The Osprey Farpoint 40 Has Been My Go-To Travel Bag for 8 Years | WIREDSkip to main contentMenuSECURITYPOLITICSTHE BIG STORYBUSINESSSCIENCECULTUREREVIEWSMenuAccountAccountNewslettersBest Power BanksBest Smart RingsRouters vs. ModemsChoose the Right LaptopSmart SprinklersDeals DeliveredSecurityPoliticsThe Big StoryBusinessScienceCultureReviewsChevronMoreExpandThe Big InterviewMagazineEventsWIRED InsiderWIRED ConsultingNewslettersPodcastsVideoLivestreamsMerchSearchSearchLouryn StrampeGearMay 27, 2026 7:01 AMThe Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack Is the Perfect Match for an OverpackerThe 40-liter bag fit everything I needed for a three-week trip through Asia.Courtesy of OspreyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyAs we get out of the house, the gear-obsessed WIRED Reviews team is writing about our favorite bags and EDCs. Today, reviewer Louryn Strampe raves about her Osprey Farpoint 40 backpack. You can also read other Bag Check stories where WIRED writers share their carryall of choice.While planning our 20-day trip to Asia in 2018, my boyfriend at the time was adamant that neither of us would check any luggage. As a proud overpacker, this intention both shocked and horrified me. I love options and hate paring things down. I wanted to bring 30 pairs of shoes and 348 pairs of underwear; I certainly did not want to painstakingly build a capsule wardrobe and strategically compile packing cubes. Ultimately, though, I agreed to the single-bag trip, and the Osprey Farpoint 40 quickly converted me to legitimately loving the light-travel life.If you want the perfect backpack, or the most durable suitcase, or the best tote for toting your toteables, my colleagues have plenty of recommendations worth browsing. But if you seek a bag that makes carrying-on (to the plane, train, or automobile) and carrying-off (from hotel to hostel to hotel again) a blissfully pain-free experience, the Farpoint is my favorite.Photograph: Louryn StrampeCourtesy of OspreyCourtesy of OspreyChevronChevronSave to wishlistSave to wishlistOspreyFarpoint 40L Travel Backpack$156 AmazonDuring that nearly three-week trip in 2018, my boyfriend and I were constantly on the move, visiting Shanghai, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Busan, Seoul, and Hong Kong. We took multiple flights and trains, and we stayed in both spacious rooms and cramped quarters. In the years since, I've taken my Osprey Farpoint to the East and West Coasts of the United States. It's lived with me in three homes, joined me on dozens of road trips, and stayed with me in hundreds of hotels. I've used it for trips as long as three weeks and as quick as a single night. I've thrown it down flights of stairs, sat atop it on subways, used it to shield my head from the rain, crammed it into overstuffed vehicle trunks, and packed it to the brim nearly every time I've taken it anywhere. It's still working just as well as it did on that first trip.Needless to say, this bag is cavernous. Its 40-liter capacity lets you load it up to the brink of being too hefty to carry, but I've never had a problem bringing it onto a plane, partially thanks to the compression straps that help you squish down the silhouette. (Per Osprey's website, the Farpoint meets domestic carry-on size requirements.) And it offers so many pockets, they're difficult to track.The outer shell has two mesh spaces that are perfect for shoes or water bottles, plus a smaller compartment where I like to stash my keys and passport. The pack itself features two main chambers, the first of which is a laptop compartment, complete with a zippered sleeve ideal for an e-reader or a tablet. The largest body pocket features two built-in compression straps to help you achieve that “sit on the top of the suitcase to close it” effect once you're ready to zip up. On the opposite side, there's another zippered mesh pocket that spans the entirety of the shell, which I use to stash my socks, underwear, toiletries, and other items that I need handy but don't want mixed in with my clothes.Somehow, the Farpoint makes it not only possible but also comfortable to carry everything I might need. Yes, when you wear a stuffed-to-the-brim Farpoint, you'll resemble a turtle peeking out from under a shell. But you won't need to move slowly, thanks to its stabilizing design. The shoulder and hip straps are padded, and there are clip straps for your hips and chest. The chest strap also has a built-in whistle, which won't necessarily boost your comfort, but it might come in handy if you're hiking. (I mostly use the whistle for funsies or to bother my campmates at festivals.)Despite its comfort-forward features, depending on your size, you might still find the frame to be large and unstructured. I'm 5'1", and sometimes I feel like I might fall over when I wear the Farpoint as a backpack. Luckily, the backpack straps, harness, and hip belt can be stuffed away within a hidden zip-up panel, allowing it to double as a duffel. Just make sure to test out the packed bag both ways before leaving home.Photograph: Louryn StrampeThe zippers on this bag are magical. After multiple occasions of having severely overpacked, I genuinely do not understand how the zippers manage to shut and stay that way for hours or days on end. They glide closed so easily, and they're lockable, to boot. It's also supremely breathable. I've carried it with me on some of the hottest and stickiest adventures of my life, and somehow my back stayed ventilated, even while I was dripping with sweat, trying to read a map in a new language, or navigate to a campsite in a summer thunderstorm.Osprey has made some tweaks to the Farpoint since I got mine in 2018. Newer Farpoint bags have slightly different dimensions, are lighter-weight and less padded, and have a shorter hip belt and a top-facing laptop sleeve. Overall, I'd consider the differences to be nominal and unlikely to affect how you use it.There's also a women's version of this pack, the Fairview, which is similar, but with a smaller frame. I do like it, but it's not designed for women with larger chests, and it simply isn't as comfortable for me to wear as the Farpoint. The Farpoint and Fairview are both compatible with the Osprey Farpoint Daypack, which could be helpful for extra-long trips if you aren't limiting yourself to just one bag. I don't love all of the color choices for either bag, but for something this great, I'd wear it in the least-pleasing shade I could conjure.What I've learned in my six years of toting this backpack across the world is that it's enduring, while still showing signs of a life well lived. It still sports my “Approved Cabin Baggage” sticker from my flight to Hong Kong. Its outer pocket is stained from the hundreds of times I plopped it onto the ground while I pitched a tent. The chest strap is frayed at the seam from me clinging to it while disoriented and overstimulated in a new place. I imagine someday I'll hand it down or maybe donate it, and I have no doubt that it'll serve its next user just as well as it has served me. But that day isn't coming anytime soon, because I'm taking it on vacation tomorrow, and I haven't started packing yet.Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that's too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.CommentsBack to topTriangleLouryn Strampe is a product writer and reviewer at WIRED covering deals, beauty, home goods, and gifts. She’s written about Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Prime Day, and other shopping holidays since 2013, offering tips and tricks and sleuthing out fact-checked discounts for fun and for a living. She previously covered ... Read MoreWriter and ReviewerXTopicsShoppingBagsrants and ravesBag CheckTraveloutdoorsbackpackcampingcamping gearRead MoreFinally, a Laptop Sleeve for Me: the Bellroy Laptop CaddyThis sleeve works overtime to carry so much more than a laptop. With all the extra space and pockets, it’s the best laptop companion I’ve ever used.Luke LarsenThe Best Carry-On Suitcases for Avoiding Baggage ClaimI feel about luggage carousels the same way I feel about head lice: avoid at all costs. 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Our top recommendation is the Classic Bed from Thuma, but we’ve got options for all budgets and tastes.Louryn StrampeWired CouponsSquarespace Promo Code10% Off Exclusive Squarespace Promo Code 2026Home Depot Promo CodeMemorial Day Appliance Deals + Up to an Extra $1000 Off + Free Delivery on appliance purchases $998+LG Promo CodeLG Promo Code: 20% Off Your First OrderDell Coupon CodeDell Promo Code 20% OffSamsung Promo Code30% Samsung Coupon - Offer Program 2026Doordash Promo CodeDoordash Coupon $20 OffWIRED is obsessed with what comes next. Through rigorous investigations and game-changing reporting, we tell stories that don’t just reflect the moment—they help create it. When you look back in 10, 20, even 50 years, WIRED will be the publication that led the story of the present, mapped the people, products, and ideas defining it, and explained how those forces forged the future. 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The Osprey Farpoint 40 backpack was utilized by the author for an extensive three-week journey through Asia in 2018, demonstrating its suitability as an ideal travel bag for individuals who favor a light-travel philosophy despite an inclination toward overpacking. The author found the Farpoint to be the preferred choice for travel because it successfully mitigated the stress of carrying items, offering a seamless experience for both carrying on and carrying off luggage.

