A Backpacker's Backpack Review: Osprey Farpoint 55

I’ve been asked a few times about how my backpack has held up, and how my packing faired on my travels so far. Before I do a review on my backpack, let me tell you about the results of my RTW PACKING thus far…

MY RTW TRIP PACKING RESULTS

I have to say, I did pretty well! Everything I packed came in pretty handy at some point… (You can check out my Packing List on my post HERE) And all the clothes I brought have been used, and some even worn out! I’ve thrown a couple pieces and bought a couple in return (mostly tank tops and underwear)… There may have been one or two items of clothing that I could have done without – which proves that no matter how insufficient you think you’re packing, you are always taking more than what you think you need! :)

I did have one regret though - and that is, I should have brought my ukulele with me. I never realized that I'd meet so many musicians on my travels through hostels and B&B's... so I ended up buying a cheap one... Just so I won't feel too guilty about wrecking it in the journey. It does the job though! And I have had such a great time making friends and jamming with people along the way! I've even managed to teach a couple people how to play, and inspired them to buy a uke of their own! :)

Music brings people together <3

I also happen to be lucky that my family sent me a “Winter Care Package” that contains clothes and shoes I’d need to survive for the winter in the UK. They sent it to my friend, Abby’s, house, where I’ve been staying for more than a month. When I leave, I won’t be taking any of them though… I’ll be taking only the stuff I came with, plus a couple other items I received for Christmas :)
Would I have survived without the Winter Care Package? Short answer - yes. But... I LOVE Winter Fashion. I couldn't help it... An opportunity presented itself... so... Why Not? :)

OK… on to the Backpack. How has it held up, I’ve been asked...

My answer?

Excellent.
Excellent, excellent!!!

I absolutely LOVE my Osprey Fairpoint 55! In my opinion, it is the best choice for female round the world backpackers!  Here’s why…

LIGHTWEIGHT

It’s true what they say… Pack light. It’s easier said than done, I know… but after traveling for more than 9 months, I’m soooo glad I didn’t purchase anything bigger than a 55L (they come in bigger sizes). The Fairpoint’s main pack is actually a lot lighter/smaller than a 55L, because the measurements include the 15L daypack. I know a 40L main pack may seem small, but trust me. Your body and your back will thank you for not going any bigger. See, the trick is, the smaller the pack, the less stuff you’re likely to bring because of the lack of space.

Happy Camper! With my backpacks in Mykonos. I use a binder clip to secure my Ukulele on
one of the straps of the day pack.

STURDY AS A MOUNTAIN GOAT

For realz. It’s a miracle this pack is still in one piece after all the times I’ve tried to cram the most ungodly items in there! There were moments when I thought, for sure, the zipper is going to give…. I’ve stuffed too much stuff in there at some point and I’ve popped a vein in my attempts to close it…
And still, she lives.  She’s relentless, this one. Just like her mother… (Me. In case it wasn’t obvious.)

EASE OF USE

One of the reasons why I went with the Farpoint over the Ariel (which is the other backpack I reviewed) is because of the front loading feature.

It just makes packing so much easier if you can see what you’re doing, as opposed to a top loading duffel bag type, which is what the Ariel was.
Another favorite feature is – how you can zip away the back panel, to make it easily manageable when you check them in on your flights! So nice and neat!

A BONUS CLIP

I kid you not… I’ve had this backpack for almost a year, and I never knew it had this particular feature. You can actually clip the day pack on the straps of the main pack (like in photo below), so you can carry the day pack in your front, “hands free”!

AMAZING! All this time, I’ve been strapping the day pack on my front – and it’s uncomfortable because it usually falls off, as I don’t have enough shoulder space. Now, I’m relieved of this issue!!! Yippee!!!

SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

Absolutely. In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with this pack. The size, the features and the overall look and comfort is an epic WIN for us female backpackers. It is one of my best purchases… and I’m sure I’ll be using this baby for years and years to come…

If you have any questions about it, please feel free to leave them at the comments section below.

Happy travels, everyone!