Osprey Farpoint 40 Review: All the Pros and Cons of This Carry On Bag

So you’re looking for a travel backpack and are thinking about buying the Osprey Farpoint 40? There’s so much that goes into deciding on the perfect backpack for your travel style and I know firsthand what a big choice this can be.

I first tried out the Osprey Farpoint 40 when I was going on a month-long trip around Germany and the Czech Republic in 2016. I needed a bag that was easy to pack, easy to use, and comfortable to carry. After a lot of research and a lot of agony I finally decided on purchasing the Osprey Farpoint 40.

Now, I’ve been using it for several years and I want to help you decide if this backpack is the one for you! In this Osprey Farpoint 40 review, I will share with you the features you will want to look for in a travel backpack (and whether the Farpoint 40 has them) as well as my own personal experience with this bag.

After reading this review, you will have all the information you need to make an informed decision on whether this backpack is the best choice for you. Because with a big purchase like this that will decide your travel comfort for years to come, you really want to have a bag that you will love!

Quick Guide to the Osprey Farpoint 40 and Accessories

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Click here to purchase the Osprey Farpoint 40 now!

Important Features of the Osprey Farpoint 40

There are a lot of things you should consider before purchasing a travel backpack, so before we get into my personal experience with the Farpoint 40 let’s go through and take a look at some of these features and how they stack up in the Farpoint 40.

1. Size

When you’re considering purchasing a travel backpack, you first need to think about what you will be using it for and what size you want.

The Osprey Farpoint 40 travel backpack comes in two sizes: Small/Medium (20″ x 14″ x 8″) and Medium/Large (21″ x 14″ x 9″). Its 40L size means it fits within basically every carry on size limit, and certainly every carry on size for any flight I’ve been on (and yes, I’ve taken it with me on Ryanair).

If you are a traveler who needs a carry on sized bag, then the Osprey Farpoint 40 size will be perfect for you. Sometimes people are worried about being able to fit enough in this bag, but I traveled around Germany for a month in winter and didn’t have any trouble fitting enough outfit changes inside (although of course I did laundry and reused some outfits during my trip).

So why might you want a backpack in a carry on size? There are many reasons, but most importantly this means that you will frequently save money because you won’t have to check a bag. Also, you will save time on getting out of the airport because you won’t have to wait around at the baggage claim (and you won’t have to worry about your baggage being lost because it will always be right with you). If these reasons resonate with you, then the Osprey Farpoint 40 will be an excellent bag for you!

2. Comfort

With a travel backpack the idea is that you’ll be carrying it on your back most of the time. As such, you’ll want to make sure you buy a backpack that is comfortable enough to carry for long periods of time.

Before purchasing the Osprey Farpoint 40, I used a Walmart duffel bag as my main carry-on bag. Every time I’d land after a long flight, it felt like I was stuck in the lines at passport control forever because carrying my bag was so uncomfortable. I’d often have to set my duffel bag down because it was digging into my shoulder or making me feel dizzy to carry all that weight unbalanced for so long. However, the first time I went through passport control with my Farpoint it was a breeze! I didn’t have to set it down once and I felt great.

Why? The Farpoint 40 has excellent shoulder straps, a great harness system, a lightweight wire frame, and the most comfortable hip belt ever. All the straps are padded very well and the hip belt does wonders for helping to evenly distribute the weight across your back. The suspension system really is perfect!

There is also an optional shoulder strap that comes with this pack, in case you decide you want to attach it and carry it like a duffel bag. If you’re looking for comfort and customization in carrying options, this Osprey travel backpack definitely excels in this area.

3. Compartments

Another important aspect of a travel backpack is the organization features and compartments. One of the big keys of Osprey design is simplicity, so there are only three main compartments in the Farpoint 40:

Top Compartment

The top compartment is a small compartment for things you might need to access quickly. It’s a good pouch to store items like sunglasses, snacks, gum, etc.

You could also use this for some of your travel documents like your passport and airplane ticket or for your wallet and keys or other small and important items. However, this top compartment does not lock so I don’t usually place important items like these in this compartment (unless I’m carrying the pack in front of me). I don’t want to take the risk that someone will zip open this pocket and take my wallet or passport!

But for items that are non-essential and that you want to access quickly or keep separate from the rest of your items, this is the perfect place to put them.

Front Compartment

The front compartment is medium sized and is great for keeping notebooks, travel documents, and chargers for all your devices. Inside this compartment is a padded laptop sleeve (with a Velcro tab to keep your laptop secured) as well as a mesh pocket with a zipper close. The mesh pocket is great to keep the front compartment organized because you can place your various items exactly where they belong and they will stay there when you zip them in.

Main Compartment

The main compartment is where the bulk of all your items will go. At first it may not look like there is much space, but when you start packing you will see that it is larger than it looks! This section contains some interior compression straps, so you can cinch down your soft items like clothes to make more space in the bag.

