Osprey Farpoint Trek 75 Review &#8211; A Hybrid Bag for Travel &amp; Hiking

Osprey Farpoint Trek 75 Size and Weight

Weight: 2.1kg

At 2.1kg the Osprey Farpoint Trek is not the lightest backpack on the market but it was never designed to be. The fact that it only weighs 2.1kg is impressive when you consider the durability of the 420HD Packcloth Nylon used in the bag’s construction, as well as the frame and other additions that make this pack so user-friendly.

Capacity: 75L

The capacity of a pack is make or break. You don’t want to be travelling the world, or on a multi-day hiking trip with too little stuff but likewise, you don’t want to be lugging a gargantuan bag around with you all day.

At 75-litres, the Osprey Farpoint Trek 75 is a large bag for your average backpacker. Realistically, unless you are on an epic round the world tour, where you’ll be travelling through varying climates, you won’t need a travel bag of this size. Likewise, unless you are hiking and camping in cold conditions or high altitudes, like those found in many of South America’s best treks, you won’t need a pack this size. Thankfully, Osprey also produce the Farpoint Trek 55, which is a smaller 55-litre version. In my opinion, this is arguably more suitable for your average traveller.

The good news for travellers who know they need a large capacity bag is that the Farpoint Trek 75 is incredibly roomy, even for a 75-litre pack!

Dimensions: 77cm x 42cm x 36cm

It should go without saying that a 75-litre pack will not be carry on compliant. At 77cm x 42cm x 36cm, the Farpoint Trek 75 is way over carry on limits so you’ll need to be prepared to check this bag on all flights.

Farpoint Trek 75 Side On View — *Sadly, the Osprey Farpoint Trek 75 is way too big to sneak on as hand luggage!*

Osprey Farpoint Trek 75 Size and Weight – Pros & Cons:

Pros:

The weight distribution across the pack is great and thanks to its overall height and width, the Trek doesn’t feel unwieldy, even when full.
The material used to make the pack is heavy but with that weight comes an incredible level of durability. I would expect the bag to last years of near-constant use before it showed any signs of damage that would impact its usability.

Cons

The fact it’s not small enough to fit as hand luggage is a bummer but a lot of that is personal preference. I hate checking a bag as it’s just extra hassle but in the grand scheme of backpacking, you’re likely to spend more time on buses than planes anyway.

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Osprey Farpoint Trek Usability

Different Pockets

The Osprey Farpoint Trek has a multitude of pockets and entry points. Starting from the top and working our way down, we have the very top pocket which holds the AirCover (Osprey’s flight and rain cover combination) but also has room for a couple of smaller items. Below that is the main top pocket. This is easily big enough for waterproofs and valuables and also has a clip for keys.

Both of the top pockets look and act like the brain or lid of a normal top-loading pack but as this pack is not top-loading, they don’t need to be flipped out of the way, meaning you can cram in more gear than usual!

Osprey Farpoint Trek Top Pocket — *You’ll have plenty of room in the Osprey Farpoint Trek top pockets!*

The main pocket is where the bulk of your gear will go. It’s massive and you really shouldn’t struggle to get everything you need in here. Much like the Osprey Farpoint, the Farpoint Trek features suitcase-style loading.

It doesn’t quite open up as far as the original Farpoint but the U-Zip opening is easily large enough to make packing and unpacking this bag simple. Inside the main compartment, there are a few sneakily placed pockets that are perfect for storing small, important items like your passport, money, electronics or copies of your important paperwork.

You’ll also find the water reservoir storage inside the main pocket which is compatible with any standard Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir.

You can partition off the bottom section of the main pocket to create a space for storing items you want to keep separate. If you are hiking, this is a great place to store your sleeping bag or tent and if you are travelling, you can use this section to store shoes, dirty clothes or anything else you desire.

