The North Face Surge vs. Fjallraven Ulvö 30
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 | Fjallraven Ulvö 30 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 2 | Compression | 2 |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 2 |
| front | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 15in | Laptop | 15in |
| 3 | Main Compartments | 2 |
| 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 | Bergshell®: 400D 100% polyamide |
Fjallraven Ulvö 30
| Capacity | 30 L |
| Weight | 1 kg |
| Dimensions | 49×27×18 cm |
| Airline fit | 92% |
| Price | $160 |
Key differences between the The North Face Surge and Fjallraven Ulvö 30
- Opening: Other on the The North Face Surge; Rolltop on the Fjallraven Ulvö 30.
- Passport pocket: Front on the The North Face Surge; No on the Fjallraven Ulvö 30.
- Main compartments: 3 on the The North Face Surge; 2 on the Fjallraven Ulvö 30.
- Built-in organizer: Yes on the The North Face Surge; No on the Fjallraven Ulvö 30.
Both have: compression straps, 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 5 accept only the Fjallraven Ulvö 30.
Only the Fjallraven Ulvö 30 fits
Air Niugini, Belavia, Etihad Airways, Great Lakes Airlines, Qatar Airways.
The North Face Surge vs. Fjallraven Ulvö 30: which should you pack?
The The North Face Surge carries 1L more than the Fjallraven Ulvö 30 (31L vs. 30L), while the Fjallraven Ulvö 30 is the lighter pack at 1kg (vs. 1.3kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Fjallraven Ulvö 30 fits 92% 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 Fjallraven Ulvö 30 is the better call.