When it comes to choosing the best backpack to take on your next trip, it can be a bit overwhelming to decide between all the options on the market. We love Osprey Farpoint, however, the decision of choosing between the various models and sizes can be a difficult one
This review will break down the pros and cons of each of the 40L, 55L, 70L & 80L versions of the Osprey Farpoint backpack to help you decide which to purchase for your upcoming adventure!
Table of Contents
Osprey Farpoint Comparison
| Backpack | Description | Prices |
|---|---|---|
Osprey Farpoint 40L |
Weight: 1.44kg Dimensions: 54 x 35 x 23 cm (M/L) Detachable Daypack: No Carry-On Suitable: Yes |
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Osprey Farpoint 55L |
Weight: 1.77kg Dimensions: 63 x 33 x 30 cm (M/L) Detachable Daypack: Yes Carry-On Suitable: Sometimes |
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Osprey Farpoint 70L |
Weight: 1.78kg Dimensions: 66 x 35 x 33 cm (M/L) Detachable Daypack: Yes Carry-On Suitable: No |
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Osprey Farpoint 80L |
Weight: 1.76kg Dimensions:74 x 38 x 40 cm (M/L) Detachable Daypack: No Carry-On Suitable: No |
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Why purchase an Osprey Farpoint backpack?
All of the Farpoint backpacks are extremely lightweight due to their LightWire Frame Suspension, have a fully adjustable harness with hip belt, lockable zips on the main compartment and are really comfortable to walk around in.
Having owned a number of backpacks over the years (including backpacks designed for treks!) I definitely find that the Osprey Farpoint backpack is the most pleasant to walk long distances in.
The Farpoint, like other Osprey products, also comes with a lifetime guarantee and, despite the backpack having gone on a number of trips and not necessarily being treated with the best of care, it has easily stood the test of time!
The only drawback that I find of the Farpoint series is that most versions only have one main compartment in the main backpack and don’t have a lot of smaller pockets that can be handy for organising your items.
Nevertheless, this is easily solved by purchasing some packing cubes that make organising and compressing your clothes an absolute breeze!
Osprey Farpoint 40 vs 55 Comparison
Despite being marketed in the same series of backpacks, there are actually a number of differences when comparing the Osprey Farpoint 40 and 55 backpacks.
The Osprey Farpoint 40 has dimensions of 22-inch x 14-inch x 9-inch meaning that it easily passes even the most stringent of airline carry on requirements.
The Farpoint 55 is actually a 40L main pack with a detachable 15L daypack, however, the dimensions of the main pack are different to the Osprey Farpoint 40 meaning that technically it is too big to bring as carry on onto flights.
However, if you remove the detachable daypack, don’t fill it full to the brims and avoid flying airlines that are notorious for measuring each bag, then you can potentially get away with taking the Farpoint 55 as carry on luggage.
Speaking of detachable daypacks, one of the main advantages when comparing the Farpoint 55 to the 40L is that the 55 version comes with one!
A detachable daypack is extremely convenient to have on longer backpacking trips so you have a smaller bag to take with you when you’re out exploring for the day or going for a hike. It also has its own laptop compartment.
A lot of daypacks that you buy as a standalone product can be quite expensive, so if you’re on a budget and going for a longer trip, then the detachable daypack of the Osprey Farpoint 55 can be a swaying factor over the Farpoint 40.
Another advantage of the Farpoint 55 is that it comes with removable sleeping pad straps which are missing from the Osprey Farpoint 40.
I personally love having these straps, particularly if you plan on using this backpack for camping, as it makes it easy to attach larger items like sleeping pads or even smelly or dirty items like hiking shoes to the outside of your bag so you can keep your other items clean!
The Verdict
If you’re travelling to warmer destinations where you don’t need to pack a lot of larger items, already own a daypack, want to avoid checked baggage fees on airlines or simply like to be a minimalist when travelling then I recommend you purchase the Osprey Farpoint 40 (also available on REI here or directly from Osprey here).
However, if you are travelling to places where you need to pack bulkier items or extra gear, want the bonus of a detachable daypack and aren’t planning to take a lot of flights on budget airlines then I recommend you purchase the Osprey Farpoint 55 (also available on REI here or directly from Osprey here).