The backpack proved exceptionally versatile, serving the author across numerous logistical scenarios, including multiple international flights and train journeys, accommodation in varied settings, and overland travel across the United States. Its utility extends beyond long trips, being used effectively for shorter durations as well. The bag has been subjected to rigorous use, being transported via various modes of transit, including flights, trains, and public transport, and enduring physical stresses such as being thrown down stairs or packed into overstuffed vehicle trunks.

Structurally, the Farpoint is characterized by its 40-liter capacity, which accommodates a substantial volume of items. Despite its generous size, the design incorporates compression straps that effectively manage the overall silhouette, allowing the bag to conform to domestic carry-on size requirements during air travel. The interior is designed with numerous compartments, including specific areas for footwear, water bottles, and securing personal documents like keys and passports. The main body features a dedicated laptop compartment with a zippered sleeve suitable for electronic readers, alongside a main pocket equipped with compression straps that facilitate a streamlined closure. Additionally, a separate zippered mesh pocket allows for the organization of frequently accessed personal items such as socks and toiletries, separating them from clothing.

The design focuses on comfort through its ergonomic features. The backpack utilizes padded shoulder and hip straps, along with clip straps for the hips and chest, contributing to a stabilizing design that aids in comfortable carrying, even when fully loaded. While the physical form might appear large when worn, the stabilizing framework allows the wearer to move with ease. Furthermore, the zippers are noted for their functionality; they are smooth, lockable, and possess a high degree of breathability, which maintained ventilation for the wearer even during strenuous activity.

Osprey has incrementally updated the Farpoint design, resulting in newer versions featuring slightly different dimensions, reduced padding, a shorter hip belt, and a top-facing laptop sleeve. There is also a related women's model, the Fairview, which is comparable but less accommodating for larger chest sizes and perceived comfort compared to the Farpoint. The author's long-term experience with the bag suggests its enduring quality, evidenced by signs of heavy use, such as stains and fraying, confirming its resilience as a piece of gear that has successfully navigated extensive travel.