Osprey Porter 46 vs. Thule Aion 40L
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Osprey Porter 46 | Feature | Thule Aion 40L |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 2 | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| top | Passport | top |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| hideable | Backpack | Y |
| hideable | Hip Belt | optional |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 16in | Laptop | 16in |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 4 |
| Y | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | 1, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| bluesign®-approved Recycled 500D Nylon Packcloth PFC Free DWR | |
Key differences between the Osprey Porter 46 and Thule Aion 40L
- Compression straps: 2 on the Osprey Porter 46; No on the Thule Aion 40L.
- Backpack straps: Hideable on the Osprey Porter 46; Yes on the Thule Aion 40L.
- Hip belt: Hideable on the Osprey Porter 46; Optional on the Thule Aion 40L.
- Water bottle pockets: No on the Osprey Porter 46; 1, side on the Thule Aion 40L.
Both have: passport pocket, luggage passthrough, sternum strap, laptop sleeve, 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. 116 accept both. 0 accept only the Osprey Porter 46, and 16 accept only the Thule Aion 40L.
Only the Thule Aion 40L fits
Aerolineas Argentinas, Air France, Air India, Air Mauritius, Boliviana de Aviacion, Cayman Airways, Croatia Air, Indigo, Jet Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM, LATAM , Scoot, Sky Airlines, Tiger Airways, WestJet.
Osprey Porter 46 vs. Thule Aion 40L: which should you pack?
The Osprey Porter 46 carries 6L more than the Thule Aion 40L (46L vs. 40L), while the Osprey Porter 46 is the lighter pack at 1.5kg (vs. 1.5kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Thule Aion 40L fits 70% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Osprey Porter 46; if you want to travel lighter, the Osprey Porter 46 is the better call.