Tom is the co-founder of Adventure in You and has been traveling the world for the last 9 years, living in 5 different continents. His advice on travel gear, adventure travel, and business have been featured in Foundr, Business Insider, CNN and more.
Looking for an honest Osprey 40L Farpoint review? In this article, I walk you through one of the best bags I’ve owned, the Osprey Farpoint. I will give you a rundown on its best features, and what I love (and don’t like) about this bag.
As I update this post, I’ve traveled with my Osprey Farpoint for over four years so I think it’s fair to say that I can provide pretty honest feedback regarding this bag.
One of the things that I love about full time traveling is the fact that everything I own fits in one backpack. While the sheer thought of this is enough to scare others from this nomadic lifestyle, I personally love it!
It forces me to really think twice before buying things I don’t need. However, despite the size limit, I’ve found that you still tend to accumulate things depending on the size of your pack. This is one of the main reasons why I decided to try out the Osprey Farpoint 40L.
Curious to see if this bag is for you? Check out our full review below.
Weight: 1.44 kg (M/L) Maximum Dimensions (cm): 54 (l) x 35 (w) x 37 (d) Main Fabric: 210D Nylon Mini Hex Diamond Ripstop
After doing a lot of research online, I found one of the lightest travel packs from the Osprey Line.
I immediately ordered it and patiently waited until it arrived. To be perfectly honest, when I initially saw it, the bag looked incredibly small- making me question my purchase.
However, as soon as I started using it, I realized that the bag has an incredible amount of space, especially if you use packing cubes to help keep things organized.
The Farpoint ticks all the essentials which I have decided I needed in a bag.
Despite being a backpack, you can still open it like a suitcase which is a huge time saver when packing.
Apart from that, it also has internal laptop sleeves, mesh pockets in the front, well-made paddings and hip straps to help even out the load. Keep reading this article as I walk you through some of its best features.
As much as I love traveling with backpacks, I will never go back to a top load backpack anymore. I vividly have so many memories of me trying to stuff all my clothes from the top to no avail. The fact that the Farpoint opens like a suitcase is one of my favorite features about it.
Hipbelt and Harness
One of the reasons why I love Osprey bags is because they are always so damn comfortable! The hipbelt and harness feature of the Osprey Farpoint 40L makes it a great travel backpack as it distributes the weight of the pack evenly on your hips.
The best part is that you can also stow it away when you’re not using it if you prefer to carry it like a duffel bag. Keeping the straps inside the compartment when you do opt to check it in flights is also a great way to minimize damage to the straps.
Laptop Compartment
If you’re a digital nomad who travels with electronics like a laptop, the Osprey Farpoint is a great travel backpack choice as it has special laptop compartments where you can store your belongings.
Although I tend to also carry a smaller day pack with me, having the option of storing my laptop here or in my smaller bag is awesome. The laptop compartment fits up to 15″ laptops and is padded enough so I know it won’t get damaged.
Mesh Pockets
To be perfectly honest, one of my pet peeves is finding a bag that doesn’t have mesh pockets which is why I’m pretty stoked with the one that my Farpoint has. Although sometimes difficult to reach when you have the pack on, having this feature is a must so I can store my reusable water bottle!
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After receiving this backpack from the mail, I immediately packed it and took it for a test run around the UK. I have also since packed up everything I own (again) and took this bag with me to Bali, Indonesia with the aim to travel indefinitely.
Although I’ve already walked you through some of the more technical features of the backpack, here are the things which I personally love about the Farpoint and why it’s one of my favorite travel backpacks ever.
If I wanted to, I could use this bag as a carry on as it conforms to the maximum carry on size. This is a huge deal for me as I love the thought of being able to dart in and out of airports.
My previous 60L bag was too big for me to check it in so I always had to wait around in the airport which was a hassle especially when we had a connecting flight to a different airport.
Compartments
Apart from the electronics compartments, I love all the other zippers and mesh pockets which help keep things organized. The padded laptop sleeve is great, putting my mind at ease when storing my laptop along with other camera accessories.
Apart from the main compartment, there is also a part that is zippered off which I can use to keep my dirty laundry separate from all my other clothes.
Back Support
It’s no secret that Osprey is one of the best backpacking brands out there so regardless if you take one of their larger packs or the smaller ones like this one, they use the same mesh hip belt and harness along with the lightweight peripheral frame, giving your back more support when carrying your bag for longer periods of time.
Versatility
As mentioned, the stowaway backpack straps and hipbelt are awesome features of this bag. Why? because apart from the standard backpack look, you can easily hide the straps and carry the Farpoint 40 similar to a duffel bag using an attachable long strap.
Meaning, if I ever wanted to dress up my standard “I’m a backpacker” look, I could easily do so.
Although I am raving about this bag, I do wish that it came with a rain cover as well as a built-in lock system to help secure my belongings. Although it has a notch for zipper locks, having one built in would have been sweet.
However, with that being said, that problem was easily solved as I just bought a padlock and a raincover to take with me before leaving the UK.
I would also love to have pockets on the hip pads. Although that’s not a huge deal, it’s definitely a plus to have as I am able to store items that I would like to be able to access quite easily.
Osprey Farpoint Sizing Guide
The Farpoint bag comes in two sizes S/M and M/L. One of the things that I love about Osprey is that they take fit and sizing very seriously in order to ensure a comfortable fit each time.
Farpoint S/M is 38 litres (2,319 cubic inches)
Farpoint M/L is 40 liters (2,441 cubic inches)
In order to make sure you order the right one, check out the sizing guide provided by Osprey. Although it is marketed as a bag for men, the Farpoint can be used by both men and women which is where the sizing comes to play.
Take a look at their Osprey’s sizing guide here for more information on how to choose the right pack.
Overall Thoughts on the Farpoint 40L
All in all, this is a solid bag that I cannot recommend enough. I’ve always been a fan of Osprey products and their brand. Plus the fact that they have been in the business since 1974 says a lot about their bags, overall durability, and brand.
Before purchasing any of the Osprey bags, as mentioned, they have an app which you use to input your measurements so you can get a bag that fits you perfectly. The bags come in two sizes S/M and M/L.
Apart from the full guide to help you select which size to get, the fact that they deliver a bag that is perfectly suited to your height, waist, and the overall build is pretty impressive.
Our Review: Osprey Farpoint 40L
8.9/10
Overall, the Osprey Farpoint is one of the best bags we've owned and is perfect for those that want to travel light. It is super durable and is a backpack built for adventuring. If you're looking for an awesome backpack for travel, the Osprey Farpoint 40L is a great option.
If you think 40L is too small for you, Osprey also has a variety of sizes available, however, the 40L is the only one that passes carryon size specifications.
With that being said, I love the 40L bag and find its size to be just right, especially if you want to force yourself to travel light.
However, as I tend to carry a lot of camera gear, I would probably get one of their smaller bags as well like the Osprey Talon to keep all my gear and valuables.
What’s great about Osprey is that their bags are durable (they even have a guarantee for their products), and they are also super affordable. Buying one of their bags won’t cost you an arm and leg, giving you unbelievable value.
I have been pretty happy with my bag and have tested it for both weekend and long-term travel, allowing me to conclude that I may have really found the best carry-on travel bag.
Want to Read More Reviews?
The Osprey Farpoint has over 500+ reviews on Amazon and from real travelers. If you don’t trust my opinion, go check out what others have to say!
