Osprey Nebula 32 vs Proxima 30 for school/research/laptop/iPad/lunch?
Hey everyone,
I need help picking a backpack because I’m overthinking this badly.
This is my first time buying a backpack that’s around $100+, so I’m trying to make sure I’m not wasting money. I’m a full-time undergrad student, just started undergrad research, and I’m also trying to save money because my wife and I are starting a family.
What I need to carry:
- Lenovo laptop around 16 inches
- iPad Pro 12.9
- big laptop charger
- iPad/phone chargers and blocks
- 24 oz Owala water bottle
- sometimes a 30 oz Yeti coffee mug with a handle
- notebooks/school/research stuff
- lunch box because my wife will be packing me food to save money
- maybe workout clothes sometimes
- maybe BJJ clothes sometimes, but I’ll probably just keep that in the car
I also want to use it for airports/travel, walking around campus, research, and light outdoor walks/hikes with my wife. Nothing crazy like backpacking for days, just parks, trails, and maybe occasional hiking.
The backpacks I looked at were:
- Osprey Nebula 32
- Osprey Proxima 30
- Osprey Tropos 32
- The North Face Recon
- The North Face Surge
I tried The North Face Recon and Surge. I liked the Surge compartments a lot, but it felt weird on my shoulders/back. The Recon didn’t really work for me because I want better separate space for my laptop and iPad.
Then I tried Osprey and honestly the Osprey bags felt way more comfortable. I tried the Nebula 32 and Proxima 30. I can’t find the Tropos anywhere near me to try, so I’m probably skipping it.
Right now I’m mainly stuck between:
Osprey Nebula 32 vs Osprey Proxima 30
The Nebula seems like it has more room and might be better for lunch, school stuff, travel, and random daily carry. The Proxima seems lighter, cheaper, and still has the laptop/iPad organization I need.
For someone carrying a 16-inch laptop, iPad Pro 12.9, chargers, water bottle, lunch, and sometimes extra clothes, which would you pick?
Also, this is my first “real” backpack purchase, so I’m trying to buy once and not regret it. Any other recommendations are welcome too, but I care a lot about comfort, laptop/iPad separation, durability, and enough space without being too huge.