Osprey Farpoint 40 Review (After Long Use)

The Osprey Farpoint 40 is a super popular entry-level backpack that’s loved by many budget and independent travellers.

If travel came with a literal starter pack, then this would surely be (in) it!

I, too, started off travelling with this backpack many years ago. I used the old Farpoint 40 for about 7 years on trips all around the world, and have been using the newest version of the Farpoint 40 since it first came out in late 2022. This is my long-term review.

While it’s possible to nitpick about the Farpoint 40, it doesn’t really have any glaring weaknesses in my view — especially with the latest redesign.

The only thing you can truly hold against it is its somewhat basic organizational features. However, that can be overcome with accessories or smart packing. Scroll forth as I will explain in more detail!

Note: I bought this pack with my own money and this is not a sponsored review. This post contains some affiliate links, which is explained here.

Who is this backpack for?

The Farpoint 40 is a lightweight backpack ideal for budget and adventure travellers. If your travel style has you moving around a lot then this pack will help you stay mobile. It’s also suited to a wide range of travel situations.

In a nutshell, the key advantages of the Farpoint 40 are:

• Carry-on size (no need to check in)
• Lightweight at 1.6 kg or 3.5 lbs.
• Inexpensive as you can get the Farpoint 40 for around 185 US Dollars or Euros, which is an attractive price for a backpack of this kind. You can check the latest prices and models. They’re sometimes on sale for around $140 – $160.
• It opens like a suitcase and not from the top. This is ideal for staying in hotels or hostels.
• It’s designed for the outdoors. It will do well in adverse weather, and the comfortable harness is clearly inspired by hiking backpacks.

There is no rain cover included with the Farpoint 40. However, I’ve carried it through the pouring rain for hours on end without problems (it was during a tropical downpour in Nepal, no less!). The zippers are actually very well protected against rain, being covered by some of the outer fabric.

If you’re a backpacker or independent traveller, this backpack will suit your needs. Unlike some purely urban-style packs, the Farpoint 40 is comfortable to carry for extended periods of time, which is helpful when navigating places by foot or travelling using public transport.

The Farpoint 40 is especially ideal for certain types of trips. It’s pretty much 100% perfect for backpacking Southeast Asia, for example. It’s just the right size for the stuff you’ll need for a tropical trip. It’s also easy to throw onboard a tuk-tuk, haul onto a long-tail ferry boat, or carry across a beach. It’s also great for summer travel in Europe or Central America, to name a few regions.

(For a big trip in South America, I’d prefer the Osprey Farpoint Trek 55, for a bit of extra space for warm clothing for the Andes.)

What’s new in the latest design?

The current edition of the Farpoint 40 was introduced in late 2022.

If you’re going to read other reviews, check whether they might be of the older version that existed before it. A few major known criticisms were addressed in the redesign.

The big changes are:

• The laptop compartment is at the back. This is a much more sensible place for weight balancing and security.
• The water bottle pockets have been replaced with one big pouch. A significant improvement as the old water bottle pockets were so tight you could barely fit a bottle in. Now you have a versatile pouch that fits even a big bottle (or some other items).
• The back panel is a lot more structured. There are little ribs for comfort and air circulation, and the entire harness can now be height-adjusted.
• There are no longer different sizes. The Farpoint 40 is one size now, but you can adjust the harness to your torso height.

You can watch my video review for more details on all the changes.

Is the Farpoint 40 comfortable?

Yes, the Farpoint 40 is very comfortable to wear, at least if you ask me.

This is especially true now with the newest version which has a trampoline-style back panel for extra comfort and a less sweaty back. I have used many dozens of backpacks and the Farpoint 40 is still one of my favorites in terms of comfort.

The Farpoint 40 has a fully-featured harness, with lots of padding and all the different kinds of straps (including load lifters), clearly showing off Osprey’s heritage as a trekking backpack manufacturer.

Adjusting the whole backpack to your torso height is a great feature. I definitely recommend tweaking this correctly as this can have a huge impact!

I must admit that initially, I didn’t think the Farpoint 40 was all that comfortable when I first used the previous edition many years ago. I would sometimes get sore shoulders after carrying it for a while.

