Review: Osprey Porter 46

Earlier this year we had a chance to check out the new products from Osprey. Among the new products highlighted was the Porter 46, part of Osprey’s line of ‘travel trek’ packs. On paper the Porter 46 sounds awesome: zip out shoulder, sternum, and hip straps to convert the bag into a backpack, multiple grab handles for easy toting, compression straps to keep everything in place, and the maximum allowable carry-on size for airlines, with 2800 cubic inches of space to fill with everything you need for your travels. We had a chance to test one on a two-week, around the world trip to see how well it performed.

Osprey is well known for their quality packs so it’s safe to say I had high expectations of the Porter 46. Fortunately, the pack lived up to it’s name and was able to haul everything I needed for two weeks away from home without a problem. Right from the start the most useful feature was the zip out shoulder, sternum, and hip belt straps. Being able to maneuver crowded airports, train stations, subways, and city streets with two free hands was extremely helpful. Plus, it provided the added benefit of keeping the suitcase out of puddles on street corners. Another feature that turned out to be quite useful were the padded grab handles on the top and sides. When the pack wasn’t strapped to my back, the handles allowed me to tote the bag around comfortably. Osprey also put two webbed loop handles on either side of the large opening, which was perfect for hoisting the bag onto x-ray conveyor belts while going through many security check points. The compression straps were helpful to keep everything compact and the sliding strap holder was nice but when the straps were secured you lost access to a large front pocket on the outside of the access panel. Though this wasn’t a deal breaker, it required a bit of pre-planning when packing the bag. Fortunately, there is a small (but roomy) pocket on the top of the bag, perfect for easy access to liquids, snacks, a book, or other small items that you might want to access more frequently.

Inside the pack, it’s pretty basic. The zipper panel opens in a large U-shape for easy access to the entire space. There is a mesh paneled zipper pocket that runs along one of the sides of the interior and the underside of the zipper panel also has a mesh pocket for separating smaller items. There aren’t internal compression straps like most hard-sided rolling luggage so packing neatly is a must if you want to find anything quickly.

I’ve traveled with both backpacks and rolling suitcases on multiple trips and though they both have their benefits, the Porter 46 gives you a bit of the best of both worlds. The structured side panels give the pack form and stability (and prevent you from overstuffing the pack), keeping it within the maximum carry-on size for airlines, but the ability to convert the pack into a backpack as needed is helpful for getting around cities and multiple modes of transportation easily.

Overall, the Porter 46 held up very well considering all the airports and train stations it saw over the course of two weeks, and I would gladly take it along on another trip. When compared to other travel luggage, the modest $99 price tag makes it a worthy investment if you are a regular traveler. Osprey also makes a larger version, the Porter 65 ($129), suited for longer travels, if the Porter 46 is too small for your needs.

Product sample provided by the manufacturer for review purposes.