Osprey Farpoint 55 vs 70 Comparison
Comparing these versions is a lot easier compared to the differences that exist between the 40 and 55L versions.
Unlike the Osprey Farpoint 40, both the 55 and 70-litre versions come with detachable daypack and sleeping pad straps meaning that they don’t have the perceived disadvantages of the 40-litre backpack.
In fact, when you compare Osprey Farpoint 55 and 70, you’ll see that they are in fact essentially the same backpack in all aspects apart from their actual sizes.
The Farpoint 55 which is made up of a 40L main pack and 15L daypack, has the advantage of allowing you to possibly sneak the 40L main pack into an airline’s carry-on. This is unlikely to be possible with the Farpoint 70 as the bag is an inch taller than the Farpoint 55.
The Verdict
Apart from the slight differences in height, the Farpoint 55 and 70 are essentially the same backpack. If you want the advantage of possibly being able to sneak this backpack into carry-on and prefer the smaller size then I recommend you purchase the Osprey Farpoint 55 (also available on REI here or directly from Osprey here).
If you plan on travelling with larger gear and can avoid the temptation of over-packing in a larger bag, then I recommend you purchase the Osprey Farpoint 70 (also available on REI here or directly from Osprey here).
Osprey Farpoint 70 vs 80 Comparison
The advantage of the Osprey Farpoint 70 over the 80-litre version is that it comes with a detachable daypack and removable sleeping pad straps.
This backpack is also a few inches smaller than the 80-litre version meaning it is likely to be significantly more comfortable to walk around with.
One advantage of the Osprey Farpoint 80 that makes up for the lack of sleeping pad straps is the fact that it has a zippered lower compartment. This is a fantastic feature as it allows you to pack your heavier (and likely dirty!) shoes separately from the rest of your gear.
The 80-litre backpack also has a zippered compartment at the top of the backpack that is designed for smaller items such as toiletries.
The Verdict
If you’re after a larger backpack but still going on a conventional trip where you want the convenience of having a detachable daypack and don’t need to take a huge amount of gear then I recommend you purchase the Osprey Farpoint 70 (also available on REI here or directly from Osprey here).
If you are tackling a long overland hike or camping trip and need to carry a large amount of gear, then I recommend you purchase the Osprey Farpoint 80 (also available directly from Osprey here). It’s great for those types of trips but I wouldn’t recommend it for a conventional backpacking trip where you will stay in hostels.
Should you buy the S/M or M/L version?
According to Osprey, if the length of your torso (measured from the bottom of your vertebrae to the bottom of your back) is less than 17 inches/43 cm, then you should buy the S/M version.
If the length of your torso is greater than 20 inches/51 cm then you should buy the M/L version. If you are in between the two sizes, then you can pick whichever you want!
Throughout this guide, I have compared the M/L versions of the various Farpoint backpacks. The S/M version is slightly smaller than the M/L version so if your torso length suits either version and you are debating between the Farpoint 40 and 55, then buying the S/M version of the 55L backpack will increase the chances of being able to use the backpack as a carry-on!
Osprey Farpoint vs Fairview
Osprey also has a backpack called the Fairview (also available on REI here).
The Fairview is being marketed as a women’s version of the Farpoint with the Farpoint slowly starting to be labelled as a men’s backpack.
Women can continue to buy the Osprey Farpoint however the Fairview essentially has the same features as the Farpoint but is designed with women’s bodies in mind. This has resulted in the shoulder straps and belt, in particular, being designed to be more comfortable to wear for women.
All other features when comparing the Osprey Fairview 40 vs 55 are the same as when comparing the Farpoint versions. The Fairview is also available in a 70-litre size but doesn’t come in an 80-litre version.
Osprey Farpoint vs Farpoint Trek
Osprey also has a Farpoint Trek (also available directly from Osprey here) which is essentially a halfway point between the standard Farpoint series and other backpacks designed specifically for trekking.
