The Basics

Osprey Farpoint

Osprey is a well-respected backpack brand, and their Waypoint (or Wayfarer) and Farpoint backpacks are no different.

The Farpoint is available in 40, 55, 70 and 80 models. The Waypoint/Wayfarer is available in 65 and 85 models. (Those numbers refer to the capacity that these bags can hold)

The Waypoint series are more expensive than the Farpoint series, so if your budget is a serious consideration, this might be a factor for you. However, you are getting some real tangible benefits with the additional expense like more adjustability for the wearer’s height, and a more robust suspension system.

The design is slightly different between the Farpoint 40 and Farpoint 55, not just that the Farpoint 40 doesn’t come with the daypack. The Farpoint 40 comes with a padded laptop sleeve, an external lockable pocket for it to go in and three pockets on the outside of the bag, two mesh and one zippered. You’ll see as you read on, these are very similar to some of the benefits included in that daypack which comes with the Farpoint 55 and 70.

None of these backpacks come with rain covers. Osprey does sell rain covers separately.

Material

Like most Osprey products, the material these bags are made out of is durable ‘rip stop’ fabric and can withstand rough treatment. The fabric on the Farpoint is lighter than the Waypoint, although most users are impressed with how durable the fabric feels. Because of the lighter fabric used on the Farpoint, the empty pack is lighter than the Waypoint series.

Adjustability and Customization

Both the Waypoint and Farpoint series have padded side and top carry handles.

The zippers are easily lockable on both the Waypoint and Farpoint packs with durable, overlapping zipper tabs.

The Farpoint has two available sizes, small/medium and medium/large. The Waypoint does not have different sizes but are fully adjustable. The harness on the Waypoint does come in gender options though, which means users can get a perfect fit. The Waypoint also allows for the harness to be adjusted for the wearer’s height.

The harness and suspension on the Farpoint are less padded, and some users report, less comfortable than the Waypoint. The suspension on the Farpoint can feel cheaper when compared to the robust suspension on the Waypoint. However, some users are impressed with the suspension and harness on the Farpoint packs given they are a more budget friendly option.

Click here to get details on the Osprey Waypoint

Click here to get details on the Osprey Farpoint

Easy Access

Both the Waypoint and Farpoint backpacks have what’s called a ‘suitcase open’. This means the entire front of the backpack zips open so you can access the entire length of the bag rather than packing from the top. The sides of the Waypoint are firm so won’t collapse down as you pack and unpack. The Farpoint, on the other hand, can sag a bit if not packed out and some users have described it as feeling ‘sloppy’ when not fully packed.

The Farpoint and Waypoint have internal compression straps to keep all your belongings in place when you’re on the move. This stops everything from slumping to the bottom of your pack. There are also compression straps on the outside of the pack so you can snug everything up and make the total volume of your pack smaller.

Some users have found the Farpoint backpacks (with the exception of the 40) don’t have enough pockets on the outside of the bag, which can make small items a bit challenging to keep organized.

Additional Daybag

Osprey Waypoint

The Farpoint 55 and 70 include daypacks. Curiously, the Farpoint 80 does not include a daypack. The Farpoint daypack includes three external pockets – two mesh and one zippered pocket, a laptop sleeve that goes inside the bag. Some users have found the Farpoint daypack is difficult to attach to the back of the main backpack when both bags are quite full.

The Waypoint 80 and Wayfarer 70 include daypacks. Some of the earlier models also include daypacks. The daypacks included with the Waypoint/Wayfarer backpacks are a little bigger than the ones included with the Farpoint, although they’re both advertised as 15l backpacks.

The Waypoint daypacks open only at the back, which means they’re very difficult for thieves to open while you’re out and about. The Farpoint daypacks open like most daypacks you’re used to seeing. They do have a great added ability to be able to clip to the main backpack’s shoulder straps so that it can be worn on your front without extra straps. The Waypoint does not offer this feature.

The daypack on the Waypoint model has a flat back pocket, which is just open at the top. This is great for sliding things like your passport in while you’re wearing the backpack as it’s very difficult to steal. The Farpoint daypack does not have a rear pocket but does have more pockets on the outside of the daypack. Both daypack models have a dry-mesh back to help keep your back cool while walking around with the daypack.

Carry-on

The Farpoint 40 is small enough to be taken as carry-on luggage on the plane. None of the Waypoint or larger Farpoint backpacks are small enough to take on a plane. The daypack needs to be removed to make sure this is small enough. Both series have a zip-away harness which means the entire bag can turn into a carry bag. That’s where those padded handles we mentioned early come into play. This means when you’re popping your bag on a bus, train or plane, you can zip away all the straps and not have to worry about them getting caught or broken during transit.

Click here to see reviews and ratings for the Osprey Waypoint

Click here to see reviews and ratings for the Osprey Farpoint

Warranty

While it has been very difficult to find many users who have had issues with the build of their packs or things breaking on their packs, its worth talking about Osprey’s warranty. Osprey offers a lifetime warranty where they will repair damage or defects for any reason, free of charge. They guarantee any pack they’ve made, and if they can’t repair it, they will replace it.

The warranty varies slightly from country to country, but the very few reports we’ve seen of warranty claims have all ended with very happy customers. Any company that offers a lifetime warranty for any reason must be pretty confident in their products, and it’s easy to see why Osprey would offer a lifetime warranty on their well-designed and made packs.