Osprey Porter 30 Review (I Tested the Carry On Pack in 2023)

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There are a couple of non-negotiables for every trip: 1) an awesome destination, and 2) excellent luggage. If you’re here, then you’re probably in the market for excellent luggage and you have your eye on the Osprey Porter Travel Pack 30 Carry On.

The Osprey Porter 30 is one of the most popular carry-on bags on the market, but is it the right fit for you? I’ll help you decide.

I recently got my hands on the Osprey Porter 30 and took it on a trip to South and Central America. Since I stuffed it in overhead bins, slung it on my back on narrow crowded streets, and crammed it between my shins on buses, I have some thoughts. 

In this review, I’ll go over the pros and cons of this convertible travel backpack/bag. I’ll also explain its key features and help you decide whether to take the plunge or get another one of the best carry on bags.

Note that this review is of the smaller Osprey Porter 30 liter carry on. If you want more space, check out Nate’s Osprey Porter 46 review or see the section below comparing the 30 vs 46 liter versions.

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Osprey Porter 30 Travel Pack Carry On Review Quick Summary

Overall, I rate the Osprey Porter Travel Pack Carryon 30 with 4.8 out of 5 stars. The Osprey Porter 30 is one of the most versatile carry-on bag options out there. With shoulder straps and a hip belt that you can stow away, you can easily transform this bag from backpack to duffel in about 15 seconds flat. The bag is an awesome option if you like a lot of pockets and multiple uses. 

However, I have to admit it the conversion takes a bit of figuring out and I was wholly confused when I first tried to stash away the straps. It seems like Osprey is aware of this though, as they do have a demonstration video to aid users.

Do I think it’s a deal breaker? Absolutely not. But the Osprey Porter isn’t the most intuitive carry on bag at first glance.

Pros of Osprey Porter Travel Pack Carry On

• Organizational features
• Durable materials
• Converts from a duffel bag to a backpack
• Comfortable shoulder straps
• Easily access pouches
• Carry on compliant on most airlines
• Handy compression straps
• Lifetime guarantee
• Can attach the Osprey Daylite

Cons of Osprey Porter Travel Pack Carry On

• Converting from backpack to duffel can be tricky
• Poor ventilation on back

Osprey Porter Travel Pack Carry On is best for:

• Adventure travelers
• Organization lovers
• Those who can’t decide between a duffel or a backpack

Osprey Porter Travel Pack Carry On might not be a fit for:

• Business travelers
• Those who like a simple design 

Osprey Porter Travel Pack Carry On Full Review

Now that we’ve gone over the summary, let’s get into the details of the Osprey Porter 30. It’s truly a rockstar in the pockets department, and it has some great additional features like comfortable straps, a stowaway harness system, and a back panel compartment. Let’s break down the features of the Osprey Porter Travel Pack:

Features

Up next, I’ll dig into each of the Osprey Porter 30’s best features, including:

• Overall Design & Structure
• Materials & Construction
• Comfort
• Compartments
• Convertibility
• Stowaway Hip Belt & Shoulder Straps
• Lockable Zippers
• Rear Panel Laptop Sleeve
• Compression Straps

Overall Design & Structure

⭐ STAR RATING: 5/5 stars 

The overall design of the Osprey Porter 30 is, to be completely blunt, brilliant. But that’s why you’re here, isn’t it? To get a great travel bag with a killer design that gives you tons of easy organization?

This Osprey bag is perhaps the most well-thought-out carry-on I’ve ever owned. There are ample compartments to give all your things a home, but not so many that you forget where you put something in the process. 

The Osprey 30 is a fairly classic turtle shell design with a lot of support. Being 30L, it has enough space to fit all the travel necessities for a short trip.

Compartments

⭐ STAR RATING: 5/5 stars 

If you’re looking for pockets, you got ‘em.

I counted all the pockets and, including the main compartments, there are 12 (!!) individual places to put things (this doesn’t count the place where you stow away the backpack straps). Talk about an organization lover’s ultimate travel backpack fantasy.

Some of the compartments that I love the most are the top pocket from where you can access your liquids, the large main compartment, the front zip compartment for your keys, passport, and other important items, and the laptop compartment at the back (which also includes a zippered mesh pocket).

Materials & Construction

⭐ STAR RATING: 5/5 stars 

You know the name Osprey for a reason, and that’s because, after almost 50 years of producing bags, the company does durability extremely well. This bag is made with recycled nylon and polyester and is very well put together.

I’m the type of person who uses her items until they literally fall apart, and I have no doubt that this Osprey will last me for years to come.

Comfort

⭐ STAR RATING: 5/5 stars 

Anything else I could say about the Osprey Porter 30 would go out the window if it wasn’t a comfortable bag, and thankfully, it has comfort in spades. 

When using the pack in backpack mode with the hip belt and backpack straps, this pack has awesome weight distribution. I literally wore this backpack for hours and never felt a thing. And this is coming from someone in her thirties who knows a thing or two about lower back pain.

Additionally, when in duffel mode, I find the straps are wide and padded enough that they don’t pinch or leave marks on my hands.

There is an option to get a sling-style shoulder strap for this Osprey bag as well, although it’s sold separately.

Convertibility

⭐ STAR RATING: 3.5/5 stars 

One of the absolute best features of the Osprey Porter 30 is that you can convert it from a backpack into a duffel bag. This makes it the perfect option no matter what kind of trip you’re taking.

The only reason I docked the bag points in this department was because, as I mentioned in the intro, the convertibility isn’t exactly the most intuitive. I even got my mom to try and figure it out with me. 

