Osprey Porter 46 vs. Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Osprey Porter 46 | Feature | Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 2 | Compression | Y |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 0 |
| top | Passport | N |
| Y | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| hideable | Backpack | Y |
| hideable | Hip Belt | Y |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 16in | Laptop | N |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| Y | Organizer | |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | Y |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | 2 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| bluesign®-approved Recycled 500D Nylon Packcloth PFC Free DWR | 140-denier 100% recycled nylon ripstop, 210-denier 100% recycled nylon ripstop |
Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L
| Capacity | 36 L |
| Weight | 0.992 kg |
| Dimensions | 60×31×27 cm |
| Airline fit | 3% |
| Price | $179 |
Key differences between the Osprey Porter 46 and Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L
- Compression straps: 2 on the Osprey Porter 46; Yes on the Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L.
- Opening: Clamshell on the Osprey Porter 46; Other on the Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L.
- Passport pocket: Top on the Osprey Porter 46; No on the Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L.
- Luggage passthrough: Yes on the Osprey Porter 46; No on the Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L.
- Backpack straps: Hideable on the Osprey Porter 46; Yes on the Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L.
- Hip belt: Hideable on the Osprey Porter 46; Yes on the Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L.
- Laptop sleeve: 16in on the Osprey Porter 46; No on the Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L.
- Main compartments: 4 on the Osprey Porter 46; 1 on the Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L.
- Rain cover: No on the Osprey Porter 46; Yes on the Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L.
- Water bottle pockets: No on the Osprey Porter 46; 2 on the Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L.
Both have: sternum strap, 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 Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L.
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.
Both the Osprey Porter 46 and Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L are reliable options when it comes to durable and reliable carry-on backpacks. The former's Nylon material provides rugged durability, while the latter's recycled nylon ripstop enhances its eco-friendliness without compromising sturdiness. Your laptop will have to stay behind with the Altvia pack as it lacks a laptop compartment, quite the opposite of Porter 46's spacious 1-inch laptop holder.
Here's a glory shot on how these two bags size each other up:
- Size: Porter 46 is 23" x 36" x 56" (h x w x d), while the Altvia Pack 36L touts a slightly more proportional 27"x31"x60" distribution
- Weight: The Porter 46 rings in at 1.5 pounds, whereas the Altvia Pack 36L is a featherweight .992 pounds.
- Capacity: Keeping its namesake true, the Porter 46 has a 46-liter capacity, beating out the Altvia Pack's 36-liter potential.
- Materials: Osprey uses a simple but tried-and-true Nylon material for its Porter 46, where Patagonia steps up with a dual-layer 140-denier and 210-denier 100% recycled nylon ripstop for the Altvia Pack.
- Airline Compatibility: The Porter 46 takes the cake here, with 47% of airlines accepting this pack in comparison to the 19% for the Altvia.
- Laptop Compartment: The Porter 46 wins out in tech-friendliness, accommodating a 1-inch laptop where the Altvia cannot.
- Quotes from Reviewers: Reviewers praised the Porter 46 for its generous space and endurance, and the Altvia Pack for its lightweight yet heavy-duty build.
When it comes to personal preference, the Osprey Porter 46 is a sturdy keeper with a remarkable suspension system. It can easily double as plush storage for your gear or compact duffel thanks to its spacious interior and unassuming elegance. The Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L, on the other hand, is for conscious outdoor lovers looking for a light yet truly functional pack. It offers extraordinary external attachments, comfortability, and the assurance that its manufacture didn't harm Mother Nature—every bit counts.
So, what's the verdict? For those leaning towards practicality and versatility, the Osprey Porter 46 is a sure bet. Its ample space, ability to accommodate a laptop, and compatibility with a broad range of airlines makes it a prime choice. Yet, if eco-friendliness and intuitive outdoorsy features are your thing, the Patagonia Altvia Pack 36L is your match. Despite a smaller size and fewer airline compatibility, the featherweight factor and its motivation to conserve resources cannot be overlooked. What tips the scales for one might sink the boat for another—it all depends on what you as the user values most.