Hello! The previous comment and comparison with the TNF Recon prompted me to write a review. Osprey Quasar was never a competitor to the TNF Recon. The direct competitor for the Quasar is the TNF Jester. In my local store, the prices for these backpacks (Quasar/Jester) are almost the same. If you take a closer look, the Quasar and Jester backpacks are very similar, practically copying each other. Specifically, they both have an elastic cord on the front, identical admin panels, similar volumes (26 and 27 liters), and weigh around 0.8 kg. These urban (EDC) backpacks are suitable for those who occasionally carry a laptop and prefer not to clutter the admin panel with various items. For example, I don’t like a separate laptop panel because it significantly reduces the useful space in the main compartment. However, the Quasar has some improvements compared to the Jester. These include side compression straps, a pocket for glasses or a phone, a cool compartment for laptop, tablet, and papers, higher-quality materials (nylon instead of polyester), interesting color options, a loop for a bike light, and an admin panel that doesn’t take up space in the main compartment. So, as an urban backpack, the Quasar is very convenient. Now, let’s talk about the comparison with the Recon. As mentioned, it’s better to compare the Recon with the Osprey Nebula, and in my personal opinion, the score is not in favor of the Recon =). I was also amused by the comparison of waist belt widths for hiking (20mm vs. 25mm). Seriously? =) Honestly, I don’t quite understand why people choose the Recon for hiking. Without a proper waist belt, it will always cause shoulder pain, as even a simple 50mm (2 inches) wide belt doesn’t work as well as a hiking waist belt. Additionally, the Recon is 30% heavier (0.4 kg) than the Quasar or Jester, which is equivalent to my flashlight, knife, notebook, pencil, lighter, and tissues (EDC items). I forgot to mention that the admin panel in the Recon also significantly eats space from the main compartment, and when there’s a lot inside, accessing the main compartment becomes difficult and inconvenient. The oval shape of the Recon is also not in its favor; the useful volume of the main compartment in the Jester and Osprey is greater than in the Recon. Due to Recon's curved shape, it couldn’t fit a rectangular box or six 1.5L bottles in packaging film, which fit in the Jester or Quasar without issues. In summary, the Recon seems excessive and heavy for city use, too small for trips (better to buy the Nebula), lacks laptop bottom protection, and has a thin waist belt for hiking. Perhaps the Recon is a compromise option for an all-purpose backpack, but in each situation or case, it will be outperformed by the more comfortable Quasar/Jester/Nebula/Zulu. Thank you for your attention! :blush:
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