New Osprey Farpoint 55 Review (2022 Edition)

I’ve been using the Osprey Farpoint series of backpacks for 10+ years now. Recently, the Farpoint 55 was updated with a brand-new design. Here is an updated look at this classic pack.

The new Osprey Farpoint 55 has reduced the size of the main pack now making it fully carry-on compliant. The included daypack can be attached in the front, on the back, or used separately, so this is designed to be a 2-in-1 backpack system.

I’ll share my thoughts on the latest version in this Farpoint review. I’ll also tell you how I think it compares to other editions, like the Farpoint 40, the Farpoint 55 Trek, or the Farpoint 70. (Yes, I’ve used them all!)

Is Osprey Farpoint 55 carry-on?

Yes, the Osprey Farpoint 55 is now very much carry-on compliant. The main backpack’s dimensions are within most airlines’ carry-on limits. You will need to detach the included daypack and place it under the seat in front of you as your ‘personal item’. Make sure the airline you fly with allows both a carry-on piece of luggage and a second personal item.

Airlines don’t always specify how big a personal item can be, but the general guideline is that it should fit easily under the seat in front of you. The Farpoint Daypack is definitely small enough to do this with.

The previous edition of the Osprey Farpoint 55 had different dimensions that made it too big for carry-on. Old blog posts and reviews might still mention this, but don’t let it confuse you. The current edition (launched in 2022) qualifies as a carry-on when the daypack is removed.

Who is this pack best for?

The Farpoint/Fairview series is designed for lightweight travel. You can use them for many types of trips, but they’ve always been a big hit with backpackers and adventure or budget travelers. You can see an overview of all the Farpoints and Fairviews here (there are quite a few!).

The packs don’t have lots of extraneous features in order to keep them light and simple. For example, there is no internal travel organizer pouch for things like pens or holding a smartphone. However, the Farpoint/Fairview packs have all the essential features and are very durable and reliable. (I once traveled non-stop for 2 years with one of these on my back.)

Although the Farpoint/Fairview series isn’t necessarily designed for hiking, they are comfortable enough to take on hikes during your travels.

Where to buy Osprey Farpoint 55

USA: Buy directly from Osprey (best option) or check out online retailers. You can check prices on Amazon. If you are a member of REI it might be more advantageous to buy it at REI.

Europe: Check the Osprey Farpoint 55 at Amazon as it ships to most countries in Europe.

At the time of writing Amazon is not yet stocking the new updated edition, so I recommend checking directly with Osprey first.

Differences between Farpoint and Fairview 55

The Farpoint 55 and Fairview 55 are essentially the same product; the only difference is that the Fairview is a women’s specific version.

The shape of the hip belt, sternum strap, and the main pack itself is designed to better fit a women’s body type. Besides this, the Fairview also comes in different colors than the Farpoint. However, all of the features are identical.

You can check out the different Farpoint color options and Fairview color options.

Osprey Farpoint 55 dimensions

These are the dimensions of the main pack (40L capacity):

There is also an included daypack that adds another 15L of volume.

These dimensions are different from the older editions of the Osprey Farpoint 55. The main pack dimensions are now the same as the Osprey Farpoint 40.

Are there different sizes of the Farpoint 55?

No, there is just one size. It used to have a S/M and a M/L version but no longer. There is now only one size: O/S.

The latest edition has an adjustable harness. This means you can move the harness up or down by up to about 3 inches or 8cm.

Is the Farpoint 55 good for hiking?

Despite not being a dedicated hiking or trekking backpack, you can definitely use it for this. The harness is very comfortable and can be worn for hours on end (if you adjust it well). The main backpack also has a trampoline-style back panel to prevent a sweaty back. However, there are no advanced trekking features such as a trekking pole attachment or a place to put a water bladder.

If your travel plans involve a lot of hiking or multi-day trekking, then you might consider buying the Osprey Farpoint 55 Trek edition instead. It’s not carry-on but its shoulder straps are much more padded, the hip belt is thicker, and the trampoline-style back panel has much more airflow than the normal edition. I’ve done a 5-day trek with the Farpoint 55 Trek and it was insanely comfortable.

How does the 2-in-1 system work?

You can attach the included daypack to the back with two clips. There are two gaps in the daypack that you can loop these through, ensuring the two packs are securely stuck together. This essentially makes it look like one big backpack.

You can also attach the daypack to the front shoulder straps, letting you carry two packs in “turtle shell” style. This is actually how I most often use it when I’m navigating through airports or bus stations. It makes it easy to carry both packs while keeping your hands free.

