WHAT I LIKE
It’s very comfortable
I love how the Farpoint 55 distributes the packing weight along your back. With the chest and waist straps properly closed, I often hardly notice it’s there. It has great support and includes all the necessities a bag of this sort should have.
The two-in-one system
The Farpoint 55 is actually a 15L daypack and a 40L main backpack combined, which you can zip together or use separately. I should say that I’ve been using this differently in practice from how I initially imagined. I use them separately most of the time, either carrying the daypack by the handle or strapping it to my chest (turtle shell style).
I like the versatility of using the bags separately; I keep my most valuable things close to me in the daypack, while the main pack with my clothes is chilling out somewhere in a cargo hold or on a luggage rack. When I’m carrying both of them around and need to have both hands available, it takes just a few seconds to clip the daypack to the main shoulder straps.
It’s front-loading
When arriving at a hostel or hotel, all I have to do is put the bag down flat and zip it open all the way, and everything can be accessed instantly. This means no awkward digging around for stuff at the bottom! Having used top-loading backpacks before, this is truly a revelation.
It doesn’t weigh too much
The Farpoint series is perhaps not as rigid as other packs (when there’s nothing in it, the walls don’t stand up), but for general travel purposes it doesn’t need to be. It’s not as bulky and that makes this a great all-rounder.
Other handy features
The daypack has a padded laptop compartment which I use to store my 13.3″ Macbook Air. It also has two outer mesh compartments and 4 other compartments of various sizes. The zippers have rings on them allowing you to lock them with a padlock or loop a wire lock through them (note that older versions didn’t have this). The main bag has a mesh compartment for storing loose items, and internal compression straps let you bunch up and tighten anything inside.
WHAT COULD BE BETTER
It’s actually hard to find major faults with this backpack, but at a push I would mention these two things:
The main bag has one large space and one large mesh compartment; it’s a good idea to use packing cubes to sub-divide the space.
No pockets in the main backpack
It would have been nice to have at least one tiny pocket or sleeve in the 40L. It’s really just one big main compartment, plus one large mesh pocket. If it had just one small regular pocket as well, it would make the 40L easier to use without the 15L (such as on a weekend trip). I know that would not be using it quite as intended, but it would have been nice to have.
I recommend getting some packing cubes or a travel organiser to make the main backpack a bit more versatile and tidy.
Zipper rings just a wee bit small
They didn’t fit my admittedly chunky padlock and wire lock, so I had to get a smaller one. I know, this is a bit of a nitpick. Farpoint, if you’re reading this, please make the rings just 1 millimeter bigger!
USING FARPOINT 55 AS CARRY-ON
Can you use the Farpoint 55 as carry-on luggage? Yes you can!
Well, kind of…
The main 40L backpack slightly exceeds the common airline carry-on size limits. The S/M version is about 2 inches (5cm) too big, while the M/L version is about 3 inches too big.
The exact dimensions are:
M/L 25 x 13 x 12 inches / 64 x 34 x 30 cm
S/M 24 x 13 x 12 inches / 60 x 34 x 30 cm
Fortunately, most airlines care more about weight than size. Since this is also not a hard-shell suitcase, you can probably mold your backpack to fit within the size limits. Budget airlines like EasyJet sometimes have a basket near check-in that your luggage has to fit into, and I’ve successfully wedged the 40L into one of these.
Do make sure that the airline allows two carry-on items. The 40L can then go in the overhead bin, and the 15L under your seat. Presented as one 55L bag, it is likely to be denied.
In the end, taking this as carry-on is possible but not guaranteed. I’ve done it a bunch of times now and it was fine, though I’ve also heard that ultra-budget airlines like RyanAir do make a problem of this. If the thought of having your Farpoint 55 denied as carry-on gives you nightmares (that’s kinda weird but ok), then the Farpoint 40 is your only sure bet.
There are straps for a mat or sleeping bag; great for festivals or hikes. Though for hardcore trekking or camping, you might find other backpacks more suitable.
The Osprey Farpoint 55 looks like a backpacking pack, and does very well outdoors. The suspension is rugged and very comfortable, and stows easily behind a durable zippered flap for transport with the airlines, making it an obvious choice for international backpacking trips. It has a detachable day pack which is also very comfortable, and further makes this pack your all-in-one luggage piece. On long international flights with multiple connections, it can be nice to be light on your feet through foreign airports. Overall, the Farpoint 55 was a pleasure to use, and accompanied mereadily on a surprisingly broad range of activities.