It comes in two sizes: 55L & 75L and has several nice features that aren’t available in the Farpoint series such as a rain cover and a larger number of pockets. Unlike the standard Osprey Farpoint 55 or 70L, it doesn’t come with a detachable backpack.
The Osprey Farpoint Trek is ideal for travellers going on a long backpacking trip who plan to do some multi-day trekking.
The Osprey Farpoint Trek is being marketed as the men’s version with Osprey also releasing the Osprey Fairview Trek 50 and 70L versions for women (also available directly from Osprey here).
The Osprey Farpoint continues to undoubtedly be one of the best backpacks to buy in the market and the wide range of sizes available means that it is easy to find a version of this backpack that will be suitable for your upcoming trip!
Do you own an Osprey Farpoint or are you planning on buying one? Have any questions? Let us know in the comments below!
There is one important information missing for the Farpoint 40: The daypack can be purchased separately and also fits the Farpoint 40.
It is therefore for me the better variant than the Farpoint 55 with daypack.
Hey Michael, thanks for the clear review.
I like the osprey fairpoint 55 because of the mechanism of attaching the daypack to the main backpack through those clips. Do you think this system is more comfortable than, say, carrying a fairpoint 40 and another daypack in front but without those clips?
Thanks and have a nice evening 🙂
Hi Stefano! I don’t tend to use the clips on my Osprey backpack and just end up carrying the daypack on my front unattached as I find this comfortable for small distances. If you’re looking to travel with a daypack regardless, I’d probably choose the Osprey 55!
Osprey has some new Farpoint packs out, since this post is relatively current do you have any plans to add those to the comparison? That would be excellent if so!
Hi Mark – it’s on the list of things to do! 🙂
I would respectfully modify some of your points (and I speak as someone who owns 5 Osprey packs including 3 Farpoints). The first point is that Osprey quote the pack size including the daypack if present, and for the M/L version. Many other manufacturers quote the size of the main pack on its own, which suits me because I rarely use the supplied daypack since I usually find it inadequate (everybody’s, not just Osprey’s). So for example my Osprey Farpoint 70 is a S/M, not a M/L, so it’s only 67 or 68 litres, minus a 15-litre daypack, so the real size of the main pack is only 52 or 53 litres.
Secondly, Osprey seem to have a house style of making the packs not too wide, perhaps because of their trekking heritage. Many people like this, and I do in a hiking pack, but not in a travel pack. In a hiking pack the lesser width is usually made up for by greater height; in a travel pack it is usually by greater depth. This puts your load farther out from your back, and I find that uncomfortable. The Farpoint 80 is particularly deep and for that reason I could not recommend it for a long hike.
Exception: the Farpoint 40, which since it was designed to airline standards, is not very deep and is therefore relatively very wide. IMHO this is a masterpiece of a pack, in its specific field. But be careful: if you stuff it, it will bulge and no longer be strictly carry-on; if you don’t stuff it, it won’t be a full 40 litres. Take your choice. (BTW this is not just Osprey, it is a characteristic of how all manufacturers measure volume).
Hi Edward
I am just about to purchase an Osprey bag for a 2 week multi activity break! I was wondering whether you thought the Farpoint 80 is ok for a 5’4 female?
I was looking at the Fairview 70 but was disappointed with the space in the main pack.
Many thanks in advance.
This is an excellent point. I’ve taken two nearly year long world trips with the Farpoint 40 but find when it’s stuffed it’s actually too deep and holds the weight too far back from center. I also seemed to never be able to get comfortable with it. My back length is 20″ and I bought the larger version, I doubt I could go smaller. I’m wondering what I can move to that will be taller and stick out less…. also I hate top-loading packs. The suitcase style opening is great for me. Doesn’t make choosing much easier unfortunately!
Hello, Michael.
Ryanair now has new rools about free carry-on bag: 40x20x25cm. How to make my Osprey Farpoint 40 to this size?
Hi Vedana, you won’t be able to take the majority of bags into Ryanair anymore. However, the Osprey Farpoint 40 will still be a good option as it fits into their dimensions for the smaller checked bag option.
Check out Cabin Zero bags. I used the 28L version on the now defunct WOW air to Iceland and The Netherlands.