Backpack

Osprey Farpoint 40 Travel Backpack

The Osprey Farpoint 40 is a go-to choice for travelers who want the organization of a suitcase with the mobility of a backpack.

Osprey ★★★★★4.6 / 5 · 4 reviews
The Verdict

The Osprey Farpoint 40 is a go-to choice for travelers who want the organization of a suitcase with the mobility of a backpack. It excels at carry-on travel, city exploration, and multi-day trips where you need quick access to your gear. While it's not built for serious backcountry hiking, its durability, thoughtful design, and Osprey's lifetime warranty make it a smart investment for frequent flyers and backpackers alike.

Key Features

Our Review

The Osprey Farpoint 40 is a carry-on sized travel backpack designed for globetrotters who want to move through airports, train stations, and cobblestone streets without wrestling a bulky suitcase. Built on a durable nylon construction, it strikes a smart balance between structure and flexibility, holding its shape when packed while remaining light enough to sling on without a second thought. The signature clamshell opening lets you access the entire main compartment like a suitcase, making packing and airport security checks far less of a hassle than digging through a top-loading pack. A zip-away harness system tucks the shoulder straps and hip belt away when checking the bag or tossing it into an overhead bin, protecting the straps from damage and giving the whole pack a cleaner, more streamlined profile.

Comfort is where the Farpoint 40 quietly earns its reputation among long-haul travelers. The molded foam back panel and contoured shoulder straps are engineered to breathe and flex with your movement, while the removable and adjustable hip belt shifts weight off your shoulders during long walks between hostels or train transfers. Compression straps on the sides let you cinch down the load when it’s not fully packed, keeping the bag stable and preventing shifting weight that can throw off your balance. Despite its travel-friendly 40-liter capacity, the pack stays within most airline carry-on size limits, meaning frequent flyers can often skip checked baggage fees and the anxiety of lost luggage altogether.

Thoughtful organizational details round out the design, including a front stash pocket for quick-access items like passports or boarding passes, a padded laptop sleeve for those working while on the road, and internal compression straps that keep clothing compact and wrinkle-resistant. A stowable daypack sold separately can complement the main bag for day trips, but even on its own the Farpoint 40 functions as a self-contained travel system. Reinforced haul handles on multiple sides make it easy to grab and maneuver in tight spaces, and Osprey’s reputation for durability means the zippers, buckles, and stitching are built to withstand the wear of repeated trips. For travelers who want one adaptable bag that moves easily from airplane to bus to backcountry trail, the Farpoint 40 remains a dependable, well-considered choice.

Technical Specifications

📦
Capacity
40 liters
⚖️
Weight
3 lbs 12 oz (1.7 kg)
📐
Dimensions
22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 35 x 23 cm)
🧵
Material
400D nylon packcloth
💻
Laptop Sleeve
Fits up to 15-inch laptop

How It Scores

Build Quality9.5
Comfort & Fit9.5
Value for Money9.4
Travel Readiness9.3

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Fits airline carry-on size restrictions on most carriers
  • Suitcase-style opening makes packing and access easy
  • Durable 400D nylon fabric withstands rough travel
  • Comfortable harness system for a backpack this size
  • Stowaway straps tuck away for check-in convenience

Cons

  • No internal frame means less back support on long hikes
  • Hip belt padding is thinner than dedicated hiking packs
  • Limited external pockets for quick-grab items
  • Zippers can feel tight when pack is fully loaded

What Travelers Say

MC
Marcus Chen2024-03-15
★★★★★
Perfect carry-on companion

Used this for a 3-week Southeast Asia trip and it never let me down. Fit in every overhead bin, and the clamshell opening made packing so much easier than a top-loading bag.

SW
Sarah Whitfield2024-01-22
★★★★★
Great bag, minor gripes

Love the organization and durability. Only wish it had a bit more hip support for longer walking days with a full load, but overall very happy with this purchase.

DR
Diego Ramirez2023-11-08
★★★★★
Survived a year of nomad life

This backpack has been to over a dozen countries with me. The fabric shows zero wear, zippers still smooth, and the lockable zips gave me peace of mind in hostels.

PN
Priya Nair2023-09-30
★★★★★
Solid choice for Europe trips

Exactly what I needed for a two-week Europe backpacking trip. The laptop sleeve was a nice bonus for working remotely. Just wish there were more exterior pockets.