Osprey Porter 46 vs. Mountainsmith Divide

Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.

Osprey Porter 46

Front facing view of the Osprey Porter 46
Capacity46 L
Weight1.5 kg
Dimensions55×36×23 cm
Airline fit61%
Price$185

Feature by feature

Osprey Porter 46FeatureMountainsmith Divide
Storage
2 Compression N
None Expanded Capacity None
1 Opening 4
top Passport front
Y Passthrough N
Carry
hideable Backpack Y
hideable Hip Belt removable
Y Sternum Strap N
Inside
16in Laptop 15in
4 Main Compartments 4
Y Organizer Y
Outside
× Hard Shell ×
N Rain-fly N
N Water Bottle Holder 2, side
Y Water Resistant Y
Material
bluesign®-approved Recycled 500D Nylon Packcloth PFC Free DWRTC 20s 2x2 Waxed Canvas PU 210d Recycled Nylon SD Oxford PU

Mountainsmith Divide

Front facing view of the Mountainsmith Divide
Capacity16 L
Weight0.7 kg
Dimensions46×28×14 cm
Airline fit95%
Price$90

The Osprey Porter 46 is the mule of travel backpacks—built for lugging loads. Look at it: 23 inches tall, 36 inches wide, and 56 inches deep. That comes to 46 liters of capacity. It's a whopper. Built like a tank from sturdy Nylon. Loads in from the top, so packing and unpacking won't give you a headache. Add your stuff—up to 1.5 pounds without even thinking about it. Laptop? No problem. A compartment specifically designed for it can fit a 1 inch machine. Sure, it may be bulk too much for some airlines, but it's accepted by 47% of them around the globe.

The Mountainsmith Divide, on the other hand, is the Gazelle. Light on its feet at a mere 0.8 pounds, smaller in stature at 44 inches tall, 28 inches wide, and 14 inches deep. But don't mistake its compact size for lack of space. It sports 15 liters of capacity—and a zippy compartment for a 15-inch laptop. Crafted from 610d CORDURA® HP 210d Nylon Heat Emboss Liner for some serious durability. The Divide is compliant with 100% of airlines. It's the go-anywhere pack.

If it's space you need, for a long-haul journey, the Porter is a sure bet. But if you're off on a quick business trip or a casual weekend and want agility without compromising on quality, consider the Divide. The Porter is a marathon runner, built to endure with a hefty load. The Divide is a sprinter—fast, agile, and always compliant.