Being Nomadic is a reader-supported blog. When you purchase anything via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission without costing you anything extra.

Osprey Tropos vs Nebula Backpack: What’s the Best to Buy for 2021

Here I am trying to address the Osprey Tropos vs Nebula debate in order to provide a better overview of both the backpacks. If you’re confused to pick one, then here’s my quick advice.

If comfort is your first and foremost priority then go for Tropos, but if you’re a fan of durability (just like me), then you shouldn’t ignore Nebula.

Osprey is one of the leading companies in manufacturing travelling hydration backpacks globally. It was founded in 1974 and now became a fusion hub for various and innovative products.

It takes special care in the issue of a warming environment. Their vision is to make all the products with recycled materials and non-toxic dyes. In this increasing trend and demand for backpacks and other bags, Osprey succeeded to earn a high place in this global backpack industry.

Osprey tropos vs nebula
Osprey Tropos vs Nebula Backpack: Detailed Comparison

The most impressive feature which makes Osprey unique from others is that it includes PFC- free DWR in all the collections. Sustainability is their prime mantra, and they are planning to become the rising brand in sustainability.

Adventure enthusiasts and people who love to travel around, for them, this brand is perfect. Products of Osprey are always the best for the people who constantly travel and move around because they provide ecological backpacks.

Osprey Tropos and Osprey Nebula both are the best technical backpacks you can have. Its durability and its organizing pocket feature make it distinctive from other bags. Both are designed to fit into your daily activities and help you to simplify the organizing process.

Osprey Tropos vs Nebula: Quick Comparison Chart

FeaturesOsprey Tropos BackpackOsprey Nebula Backpack
Capacity34 L34L
Laptop sleevesSeparate sleeves for Laptop and tablet for better accessTSA airport approved padded sleeve
Frontal panelFront stretch mesh pocket for keeping small itemsThe frontal panel consists of an organization pocket and a key clip
KickstandIt has a kickstand feature which It does not have a kickstand feature.
AirSpeed Back PanelHave an AirSpeed Backpanel for superior ventilationIt does not have an AirSpeed Back Panel for ventilation
Laptop sleeve spaceIt fits up to 17inches of LaptopIt fits up to 15 inches of Laptop

While Osprey Tropos focuses on the product’s comfort, Osprey Nebula focuses on the durability of the backpack. The space for the Laptop sleeve is quite different as Tropos offers a 17-inch length, and on the other hand, Nebula provides 15 inches of room for the Laptop. The kickstand feature of Tropos makes it distinctive from Nebula.

Osprey Tropos Review with Pros, Cons & Verdict

Osprey Tropos is one of the best laptop backpacks in the market. It is a all-rounder and versatile product, and it can be used on various situations as per your convenience as well.

It gives comfort to the user while they travel around without even worrying about the bag. This backpack range is designed in such a way and committed that it has a great fit and functionality features that can win your heart.

Key Highlighted Features

  • It has padded laptop sleeves and also fits up to 17-inch size laptops. It means you don’t have to worry about the size of the Laptop to include in your backpack. It will also protect your devices from external damage.
  • Its suspended mesh ventilated Airspeed Back panel helps to keep things ventilated. This will provide constant airflow through the bag and keep the stuff inside damp free, so if you travel to a humid area, you don’t have to worry about your items getting damp.
  • It has a kickstand feature that helps to keep the backpack upright, be it empty or full. Giving you easy access to the items as you keep the back upright.
  • Has various separate zippers for Laptops and tablets for better access to the items like your toiletries or other personal items faster when in need.
  • It also has a front organization pocket which creates better accessibility for small items which we use daily. Keep the keys, pens, business cards, and you can get them quickly.
  • The backpack also comes with upper side compression straps with a tuck away garage, which means you can pull or attach another bag while you travel or go for a trek.

Product Description

The Osprey Tropos backpack earned its attention for its technical pack of the brand. It provides excellent ventilation due to its Air Speed suspended mesh back panel.  Its laptop pocket offers faster access to the devices and also protects the device.

