A good travel backpack will save you from a lot of hazel while evading discomforts during your travels. The Osprey Farpoint 40 is a highly positively reviewed and purchased backpack among many travelers. Although we are only talking about the size 40 in this post, there are a variety of sizes for you to choose. However many travelers who have been using this for over an year states that the 40L managed to fit in all of their goods. Although it isn’t the case for all, it’s quite comforting to know that you can fit all your essentials in one place.
Osprey Farpoint 40 Specifications
- Volume: 40L (M/L) 2,441 cu/in
- Dimensions: 21.7H x 13.8W x 9.1D in
- Weight: 3.49lb
- 450D Polyester twist
- 8 pockets
- LightWire frame suspension
- Fine-tunable torso adjustments
- Soft shell type
The Osprey Farpoint 40 is more than just a backpack. It’s a thoughtfully engineered travel tool for the modern, mobile explorer and been that way for quite a while now. It has achieved a near-legendary status among one-bag travelers for a simple reason, it brilliantly balances the comfort of a technical hiking pack with the functionality required for navigating airports, cities, and everything in between. After using it on a recent trip, it’s clear this pack is designed by people who deeply understand the nuances of travel.
Apart from the specs mentioned above there are quite a few more that adds value to this particular backpack. Dual front mesh pockets, two compression straps at the front, zip access to the main compartment, the side and top handles are padded. Also the laptop and tablet sleeves are secure on the interior lockable region of the backpack. However, there are certain backpacks ahead of the Osprey in terms of pocket placement.
Osprey Farpoint 40 Build Quality
The first thing you notice is the build quality. The materials feel dense, durable, and ready for years of abuse. The “Tunnel Vision Grey” color is a smart, understated shade that looks good in both outdoor and urban settings. The pack’s shape is distinctive slightly oval or teardrop in profile, wider at the base, which hints at its carry-on optimized design. Handling it, you can immediately feel the internal LightWire frame, a feature borrowed from Osprey’s hiking packs, which promises to transfer weight effectively. The harness system, with its adjustable torso length and stowaway straps, is clearly the star of the show.
The M/L version of the bag is quite resistant to wear and tears that mostly occur when loading and unloading from flights. However the S/M version appears to be not so resistive.
Talking about the size, the 40L is the optimum for carry on luggage seen as it fits in with the required specifications. There are three different selections for colors. Volcanic Grey, Caribbean Blue and Jasper Red. Most people tend to stay away from the lighter colors as stains and tears are highlighted in them.
The backpack is mostly water proof, however if you don’t want to be too anxious about your expensive electronics inside, covering with a bag cover sounds appropriate.
Osprey Farpoint 40 Features
Now comes the exciting part of the Osprey Farpoint 40 backpack. The most outstanding feature that most travelers praise is the ability to function like a suitcase. The zip compartment adds so much value and eases your packing efforts.
The harness is not an afterthought. It’s a fully adjustable, padded suspension system derived from Osprey’s technical backpacking heritage. The shoulder straps are generously padded and shaped, and the hip belt is substantial enough to actually transfer weight from your shoulders to your hips. As one reviewer noted after a two-week trip through Africa and Europe, the harness system was “fantastic,” leaving their back feeling great even after long days of carrying. The ability to fine-tune the torso length ensures a custom fit for different body types.
The entire harness, including the shoulder straps and hip belt, tucks away behind a zippered rear panel. This transforms the backpack into a sleek, duffel-like package with a smooth back panel. Multiple users praised this for air travel: it prevents straps from snagging on conveyor belts, makes the pack easier to slide into overhead bins, and gives it a much more professional, streamlined look when you’re not wearing it. The padded top and side handles make lifting it into overhead compartments effortless.
The backpack comes with both side and top handles and they prove to be useful in many instances. They are well padded and easy to hold on to. But the bag is strictly for carrying on your back and not holding by your hands when it is mostly full. Holding it by these handles under stuffed conditions will definitely lead to quicker quality degradation.
Interior
The Farpoint 40 embraces a “clamshell” opening. The main compartment unzips fully like a suitcase, revealing a cavernous space. The design philosophy here is minimalist functionality. There are no complicated internal dividers, just a large, open cavity, one internal mesh zippered pocket, and two sets of compression straps to secure your load. This approach maximizes usable space and strongly encourages the use of packing cubes, which is the most efficient way to organize a travel pack. As one user put it, “no interior dividers means more packing space for the things I want to carry.”
There’s a dedicated, padded laptop/tablet sleeve accessed from the side. It fits up to a 16″ device. One user noted the padding feels a bit stiff, which offers good protection but may feel less plush than some. An external front pocket is perfect for items you need quick access to, like documents, a travel wallet, or a Kindle. An external zippered pocket on the front panel is specifically designed as a quick-access wash kit, a thoughtful touch for breezing through security.
Summary
The first and foremost is the outstanding fact of being a hybrid of a backpack and a suitcase. The interior straps and the laptop compartment placement is great. Next is the size. 40L suits the carry on luggage standards and it is convenient for many people especially if your transit durations are short. There are plenty of compartments, mesh pockets both interior and exterior for you to customize and organize your packing. Even weight distribution with multiple carry options. The hipbelt and harness system truly does a marvelous job in the weight distribution uniformity.
The Osprey Farpoint 40 is not just a backpack. It’s a travel system. Its genius lies in borrowing the best elements from technical hiking packs, a comfortable, load-bearing harness, and applying them to the specific challenges of modern travel. It’s a carry-on sized pack that carries like a true piece of luggage. This isn’t for you if you prefer a backpack with numerous internal organizers and pockets, or if you need a pack for daily office carry or as a technical hiking pack for off-trail use.
You might also look elsewhere if you are firmly committed to a top-loading design or find the slightly tapered shape less appealing for packing cubes. In summary, the Osprey Farpoint 40 has earned its reputation. It’s a masterfully designed tool that solves the fundamental problem of travel: how to carry your life on your back in comfort and style. It’s an investment that will pay dividends in comfort and ease on every single trip.
Osprey Farpoint 55 vs 40
A worthy comparison for some travelers who don’t mind carrying on luggage size. Although the Osprey Farpoint 40 is well received by most people, there are some who require larger space. Let’s take a quick glance at the 55.
The Farpoint 55 is a combination of the 40L and a detachable 15L. The first point to note down is that this is not carry on size. The model is different from that of the 40L. Also removable sleeping pad straps are included. It is tall and thin as opposed to the 40L. You can use the detachable 15L in different ways, either carry it separately or with the 40L as a single unit. But most solo travelers might not benefit from this arrangement.
However most users comment positively on the Osprey Farpoint 55 Trek. There is no detachable bag here but it’s a lot more comfortable than the regular 55. And some other cool features are integrated to add value. Stowable AirCover acting as a waterproof cover, Zippered hipbelt pockets to store your snacks with easy access, Adjustable and removable sleeping pad straps. More importantly the back panel can be easily adjusted to any height. What the 55 Trek lacks is a laptop compartment.
Conclusion
The Osprey Farpoint 40, 55 and the 55 Trek are all great backpacks. But from a travelers point of view, I guess it’s safe to say that the 40L is the best given that it conforms to the carry on size luggage conditions. However if you are in want of more space the 55 trek is a better choice over the regular 55. With its height adjustments and rain covers and straps for sleeping bags it does add a lot more price to performance value. You can also check out our post on Osprey Talon 22 which is a great daypack for Men.