Osprey Farpoint 40 Review: One Backpack for Everything

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I’ve been using the Osprey Farpoint 40 for a little bit over 2.5 years.

And today I’m presenting you my Osprey Farpoint 40 review. In this review you’ll learn what I like (and what not) about this backpack. And why I still think that it’s the best carry on backpack available on the market. I first published this review on another travel blog a while ago, but it still stands true today.

That’s why I’m republishing it. Because this backpack is that good.

At the end of 2016 I was searching for a new travel backpack. A research lead me to the Osprey Farpoint 40.

I had written down a list of things important to me and did an online research. My 4 main criteria were:

1) a bag should be the size of a carry on luggage or less;

2) suitable for long distance walking and hiking;

3) with a compartment for my laptop;

4) and it should look good.

Osprey Farpoint 40 is such a backpack. 

Osprey Farpoint 40: Technical Details

SIZE: 40 liter (S/M and M/L).

DIMENSIONS: 14” x 21” x 15” (35 x 54 x 37 cm).

The bag’s depth in reality is about 8.3” (21 cm). So it definitely will not be a problem to carry this backpack onto a plane with most of the airlines. Yes, it can be also up to 14” (35 cm), but only if you attach something to the outside of the pack.

WEIGHT: 3 lbs (1.44 kg).

MATERIAL: 210D Nylon.

LAPTOP COMPARTMENT: Yes. There is also a big padded pocket for tablet. My iPad fits in easily.

FRONT LOADING BACKPACK: Yes.

AVAILABLE COLORS: Jasper Red, Carribean Blue, Volcanic Grey.

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For more details, photos and user reviews check it out on Amazon!

See also the female specific Osprey Fairview 40! (Osprey Fairview review)

Osprey Farpoint 40 Review

We all need much less than we think we need.

That’s one of the things that I have understood during the last years of traveling and living abroad.

It’s not just possible to live with less possessions and to travel with smaller luggage, but it can also be enjoyable. What else it means for me is that nowadays I pay more attention to the quality of all the products I have.

I feel much better having one quality backpack, which I can use for different kind of trips, than several OK ones.

Ok, let’s go into details now!

What I Like About the Osprey Farpoint 40 Travel Backpack

In short – this backpack turned out to be as good as I was thinking it will be, when still only reading other people’s reviews online.

In fact I had read about it so much, that, when the backpack was delivered to me, I immediately felt about it like – yeah, this the backpack is for me. Well, and its size turned out to be a really good fit for me as well. I’m 6’1″ (1.86 m), by the way.

I don’t like bulky looking backpacks. So I was a bit worried, if this one will not be too big by my standards.

My previous backpack was 1/3 smaller. But now I wanted something that’s big enough also for not too serious hiking trips.

As you can see from a picture above Osprey Farpoint 40 doesn’t look bulky.

Yes, there are some drawbacks as well, but they are minor. And I’ll talk about them, too.

1. The Backpack Looks Good

This backpack’s design is simple, even minimalistic, I would say.

There aren’t too many straps and attachment points. And even zippers of main compartments aren’t visible once you close the backpack. The Osprey Farpoint 40 is a backpack suitable for hiking, but it doesn’t look like a hiking backpack. Far from that. And I like it.

Because when you are wearing an ordinary hiking backpack you clearly stand out in the city. Oh, here is a tourist coming!

But with a bag like this one you could easily be on your way to university or office. Or maybe… you are tourist on the way to the train station or airport. There are many possibilities.

2. It’s a Very Comfortable Backpack for Carrying Around

I’m used to travel light.

Since 2012 I have been traveling with a maximum of  22 – 26 pounds / 10-12 kilos of luggage.

But even when you travel this light, after a few hours of walking you can start to feel it. Your shoulders start to feel it. It’s so much more comfortable, when you have a backpack like this one.

This backpack has wide and padded shoulder straps, wide hip belt and lightwood frame. All of that seems to be doing a really great job – because the load feels lighter than it actually is. I’ve used this backpack also on 10-15 day hiking trips, carrying the same 10 – 12 kilos every day, while feeling very comfortable. And that’s important, if you are using a backpack as much as I do.

I know for some of you 10 kilos will sound like nothing. Actually, the number doesn’t really matter.

What matters is that having the same load with Osprey Farpoint 40 I feel much better than with many other backpacks.

