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If you’ve been on the hunt for a versatile, mid-size, front-loading pack, look no further. This Osprey Farpoint 55L is a great price and comes with a detachable daypack.
Flora, of Flora the Explorer, volunteered her way around South America and loved the Osprey Farpoint 55L for this trip. Its sturdiness and size provided the flexibility she needed in the varied climate and types of trips she went on in South America.
Check out her thoughts below about why she’d buy the Osprey Farpoint 55 again.
Osprey Farpoint 55 Quick Review
PROS
- Convenient front-loading pack
- Includes removable daypack
- Neutral color and style
- Overall carrying comfort
CONS
- Just outside carry-on sizes but can often pass
- No dividers inside main pack
- Lack of flexible pockets/outer elastics for quick stuffing
Why I Chose the Osprey Farpoint 55L
In all the other trips I’d taken before South America, I’d travelled with a top loading pack. While there were times when this proved useful, ultimately I only stuck to this concept because I’d never tried anything else.
But six months in Asia, moving accommodations every few days, I began to loathe being forced to unpack and repack my entire bag every time I wanted to get at something towards the bottom. So as soon as I started planning for South America, a front-loading pack was the first thing on my list.
I also wanted a pack that could potentially serve as carry-on luggage if I needed it to, and I thought it was a good idea to take a smaller pack to stop me from buying too many souvenirs en route!
I’d received several recommendations about Osprey from fellow travelers, so I decided to purchase the Osprey Farpoint 55.
At the time of writing this review, it’s taken me to Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia – which also means it’s carried my gear up mountains, through the jungle, trekking to Machu Picchu, and lying in the hold of innumerable buses.
- Check out prices for the Osprey Farpoint 55 at REI.
5 Reasons I Love My Osprey Farpoint 55
I actually have something of a love affair with my Osprey Farpoint pack!
1. Front-Loading
The front-loading element is fantastic. I also travel with three packing cubes so actually sorting out my stuff in the pack is a breeze.
2. Included Detachable Daypack
The fact that the daypack zips on and off is a godsend. When I first started this trip, I used the daypack separately to store all my electronics and serve as hand luggage while I put the main pack in the hold.
Obviously, I’ve obtained more possessions as my travels have continued, so at the moment the daypack stays attached to the main pack and I use another small bag to store my electronics and personal items.
3. Neutral Color & Style
The color and style of the pack itself is really unobtrusive, which I really value. I’ve used daypacks before that look so over the top and this one is a great change.
Editor’s note: the latest version of the Farpoint offers two new colors- Jasper Red and Volcanic Grey.
4. Lightweight Design
The bag itself weighs about a kilo when empty, which is really good if I want to use the main pack for a weekend away, too.
5. Packable Straps
I also love the ability to zip away the main straps of the pack – it makes the entire bag looks so much smaller and neater, which is perfect for flights and long-haul journeys when I’m separated from my bag. The side handle then makes the pack easy to carry, even when the straps are zipped away!
A Few Downsides
There are only a few downsides I’ve found with this Osprey.
- If I didn’t travel with packing cubes I can imagine packing would be a bit of a difficulty. There are no dividers inside the main pack and just two thin clippable straps to hold everything together.
- There’s nothing elasticated on the front of the daypack to quickly stuff in a jumper or rain jacket.
- The side pockets have very little give, meaning that anything more than a small water bottle won’t really fit.
Full Osprey Farpoint 55L Features List
The Farpoint 55L features as listed on the Osprey site:
- Farpoint® Daypack- This daypack is designed to attach to Farpoint® 70 and 55. The main compartment has designated laptop and tablet sleeves and a scratch-free stash pocket to protect eyewear. Zipper pulls on the main compartment are lockable to secure your gear.
- Sleeping Pad Straps- Removable sleeping pad straps provide secure extra carry
- Large panel zip access to main compartment
- Lockable sliders on main compartment zipper
- Dual front compression straps
- Dual front mesh pockets
- Heat-embossed scratch-free zippered slash pocket
- Padded top and side handles
- Stowaway backpanel, harness and zipbelt with zippered rear flap for protection
- Laptop and tablet
- Sleeve secure in lockable compartment
- Two internal compression straps hold contents securely
- Internal front flap zippered mesh pocket
Fit and Comfort
The pack fits really well, with an adjustable padded hip belt and a good frame.
I can vouch for the comfort level, having used both the day pack and main pack on various days of my trek to Machu Picchu – although I wouldn’t want to be carrying the pack for more than an hour or so when full.
FYI: The Osprey Farpoint is classed as a men’s backpack. If you’re looking for a pack with more of a women’s focused fit, try the Osprey Fairview.
Sizing and Versatility
I have an ongoing mental battle with backpacks in general. The longer-term I travel, the more souvenirs I like to pick up!
In theory this bag is the perfect size for me, and I don’t need any more space, but I ran into a girl in Colombia who had an Osprey 65L and I immediately started lusting over the extra space she had.
I think, though, that for a long-term trip around South America, the Osprey Farpoint 55L is a very good size, as I need clothes and gear for a range of different climates. If I used it in Asia it would probably give me a huge amount of extra space!
Looking for a smaller version? Check out the Osprey Farpoint 40, which comes without detachable daypack.
FAQs
Can I use the Farpoint 55L as a carry-on?
Technically, the dimensions of the pack do not meet most airline carry-on restrictions. Some recommendations include removing the day pack, but that only changes the depth of the bag, and it is the height of the pack (25 in/63.5 cm) that is too large.
That being said, we at HPL have heard repeatedly of travelers who have always been allowed to take their Farpoint 55 as carry-on luggage on both domestic and international flights. Limited overhead space or international airline weight restrictions may be more likely reasons you would have to check it at the gate.
Is the Farpoint 55L waterproof?
The Farpoint 55L is water resistant, but not completely waterproof. If you anticipate any heavy rain, consider packing the Osprey Ultralight Raincover.
What are the separate capacities of the main pack and the daypack?
The main pack is 40L plus the daypack at 15L to equal the 55L space. It may be important to note that the advertised dimensions are for the M/L size, and the S/M is actually a total of 52L.
Highly Recommended
I would absolutely recommend the Osprey Farpoint 55 backpack. It’s a well designed, sturdy pack with a lot of great features for a range of different trips, and has been a really great choice for me.
About the Author: Follow along with Flora’s adventures on Facebook, Twitter, and Flora the Explorer.
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Hey Caroline!
I too, fell in love with all the great features of this backpack, so decided it was the one for me! I ordered it and when it arrived I was so so excited, but then I went to try it on :/
I got the S/M but it is a little too large!! The should straps don’t even reach my shoulders lol, they hover up there and then the back of the bag hits my head when I look upwards. What size did you get? I am 5’7” and have a pretty normal size torso, REI said I was 16”, so I didn’t expect it to fit the way it does. From what I can see, theres no way to adjust the torso length of it either, but maybe you saw something I didn’t?
Hi Ms. Flora Baker,
You’ve mentioned packing cubes.. what are the sizes that almost perfectly with Osprey Farpoint 55 and how many pc. for every size?
Archie
From Philippines