The benefit of having 2 separate packs is that you can leave your big pack at your accommodation and use the other during the day. Or you can keep your important valuables with you in your seat in a bus, with the big pack down in the hold.

Differences with the Farpoint 40

The Farpoint 55 main pack and Farpoint 40 have the same dimensions and are fairly similar overall, but they have some important differences:

The reason the Farpoint 55 main pack lacks certain features is that it assumes you will use the included daypack for these things.

Because you have the daypack, the main pack is kept very simple so there is maximum space in the main compartment.

The Farpoint 55 has this mesh pocket inside; the Farpoint 40 doesn’t.

Differences with the Osprey Porter

When product pictures of the new Farpoint got released, I saw many comments on forums comparing it to the Osprey Porter. They do look a bit similar in pictures, but the Farpoint is absolutely NOT as structured or as stiff as the Porter.

The Porter 46 is a rather hard-shell backpack and will maintain its shape even when empty. While the Farpoint has a stiff outer rim on the back, the walls don’t really stand up when it’s empty, so it’s a more flexible pack. In my opinion, the Porter also has terrible shoulder straps, while the Farpoint’s are very comfortable.

The Farpoint Daypack features

The included Farpoint Daypack is fairly basic. The back panel is quite flat so that it can easily attach to the mothership backpack, but that also makes it less comfortable than a curved or padded back.

There is enough space inside the daypack to fit your day-to-day travel items. Rain poncho, snacks, your travel gadgets: it’ll fit. But when I tried to fit in a camera cube (a TropicFeel camera cube in this case) it was too tight, so this won’t be the pack for you if you carry a camera with several lenses.

The Daypack also doesn’t have an organizer pouch (e.g. for pens, mobile phone, etc.) and doesn’t have any hiking features.

You can store a laptop or tablet up to 15” inside its laptop compartment. Due to the flat back panel, your laptop will feel a bit like a plank in there. That’s fine for taking it along on bus journeys and such, but it may be annoying if you’re walking with it all day. (Although, who takes their laptop out when sightseeing?)

Two generous meshes on the outside will fit a big water bottle or even a small tripod.

The Farpoint Daypack is fine but I also wouldn’t write an ode to it. I personally prefer the Osprey Daylite Plus because it has more compartments, a more padded back, and it’s compatible with Osprey’s bladder system for hikers.

However, the Daylite Plus doesn’t have the pass-throughs needed to best secure it to the Farpoint. The Farpoint Daypack is really designed to work in conjunction with the Farpoint 40, 55, or 70.

Farpoint 55 review conclusion

The Osprey Farpoint 55 is an excellent backpack at a very reasonable price. I’ve traveled with Farpoints for years and have personally decided to upgrade to this latest edition.

Price $220

buy it at Osprey

check it at Amazon

Pros

• Comfortable suspension system
• Two-in-one system with daypack
• Not too heavy (great for light travel)

Cons

• Not many internal organization features
• Daypack is a little basic

Price $220

buy it at Osprey

check it at Amazon

This latest edition introduces some well-considered improvements that make it more comfortable for longer carry, though fortunately without adding to the pack’s overall weight.

The back panel is now ribbed and has a trampoline mesh to improve ventilation. The shoulder straps are attached to a bar that’s separated from the back panel, further aiding airflow. This bar can also be adjusted up or down to match your torso height, which is an excellent feature. In terms of comfort, the Farpoint 55 is amazing.

While you can take it on hikes, it’s designed with (air) travel in mind. The main bag is carry-on and the entire harness can be stowed neatly behind a zipped panel — ideal for when you’re checking it in or want to carry it by the handle without any straps dangling around.

It also opens suitcase-style from the side and not from the top, so you can always access everything very easily. This is perfect for when you mostly stay in hotels or in hostels.

One weakness of the Osprey Farpoint 55 is the organizational options inside. It’s a little bare-bones and so if you want to keep things neat and tidy, you might want to also purchase some packing cubes, a nice toiletry bag, or some kind of travel organizer. That said, I like the simplicity and how leaves it largely up to you how to organize things your own way.

Whether to buy the Farpoint or Fairview 55 or another version depends on your space requirements and whether you’re into the 2-in-1 system. You can consider several configurations based on your needs:

• Buy the Farpoint 55 – one integrated pair of backpacks
• Buy the Farpoint 40 – has more organizational features and you can still pair it with another daypack (e.g. the Osprey Daylite Plus)
• Buy the Farpoint 55 Trek – if carry-on is not that important, this pack will be much more comfortable and spacious. I love it for trekking trips or long overland trips (e.g. backpacking South America). You can read my detailed review of the Osprey 55 Trek here.

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