Osprey Farpoint 40: Specs, Price and Who It Suits
Short version: on paper, the Farpoint 40 covers what most people want from a carry-on backpack. It holds 40 litres, the front panel opens like a suitcase, the harness and hipbelt zip away, and Osprey backs it with a 30-year guarantee. It is not cheap at £170 RRP , and Osprey only says it meets domestic carry-on size requirements, so check your airline. Find the Farpoint 40 on Amazon UK (affiliate link), or the Fairview 40, Osprey's women's-specific fit.
On the published specs, the Farpoint 40 is a strong default for one-bag travel.
Front panel access, a zip-away harness and hipbelt, lockable zip sliders and a 30-year guarantee. The trade-offs are the price, minimal internal organisation and no rain cover in the box.
Forty litres and a large front panel opening, so the Farpoint packs like a suitcase. Photo: Timur Weber on Pexels.
Osprey gives a load range of 7 to 16kg, and the hipbelt zips away with the harness when you do not need it.
Osprey says it meets domestic carry-on size requirements. Check your airline's own limits before you fly.
If you've spent more than ten minutes researching travel backpacks online, you've heard about the Osprey Farpoint 40. It's the bag that gets recommended in every Reddit thread, every backpacker forum, every "one bag travel" YouTube video. This guide sets out what Osprey publishes about it, what it costs and who it suits. It is based on the published specs, not a hands-on test.
At a glance
Capacity: 40 litres | Size: One size, adjustable torso | Dimensions: 55 × 35 × 23 cm | Weight: 1.48kg | Load range: 7 to 16kg | Opening: Large front panel | Harness and hipbelt: Zip away | Laptop: Up to 16" | Fabric: 100% recycled 200D nylon, PFAS-free DWR | Guarantee: 30 years | RRP: £170 | Women's fit: Fairview 40
Always weigh your bag at home before you leave, every airline's carry-on limit is different, and the gate scale is the worst place to find out yours is over.
What the specs get right
It opens like a suitcase. Osprey lists "large front panel access to main compartment", so the whole front unzips and you pack it flat instead of digging down from the top. Packing cubes stack in it like books on a shelf.
The harness and hipbelt zip away. The back panel, harness and hipbelt stow behind a zip when you don't need them, which keeps straps out of the way if the bag goes in the hold. Padded top and side handles let you carry it like a holdall.
It is built to carry real weight. Osprey gives a load range of 7 to 16kg. Two internal compression straps and external WingJacket compression keep a half-full bag tidy.
Lockable zips and a big laptop sleeve. The main compartment zip has lockable sliders (bring your own padlock), and a direct-zip sleeve takes most laptops up to 16 inches.
A 30-year guarantee. Osprey's All Mighty Guarantee runs for 30 years from purchase. The legal declaration covers defects in materials and workmanship under normal use and asks for your original receipt. You pay to post the pack to the repair centre, and Osprey covers the repair and the return postage.
"The Farpoint 40 doesn't do anything revolutionary. It just does everything correctly." GO PAC
The trade-offs
No bag is perfect. Here's where the published spec sheet falls short.
No external water bottle pocket. The feature list has an external toiletry pocket and an internal mesh pocket, but no stretch side pocket for a bottle. For grab-and-go storage, Osprey sells the Farpoint/Fairview Travel Daypack (£80 ) that pairs with it.
Organisation is minimal inside. Inside there is one large compartment, a zipped mesh pocket on the front flap and two compression straps. With packing cubes that is fine. If you want a dedicated slot for everything, look at more heavily organised bags.
No rain cover in the box. The fabric is 100% recycled nylon with a PFAS-free water-repellent (DWR) finish, which is water-resistant rather than waterproof. Osprey sells its Ultralight Raincover Medium, for 30 to 50 litre packs, at £40 .
It costs £170 RRP . That is a lot for a backpack, and the 30-year guarantee is the main argument for the price.
Osprey Farpoint 40 on Amazon UK → | Fairview 40 (women's fit) →
Pack one outfit you can re-wear: dark colours, quick-dry, no logos. It's your "things went sideways" backup and it weighs almost nothing.
Is the Farpoint 40 right for you?
Find out if this is the bag for your travel style
What does your typical trip look like?
How much do you walk with your bag?
How do you prefer to organise your packing?
Farpoint vs Fairview: which one?
Osprey sells the same 40-litre pack in two fits. The Farpoint is the men's fit and the Fairview the women's-specific fit, each with its own torso length, hipbelt and harness shaping. Capacity, dimensions and features match, and the Fairview weighs 1.47kg against the Farpoint's 1.48kg. Choose the fit that suits your frame, and use Osprey's sizing guidance if you're unsure.
Browse the Fairview 40 on Amazon UK (affiliate link).
Who it suits
✓ Farpoint 40 for travel
- Front panel opening, pack like a suitcase
- Harness stows away completely
- Sized for domestic carry-on limits
- Hipbelt for loads of 7 to 16kg
- Direct-zip laptop sleeve, up to 16"
- 30-year All Mighty Guarantee
- Works as backpack and holdall
✗ Standard hiking rucksack for travel
- Top-loader only, dig to find anything
- Frame and straps exposed, catch on conveyors
- Often exceeds airline carry-on dimensions
- Hip belt built for trail use, not city walking
- Laptop buried at the bottom
- No travel-specific warranty coverage
- Awkward to carry as a holdall
Reusable beats single-use every time. A refillable bottle and a packable shopping bag pay for themselves on the first trip and save the planet a small amount of plastic.
What to look for in a travel backpack
The non-negotiables
Opening and access
Comfort
Airline compliance
Quality and longevity
Frequently asked questions
The current Farpoint 40 comes in one size with an adjustable torso length, so there is no S/M or M/L to choose between. Older versions came in two sizes, which is why some guides still mention them. Osprey lists it at 55 × 35 × 23 cm and 1.48kg.
They are the same 40-litre pack in two fits. The Farpoint is Osprey's men's fit and the Fairview its women's-specific fit, with different torso lengths, hipbelts and harness shaping. Capacity, dimensions and features match. Both are on Amazon UK, the Fairview is here: Osprey Fairview 40 on Amazon (affiliate link).
Osprey says it meets domestic carry-on size requirements and does not name airlines. At 55 × 35 × 23 cm it is a full cabin bag, not an under-seat personal item, so it will not fit a small under-seat allowance such as Ryanair's 40 × 30 × 20 cm. Check your airline's current cabin bag limits before you fly.
Osprey's advice is to clean the pack by hand in a bath or large sink with mild, soapy warm water and a sponge or soft brush, rinse it, and hang it to dry out of direct sunlight. Osprey does not advise machine washing, which it says can harm the structure and fabric of the pack.
The bags most often compared with it are the Tortuga Travel Backpack (more pockets, aimed at digital nomads), the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L (expandable, premium materials) and the Nomatic Travel Bag 40L (modular, lots of pockets). Compare current specs and prices before you buy. If you want a front panel opening, a zip-away harness and a long guarantee, the Farpoint covers all three.
Buy the Osprey Farpoint 40 on Amazon UK → (affiliate link)
Or the Fairview 40 (women's fit) → (affiliate link)
Ready to get the Osprey Farpoint 40?
A 30-year guarantee, front panel access and a zip-away harness, sized for domestic carry-on limits.
Affiliate link, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you