Briggs & Riley Medium Cargo Backpack vs. Nordace Laval -- Smart Backpack
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Briggs & Riley Medium Cargo Backpack
| Capacity | 27.3 L |
| Weight | 1.2 kg |
| Dimensions | 45.5×34.5×20.5 cm |
| Airline fit | 74% |
| Price | $329 |
Feature by feature
| Briggs & Riley Medium Cargo Backpack | Feature | Nordace Laval -- Smart Backpack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 4 | Opening | 1 |
| Y | Passport | Y |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| N | Hip Belt | N |
| N | Sternum Strap | N |
| Inside | ||
| 15in | Laptop | 15in |
| 1 | Main Compartments | 2 |
| Y | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 1 | Water Bottle Holder | 1 |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 1600D ballistic nylon outer fabric | Nylon and Microfiber leather |
Nordace Laval -- Smart Backpack
| Capacity | 23 L |
| Weight | 1 kg |
| Dimensions | 44×28×18 cm |
| Airline fit | 96% |
| Price | $119 |
Key differences between the Briggs & Riley Medium Cargo Backpack and Nordace Laval -- Smart Backpack
- Opening: Top zip on the Briggs & Riley Medium Cargo Backpack; Clamshell on the Nordace Laval -- Smart Backpack.
- Main compartments: 1 on the Briggs & Riley Medium Cargo Backpack; 2 on the Nordace Laval -- Smart Backpack.
Both have: passport pocket, luggage passthrough, backpack straps, 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. 139 accept both. 0 accept only the Briggs & Riley Medium Cargo Backpack, and 42 accept only the Nordace Laval -- Smart Backpack.
Only the Nordace Laval -- Smart Backpack fits
Air Baltic, Air China, Air Malta, Air Niugini, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Air Tahiti, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Belavia, Blue Air, Bulgaria Air, Cayman Airways, China Eastern, easyJet, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, flybe, Great Lakes Airlines, Gulf Air, Icelandair, InselAir, Juneyao Airlines, Luxair, Meridiana Fly, Nordwind Airlines, Regional Express, Royal Brunei Airlines, Ryanair, S7, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sun Express, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), TUI, Ukraine International, VIM Airlines (Closed), Virgin Australia, Volotea, Xiamen.
Briggs & Riley Medium Cargo Backpack vs. Nordace Laval -- Smart Backpack: which should you pack?
The Briggs & Riley Medium Cargo Backpack carries 4.300000000000001L more than the Nordace Laval -- Smart Backpack (27.3L vs. 23L), while the Nordace Laval -- Smart Backpack is the lighter pack at 1kg (vs. 1.2kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Nordace Laval -- Smart Backpack fits 96% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Briggs & Riley Medium Cargo Backpack; if you want to travel lighter, the Nordace Laval -- Smart Backpack is the better call.