The North Face Surge vs. Topo Designs Mountain Pack
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
The North Face Surge
| Capacity | 31 L |
| Weight | 1.3 kg |
| Dimensions | 51×31×18 cm |
| Airline fit | 89% |
| Price | $140 |
Feature by feature
| The North Face Surge | Feature | Topo Designs Mountain Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 2 | Compression | >5 |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 2 |
| front | Passport | top |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 15in | Laptop | 15in |
| 3 | Main Compartments | 3 |
| Y | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2, side | Water Bottle Holder | 2, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 210D recycled nylon ripstop with non-PFC durable water-repellent (non-PFC DWR) finish | 1000D exterior, 210D coated pack cloth liner |
Topo Designs Mountain Pack
| Capacity | 30 L |
| Weight | 1 kg |
| Dimensions | 48×29×18 cm |
| Airline fit | 93% |
| Price | $180 |
Key differences between the The North Face Surge and Topo Designs Mountain Pack
- Compression straps: 2 on the The North Face Surge; >5 on the Topo Designs Mountain Pack.
- Opening: Other on the The North Face Surge; Rolltop on the Topo Designs Mountain Pack.
- Passport pocket: Front on the The North Face Surge; Top on the Topo Designs Mountain Pack.
- Built-in organizer: Yes on the The North Face Surge; No on the Topo Designs Mountain Pack.
Both have: backpack straps, hip belt, sternum strap, laptop sleeve, water bottle pockets, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 169 accept both. 0 accept only the The North Face Surge, and 6 accept only the Topo Designs Mountain Pack.
Only the Topo Designs Mountain Pack fits
Air Niugini, Belavia, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Regional Express, Virgin Australia.
The North Face Surge vs. Topo Designs Mountain Pack: which should you pack?
The The North Face Surge carries 1L more than the Topo Designs Mountain Pack (31L vs. 30L), while the Topo Designs Mountain Pack is the lighter pack at 1kg (vs. 1.3kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Topo Designs Mountain Pack fits 93% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the The North Face Surge; if you want to travel lighter, the Topo Designs Mountain Pack is the better call.