 There are two pocket sleeves included for a laptop and a tablet. The laptop compartment is great to use, as you don’t have to dig from other items. In case you drop the bag on the floor, don’t worry, the Laptop is safe.

The backpack has dual stretch-mesh bottle compartments and a space for small light attachments for better observation while you trek at night. It also has a heat-encased scratch-free section.

Pros 

  • The backpack has excellent space, and you can pack for more than two, say for a trek or any other purpose.
  • Mini pockets enable the user to open and find personal items easily.
  • Compression straps make it easy to compress the bag when you want to move around.
  • Its color variation is impressive and goes with any circumstances.
  • The frame is comfortable and splendid.

Cons 

  • The sunglasses pocket is not sewn into the bag. Its hands are loose inside the main compartment.
  • The backpack would not stand properly after some use due to some poor engineering of the kickstand feature.
  • It is not waterproof, so that it won’t guarantee complete protection from rain or water.

Osprey Nebula Review with Pros, Cons & Verdict

Osprey Nebula backpacks are known for its durability and longevity. It comes with TSA laptop sleeve (airport approved), which makes it super travel friendly and very easy to carry.

Key Highlighted Features

  • It has a TSA Laptop sleeve that is airport approved, which unfolds to lay flat for better, easy and secure travel through airport security.
  • Upper side compression straps for better grip while moving up and down during a trek or a hiking trip. Its Tuck away garage straps help you to attach any other extra luggage while you travel very quickly.
  • The front panel stretch mesh pocket provides additional storage and enables you to organize your items.
  • Dual Stretch Mesh water bottle pockets provide extra carry options externally.
  • Smooth, breathable reverse spacer mesh offers better space for keeping the items, and you can worry less about the things getting damp.
  • It can even fit under an Aeroplan seat and can compress it whenever needed during a trip.

Product Description

The Nebula Backpack provides the best durable and elite quality fabrics in a very comfortable package for daily activities. It also has some travel-friendly features which can charm you away. Its internal magazine/ document sleeve and organization pocket enables you to keep the items properly.

It weighs up to 1.98 pounds which is light to carry around. You can even fit in a 15 inches laptop easily and can access it whenever you want. It was even ranked high in the list of laptop backpacks recently.

It has two main compartments that are quite large and can store many items like laptops, clothes, and much more in an organized manner. So there are no problems with messing with all the things. You can pack three days of clothes as well and with ease.

Pros

  • It has a capacity of 30 L, which is pretty huge and can easily store many things whenever you travel.
  • It is very comfortable and has many compartments to keep from clothes to any gear for travelling.
  • The durability of the product is extended.
  • It offers the highest quality, functional and works great for any age person.

Cons

  • The zippers do not have good quality.
  • The bag is way more significant for daily activities.

Final Take

All in all, according to me, Nebula is the best choice. Its feature, which includes padded sleeves, is much better than Tropos, and it is lighter to carry around.

Osprey Tropos vs Nebula: In-depth Comparison

I have been using a few Osprey bags for a very long time. They are great in quality and are durable. No matter where you go and how much you travel, the requirement of a technical bag is a must.

That is why I am going to share some in-depth insights regarding this Osprey Tropos vs Nebula Backpack debate. So that you can understand and choose your ideal backpack and have a great experience.

Weight

Generally, the weight of the product does not have much effect on travelling. But still, Osprey Tropos wins the race with Nebula. This is because Tropos weighs less than Nebula, which is why it is a lightweight day pack.

Comfortability

For hikers to commuters, comfortability is very important. It is because they need to carry them back for a very long period. If it is not comfortable enough, the user won’t be able to carry it.

 The backpacks are padded equally and have a feature that helps attach the bag with your back easily without giving pain. Both of them are made with a cooling technology known as AirSpeed.

This is created so that it provides ventilation in the back of the backpack so that the user can comfortably carry the bag without any sweat during warm weather.