There is also a mesh pocket on the top side of this compartment, which you can use to keep items a little more organized. It can be effective for shoes like sandals or flats or as a place to put socks, underwear, washcloths, and other small items.

The simplicity of the main compartment means you can really customize what you bring. I often place my tripod in this compartment, so it’s nice that the openness means you can place differently-shaped items here as needed.

However, if you are someone who likes a little more organization or likes keeping your different items separate from each other so you can find them easier, then you may want to consider purchasing packing cubes. These compression cubes from Eagle Creek will help keep your items organized and will help compress your items as well so you have more space in your bag.

4. Way of Opening

Another important feature to consider in a travel backpack is how it opens. Many travel/hiking backpacks are top-loading bags, which means every time you want to access something at the bottom of your bag you need to take everything out from the top first.

But the Osprey Farpoint 40 opens more like a suitcase with a zipper that goes around three sides of the pack. This allows you to see and access everything that you have stored inside without packing and repacking your entire bag. This is definitely one of my favorite features on the Farpoint as it makes it super simple when you need to live out of your backpack rather than unpacking every night or when you need to grab something quickly while on the go.

5. Locking Capability

Whether or not your backpack locks can be an important feature, especially for those who plan to stay in hostels. It’s also nice to know it locks while you have to walk through crowded areas because this means you have an added layer of protection against pickpockets who might otherwise be able to reach inside your bag without you knowing it.

The Osprey Farpoint 40’s zippers are compatible with using TSA approved locks (these are my favorite to use with this backpack). This means that you can clip these on and rest assured that no pickpockets will be able to grab your stuff. Of course, there are still other ways that people could get into your bag (like slashing it open) but the lock capability means that you have an extra layer of defense against people who steal casually by opportunity.

6. Materials and Quality

When purchasing a travel backpack, you’ll want to think about the quality of the bag and what it is made from. If you’re looking for a bag that will last, then this is one of the most important features to consider.

The Farpoint 40 is made from a nylon material that Osprey calls “Nylon Mini Hex Diamond Ripstop.” Basically, this is just a really fancy term for nylon that won’t rip easily…and I’ve found that to be true in my several years of using this bag.

Osprey is known for the quality of their bags and have been making backpacks for decades—all the way since 1974. They have a great reputation and you can rest easy knowing that when you purchase a backpack from Osprey it will last you for many, many years to come.

7. Warranty

Going along with the discussion on materials and quality, the Osprey warranty is one of the biggest no-brainer reasons to purchase an Osprey as your travel bag.

Osprey offers what they call the “All Mighty Guarantee.” What’s an All Mighty Guarantee? It’s a lifetime warranty where Osprey will repair any damage on your pack free of charge. It doesn’t matter whether you bought your bag yesterday or all the way back in 1974 when they first started making bags…if you have a problem or damage on your pack, Osprey will fix it. And if they aren’t able to fix it and make it functional again, they’ll replace the whole backpack for you.

Did I mention this is FREE OF CHARGE?! For LIFE?! You have to pay shipping to get the bag to them, but they cover the cost of the repair and the shipping to return your bag back to you. What a deal!

8. Packable Straps

The little details of your travel backpack will make the difference between an “eh” pack and a “wow, I should travel more often” pack, and the packable straps on the Farpoint 40 are one of those features that can make your travel life so much better!

The packable straps on the Farpoint means you can pack away the backpack straps and hip belt so they are safely tucked inside and out of harms way. Some people find they never need this feature, but I have found it to be helpful if I decide I want to check it in the hold on airplanes or for situations (like bus travel) where I put my backpack in the hold below the bus with other peoples’ luggage.

Being able to pack away the straps in cases like these is VERY nice because you know that the straps and hip belt won’t get caught on other items and luggage. This also means that if you check your bag for air travel your straps are less likely to get damaged (or cut if they get caught on something) by baggage handlers who throw your pack around with lighthearted abandon.

9. Laptop Sleeve

The Osprey Farpoint 40 contains a padded laptop sleeve that sits in the front compartment. It fits up to a 15″ laptop.

However, because of the sleeve’s position in the front compartment of the bag, some people (especially tablet users) have had issues with their devices breaking. This may be due in part to stuffing the bag so full that it bulges out and puts pressure on the device which then makes it crack. It could also be due to packing bulky and unyielding items (like hiking boots) right next to the laptop sleeve.

I travel all the time with my Surface Pro in the laptop sleeve and have never had an issue. I do, however, always pack it in its own protective case before placing it in the laptop sleeve. While the padded sleeve is nice, you should look on it as extra protection and not as the only protection your device needs.