There are a lot of straps and buckles, and I highly recommend you get the hang of using this bag before you take it out on the road.

Stowaway Hip Belt & Backpack Shoulder Straps

⭐ STAR RATING: 5/5 stars 

One of my favorite features of the Osprey Porter 30 is that if you don’t need a feature, then you don’t have to use it. If you feel like using this travel bag as a duffel, then you can use the stowaway compartments and hide the backpack straps. 

The hip belt and backpack strap compartment cleans up the look of the bag and takes away all the loose straps while you’re carrying it around.

Lockable Zippers

⭐ STAR RATING: 5/5 stars 

If safety is a concern for you, then you’ll love that the zippers on the Osprey are lockable. This is great if you leave your bag in your hostel or hotel for the day while out exploring. 

However, one drawback is that you will need to purchase your own lock (be sure to check the size to make sure it’ll fit in the zippers).

Other than that, I found the zippers to be of great quality. They never snagged on me once!

Rear Panel Laptop Sleeve

⭐ STAR RATING: 3.5 stars 

Part of the reason the Osprey 30 has so much structure is that it has a padded rear panel laptop sleeve. This sleeve easily fits my 15” laptop, and the compartment even has a little extra room for other business do-dads.

I really love this rear panel as it makes going through airport security a breeze. There’s no digging around for your laptop in your bag, you just undo the zip and voila.

However, I do find that (especially in warmer climates), having this rear panel sleeve makes the ventilation situation a little less than ideal. This is small beans unless you’ll be trekking with the Osprey 30, but it does get a little damp.

Compression Straps

⭐ STAR RATING: 5/5 stars 

All of my favorite travel items have a similar feature: compression. I love to be able to squish down my carry-on bag to comply with most airlines’ overhead bin sizes. This Osprey Porter 30 has external compression straps that they call “StraitJacket Compression.”

After using this feature within an inch of its life, I’m sold. I took this bag on 6 different airlines and three buses and it fit on every single one. The compression straps are a huge win for me!

Technical Specifications 

• ⚖️ Weight: 2.822 lbs (1.28 kg)
• 📐 Dimensions: 19.69 in X 12.6 in X 7.87 in (50.01 cm x 32 cm x 19.98)
• 👉 Material: Nylon & Polyester
• 🧪 Volume: 30L
• 🌈 Color Options: Haybale Green, Petunia Blue, Black
• 🧰 Warranty & Guarantee: Osprey’s All Mighty Guarantee (Osprey will repair any damage free of charge, regardless of when you purchased the bag).

Osprey Porter 30 vs 46 L Compared

Osprey makes the Porter in both 30 liter and 46 liter versions. If you want a bigger bag, see Nate’s full Osprey Porter 46L review for more.

Here’s a quick table comparing the Osprey Porter 30 vs the Osprey Porter 46:

	Osprey Porter 30	Osprey Porter 46
Volume	30 L	46 L
Dimensions	19.69H X 12.6W X 7.87D IN.	21.5H X 14W X 9D IN.
Weight	2.822 LBS.	3.263 LBS

The main difference between the Osprey Porter 30 and the Osprey Porter 46 is simply size.

While both versions of the Osprey Porter are carry-on compliant, only the 30 liter version is smaller enough to fit under a plane seat. If you prioritize traveling lightly, or if you’re pairing the Osprey Porter with another piece of luggage, then the Osprey Porter 30 will be a better fit for you.

Alternatively, if you need a little more room or a single-bag solution, you may prefer the larger size of the Osprey Porter 46 L.

Osprey Porter Travel Pack Carry On Alternatives

Still not sold on the Osprey Porter 30? Well, you’ve got options! Here are some more of our recently-reviewed carry-on bags:

Nomatic Navigator Carry On 37L

If you’re looking for a rolling carry-on bag that’s snazzy, well-made, and has a lot of well-thought-out compartments, then look no further than the Nomatic Navigator Carry On 37L. I recently reviewed this carry-on bag and, though it is more of an investment than the Osprey, it’s undoubtedly a fantastic option. 

Plus, it has a laptop compartment for you business travelers out there.

Read my full Nomatic Navigator Carry On 37L review for more.

Peak Design Travel Backpack

If you like the organization of the Osprey Porter 30, but want a different style, consider the Peak Design Travel Backpack. At 45 liters, it’s a fair bit larger than the Porter, but it also offers excellent organization with lots of pockets. 

For more, see Lea Rose’s full Peak Design Travel Backpack review.

Topo Designs Global Travel Bag

If you want a larger bag, another alternative to consider is the Topo Designs Global Travel Bag. It has a packing-cube-like design, with tons of organizational features. It also comes with tons of padding, which may make it a bit more comfortable to carry for longer stints versus the Osprey Porter 30.

For more, see Sky’s full Topo Designs Global Travel Bag review.

FINAL VERDICT – Is Osprey Porter Travel Pack Carry On Worth It? 

The Osprey Porter Travel Pack Carry On is absolutely worth it for backpackers and adventure travelers who love organization and easy access to multiple compartments. This bag is well made, has an outstanding warranty policy, and its functionality is through the roof.

However, if you’re a business traveler or want a bag with fewer bells and whistles, then I recommend another option.

⭐ STAR RATING: 4.8 / 5 stars

FAQs about Osprey Porter Travel Pack Carry On

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Thanks for reading my Osprey Porter 30 Travel Pack Carry On review! If you’re looking for more backpack options, then check out our full list of the best travel backpacks.