Osprey Tropos vs Nebula Comparsion
Design and Comfortability : Osprey Tropos vs Osprey Nebula

Adjustability

In the Osprey Tropos backpack, there are adjustable straps but not any ordinary ones. These straps you won’t find in everyday bags.

This product has almost ten adjustable straps on it, which makes the backpack highly tailored. Four of them are compression straps that help hold all the things in your bag close and compact. Lastly, a sternum strap so that you can adjust well.

On the other hand, Osprey Nebula does not have any special straps. It features adjustable shoulder straps and also a removable waist strap which gives the user comfort. And therefore it is best for everyday use.

Storage and Capacity

If you are a student, Tropos is perfect for you. There is entirely a different place inside the main compartment. You can keep the books and the note copies very quickly.

Not only that, this backpack has a lot of cases like laptop sleeves and organization pockets to keep your belongings in an organized way, so you don’t mess up while you look for something.

Both of the backpacks offer the same storage capacity, that is, 34 L. This means you can carry a lot of things. Be it a camping experience or a short trip. You can squeeze in a lot of items.

Design

Usually, everyday backpacks do not have much of a difference. The same goes for Osprey Nebula and Osprey Tropos. Though both of them offer the same capacity, Osprey Nebula(18.9 inches tall)is relatively smaller than Tropos(20.8 inches tall).

The backpack is made up of 420D nylon packcloth and 210D nylon ripstop. It means both of them are not entirely waterproof but are water-resistant. It is also suitable for everyday activities, but Nebula is ideal because of its compact size. Tropos is a better option for hiking and trekking for its cooling technology.

Compartment

Tropos vs Nebula
Compartment: Osprey Tropos Vs Osprey Nebula

Both of the backpacks contain more than five compartments, including organization pockets, laptop sleeves, and so much more. Compared to Nebula, Tropos offers a lot of compartments for storage. There is a pocket for small items like phones or sunglasses, and some space is divided for small business cards and other personal items.

The laptop compartment is padded for both of the products. Nebula has airport approved padded Laptop and tablet sleeves for better and easy security checks during air travel.

Special Features

The only feature that makes Tropos a stand out product is the kickstand feature. A built-in kickstand allows the backpack to sit up on its own.

During your class or hiking on a rocky mountain, the pack can sit upright very quickly due to its metal framework around the structure. This also makes the whole packing process much faster and easier.

Contrarily, Nebula’s best and unique feature is its TSA airport approved laptop sleeve, which you can unzip and lay flat during a security check without even taking out the Laptop or any devices repeatedly.

Pricing

Price is another important factor for buying a backpack. You will love both of the products because of their affordable pricing.

The price of Osprey Tropos is under $150 most of the times, which is worthy because of its features offered to the users. From maximum comfort to sleek design, Tropos is an excellent choice. It comes in various colors and is also unisex, which means both men and women can use it and enjoy its features.

The price of the Osprey Nebula is a little cheaper than that of Tropos. With its super impressive TSA airport approved feature, it becomes super affordable and a perfect choice for daily commuters.

Ease of Use

If you talk about the ease of use, it depends on what type of activities you prefer. If you are a daily commuter, student or biker, Osprey Nebula can be a worthy choice. It is because Nebula offers not only comfortability but is durable as well. It can fit easily under the seat of an aeroplane while you travel.

And, if you are an adventurer, then Tropos can be the perfect backpack for you. Its multiple compartment feature and the kickstand feature makes it the best bag for travelling. These features truly make this product one of a kind.

You can easily use it for 1-2 days straight without even worrying about messing up the items like clothes, personal belongings during a trek.

Final Thoughts

In the end, the choice is entirely yours, and you need to understand there is no wrong decision between these two. Both have unique features which overpower one another.

I hope this article on “Osprey Tropos vs Nebula” helps guide you to your perfect travelling buddy and gives you an extraordinary experience in your lifetime. Osprey believes that everyone should benefit from outdoor recreation.

Rocky D

Leave a Comment