The North Face Surge vs. Osprey Daylite
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 | Osprey Daylite |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| 2 | Compression | 2 |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 0 | Opening | 0 |
| front | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| removable | Hip Belt | removable |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 15in | Laptop | 14in |
| 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 | bluesign® APPROVED 300D recycled polyester, PFC-free DWR |
Key differences between the The North Face Surge and Osprey Daylite
- Passport pocket: Front on the The North Face Surge; No on the Osprey Daylite.
- Luggage passthrough: No on the The North Face Surge; Yes on the Osprey Daylite.
- Laptop sleeve: 15in on the The North Face Surge; 14in on the Osprey Daylite.
- Built-in organizer: Yes on the The North Face Surge; No on the Osprey Daylite.
Both have: compression straps, backpack straps, hip belt, sternum strap, 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 12 accept only the Osprey Daylite.
Only the Osprey Daylite fits
Air Niugini, Air Tahiti, American Eagle, Belavia, easyJet, Etihad Airways, Great Lakes Airlines, Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Virgin Australia.
The North Face Surge vs. Osprey Daylite: which should you pack?
The The North Face Surge carries 18L more than the Osprey Daylite (31L vs. 13L), while the Osprey Daylite is the lighter pack at 0.6kg (vs. 1.3kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Osprey Daylite fits 96% 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 Osprey Daylite is the better call.