This article was originally published in April of 2016. We updated it in 2018 after using it for almost 4 years. Happy to say the bag is still one of our favorite carry on bags!
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It’s pretty funny how attached I’ve become to my Osprey Farpoint 40L. I guess that’s what happens when you’re living out of a backpack. I’m basically wearing my home on my shoulders!
Using the wrong pack can seriously ruin a trip…
A lot of thought goes into choosing the right one. Ideally, it will be designed to meet your specific needs, fit your body well, and last 10+ years.
My requirements before buying the Osprey 40 Farpoint:
- Carry-on size – but not too small
- Comfortable – and still looks great walking around the city
- Durable – yet functional
- Good value – some bags are just too expensive
After trying out several bags, I decided on the Osprey Farpoint 40 carry on.
It’s a stellar bag and it’s the top choice for female travelers and digital nomads alike.
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Contents
- 1 Practical info about the Osprey 40
- 2 My Osprey Farpoint 40 Review
- 3 Is the Osprey Backpack 40L Durable?
- 4 Osprey Farpoint 40 Test for Comfortability
- 5 Is the Osprey Farpoint 40 Womens Only?
- 6 Sizing: Osprey Farpoint 40 S/M or M/L?
- 7 Is the Osprey Farpoint 55 carry-on compliant?
- 8 Features of the Osprey Farpoint 40 L
- 9 Padded Handles
- 10 Downsides of my Osprey 40L Farpoint
- 11 “The All Mighty Guarantee”
- 12 Final Thoughts about the Osprey 40L
- 13 Did you enjoy this article? Pin me 🙂
Practical info about the Osprey 40
- Osprey Farpoint 40 size: 40L (like the name suggests)
- Osprey Farpoint 40 Dimensions: 19H X 14W X 15D (inches)
- Osprey Farpoint 40 weight: 3lbs (empty)
- Carry-on Compliant: Yes
- Laptop Compartment: Yes
- Hip Pads: Yes
- Lifetime Guarantee: Yes
- Price: $159 on Amazon
My Osprey Farpoint 40 Review
Since 2014, I’ve traveled through 14 countries and even spent 2 weeks trekking in the Himalayan Mountains with my Farpoint. It has saved me tons of money on baggage fees because I always carry-on instead of check my luggage.
Here’s my full packing list.
Below I cover all the details of this amazing backpack!
Is the Osprey Backpack 40L Durable?
The second you touch and feel the Farpoint, you know it’s going to be very durable. Osprey makes the best backpacks in the world and the Farpoint is no exception. This one has traveled all over the world with me. Even though I often stuff it to the absolute MAX, this pack has held up incredibly well.
The majority of the bag is made from a tough nylon blend, with mesh on the back panel for ventilation. The nylon is strong and relatively easy to clean. I do have a few small holes on the top due to my own negligence.
Even with a few careless decisions, the bag still looks nearly brand new!
Osprey Farpoint 40 Test for Comfortability
I give it a solid A for comfort. The pack has well padded shoulder and hip straps. Even with my petite frame (5’2”) the S/M size bag fits me perfect.
Brandon teases me about my turtle shell, but all I care about is that it’s functional and comfortable.
2018 update: Even after 4 years of regular use this bag is still the most comfortable carry on sized bag I own!
Is the Osprey Farpoint 40 Womens Only?
Short answer: The Osprey Farpoint 40 travel backpack is gender neutral. However, for some reason this bag seems to be more popular with the ladies. I’m not sure they though, I know plenty of guys who use and love this pack. It easy very comfortable and works well on smaller framed people though.
Sizing: Osprey Farpoint 40 S/M or M/L?
Let’s talk Osprey Backpack Sizing. The Farpoint comes in two sizes S/M & M/L. It’s easy to determine your size…
- S/M for people under 5’6”
- M/L for everyone above 5’6”
*I prefer the Osprey Farpoint 40 backpack, however if you need a bigger bag, the Osprey Farpoint 55 is a great choice.
Is the Osprey Farpoint 55 carry-on compliant?
If you absolutely MUST get a larger backpack, Osprey makes a larger version of the Farpoint 40 l. I’ve played around with the Farpoint 55 in a store but haven’t traveled with it.
Although the extra space might sound great – remember extra space means extra weight on your back.
*The Osprey Farpoint 55 is NOT carry-on compliant.
Features of the Osprey Farpoint 40 L
I’ve used it for all of our long term travels including trekking in the Himalayas, road trips, and a few weekend get-a-ways.
Although it’s a very versatile bag, the Osprey 40l rucksack was definitely designed for carry-on travel (not trekking).
Note: If you’re looking for a backpack to use exclusively for hiking/camping I recommend Osprey’s wilderness backpacking bags. Brandon has been using his Osprey Aether 70L for wilderness backpacking since 2010 and loves it.
