Osprey Farpoint 40 Review

The Osprey Farpoint 40 is a heavy-duty carry on backpack that stands out for its ability to support the heaviest of loads very comfortably thanks to a richly featured harness and suspension system. The large interior compartment accommodates an absurd amount of clothing and gear, fitting all three of our test packing cubes with ease.

Performance Comparison

Storage & Protection

When you're gearing up for a trip, the last thing you want is to have to choose which essential to leave behind due to lack of space in your bag. When you're considering a travel backpack as your primary or only piece of luggage, packing space becomes a premium. The Osprey Farpoint packs a punch in our storage and protection metric thanks to a spacious interior and tough fabric.

90% of the storage capacity of the Farpoint backpack is found in the main compartment. It is similar to a duffle-style design, with a large primary compartment and internal compression straps. We were able to fit all of our three packing cubes with ease and still had room to spare. The internal compression straps create some extra space for stashing clothes inside the bag, and the external straps snug everything in the bag for transport.

In some ways, the Farpoint feels more like a hiking backpack than a regular backpack, the main difference being the zip open compartment versus top-loading design. One of the similarities is the tapered bottom that helps keep gear positioned close and high on your back. It is great for carrying, but you'll have to lay the bag down if you want to take it off because it won't stand on end.

The main material of this backpack is a Bluesign® approved 450-denier recycled polyester that is light yet durable. It has a PFAS-free, durable, water-repellent coating that water beads right off of. The fabric extends in a protective flap over the exposed zipper for an added layer of waterproofing. We noted that there was no leakage into the main compartment or laptop pouch during our high-pressure hose test. We like that the Farpoint also has lockable security zippers on the main compartment.

Ease of Use

The Farpoint is one of the more basic travel backpacks in our testing lineup in terms of organizational features. With only a few pockets and even fewer zippers, it is incredibly easy to use. That said, it lacks some of the tester-favorite features for access on the go, as well as livability. While you might miss some of the extra pockets that more featured bags have, we found the simplicity to bring efficiency when packing, hauling, and using this backpack, and we think it will be especially appreciated by the “everything but the kitchen sink” style packers.

Excluding the 16-inch laptop sleeve, the exterior of the bag only has two pockets, and one of these doesn't even have a zipper. There is a small sunglasses-sized pocket on the top of the bag for stashing, well, sunglasses or other small items. Depending on how full you have packed the main compartment, the space in this pocket becomes more limited. There is also a “Shove-It” pocket on the outside, located underneath the external compression straps. While we weren't concerned that anything would fall out of this non-zippered pocket, we struggled to fit many things inside it. Access was further limited by the external compression straps, which need to be undone to use this pocket.

The main compartment of the Farpoint is easily accessed by unzipping and folding back the large zippered opening. Although the bag doesn't truly lay flat, given the curved design of the straps and suspension system, we didn't feel this impacted general useability. Overall, it is fairly livable, and we'd relate it most to using a duffel bag. The internal compression straps help keep some gear secured while your more frequently used items can be made quickly accessible by keeping them on top. A full-size mesh zipper pocket on the lid helps organize small items like socks and underwear.

One drawback to traveling with backpacks is the presence of dangling straps and buckles that seem to get caught and damaged on every conceivable object in your path. Many travel packs have opted to have removable straps or stow-away pocket designs to prevent this. The Farpoint follows suit, and converting from backpack mode to transport-ready was significantly easier than many other models. The entire suspension and harness system stays in place, and a single zippered panel zips up around all of it. When not needed, the panel stows away under the waist belt. We found this to be much quicker and easier than unclipping straps and tucking waist belts inside tight sleeves.

Comfort & Fit

We have two words to describe the comfort and fit of the Farpoint: Holy. Smokes. Okay, we actually have many more words to describe it. This travel backpack is one of the most comfortable that we tested, thanks to its adjustable fit, supportive padding, and ergonomic harness system.

The entire bag-to-human interface of the Farpoint — i.e., the back panel and straps — is incredibly well designed. If you've ever used a dedicated hiking backpack, this is much more comparable to that type of experience than the backpack you used in middle school. The shoulder attachment points are fully adjustable along a sliding track, providing up to four inches of customizable height to fit your torso better. A four-millimeter LightWire frame helps to transfer the load from the shoulder straps to your waist, where there is a comfortably padded hip belt. We especially like that the hip belt adjustability features reverse-grip strap pulls. Instead of pulling the right strap right and the left strap left, you tighten the belt by pulling across your body. We found this to be much more ergonomic.

The curved back panel and suspension system of the Farpoint is a rigid foam frame sheet. An AirScape back panel keeps your back well-ventilated while holding the weight close to your back, which is critical for a comfortable carrying experience with a heavily loaded pack. The comfortable shoulder straps boast load lifters and an adjustable sternum strap with a built-in safety whistle. The entire harness system zips away for protection when it's not needed, and the bag can be carried by comfortable grab handles on the or side.

Versatility

In such a specific-use bag, the versatility of the Farpoint is somewhat limited to niche applications. We would really only recommend using it for its intended purpose of carrying a large amount of travel gear, but in that scenario, it absolutely excels. Although, in a pinch, we think it could probably function as a decent hiking backpack, given its storage capacity and ergonomic carrying system.

The different size options available for the Farpoint help diversify the audience that may find this backpack useful. We also give credit to the day-pack compatibility of the Farpoint. By attaching another small bag to this one, we think the versatility is greatly improved without detracting from the single-backpack experience. We are remiss to note the lack of a water bottle pocket on the side of the Farpoint, which would have been a nice inclusion to support this bag's versatility. If you're planning overseas trips with adventure activities and don't want to pack bags in bags in bags, the Farpoint could reasonably wear multiple hats. We can see it being useful as your main travel bag, a single-night camping backpack, or a climbing crag bag.

Should You Buy the Osprey Farpoint 40?

Some types of trips and travelers just need a lot of heavy gear, no matter the duration of your travel. If you fall into one of those categories, we recommend the Osprey Farpoint in any one of its available sizes. For those travelers who might have to carry their gear on foot for longer periods, the harness system on the Farpoint helps transfer the weight to your hips, giving the bag a floating feeling no matter the weight. This is one of the most comfortable travel backpacks in our lineup of bags, and we recommend it for those travelers looking to move light without packing light.

What Other Travel Backpacks Should You Consider?

If you are worried that this bag might be a bit overkill for your weekend home or next overnight trip, we recommend checking out our review of the Thule Subterra 34L. This compact bag is comfortable, stylish, and perfect for a short trip with a change of clothes and a laptop or tablet. If cost is a driving factor in your decision, the Coowoz Essentials is our top recommendation for a travel backpack on a budget. It has just enough features to hang with our top-scoring models and comes at a fraction of the price. Lastly, if you're looking for the most user-friendly backpack to take the place of your carry on suitcase, the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L, Osprey Sojourn Porter 46L, and Topo Designs Global Travel Bag are all easy to live out of on the go. The Cotopaxi features just enough internal organizing pockets to stow all your gear securely, while the Topo Global Bag is an organizational nerd's dream, taking internal pockets to the extreme. The Osprey Sojourn Porter lacks the number of internal pockets of these two models; however, it is one of our favorite travel backpacks for its above-average performance in all of our testing metrics and general likeability.