But I discovered I was using this backpack like a total newbie… it should not be hanging like some lazy sloth around your neck!

Using all the straps correctly is key. Just follow these steps for maximum comfort:

1. Close the sternum strap and tighten it so that much of the weight is ‘hanging’ from your chest. Think about how indigenous people in the Andes can carry tons of weight in just a cloth sack that’s tied together on their chest — you can do this too with your backpack! Using the sternum strap is essential.
2. Close the hip belt and keep it nice and tight. This will distribute some weight to your hip.
3. Pull the load lifter straps. These are the little straps attached to the top of your shoulder straps. Pull them so that the top of the backpack comes closer to your body, so your whole back can help carry the load.
4. Pull the two little straps on the sides of your hip. Tighten them so the bottom of the backpack also is closer to your body.

If you do this well, you should feel the backpack lining up perfectly with your back, distributing the weight across your whole body. Your shoulders should be doing only a small part of the job.

When worn correctly, the Farpoint 40 will be very comfortable. I’ve carried the Farpoint 40 backpack for hours on end without issues. I’ve even taken it on multi-day treks, including the 5-day trek to Annapurna Basecamp in the Himalayas, and trekking through the Cape Verde islands in Africa. In both cases, I wore it nonstop for at least 6 or 7 hours daily.

I don’t necessarily recommend the Farpoint 40 for any hardcore trekking that requires you to bring your own tent and gear. For this you should buy a dedicated trekking backpack. But if you just plan to do several hikes or treks (with accommodation) during your travels, then it’s got that covered for sure.

Downsides of the Farpoint 40

While I love this backpack, it isn’t perfect in every way. One criticism is that the organizational features inside are a little spartan.

Sure, there are a few pockets and pouches to store smaller items, but many other backpacks definitely offer more storage spaces. Admittedly, this does also make them a little heavier, so there’s always a trade-off.

The main compartment of the Farpoint is really just one big space, though it has one zipped mesh compartment inside the outer flap that opens (shown on the right in the above photo).

You may want to get some packing cubes to organise this space better. It’s a minor upgrade that will make a big difference.

You could also buy a nice travel organizer to bring a bit more organization into the Farpoint 40. While there are at least several separate large areas to store your belongings, you may want to have a few more pockets or sleeves for smaller items.

How much fits inside?

Well, it fits a lot more than you might think!

Keep in mind that product images can be a bit deceiving. Yes, the Farpoint 40 might look a bit small at first sight and you may feel an urge to go for the 70 Liter option.

However, in my opinion, 70+ liter bags are really best for extended camping/trekking/etc. If you’re just going to be traveling, then around 40 or 55 liters should be sufficient in most cases. Ask people who have gone backpacking (traveling) and they’ll probably give you this same advice. Packing light has a lot of advantages.

Personally, I always travel with a carry-on bag of around 40 liters in combination along with a smaller daypack. A daypack that works quite well in combination with the Farpoint is the Osprey Daylite.

I’ve done an article showing exactly everything I pack for a trip and it features the Farpoint 40, so for a good idea of what will fit inside, be sure to check it out.

What about the Fairview?

The Osprey Fairview 40 is simply the women’s specific edition.

Functionally there are no differences. However, the Fairview comes in some different colours, has several ergonomic tweaks to fit a woman’s body better, and the capacity is a few litres less than the men’s edition.

Although the Farpoint started out as a unisex product, for women it’s best to get the Fairview.

Conclusion

Despite sp,e basic internal organization features, I still consider the Farpoint the absolute king among budget-friendly, high-quality adventure packs. Very few backpacks can get close to its overall level of comfort (and none at this price), which is what matters most when you’re going to wear it a lot on an extended trip.

There are some differences between the Farpoint 40 and 55, but to help you I also wrote this guide: which Osprey Farpoint should you get?. While I prefer the 40L myself for minimalist-style travel, you may want to go one size up if you want to carry more. The 55 liter version is essentially just a combo of a main pack with a separate daypack though, which ensures you can still use it as a carry-on.

You can buy the Farpoint 40 at Amazon or, if you’re American, check it out at REI.

 

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