Carry-on Complaint
A must have. Its dimensions are 19H X 14W X 15D (inches). My bag usually weighs around 25lbs when fully packed, but it’s made to handle up to 40 pounds.
Back Panel Flap
Allows you to stow away the big straps creating a more sleek and slim profile. This feature is convenient when traveling so my straps don’t get caught on anything, and also a benefit in the odd chance that I check my bag.
Front Compression Straps
Compression straps helps your stuff from moving around while in transit. Two adjustable straps go across the front of the bag, compressing my gear and making it more stable.
Front Loading Style
Front-loading style allows for much easier access when I need something quickly. I stayed away from a top loading pack – imagine trying to get something from the bottom of a giant Santa Claus sack.
Padded Handles
It comes with two padded handles – one is on the top and one on the side. It’s nice to have the side handle for plane travel. I really appreciate good sturdy handles, especially when I stuff the bag completely full. 🙂
Holds Up To 40L
It’s magic. Somehow 30 pounds of stuff fits perfectly inside. I use packing cubes to save on space. Unpacked, it only weighs just a bit more than 3 pounds.
OspreyFarpoint 40 Laptop Compartment Built In
The Farpoint has a compartment made specifically for laptops. I travel with a Macbook Air 11″ but the compartment fits laptops up to 15″.
Lockable Dual Zipper
Locking the main compartment ensures my stuff is safe on travel days.
Additional Attachment Points
Perfect for hooking carabiners to latch on extra stuff (dirty shoes, wet towel, etc.). Since the mesh side pockets (that I assume are made for water bottles) get compromised if your bag has too much stuff inside, the attachment points are great to add what you need.
Downsides of my Osprey 40L Farpoint
I love this pack and recommend it often, but it’s not quite perfect. Here are a few things of my criticisms…
- No water bottle pocket – I think the external mesh pockets were designed to hold a water bottle. However, if you fill the backpack full, there isn’t room to squeeze one in.
- No pockets in the hip pads – would be nice, but not mandatory
- Not great for multi-day trekking – works fine on day hikes though
If this backpack doesn’t do everything you need, here are some North Face Backpacks that might fit your needs.
“The All Mighty Guarantee”
Osprey is famous for their All Mighty Guarantee which says they’ll fix or replace any of their products whether you bought them in 1974 or yesterday. Pretty awesome to see a company standing behind their products like this.
Made to last, all of our Osprey products have stood the test of time. I feel the price point is extremely fair and priced accordingly in the competitive market. Even after using it for over 2 years, I still don’t want to replace it. And when I do, I’ll probably just get another Osprey 40L backpack. 🙂
Final Thoughts about the Osprey 40L
I’m very happy with this backpack and recommend it to anyone looking for a new carry-on sized bag. Whether you’re taking an around the world trip or shorter vacations this backpack has you covered.
Hope you found my Osprey Farpoint review helpful. It’s a great product backed by a great company.
The Osprey Farpoint 40 Charcoal has essentially carried my “home” for over 2 years now. I couldn’t have asked for a better pack to compliment my lifestyle as a digital nomad!
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Hey Anne! I am so glad I came across your site. Me and my husband are planning a world tour and also want to do a bunch of multi-day hikes including the Annapurna Circuit. I am shopping around for a backpack and was curious about which pack you used for the hike. Was it the Farpoint 40? What was your experience using it for long hikes?
Hey there! I’m glad you found us, too! Would love to hear more about the upcoming trip: theyoganomads@gmail.com As for the Farpoint 40 – I did use that pack for the Annapurna, and everything else we did on that year long trip. It served me well for the hike, but if I had the choice, I’d go with something that distributed weight a bit differently. I didn’t find it uncomfortable for 4-5 hour hikes, but anything longer than that it wasn’t quite as comfortable. But doable for sure!
Thank tou fir the review! So helpful.
Are there no straps on the lower back of the pack to carry mom items like sleeping bags or yoga matts/sleeping pads?
How do you carry your Matt?
No there aren’t any long straps on the bottom to carry additional items that you mention. I either strap my travel mat on the outside with the two front straps securing it in place, or fold it up and put it inside the bag. (I carry a Yogo Travel Mat that can be folded).
I meant long items*. Not mom items
Just out of curiosity, why do you think it’s not good for multi-day hikes?
Hey David, you can definitely use this for multi-day hikes but IMO there are better options…
Couple reasons why:
1- Multi-day hiking means you’ll be carrying a heavy pack on the trail. For this we really want sturdy hip pads to keep the weight off your shoulders.
2- The pack is a bit more “square” in shape. This is great for fitting into the overhead bins aka carry-on sized. However, for longer hikes/overnights, it’s better to have a more “tall and skinny” shape that will keep the weight on your hips better rather than pull you backward.