10. Colors and Aesthetic

When choosing a bag, colors and aesthetic can be a big consideration for some people. The Osprey Farpoint 40 is a unisex bag and currently comes in three colors: blue, red, and grey.

But when I was purchasing my Osprey in 2016, I was quite unhappy with one feature of the Farpoint 40’s aesthetic: the interior lime-green mesh. It looks like a safety vest and I thought it was super ugly. Eventually, all the other amazing features of the Osprey outweighed this one ugly aspect for me and I purchased the backpack anyway. Do I love the safety-vest green now? No. But to be honest, I don’t really notice it much anymore either…plus I’ve learned that this bright green color means I’m less likely to lose any items inside because they can’t get lost in any dark corners! I am very happy that I chose this backpack as it has served me well and continues to do so.

When thinking about the Farpoint’s aesthetic, you have to realize that it is primarily a travel bag and it owns this aesthetic. It does not try to disguise itself as an urban bag. I find the blue and red exterior color options to be quite pretty, but if you are looking for a bag that will make you blend in more in the city then this may not be the bag for you.

However, if you are using it for traveling by air or on road trips…or if you plan to go camping or hiking…or if you plan to use it like luggage and have a separate bag or backpack for city use, then the Osprey is a perfect choice. It does what it does well and in a very comfortable way.

See the Osprey Farpoint 40 in blue and the Osprey Farpoint 40 in red!

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Wrap Up: The Best and Worst Features of the Farpoint 40

To help summarize, I’m including here what I believe are some of the best and worst features of the Farpoint 40 so you can see these features at a glance.

Best Features

• Carry-on size
• Comfortable straps and hip belt that can be tucked away
• Lockable zippers
• Laptop sleeve
• Warranty and quality
• Zips open like a suitcase

Worst Features

• Laptop sleeve is on outside compartment of bag
• Not many built-in compartmentalization options
• Exterior mesh pockets for water bottles are difficult to reach while wearing the pack. Items may also slip out of these pockets if you aren’t careful.

Osprey Farpoint 40 Review: My Personal Experience

In my several years of using the Farpoint 40, I have found this to be a durable and extremely comfortable travel backpack. I own the Osprey Farpoint 40 S/M size and use it everywhere. It goes with me on long trips across the world like to Germany, England, Greece, and more. It goes with me on short and long trips around the United States, including road trips and flights to the East Coast. And it goes with me on weekend trips when I visit family or camping trips in national parks and other outdoor spaces. Essentially, if I need to pack anything, the Farpoint is my go-to bag.

And across all this travel for all these years, my Farpoint has held up excellently. There are no rips in the nylon fabric. It has never broken anywhere—not the straps, not the zippers, not the mesh fabric inside.

And this is pretty impressive, because I definitely fill it to capacity with all my clothes, toiletries, and other essentials. As a travel blogger, this means I’m always also bringing along my heavy camera gear (the Sony a7R III + several lenses…and extra batteries, chargers, etc.) as well as a travel tripod. And of course my Surface Pro laptop also goes with me everywhere so I can write, edit, and do all the other tasks I need to do while on the road.

I pack all of this in my Osprey Farpoint 40 every time I take it with me places and it’s still going strong all these years later. If that’s not a testament to its durability (and to my love for this bag) then I don’t know what is.

Using the Osprey as carry on luggage is one of my favorite ways to use it, because it’s so easy to carry through airports and onto airplanes. It easily stows in the overhead luggage bins, and I never have trouble hoisting it up there or getting it back down after we land because it has excellent hand grips on the top and the side of the bag that make it easy to pull in and out of small spaces. This 40L travel backpack has definitely become one of my favorite travel bags!

And as much as I love the durability and flexibility of this backpack, I find myself continually coming back to how comfortable it is to wear. The suspension system really is amazing and makes it feel light on your back. Although it’s never fun to carry your bag around on layovers or while waiting for your hotel to be ready at your destination, this bag definitely makes travel days like these bearable. I’ve often carried it around during the day before checking into my hotel and I don’t feel exhausted from carrying it, which is a huge win in my book!

I might even go so far as to call this backpack the best 40L backpack on the market. Since I got my bag in 2016, I’ve become somewhat of a Farpoint 40 evangelist and have shown it to several of my family and friends and allowed them to borrow it to try it out. Most of them have even gone on to purchase their own Farpoint 40 bags! It’s just that good.

Click to buy the Osprey Farpoint 40 or read more reviews from Farpoint 40 owners!

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Osprey Farpoint 40 FAQ

Here are a few questions that people frequently ask me about the Osprey Farpoint 40.

1. Is the Osprey Farpoint 40 Waterproof?

No, the Osprey Farpoint 40 travel pack is not waterproof. However, it is water resistant! I’ve been caught in the rain before while wearing it and everything remained dry inside. Would I test my luck by staying out in the rain for several hours with this? No. But for the unexpected moments of rain, you will be fine.

