A Backpacker's Backpack Review: Osprey Farpoint 55
Over the last four months, my backpack and I have become pretty good friends. She and I have traveled up mountains, down dark streets, over oceans, and across countries—that sort of an adventure really makes you close. I mean, just look at how cute we are together…
I’ll admit that this pack is a bit of a wild thing. Sometimes after a long day of travel, she explodes out onto the floor when I zip her open. Then again, she’s probably just getting back at me for my sloppy packing methods. Or maybe she’s holding a grudge for that time that I spilled a bag of coffee grounds all over her, or because I have a habit of throwing her on dirty streets and using her as a chair/pillow/backrest.
Still, throughout this trip, she’s always had my back (...see what I did there?) and has been everything I want in a backpack.
If you’re in the market for a new (or your first) travel backpack, keep reading for a few reasons why I highly recommend the Osprey Farpoint 55.
Super comfortable (thank you, built-in suspension!)
The Farpoint 55 is probably as comfortable as it gets. This pack has a great built-in suspension system and the bag forms to the curve of your back to help make travel days so much more bearable. Not only that, but both the shoulder and hip straps are padded and easily adjustable.
At 55 liters, this pack can carry a load (up to 50 lbs to be exact), but thanks to the way it's built, that doesn't translate into an achy back and shoulders. Win!
Great accessibility
The one “must-have” on my list when searching for a pack was a front-loading, suitcase-style design. This feature on the Farpoint 55 makes loading and unloading a breeze. If I finish packing my bag and then realize I need something that's down at the bottom of my pack, I don’t have to pull everything out to find it. This saved me a lot of frustration during the trip.
this pack is tough
I wasn’t kidding earlier when I said that I once spilled an entire bag of coffee grounds into my pack. This may seem a bit strange until you learn how much I love coffee — which is apparently enough to stuff a gallon size-bag of coffee grounds in my bag. Anyway, even though there were coffee grounds literally in every nook and cranny of my pack, it took less than 5 minutes to shake it out and return my pretty pack back to brand new.
In typical Osprey fashion, the pack is well built with heavy-duty zippers and nylon. My pack has endured rain and hailstorms, countless bus/train/metro/taxi/airplane rides (and even a few donkey ride), dirty streets and floors, rocky mountaintops, and a solid five-months of daily use. Honestly, except for what appears to be a grease mark on one side of my pack, the thing looks as pretty as the day I got her.
Hello daypack, my new best friend
Probably the most useful part of this pack is the detachable daypack. I use this little lady on almost a daily basis. It’s the perfect size to carry everything I need for a day of exploring the city or hiking a mountain. I also love that it has a sturdy laptop sleeve and a few other zip-close pockets for small items. Oh, and the outside mesh pockets are a convenient place to store a water bottle, granola bars, maps, or other miscellaneous items.
She's an adventurer
One of my favorite things about this pack is that she is versatile to fit my needs as a traveler. The first month of our trip was spent camping and going on two to three hikes a week. Even though this pack wasn’t created as a mountaineering bag, it does a solid job of fitting into the role. I’ve done multiple overnight treks with this pack and have been seriously impressed by how well she does on the trail.
Bonus Points for Looks
Not only does this pack have so many great features, but she’s also nice to look at too, don't you think?
Update (July 2017)
A few people have asked me about whether or not this pack is small enough to fit in an overhead airplane compartment. If the pack is full, it will probably get turned away at the gate. Especially on discount airlines (like RyanAir). You’ll have to check the bag. If you need a bag that you don’t have to check, a smaller version of the Farpoint will probably be a better fit.
For more information about the Farpoint 55, head over to Ospreypacks.com. And you may also want to check out Osprey's Instagram account - they post fun adventure photos that always leave me feeling inspired!
