey Porter 46 or the sleek, minimalist Away’s The Zip Backpack depends almost entirely upon your traveling preferences. If you're out to fit everything but the kitchen sink in your bag, the Porter 46 is the way to go. But if a smaller, stylish carry-on that fits just your essentials sounds more appealing, Away's The Zip Backpack would make a fantastic choice. Either way, these bags promise a hassle-free journey packaged into a modern design.