WIRED reviewer endures eight years of travel with Osprey Farpoint 40

Louryn Strampe, a reviewer for WIRED, has published a detailed assessment of the Osprey Farpoint 40 backpack, citing it as her preferred travel companion following eight years of rigorous use. The review, part of the publication’s “Bag Check” series, emphasises the bag’s 40-litre capacity, extensive pocket system, and resilience across international and domestic journeys. Strampe, who describes herself as a “chronic overpacker,” notes that the backpack has maintained its functionality despite extensive wear from trips to cities including Shanghai, Tokyo, and Seoul, as well as domestic US travel.

The Farpoint 40 is designed to meet domestic carry-on size requirements, a feature aided by compression straps that allow the bag to conform to airline restrictions. Strampe highlights the bag’s ability to accommodate significant loads without compromising comfort, attributing this to padded shoulder and hip straps, along with chest and hip clip straps. The design includes numerous storage solutions, such as mesh pockets for shoes or water bottles, a dedicated laptop compartment, and a full-shell zippered mesh pocket for smaller items. Additionally, the zippers are noted for their durability and lockable feature, which Strampe found reliable even when the bag was packed to capacity.

While the core functionality remains consistent, Strampe acknowledges that newer models of the Farpoint have undergone nominal design adjustments. These updates include slightly different dimensions, a reduction in weight and padding, a shorter hip belt, and a shift to a top-facing laptop sleeve. Despite these changes, the reviewer considers the differences minimal and unlikely to significantly impact the user experience for those accustomed to the original design.

A women’s specific version, the Osprey Fairview, is also mentioned in the review. This variant features a smaller frame but is noted by Strampe as less comfortable for users with larger chests. For travellers requiring additional storage on extended trips, both the Farpoint and Fairview are compatible with the Osprey Farpoint Daypack, offering a modular solution for those not limiting themselves to a single bag.

The review concludes with an observation on the bag’s longevity, noting that even after years of heavy use, the Farpoint 40 remains fully operational. Strampe points out visible signs of wear, such as stains and frayed seams, as evidence of its durability rather than a decline in quality. The backpack’s ability to withstand diverse conditions, from humid summers to cramped transport, reinforces its status as a reliable tool for frequent travellers.