Bottom Line
The Osprey Farpoint 40 is a versatile and compact travel backpack, ideal for minimalist travelers and carry-on adventurers. This bag balances comfort, organization, and durability with a streamlined design, making it one of the top contenders for our favorite travel backpacks.
The Farpoint 40 features a sleek clamshell-style opening for easy access to the main compartment – which is lined with a lime green fabric to make it easy to find your gear. Its padded laptop sleeve and lockable zippers add convenience and security, and Osprey’s signature AirScape back panel and well-padded shoulder straps make carrying heavy loads a breeze. The bag easily converts from a backpack to a duffel by unclipping the load adjusters on the shoulder straps and zipping over the back panel with the easily deployable cover. Oversized handles make gripping the backpack easy, even while heavily loaded.
If you’re looking for a bag with lots of pockets and organization, the Farpoint may not be the best fit. Its single main compartment has only one medium-sized pocket on the underside of the lid – the majority of the volume is open space. Two small interior tension straps help keep contents secure but lack the separation of dedicated pockets. The exterior lacks a water bottle sleeve, and the singular shove-it pocket is hindered by external straps and awkwardly shaped to fit most items. Despite these small drawbacks, the Farpoint 40 remains a great option for the one-bag traveler who seeks a backpack as at home in the airport as it is on the trail.
How We Tested
Every travel backpack tested got put through a standardized packing test where we investigated the organization of the bag by packing it with everything we needed for a five-day trip. We carried the bag up and down stairs, through airports, and on trails to test its durability, comfort, and performance across multiple months of use.
Quick Specs
Osprey Farpoint 40 & Fairview 40
Durable & highly compressible travel bag
CleverHiker Rating: 4.6
Price: $185
Volume: 40 L
Weight: 3 lb. 8 oz. / 3 lb. 7 oz.(Farpoint/Fairview)
Dimensions: 22 x 14 x 9 in.
Pros
- Durable
- Comfortable
- Lightweight
- Good compression system
- Main compartment opens fully
- Hideaway straps
- Multiple carry options
- Laptop compartment
Cons
- Laptop compartment is not as padded as some others
- No internal organization / pockets
Organization & Storage
The Farpoint 40 is fairly simple in its organization and storage. The clamshell-style opening unzips to reveal one large space in the main compartment. Without any dividers, this main compartment can feel Spartan compared to other models we tested. However, a medium-sized mesh pocket on the underside of the lid is great for smaller items, and compression straps within the main compartment keep packed items securely in place. This large space necessitates that items be packed inside smaller bags, otherwise they will get jumbled and disorganized during transit.
The exterior is low profile with no water bottle pocket and only one small zipper pocket on top for small items like sunglasses or a wallet. There is one shove-it pocket on the back, but its awkward shape makes it hard to stuff much beyond a jacket or extra layer. When we used it to store an extra pair of shoes, it was just tight and awkward enough with the overlaying tensioner straps to make storage inconvenient.
Features
A standout feature of the Farpoint 40 is its ability to go from a backpack to a duffel and back again quickly and easily. Simply unclip the shoulder strap load tensioners, unroll the duffel cover, and zip it over the back panel to convert to duffel mode. This is one of the easiest and quickest transitions of any pack we tested. Two oversized handles on the pack make carrying it comfortable, even while heavily loaded.
Even though the Farpoint does not come overloaded with extra features, the ones it does have are thoughtfully and intentionally integrated into the pack. The zippers on the main compartment and laptop sleeve can be locked for security, and the shove-it pocket comes equipped with a riveted hole at the bottom to allow water to drain from the pouch. The 450 and 500 denier, high-tenacity nylon used in the construction is rugged, durable, and flaps over the zippers to keep water out.
Comfort & Fit
Long acclaimed for well-crafted designs to carry heavy loads, Osprey continues its legacy of comfortable packs with the Farpoint 40. It is comfortable and ergonomic thanks to supportive padding in the shoulder straps and a well-designed harness system. Feeling more like a backpacking pack than a suitcase, the Farpoint is comfortable and easy to wear even when loaded down.
The ridged foam AirScape back panel allows ventilation to prevent a sweaty back, and the Atilon framesheet gives it structure to load evenly across the back panel. Even with a week’s worth of clothes and gear inside, the Farpoint was comfortable enough that we felt we could take it for a hike. The harness slides up and down approximately four inches to accommodate different torso sizes, and buckled load lifters help keep the weight close to the body. We were extremely impressed with the Farpoint 40’s comfort – which is perfect for long treks between airports and bus stops.
Durability & Protection
The thick material did a reasonable job of repelling moisture, even though it’s not technically water-resistant. This obviously is not a dry bag, but it did the job well enough when we were moving quickly through the rain. Flaps over the zippers help increase the weather resistance.
The frame of the pack is extremely rigid and protective. However, the outside of the pack lacks rigid support to be fully impact-resistant. We found this trade-off worth it as it allows the pack to fit into tight spaces, and it’s lighter weight than other, more protective backpacks in our lineup. The laptop sleeve, while protected along one side by the back frame, has minimal padding on the outside, leaving it susceptible to impact. Although it’s not the most heavily protective pack on the market, the Farpoint is still extremely durable, thanks to its thick fabric and abrasion-resistant construction.
Should You Buy The Osprey Farpoint 40 Travel Backpack?
If you’re looking for a travel backpack that feels and carries weight like a backpacking pack, the Farpoint is an excellent choice. The breathable back panel, well-padded and adjustable shoulder straps, and wide hip belt make it great for carrying heavy loads long distances. Though simple in design and not overly featured, the large main compartment is great for stuffing large-volume items in quickly and easily. The clamshell-style and lime green interior make accessing and finding items easy while tension straps secure everything inside. With an attainable price point, the Farpoint makes an excellent entry-level pack that’s perfect for the budget-conscious traveler.
What Other Travel Backpacks Should You Consider?
Check out our full gear guide to see all of our favorite travel backpacks.
Osprey Sojourn Porter 46 Review: With a similar, but burlier design, the Sojourn Porter has more volume for extended trips.
Matador GlobeRider45 Review: If the Farpoint left you wanting more storage, the GlobeRider45 has some of the most meticulously organized pockets of any pack we tested.
Cotopaxi Alpa Review: Another option that carries weight very well, the Allpa offers more organization but still with a comfortable carry system for long walks carrying gear.