If this is a worry for you or you are planning to travel to somewhere rainy, Osprey does make a rain cover that you can use to make your backpack waterproof (I have size medium for my Farpoint). When I’m going somewhere where rain is likely, I always carry this with me so I can throw it on over the backpack and rest assured that I can stay out in the rain and not have my clothes or electronics get wet inside the pack. The rain cover also comes with its own carrying case so you can easily pack it back up and throw it back in the Farpoint 40 when the rain goes away.

2. Is the Osprey Farpoint 40 Carry On Approved?

The Osprey Farpoint 40’s size means that this bag should be safe to use, even stuffed to capacity, for practically every current carry on restriction. 99% of airlines accept this size for carry on, and I’m only saying 99% to be safe because obviously I haven’t been on 100% of the airlines out there. That being said, I haven’t yet found one that refused my Farpoint 40 as my carry on bag. (But of course you should still always check with your airline before flying just to make sure that this bag’s size is acceptable).

But if you’re still worried about this, let me just say that in my 3+ years of owning the Farpoint 40 and traveling all over the world, I have never had any airline so much as glance askance at it. In fact, I’ve even been allowed to keep it as my carry on while some airlines were making others check their bags because the overhead bins were full (this is probably due to the fact that its a backpack instead of rolling luggage).

You can also use the compression straps on the outside to tighten and compress everything together so it looks smaller, or you can use packing cubes to help conserve space if you are worried. But this is one of the best backpacks for carry on travel so you should be just fine.

3. Who is the Farpoint 40 Best For?

The Farpoint 40 is great for a lot of different people. Here are some types of people who may find this travel backpack particularly useful:

• Travelers who like to pack light
• Travelers who need to pack carry on only
• Travelers going places where wheeled suitcases are not ideal (think cobblestone streets, places with lots of stairs, etc.)
• Travelers who value comfort in their travel backpacks
• Travelers who like ease-of-access to their clothes and other items

I would not recommend this backpack for people who are looking for a travel backpack that converts for urban use as a day pack, or who don’t want a backpack as their carry on travel bag. If you are going to luxury hotels and aren’t planning to go places that make it difficult to roll a suitcase, then other choices like the Away Carry-On could be a better option for you.

4. What are the Best Uses of the Osprey Farpoint 40?

The uses of the Osprey Farpoint 40 are nearly endless, and I take mine with me everywhere. However, there are a few situations that are particularly ideal for using this backpack:

• Airline travel
• Camping
• Day trips
• Weekend trips
• Extended travel

I would not use this backpack for extensive hiking/backpacking, as it really doesn’t have the support system in place for what you would need. But you could conceivably use it as a backpack for a short day hike if you wish. But if you are using it for any of the above mentioned uses, then this is a great backpack to have.

3. Which Size of Osprey Farpoint 40 Should I Buy?

As discussed earlier, the Farpoint 40 comes in two sizes: Small/Medium (20″ x 14″ x 8″) and Medium/Large (21″ x 14″ x 9″). The S/M size means you have about 38 liters to work with and the M/L is the true 40L size.

So how do you know which one to choose? Osprey backpack sizing is really quite straightforward and it pretty much all comes down to torso size. You’ll need to take one measurement, but it will be easiest to do if you have a friend to help you as from personal experience I can attest that it is difficult to try to measure your own back.

So the best way to figure out which size you need is to measure your torso. First, find the top of your hip bone (known as the iliac crest). Next, find the C7 vertabra on the back of your neck. To find the C7 vertabra, you will need to touch your chin to your chest and then feel for the protruding bone at the base of your neck (that is the C7 vertabra). Once you have found both these points, measure from the C7 vertabra to the iliac crest and the result is your torso length.

Now that you have your torso length, just match it up with the following results: the Farpoint S/M size is best for those with torso lengths of 16″-18″ while the M/L size will work best for those with torsos from 18″-22″. For those who fall at the middle ground of 18″, you’ll notice that you can choose either option. For more comfort, you may wish to go with the S/M…but if you think you could really use those two extra liters of space then the M/L should work well too.

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Final Verdict on the Osprey Farpoint 40

I love my Osprey Farpoint 40 and wouldn’t give it up for any other travel bag in the world! Mine has seen me through so many good memories, so I’m really grateful for Osprey’s All Mighty Guarantee that means I can easily get this backpack repaired if it ever does happen to tear or become damaged.

With so much capability and comfort and such a great warranty, I really think there is no reason not to purchase this bag if you need a great travel backpack as your carry on or for road trips and weekend trips away. This backpack packs a lot of flexibility into such a simple and well-made bag so I think it can be a great choice for pretty much anyone who plans to travel carry on only!

Click here to check the latest price and read more reviews of the Farpoint 40!

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