Why Osprey Farpoint 55 is the Best Travel Backpack [Review]

Having a good travel backpack is an essential part of traveling comfortably. My traveling habits have changed since my trip to Southeast Asia, where I carried a very uncomfortable backpack full of unnecessary and bulky items.

When I researched what backpackers and digital nomads used, I came across the brand Osprey and its bags. I am glad I believed those reviews and bought one for myself. Therefore, if you are searching for a good backpack, here’s an Osprey Farpoint 55 review to help you decide which one to buy.

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Why Osprey Farpoint 55?

I carried a hiking backpack with me when I traveled to Southeast Asia. My travel gear was a cheap bargain, and my whole trip was on a meager budget; therefore, I didn’t want to pay too much for luggage.

After a while of being an “official” backpacker, I realized I had made a mistake. Not only did it hurt my waist and shoulders, but it started to rip and break down in some parts due to its weight and abusive treatment from bus drivers.

Moreover, I realized that the top-opening backpack is so annoying on such trips that I had to unpack and repack every time I wanted to find something.

For my trip to Croatia, I bought a durable, comfortable, and suitcase-opening Osprey travel pack. From what I have seen and read on the internet, everyone was satisfied with them, so I decided to give them a try. I am glad I did!

Osprey backpacks come in different sizes, shapes, and mainly dark colors to satisfy almost every kind of traveler. They are lightweight, durable, and pleasant with a simple design!

The Osprey Farpoint backpack has two great features: the main compartment opens like a suitcase and has a well-padded suspension system similar to that of hiking and trekking backpacks.

Osprey Farpoint 55 review in-depth

I have been using this backpack for seven years now (I bought it in June 2017), and it has been with me on extensive travels in Georgia, Croatia, Greece, Poland, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, to name just a few. I mainly use it as a carry-on, but I have also checked it in a few times.

After all those years and travels, it is surprisingly in great shape, doesn’t have one rip, and the zip and all of its clips/buckles work just fine!

Osprey 55 Farpoint dimensions and size guide

One of the main reasons I chose the 55L backpack is that it’s a 40L with a 15L detachable daypack. This can come in quite handy!

When I first purchased it, this Farpoint daypack was helpful because I didn’t have to take another purse and a camera bag with me when I wandered the city streets. I could put everything valuable in that daypack and not worry about being robbed back in the hotel or hostel where I stayed.

However, over the years, I slowly stopped using it that much and opted for another daypack (sometimes I take my DRiiBE or North Face). It became too small for my preference when traveling abroad, but I still use it from time to time.

If you don’t care about the daypack, you can save money by getting an Osprey Farpoint 40 rucksack. Farpoint 55 and Farpoint 40 are carry-on size backpacks, meaning you don’t need to check your luggage for some airlines, and they perfectly fit in the overhead compartment. Always check your airline’s carry-on size and dimensions when buying the ticket to avoid issues.

Remember that my Osprey Farepoint is too big for some airlines, like Wizzair and Ryanair, as a FREE carry-on. But it works fine for AirAsia and Indigo.

On the other hand, the Osprey Farpoint 70 is a much bigger backpack and an ideal choice if you are backpacking the world and don’t mind checking in every time you travel.

The sizing of Osprey Farpoint 55 is a bit tricky. It comes in two sizes: S/M (60H X 33W X 30D) and M/L (63H X 33W X 30D). You can choose which one is best for your body by measuring your body parts and corresponding to the size guide on the official Osprey website. I am 175 cm high (5.74 ft), and the S/M size fits me perfectly.

Important: Osprey Farepoint 55 is not available on the official website, but it’s sold on Amazon, so I’d check the measurements of something very similar and order it via Amazon.

It has a sturdy suspension system

The Osprey Farpoint 55’s great suspension system makes it a convenient backpack. As I have waist and back problems, one of the most important aspects of choosing a backpack for me was its suspension system.

The shoulder straps are soft and well-padded, so it barely hurts after a long walk with a full backpack. Moreover, they are easily adjustable to your taste. Its padded hip belt balances the weight on my whole body, which is rare in other travel backpacks.

Most Osprey backpacks have a helpful feature: shoulder and hip straps can be safely zipped away so no one can treat it aggressively and ruin the backpack.

Osprey Farpoint 55 has a suitcase-opening

The Osprey Farpoint 55 travel backpack opens like a suitcase. Because of its front-loading, you can quickly grab something you like instead of unpacking and packing again with the bag that has a top opening. Trust me, it makes everything so easy and simple. Even my husband, Oto, who was skeptical about me getting this backpack and who has the North Face Copra with top-opening, says mine is much more convenient.

The space is not huge, but it is big! I had so much stuff here, including a dress for a wedding, sandals, gifts for my friends, clothes for 23 days, a hat, and all the other essential things.

A few years back, we brought packing cubes, making our travels even more comfortable than ever.

Osprey Farpoint 55 comes with a detachable daypack

As I said above, one of the great features of this backpack is that it comes with an included daypack. It has two front mesh pockets (not on the sides) for your water bottle. Inside, it has a thin laptop compartment and a zipped pocket for valuable personal items.

You might think that walking like this might endanger me to thieves, which is right at some point. However, the inside pocket with a zipper and the straps that secure it to the main backpack prevent thieves from opening it quickly. Therefore, I wouldn’t worry much about it, but always be cautious.

If you are still uncomfortable walking around like that, you can detach the daypack and attach it from the front so your valuables are nearby, and no one can grab it suddenly.

Osprey Farpoint 55 turns into a duffle bag

In addition to shoulder straps and a hip belt, the Osprey Farpoint backpack has two padded carry handles—on the top and the side. This might not seem like a huge deal, but this carry handle enables you and everyone else to unload or load quickly. Besides, you can carry it if you need to without putting it on your shoulders.

Final thoughts on the Osprey backpack review

I don’t need to say anything more. It’s noticeable how much I enjoyed my Osprey Farpoint 55 all these years. It is ideal for those looking for backpacks with detachable daypack.

The only downside is the inside space of the main compartment, which lacks pockets or other organizational dividers, so packing cubes make a difference.