The Surge 31L is made to replace your whole portable office or carry a semester’s worth of books. It’s a reliable pack with years of positive feedback, but all that organization comes with a big downside.
- DVSS Score: 83.0/100
- Satisfaction Tier: Excellent
- Review Count: 812
STRENGTHS
- Suspension System: Most comfortable harness and straps among the seven competing top-rated packs.
- Laptop Protection: Heavily padded, suspended compartment fits a 15.6-inch and 17-inch laptop simultaneously.
- Durability: The outer material withstands “daily stress” and is confirmed to be “rock solid” after a few months of intense use.
- Organization: Multiple dedicated compartments, including a fleece-lined glasses pocket for hard cases.
LIMITATIONS
- Capacity Conflict: Filling front pockets significantly reduces the usable space in the main compartment.
- Stand-Up Failure: The pack cannot stand upright and immediately “tips over forward.”
- Strap Rub: The stiff shoulder straps rub into the neck area for stockier users (5’11”, 215 lbs, 19″ neck).
- Quality Variance: Newer models have been reported to have loose threads and stitching failures on the shoulder straps within six months.
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Contents
Surge 31L Comfort Harness Defends an 83.0 DVSS Score Despite Quality Concerns.
The Surge 31L earns an Excellent rating for all-day comfort with heavy loads and top-notch laptop protection. However, while older models are known to last for years, some newer models have had quality issues.
- DVSS Score: 83.04/100
- Satisfaction Tier: Excellent
- Review Count: 812
- Average Rating: 4.60
- Ideal For: Students/Commuters for Heavy-Load Student/Commuter Carry
We use our DVSS Methodology to calculate the final quality score, which looks at how the backpack performs over the long term. The high score shows its comfort and laptop protection, but it also masks a growing concern that the strap stitching may fail within the first six months.
Padded Harness Secures Maximum All-Day Comfort
The harness and straps on this pack are often called the most comfortable among top-rated backpacks. The back and shoulder straps are “well-padded,” so the bag feels good even when it’s packed full. This comfort holds up whether you’re on public transit or walking far.
The Flex Vent system on the back helps a bit, with less sweating in cooler weather, but your back can still get “soaked for longer walks” during summer.
Laptop Compartment Confirms 17-Inch Device Security.
The laptop compartment is heavily padded and suspended, giving “super cushy” protection. Most people fit a 15.6-inch laptop easily, and one person even fit both a 17-inch and a 15-inch laptop at once. This level of protection is better than what you get in lighter packs, which usually have smaller, less padded sleeves.
This compartment has two sections, so it’s great for carrying a laptop, a tablet, or your whole “portable office” setup.
Organizational Pockets Steal Main Compartment Volume
The Surge 31L has lots of pockets, which people love for staying organized, but this also makes packing tricky. If you fill the front and side pockets, it quickly “takes away the rest of the bag,” leaving little space in the main area. This trade-off makes it the “biggest small backpack” for anyone who needs room for wide items like a rolled-up hoodie.
To make the most of the main space, you have to be “extra strategic on how you pack, and what you pack where.”
Strap Durability Separates Old and New Models
People who’ve had older Surge packs say theirs lasted “over 12 years,” so they expect high durability. But newer models have had several reports of strap stitching coming apart “within 6 months” when used for heavy student loads. This is a “glaring issue” for anyone upgrading from a pack that was “still functional after all that use.”
One user reported the right strap broke completely on the “first day of school” when packed with three notebooks.
YKK Zippers Maintain Reliability, Pulls Fail Separately
The main YKK zippers are called “amazing user-friendly zippers” and work smoothly even when the bag is stuffed. But the smaller pockets have smaller zippers, which are “harder to use with gloves.” Also, the zipper pull strings sometimes “fail” by pulling out of the rubber thumb grab, making the zipper tough to move.
Base Stability Fails Under All Loading Conditions
The pack has a big flaw in its base design. Many users say it “can’t stand in any position” and always “tips over forward” when you set it down, no matter how you pack it. This is even worse because the water bottle can “fall out” when the bag tips over.
Surge 31L Secures Heavy-Load Student/Commuter Carry (Yes, But…)
The Surge 31L is best for students and city commuters who need strong organization and protection for their devices. It can hold a “15.6-inch and a 17-inch” laptop, textbooks, and a change of clothes, as long as you focus on using the main compartment.
Real-World Loadout Test
- Tech: Fits MacBook Pro 16” (Confirmed by users) and up to a 17-inch laptop. The tablet sleeve can feel tight.
- Gear: Tall front pockets can fit a 24 oz Hydroflask zipped inside, but the side water bottle pockets are positioned “slightly high.”
- Result: When the bag is fully loaded, it feels “light” because the weight is well balanced. However, it’s hard to carry large, bulky items because the main compartment is hard to access.
Quick-Fit Assessment
✓ You’re a Great Fit:
- You prioritize superior comfort and back padding for all-day carrying.
- Your daily load includes a large laptop and significant organizational needs.
- You carry a moderate volume of items but need many dedicated pockets.
✗ Skip This If You:
- Regularly carry bulky items (e.g., gym shoes, hooded sweatshirts) in the main cavity.
- Hate bags that tip over on their own in an office or classroom.
- Need a pack that stands upright on its own in an office or classroom.
Surge 31L: The Over-Packed Student’s Durable Comfort Shield
This pack is a great choice for students who need to carry a heavy, complex load, such as a school laptop and several textbooks. The comfort system is designed to “distribute the weight efficiently” and can handle almost 20 pounds a day. The main risk is that the strap stitching might come apart, especially if you always pack it to the brim.
Surge 31L: The Tech Traveler’s Organized Personal Item
The Surge 31L’s many pockets make it a great travel companion for carrying “all my electronic essentials” as a personal item on flights. Travelers like the fleece-lined pocket for glasses and the easy-access zippered pockets for a “portable office.” The main downside is its bulky shape—one user said it’s “a little too big for personal item luggage for flying” compared to other bags.
Surge 31L Defends The Heavy-Load Student/Commuter Carry.
The Surge 31L combines long-lasting durability with a comfortable carrying system, making it a solid choice for people who carry lots of tech every day. The biggest drawback is that filling the front organizer pockets reduces space in the main area. It’s best for those who need organization and comfort for devices and essentials, not for anyone who needs lots of open space for gym gear or big travel items.
Check the price and availability of The Surge 31L today, and explore our full guide to all Best Heavy-Duty EDC Backpacks (30L-40).
