Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack vs. Osprey Porter 46 Backpack (for hiking & travel)

Are you looking for a backpack that is strong and comfortable enough for all of your adventures?

If so, the following article may be of particular interest to you.

Here we will review two very durable and versatile backpacks—the Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack and the Osprey Porter 46 Backpack—and highlight the pros and cons of each product.

In the end, we will leave it up to you decide which backpack is the right one for you.

About the Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack

When purchasing a backpack, there are plenty of factors and features to consider.

Below we will discuss some of those considerations and how they relate to the Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack.

Size

When it comes to size, it appears that the Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack has you covered.

That’s because the backpack comes in two versatile sizes, a convenient small/medium size that measures 20 inches by 14 inches by 8 inches; and a roomier medium/large size backpack, measuring 21 inches by 14 inches by 9 inches.

Both of these sizes are small enough to use as a carry-on bag, so whether you travel light or need more space for your things the Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack would be a good choice.

Comfort

If you have ever traveled with a bargain-style backpack or duffel bag, you already know how uncomfortable they can be.

However, that should not be a concern with the Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack.

According to users, the Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack has superior shoulder straps that will never dig in to your shoulders, a superb harness system, a lightweight wire frame and a very comfortable hip belt.

All the straps are adequately padded, and the hip belt helps to distribute the weight inside the backpack very evenly.

Compartments

If you are looking for a backpack with lots of hidden compartments and pockets, the Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack may not be right for you.

That’s because this simply-designed backpack has only three main compartments: top, front and main.

The upper compartment on the Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack is fairly small and perfect for things you might need to access in a hurry, things like keys, sunglasses, gum, etc.

It could also be used for things like travel documents—tickets, passport, etc.—when using the bag for air travel.

Keep in mind, however, that this top compartment does not lock, so it is not advised that you keep sensitive items in here if your bag is ever going to be left unattended.

The front compartment of the Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack is average in size.

It is designed for things like notebooks, travel documents and chargers for your electronic devices.

This compartment also has a soft laptop sleeve with a Velcro tab for keeping your computer always protected when you are on the go.

It also has a mesh pocket, which comes in very handy in terms of organizing your items and ensuring that they stay put.

Finally, the main compartment of the Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack is where the lion-share of your items will go.

Although it may seem smallish at first, once you start packing you realize just how roomy it truly is.

In this section of the backpack you will also find some interior compression straps that allow you to secure soft items and thus make additional room in the pack.

There is additionally a mesh pocket on the top portion of the main compartment, which helps to keep your items better organized.

Bottom line: The basic design of all the compartments on the Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack makes packing and accessing your items a total breeze.

Access

Most backpacks on the market today are top-loaded bags.

What this means is that if you want to grab something from the bottom of the main compartment you will first need to take out everything that has been packed on top of it.

This is not the case with the Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack.

This versatile backpack opens more like a suitcase to make retrieving your items super easy.

It has a zipper that goes around three sides of the backpack, allowing you to see and access everything you need at a single glance, and eliminating the need to unpack the entire bag just to grab something at the bottom.

Security

Not all backpacks can be used with a security locking system, but the Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack certainly can.

The backpack is compatible with all TSA-approved locks.

Once locked, only you can access the main compartment, which comes in very handy when staying in places like crowded youth hostels.

This locking system will also deter pickpockets in crowded places like streets and airports, and will allow you to carry your backpack with confidence.

Colors/How It Looks

Although how a backpack looks, its aesthetics, is usually not a huge consideration for most people, it’s nice to know that this bag also scores relatively high in this category.

The Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack is a unisex backpack that currently comes in three attractive colors: red, blue and grey.

The only downside to the way this bag looks, at least according to some people, is the lime green mesh on the interior of the bag.

Some people saw this feature as off-putting, but I guess if you need to access something from the mesh compartment in a low light situation, the lime green mesh would really stand out from the darkness.

Pros and Cons of the Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack

Although there is a lot to love about the Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack, there are also a few downsides.

Here is a recap of the pros and cons associated with this backpack as we see it.

Pros

• Carry-on size. Both the small/medium and the medium/large Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack is approved for carry-on luggage.
• Lockable. The lockable zippers on the main compartment of this backpack give it added security.
• Laptop sleeve. The integrated laptop sleeve allows you to carry your computer with confidence.
• Easy Access. The Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack opens like a suitcase to easily access your items regardless of where they are packed.

Cons

• Limited compartments. With only three compartments, a main, top and front compartment, the design of the Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack may be too simplistic for some.
• Outside compartments are hard to reach. The exterior mesh compartments of the Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack—places where you might carry water or snacks—are difficult to access when you are wearing the backpack.

About the Osprey Porter 46 Backpack

As we did with the previous backpack, here we will discuss just a few features associated with the Osprey Porter 46 Backpack.

Size

Like the previous backpack we reviewed, the Osprey Porter 46 Backpack is available in two size options: small/medium and medium/large.

Again, both of these sizes make it small enough to use as a carry-on bag.

Access

The Osprey Porter 46 Backpack is essentially a duffel bag that’s had a backpack harness added onto it.

What this means it that the bag can also be opened from three sides and items can be easily accessed.

The backpack also has thick walls that allow it to stand up on end even when there are no items in it.

This comes in very handy when you need to access things quickly.

Comfort

In terms of comfort, the Osprey Porter 46 Backpack does NOT compare to the Farpoint backpack.

Nether the harness or the straps on the Osprey Porter 46 Backpack are heavily padded, but the bag is well-balanced.

If you are simply traveling from place to place and will not be constantly wearing your backpack, it will still be plenty comfortable, but for long airport lines and backpacking treks, the Farpoint would be much more comfortable.

Compartments

If you prefer a backpack with lots of additional compartments you are going to love the Osprey Porter 46 Backpack.

Unlike the Farpoint backpack, which has but three primary compartments, the Osprey Porter 46 Backpack has utility pockets both on the inside and outside of the bag.

These places are perfect for things like keys, glasses, and travel compartments.

The backpack also has a laptop sleeve at the back of the bag, unlike the Farpoint whose laptop sleeve is on the outer portion of the bag.

Security

The zippers on the Osprey Porter 46 Backpack are all compatible with TSA-approved locks, just like the Farpoint.

The only difference is that on the Porter 46 there are many more lockable sections than on the former model.

Pros and Cons of the Osprey Porter 46 Backpack

Much like the Farpoint backpack we reviewed earlier, there is much to like about the Osprey Porter 46 Backpack and also a few downsides.

Let’s take a look:

Pros

• Easy access. A side-opened bag rather a top-loading bag, the Osprey Porter 46 Backpack is very easy to access. It also has thick walls that allow it to stand up even when empty.
• Back laptop compartment. Given that the laptop compartment is in the back of the bag, this backpack will better protect your electronic devices.
• Added compartments. If you like a bag with lots of convenient compartments, the Osprey Porter 46 Backpack offers much more than its predecessor.

Cons

• Thin straps and harness. Given that the straps and harness of the Osprey Porter 46 Backpack are thinner, this bag is not as comfortable to wear for long stretches of time.
• No back padding. The lack of any back padding in this backpack also makes it a bit uncomfortable to wear.

While both the Osprey Porter 46 Backpack and the Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack share a lot of common features, such as easy access, lockable zippers, etc., they do differ some in terms of organization and comfort.

A basic travel backpack, the Farpoint model has only three primary compartments, but it is very comfortable to wear.

On the flip side, the Osprey Porter 46 Backpack is not very comfortable when wearing for long stretches of time, but if you are looking for a wealth of compartments and organizational options, it gives you far more freedom than the Farpoint.

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