Most Comfortable One BagTravel Backpack of 2021

Although uncommon, Osprey has made a mistake in my opinion, which is something I didn’t think was possible. The location of their laptop sleeve is on the front of the pack away from the wearer’s body. I don’t know if the people in the production line held the drawings upside down or what, but the location of the laptop sleeve, for me, is all wrong.

That being said there is a ton of storage in the Farpoint 40 and the harness system is classic Osprey and so comfortable you’d barely know you were carrying your worldly possessions on your back. This harness system earned the designation of the Most Comfortable One Bag Travel Backpack of 2021, which slightly makes up for the total miss on the laptop pocket.

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See Our Best Travel Backpack Review 2021

Osprey. What can you say about Osprey backpacks that hasn’t already been said? It seems as if they are the go-to for North Americans no matter the situation. With the quality that is ensured at this point and backed by their impressive All Mighty Guarantee, Osprey is an impressive backpack manufacturer. The Farpoint and Fairview, the female version, are no different. I spent some time in the UK a couple of years ago, and just about every single traveler was wearing a Farpoint or Fairview of some size.

The Osprey Farpoint and Fairview packs are a large part of Osprey’s travel section. They have multiple versions of each pack, the Fairview and Farpoint Trek are developed for more hiking adventures. There are also wheeled versions of the Farpoint and Fairview. No matter what your travel style or destination, there is a Farpoint or Fairview for you.

Coupled with excellent features that make airline travel a breeze in addition to Osprey’s hiking knowledge to create a very comfortable harness system, the Farpoint 40 is our Most Comfortable One Bag Travel Backpack of 2021.

Storage

Osprey uses a full zippered clamshell-style opening to give full access to your main compartment. Inside of this pocket, there is a large mesh zippered organization pocket as well to keep smaller items, like underwear or your toiletries.

On the outside of the pack, there are dual mesh water bottle pockets, however, they are too far in the back of the pack to be accessible without taking off your backpack. If you can reach them…please send in an application to the circus because that is incredible flexibility. Also on the outside, there is a small slash pocket that is “scratch-free” and perfect for sunglasses or other valuables. 

There are two compression straps on the front of the pack that are made to be used for securing the cargo in your bag. They could also be used to sling a raincoat through or even attach a pair of flip flops to save room in your main pack.

Laptop Sleeve

The laptop sleeve on the Farpoint 40 is where I struggle because it is on the front of the pack. I just don’t feel like it is as safe on the front of a pack as that is where lots of bumping and impact can occur. It is also where the backpack usually tips over onto the most, so your laptop and tablet will take most of those hits. It also only holds a 15” laptop which is fine, but other packs of this size can handle 17” laptops because there is more room closer to the back than on the front of the pack.

In the same realm as a hydration bladder, I want the more delicate, often heaviest, items closer to my body and my center of gravity. With the laptop sticking out at the back, there is a lot of weight that is far away from where I like my center of gravity to be. I think Osprey missed the mark with this pocket.

Comfort and Harness System

First and foremost, Osprey is a hiking/mountaineering company. However, they have taken this technology and applied it to their one bag travel backpacks to create a very comfortable hands-free travel bag. Using a LightWire frame to transfer the load of the cargo from the harness to the hipbelt makes the weight seem much more manageable. Along with the load lifters and sternum strap, this backpack feels more like a modern hiking pack than anything else.

The foam backpanel with stretch mesh keeps your back ventilated and reduces chafing while on the go. So whether you’re shirtless on a beach in Thailand or in a full suit on your way to a business meeting, you can feel comfortable wearing the Farpoint.

The harness system is also fully stowable under a zippered flap that comes up from the bottom of the bag and secures the shoulder straps and hipbelt. However, the hipbelt is non-removable. The covering makes the whole pack very streamlined and easy to stuff into overhead compartments—or at least not worry about the straps snagging on anything after you have checked your pack. 

The two padded handles, one on the top and the other on the side, create a comfortable suitcase style to carry while the harness is stowed. Another option is taking the removable shoulder strap and attaching it to the pack so that it becomes a side carry briefcase. I do like the options that are provided with these three systems.

Security and Material

The Osprey Farpoint 40 includes YKK zippers that have connecting holes for a security lock. The compression straps also run over the zippers for an extra layer of security, as you need to unbuckle them to fully open the pack.

The material of the pack is a 210D ripstop nylon, a great fabric that is used throughout the hiking world. There is also 600D nylon in high abrasion zones to improve durability. The material is not advertised as weatherproof, but with all nylons, there is some weatherproofing.

The Bottom Line

The Farpoint and Fairview are comfortable travel packs. Using Osprey’s harness technology and having three styles of carrying, getting from A to B with these packs is the easiest part of traveling. At 40l, the Farpoint and Fairview will hold everything you’ll need for a week-long vacation or business trip.

As mentioned earlier, the largest miss of this one bag travel backpack is the laptop sleeve being on the front of the pack. It just doesn’t make sense to me. The security is fine, and the compression straps over the zippers make a nice addition to overall security. At $160, the pack is definitely a great value, and if you don’t think you’ll be traveling with a laptop option, this makes for an incredible travel backpack. The harness system is the part that takes it over the top and makes it easy to pick as the Most Comfortable One Bag Travel Backpack of 2021.

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