BackpackGearTest
  Guest - Not logged in 

Reviews > Packs > Internal and External Framed Backpacks > Osprey Farpoint 55 > Owner Review by Alyssa Kimber

Osprey Farpoint 55
Owner Review by Alyssa Kimber
October 29, 2017


Reviewer Information
Name:  Alyssa Kimber
Age: 24
Gender: Female
Height: 5' 10" (1.8 Meters)
Weight: 130 lb (59 Kg)
Email address: alyssakimber AT hotmail DOT com
City, Province, Country: Fernie, British Columbia, Canada

Backpacking Background: I started backpacking this year after moving from the prairies to the Kootenay region of British Columbia. I’m new to backpacking but I have significant outdoors experience having enjoyed camping and day hiking for many years. My trip length is generally one to three nights and ranges from prairie hikes to mountainous terrain. I am a 3-season hiker at present but I plan on extending my trips into the winter season as I pick up more gear. My pack weight varies depending on the trip, but I tend to sacrifice weight savings for comfort.

Product Information

Manufacturer:  Osprey Packs, Inc.
Year of Manufacture: 2013
URL: https://www.ospreypacks.com
Volume: 55L (3356 cu in) (40L (2441 cu in) main pack + 15L (915 cu in) daypack)
Listed Dimensions: 25H x 13W x 12D in (63H x 33W x 30D cm)
Measured Dimensions: 25H x 13W in (63H x 33W cm) (depth depends on how you pack the bag. Maximum depth is approximately 14 in/35.5 cm)
Weight: 3.9 lb (1.77 kg)
Measured Weight: 3.93 lbs
Load Range: 20-50 lb (9-23 kg)
Main Fabric: 210D Nylon Mini Hex Diamond Ripstop
Accent Fabric: 600D Packcloth
Bottom Fabric: 600D Packcloth
MSRP: $260 CAD

The Osprey Farpoint 55 comes right off the rack with no packaging. The pack includes a 40L (2441 cu in) main pack and 15L (915 cu in) daypack which can be attached/detached to the main pack via a zipper. Dual front compression straps add extra security by tightly securing the daypack to the main pack. The pack is made of 210D Nylon Ripstop fabric and durable 600D Packcloth fabric for the accents and bottom. Osprey calls the internal frame suspension "LightWire", which is meant to transfer the load from the harness to the hip belt.

The main pack has padded top and side handles which enable me to easily carry the pack at my side. The harness, hip belt, and back panel of the main pack are padded with a mesh cover. The daypack also features a padded and mesh-covered back panel and harness, however, the hip belt is a simple buckle strap with no additional padding. A stowable zippered rear flap on the main pack protects the harness and hip belt when not in use. Two bottom straps secure my sleeping pad to the bottom of the pack. One of my favorite features is the whistle on the front harness buckle; it was a nice surprise to find this safety feature already built-in to the pack.

The main pack is front-loading and inside are two internal compression straps and two mesh pockets on the main compartment flap. One small zippered pocket and dual mesh pockets adorn the front of the daypack. Inside the daypack you will find a stowaway laptop pocket and a small mesh zippered pocket. I use the inside stowaway pocket for my 2L water bladder (it could fit larger). On the back of the daypack is another stowaway pocket.

Field information

I first used the Osprey pack on a six-week tourist trip in Indonesia (temperatures between 20-35 C (68-95 F), dry, sea-level, city travel) and several countries in Europe (temperatures between 10-25 C (50-77 F), primarily dry, some rainy weather encountered, sea-level, city travel). I chose this type of pack as I was hostel-hopping every 2 or 3 nights, primarily using the bus system for transportation, and doing lots of walking - so it was the easiest type of bag to travel around with. The front-loading feature meant that it acted like a suitcase but I could carry it as a backpack, so it worked very well for this purpose.

I then used the pack on a two-week trip which involved bushwhacking through northern Saskatchewan forests (temperatures between 10-25 C (50-77 F), primarily dry with several thundershowers, dense deciduous forests on rocky Canadian shield, interspersed bogs and wetland areas,  0-400 m (1300 ft) above sea level (ASL)). The pack held up well against the rough terrain. The material was tough and did not rip or tear as I made my way through dense brush. We had a few days of rain on this trip and the pack dried out quickly each day once back at camp.

I have since used the bag on several overnight backpacking trips in the Kootenay area of British Columbia (temperatures between 5-30 C (41-86 F), dry conditions, rocky and/or forested terrain in the alpine and sub-alpine up to 2850 m (9350 ft) ASL) as well as in Saskatchewan (temperatures between 10-33 C (50-91 F), windy, dry prairie, rolling terrain, 800 m (2600 ft) ASL). The pack functioned well on each of these trips. It is a perfect size for a multi-day trip with many handy compartments that make storage easy. The front-loading design makes it very simple to find things in my bag. However, the suspension leaves something to be desired, and left me with a sore back and shoulders.

The bag sits right against my back and could do a better job at transferring the load from the shoulders to the hips. This is the bag's biggest shortcoming and one that has encouraged me to look into purchasing a better option. Another shortcoming is the water bladder pocket. There is no location for the bladder tube to protrude from the pack and therefore I have to unzip the pack a little to allow the tube out. There is also no spot for the nozzle to attach to the pack, so the tube hangs loosely unless I tuck it under a strap - not the most comfortable option.

Osprey Farpoint 55

Summary

The Osprey Farpoint 55 is the perfect size for a one- or two-night trip. The pack is tough and durable and the front-loading feature and various storage compartments make packing and unpacking a breeze. The detachable day pack is super handy for day hikes from camp. However, the suspension of the pack leaves me with sore shoulders after a long day of hiking and for this reason I would not recommend this bag for multi-day trips.

Things I like:

1.  Durable.
2.  Front-loading.
3.  Perfect size for one or two night hikes.
4.  The day pack is handy for day hikes from camp

Things I don't like:

1.  Suspension.
2.  Water bladder compartment.



Read more reviews of Osprey gear
Read more gear reviews by Alyssa Kimber

Reviews > Packs > Internal and External Framed Backpacks > Osprey Farpoint 55 > Owner Review by Alyssa Kimber



Product tested and reviewed in each Formal Test Report has been provided free of charge by the manufacturer to BackpackGearTest.org. Upon completion of the Test Series the writer is permitted to keep the product. Owner Reviews are based on product owned by the reviewer personally unless otherwise noted.



All material on this site is the exclusive property of BackpackGearTest.org.
BackpackGearTest software copyright David Anderson