The North Face Router vs. DSPTCH Gym/Work Pack
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
The North Face Router
| Capacity | 40 L |
| Weight | 1.5 kg |
| Dimensions | 54×35.6×26.7 cm |
| Airline fit | 3% |
| Price | $149 |
Feature by feature
| The North Face Router | Feature | DSPTCH Gym/Work Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 4 | Opening | 4 |
| N | Passport | N |
| N | Passthrough | N |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| Y | Hip Belt | N |
| Y | Sternum Strap | Y |
| Inside | ||
| 15in | Laptop | 15in |
| 2 | Main Compartments | 1 |
| Y | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 2 | Water Bottle Holder | 2 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 500D Nylon Oxford Slub, 420 D Nylon, 210D Cordura® Nylon Ripstop | 1680D Ballistic Nylon with DWR coating |
DSPTCH Gym/Work Pack
| Capacity | 25 L |
| Weight | 1.7 kg |
| Dimensions | 51×31×18 cm |
| Airline fit | 89% |
| Price | $160 |
Key differences between the The North Face Router and DSPTCH Gym/Work Pack
- Hip belt: Yes on the The North Face Router; No on the DSPTCH Gym/Work Pack.
- Main compartments: 2 on the The North Face Router; 1 on the DSPTCH Gym/Work Pack.
Both have: backpack straps, sternum strap, laptop sleeve, built-in organizer, 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. 6 accept both. 0 accept only the The North Face Router, and 163 accept only the DSPTCH Gym/Work Pack.
Only the DSPTCH Gym/Work Pack fits
Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Asia, Air Astana, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air Caraibes, Air China, Air Europa, Air France, Air India, Air Koryo, Air Macau, Air Malta, Air Mauritius, Air Nostrum, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Air Tahiti Nui, Air Wisconsin, AirAsiaX, Alaska Airlines, All Nipon Airways, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, ANA, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Atlas Global, Austrian, Avianca , Azerbaijan Airlines, Azul Linhas, Bahamasair, Bangkok Airways, Biman Bangladesh, Blue Air, Boliviana de Aviacion, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Cambodia Angkor Air, Caribbean Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Cayman Airways, Cebu Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, CommutAir, Conviasa, Copa Airlines, Croatia Air, Cubana de Aviacion, Czech Airlines, Delta Airlines, Dragonair, EL AL, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Eurowings, EVA Air, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Flair Air, flybe, Frontier Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Gol Linhas Aereas, Hainan Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Iberia, Icelandair, Indigo, InselAir, Interjet, Iran Air, Iran Aseman Air, Japan Airlines, Jet Airways, Jet2, jetBlue Airways, Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia, Juneyao Airlines, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, Kulula, Kuwait Air, LATAM , Liat Airlines, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Luxair, Mahan Air, Malaysia Airlines, Mango, Meridiana Fly, Mesa Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Monarch Airlines, Nordwind Airlines, Norwegian, Oman Air, Onur Air, Pakistan International, Peach, PenAir, Philippine Airlines, Porter Airlines, Qantas Airways, Republic Airways, Royal Air Morocco, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, S7, SAS Scandinavian, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Scoot, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, SilkAir, Silver Airways, Singapore Airlines, Sky Airlines, Skywest, Inc., South African Airways, Southwest Airlines, SpiceJet, Spirit Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Sun Express, Swiss Int'l Air Lines, TAAG Angola, TAM Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Thai Airways, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), Tiger Airways, Trans States, Travel Service Airlines, TUI, Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International, United Airlines, Ural Airlines, Uzbekistan Air, Vietnam Airlines, VIM Airlines (Closed), Virgin Atlantic, Volotea, WestJet, WOW Airlines, Xiamen.
The North Face Router vs. DSPTCH Gym/Work Pack: which should you pack?
The The North Face Router carries 15L more than the DSPTCH Gym/Work Pack (40L vs. 25L), while the The North Face Router is the lighter pack at 1.5kg (vs. 1.7kg). For carry-on flexibility, the DSPTCH Gym/Work Pack fits 89% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the The North Face Router; if you want to travel lighter, the The North Face Router is the better call.