For most of the time, while hiking, I would tighten the hip belt (and adjust shoulder straps accordingly) to transfer the weight from harness to hip belt. At the same time while walking in cities I rarely use hip belt at all. Unless I’m walking a lot.

3. It’s a Very Spacious Backpack

Which is good and not so good at the same time. Let me explain why!

There are 2 big compartments and 1 pocket. And one of the compartments is much bigger than the other. It’s really big.

The second one, in the front of the backpack, is the laptop compartment. You can put your laptop and maybe a tablet or a Kindle there. So, unless you are traveling without your gadgets, all of your stuff most probably will be in the big main compartment.

Because of that, if not for the packing organizers, it would be difficult for me to organize anything. Even though it’s a panel loading backpack. Which means you can open it the same way like a suitcase. That’s why I have a big packing cube for most of my clothing and also a special electronics organizer. To organize my belongings. And it works well for me.

It’s a panel loading backpack. Which means you can open it the same way like a suitcase.

Here I must also admit, that I’m not sure what’s a better solution?

If having 2 similar size compartments would make things much better? If it would make it better at all?

Anyway, buying this kind of backpack, better think about getting some packing cubes as well. They will make your life so much easier. Or you can do like I was doing for years – put all of your clothes in one or few plastic bags. This way organization of your stuff will not be such a big hassle.

Speaking about how roomy is this backpack – in this article you see a few photos of me in Nepal. And in all of these situations my bulky sleeping bag was inside the backpack as well.

That roomy is the Osprey Farpoint 40 backpack.

4. It’s a Versatile Backpack

You can use it like a backpack.

Or like a duffel bag (there is a removable shoulder strap).

But when you are traveling on a bus, you can hide its hip belt and shoulder straps using a special, built-in cover. I use it also when I’m checking in my bag for the flight. After this transformation, which takes just a minute or less, it doesn’t look like a backpack anymore.

What I Don’t Like About Osprey Farpoint 40

Maybe (but just maybe) having 2 similar size compartments would make organization of ones belongings easier. Otherwise there is basically only one compartment for everything.

But, as I said, it isn’t a problem, if you have packing cubes.

And with packing cubes not only you can organize everything better. You can also pack more in the same space and pack your backpack much more easily. Because, really, packing cubes are very useful.

The other thing – mesh pockets.

There are 2 mesh pockets in the front of the backpack.

I have 2 water bottles, which I have been putting in these pockets. However, if your backpack is full, then because of the way these pockets are made it’s very hard to put the bottles in. Having these on the side of the backpack would make things easier.

Osprey Fairview vs Farpoint

Osprey Farview vs Farpoint, what are the main differences?

The main difference between these two bags is that Fairview is designed for women, but Farpoint – for men.

Visually, as you can see from the photos above, they look exactly the same. However, there are differences. The Fairview’s back system is redesigned to offer women’s specific fit. Narrower shoulder width, shorter torso length and ergonomically shaped hipbelt are three of the main differences here.

Note that the Fairview only comes in one size which is a women’s S/M (back length measurement of 38 cm – 45.5 cm).

But Farpoint comes in 2 sizes – S/M and M/L.

If you aren’t sure which size do you need and if Fairview isn’t going to be to small for you, try Osprey PackSizer™ app to find it out.

Is Osprey Farpoint 40 the Best Travel Backpack?

Not for everyone. Because we all travel for different reasons and our needs differ.

But for me it definitely is one of the best travel backpacks available right now.

I’m traveling frequently, mostly with carry on luggage only, but otherwise my travel style differs quite a lot. One day I might be walking around in Paris, but on the other day I could be already hiking the Annapurna Circuit in Himalayas. Having one backpack, which could serve me in all these different conditions, was the ultimate goal for me, when looking for a new backpack.

And right now I’m fully satisfied owner of Osprey Farpoint 40.

It’s not for nothing that I have been saying, that Osprey Farpoint 40 is one backpack for everything.

For more details, photos and user reviews check it out on Amazon!

When looking for a new travel backpack check out our guide to the best carry on backpacks!

Disclosure: Although Osprey Farpoint 40 bag was sponsored by Osprey Europe, my opinions shared are my own. I first found this backpack, then asked Osprey if they could provide me with one to try it out.

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