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Osprey Nebula Vs Quasar
The key to a comfortable and gratifying travel or commute experience is having the right gear with you. Choosing a good backpack can help you achieve this, and if you’re looking for a good backpack, you might want to look at what Osprey has to offer.
Osprey is one of the world’s leading backpack and daypack brands. Their products are legendary.
In fact, since the Company’s inception in 1974, the founder has personally inspected and scrutinized every single Osprey product for quality.
In this review, we focus on the Osprey Quasar Vs the Osprey Nebula. These backpack models are among the brand’s best-selling units.
Both are compact and lightweight making them ideal for daily commuting.
They are both designed to make carrying your laptop, tablet, books, and other personal effects easier while withstanding daily abuse and ensuring your gear is safe from external damage.
So, which one is better, the Nebula or the Quasar?
We’ve designed this in-depth comparison review to help answer just that so that you can be confident you’ve chosen the best backpack available.
Specs Overview – Osprey Quasar Vs Nebula
| Product | Gear Capacity | Weight | Material(s) | Fits Laptop Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1. Osprey Nebula Our Best Pick  Check Price | 34 liters /2,075 cubic inches | 2 lbs. 1.5 oz. | 210-denier nylon Oxford | 17 inches |
#2. Osprey Quasar Check Price | 28 liters / 1,709 cubic inches | 1 lb. 11 oz. | Ripstop nylon | 15 inches |
Now, let’s get to a detailed comparison of the Osprey Quasar and the Osprey Nebular.
You want to be sure you’re getting the right backpack for your needs in terms of size, weight, storage compartments, build quality, and value.
Size and Capacity
The Osprey Nebula is larger than the Quasar. The Quasar measures 19 x 12 x 11 inches and weighs about 1.69 pounds. With this size, it offers 28 liters of gear capacity.
This is not a lousy capacity if you are looking for a backpack to carry just the essential stuff for daily commuting, such as to work or school.
However, if you usually carry a little more than the essential tools in your backpack, you might want to go for a somewhat larger backpack.
Then you can’t wrong with Osprey Nebula. This model measures 20 x 13 x 12 inches, weighs a little over 2 pounds, and can hold a total of 34 liters of gear.
Design and Construction
These two backpacks have a number of features in common. These include:
- Vertical zippered pocket
- The front organization pocket
- Separate zippered laptop access
In choosing which one to buy between the two, it’s also important to understand their differences. These include:
Laptop compartment
The Osprey Quasar features a smaller laptop sleeve. Its laptop compartment can only accommodate a 15-inch laptop.
The Nebula boasts a wider laptop sleeve, which can accommodate a 17-inch laptop. This means the Nebula may be a better choice if you have a larger laptop.
If you are a frequent air-traveler, it is advisable to invest in a checkpoint friendly backpack, which makes Osprey Nebula an excellent choice for you as well.
The Nebula is equipped with a TSA-approved laptop sleeve making it exceptionally convenient for traveling.
With the Quasar, you have to take out your laptop from the bag at eachcheckpoint. This can be inconveniencing and time-consuming.
Storage space
The Nebula offers more space than the Quasar. Quasar features a front-panel bungee compression and storage area.
While the Nebula, on the other hand, features a front -panel stretch-mesh pocket. This pocket can come in handy when you have lots of small items to carry.
Color choices
Nebula comes with more color choices, six to be precise. Quasar offers one less option with only five color choices.
Those colors include black, robust red, armor gray, komodo green, and navy blue.
Durability
These backpack models offer virtually the same level of durability as they are made using the same materials.
The fabric used on the main compartment is tough, highly durable 420HD Nylon Packcloth. Then 210D Nylon Stripe Twill is used for the accent fabric.
Both models are rugged and long-lasting. They are designed to withstand the abuse of everyday use and to protect your gear from external damage.
>>Check Osprey Nebula Vs Comet
The final call: Osprey Quasar vs. Nebula
Osprey backpacks are designed to make sure you can enjoy any kind of travel without having to worry about the safety of your gear and your pack.
In choosing between Osprey Quasar and Osprey Nebula, we would recommend the Nebula.
Osprey Nebula offers the best value for your money. It boasts not only a better gear capacity but also a larger laptop sleeve.
What’s more, it is much more convenient for traveling as it’s TSA-approved.
Nonetheless, if you are looking for a more compact option and don’t mind removing your laptop from your backpack at airport checkpoints, Osprey Quasar may work well for you.