After much research I decided to buy this bag as a carry-on option. I really wish it was closer to 40L in capacity since the 30L was a bit too small and 46L too big. Once I pack my hiking boots or large DSLR camera space is limited. My biggest complaint is the location of the chest strap on females. It is placed directed over the breast which crushes the breast. Not above or below the breast. WHY??? This seems like such a basic design consideration, how did a major brand of Osprey make this huge mistake for females? For this one reason I have to return the bag. The straps are a bit uncomfortable at times but otherwise the bag is well made and attractive.

Liz

NYC

I had a bit of a revelation as I was walking around the airport and want to put this into perspective. Comfort is relative. I have a Granite Gear Taku that is my EDC -- this bag has adjustable straps and load lifters that make the bag very comfortable (it is just too big to fit under the seat of a plane). So as I was walking around the airport with my Porter 30, wishing I could further adjust this bag, I realized that this is a very big difference between hiking backpacks and travel backpacks. If you are used to using a hiking backpack, this may not be the most comfortable bag you have ever used. That being said, I was able to breeze through security and wander around the airport while waiting for my flight without the hassle of a wheeled suitcase with a bag that was comfortable. So that is a major bonus.

Kristine

Boston, MA

Got this about a year and a half ago. It is great for a few days of light travel. I've taken it to Florida, Texas, and Vegas and it has been great only having this one bag to worry about during travel. It isn't super comfortable to carry on your back for a long time but it isn't unbearable. I carried it on my back through two different trains and made the long walk from the orange line to the terminal at Chicago midway and was okay. It is easy to pack leisure clothes, however I haven't found a way to neatly pack a sport coat in it. It would also be nice if the laptop sleeve was against your back.

Jeremy

Indiana

I did a lot of research to select a pack that would fit Air China's insane carry on bag restrictions which were 21'x15'x7' on my trip to Thailand and Myanmar. I found the Osprey Porter 30 to be the only real option. The pack is light at 2.2 lbs and has tons of compartments. I was able to fit my 15' Mac Book Pro, a 200 page training manual, 3 rolled up pants, 4 T-Shirts rolled in 1 gallon compressed freezer bag, 5 pairs of socks and boxers compressed in 1 gallon freezer bag, 1 light rainjacket, 1 suit coat rolled, 1 book, 1 Bible, 1 Toiletry Bag 12' x 1' and Travel Documents. Pros- For once I really feel organized. They have a place for everything. I love the hidden compartment on the top where you can hide travel documents/money/valuables. The main compartment opens flat which allows me to access anything I need at anytime without making a mess. The compression straps allow a tight clamp to make things smaller when you need to. They also allow for safety in the sense that they limit access to zippers without unbuckling them. Speaking of zippers...Very solid. Work well. The main compartment and laptop compartment have two sets of zippers that would accommodate a small lock. Cons- The shoulder straps dig into my shoulders under the weight of the pack. I've tried the waist belt and it does help a bit. Prefer if they could add a more cushion to the straps.

JC

Raleigh NC

This is my 2nd Porter 30. I bought the black one since I was going to Europe & didn't want a more colorful one to scream "tourist." I wanted a backpack to use for my carry-on. I love the features of this bag. The opted to leave the detachable hip belt at home to lessen the load since I wasn't going to hike with this bag. This bag opens wide and can hold a lot of stuff. The compression straps really help squish down the bag. It was the perfect size to put under the seat of a Swiss Air Boeing 777-300ER plane. I had aisle seats on my flights. As you can see by the photos, they fit under the seat in front of me. No more worrying if there will be any overheard space for it. Another quality product from Osprey!

SkierChick

Chicago, IL