The bottom area can be accessed by a smaller zip towards the bottom of the pack so you don’t need to worry about things being hard to access. It is worth noting that this bottom zip pocket is only available on the Farpoint Trek 75 and the Fairview Trek 70 and not on the smaller versions.

Osprey Farpoint Trek 75 Main Pocket — *The Farpoint Trek 75 is plenty big enough to store all your gear!*

There is a large outer pocket on the exterior of the U-Zip opening. This pocket is easily big enough to hold a coat or jumper, waterproofs, paperwork or a myriad of bits and bobs.

The padded hip belt features a pocket on each side, which in my opinion is a must-have for any large pack and something that the original Farpoint was sorely missing.

Finally, the Farpoint Trek features a deep water bottle pocket on each side. These dual entry pockets are a vast improvement to the very poorly placed mesh pockets on the original Farpoint and will comfortably hold a two-litre bottle on each side!

Compression Straps

As the Osprey Farpoint Trek is a hybrid bag, it comes with all of the internal compression straps you’d expect from a travel backpack as well as external straps used to cinch the pack tight.

The internal straps have “wings” attached to them to help keep all your gear in place, which is a big benefit of a bag this size. These wings also have small zip pockets on them so you can store little items safely.

To be honest, I’m not a lover of internal compression straps and will often remove them or just leave them tucked away. However, the main pocket of the Farpoint Trek 75 is so large that they do serve to stop all your gear mixing together. On big trips where you’ll be packing for many different climates, you can use these straps to secure gear you’re not going to need imminently and pack everything else on top.

Osprey Farpoint Trek Internal Compression Straps — *Internal compression straps in the Farpoint Trek will keep all your gear secure!*

The external compression straps can be used to keep the pack tight and comfortable. When trekking along thin trails, this is a godsend because it stops the bag snagging on trees or rocks! The straight jacket style compression straps on the front of the pack also keep the bag tight and hide the zips, making it much harder for would-be thieves to get to your belongings!

Attachment Points

The outside of the Farpoint Trek 75 is covered in various attachment points for extra gear. From the daisy chain style loops to the mount points for the rain cover, Osprey have covered all their bases here.

The Farpoint Trek series is compatible with Osprey’s Daylite series. There are clips and mount points to attach a day bag to either the front (kangaroo style) or the back of the Trek, ensuring your belongings are safe.

You’ll also notice the extra straps towards the bottom of the bag. These can be used to attach a tent, sleeping pad or other large items to the outside of the pack. They can be removed if you don’t need them or just used to tighten up the bottom of the bag should it not be full!

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AirCover

Osprey have really gone all out with the Trek. Rather than having a protective flight cover, to keep your bag safe when throwing it on a plane as checked luggage AND having a rain cover to keep your gear dry when caught in an inevitable rain shower, they have combined the two.

Initially, I was very sceptical about this combination but by testing this product I have had my mind well and truly changed.

As a flight cover, the AirCover feels a little baggy. Unless your bag is crammed to capacity, the AirCover will sag and not look great but the protection it offers is certainly worth the downgrade in appearance. As a rain shield, I was pleasantly surprised by how well it fit.

There are a few attachment points around the bottom of the pack and near the hip belt, which keep the rain cover securely in place. After hiking through a storm, I was impressed to find that almost no water had managed to penetrate my stuff!

Osprey Farpoint Trek 75 Usability – Pros and Cons:

Pros

Having so much storage space in the Osprey Farpoint Trek is great as you can comfortably fit everything you’d need for an around the world trip or an extended backpacking experience.
The multitude of pockets and entry points makes organising and finding your stuff really easy.
The large external pocket is great for storing items that you could need in a hurry. However, if you fill it to capacity it becomes a chore to fold out of the way when attempting to get into the main compartment. It’s not impossible, just more of a hassle than I’d expect.
Likewise, having the U-Zip opening is amazing for when you are packing or unpacking with plenty of dry space, but if you are trying to grab items quickly, especially when hiking in bad weather, having to lay the entire pack down is a chore.

Osprey Farpoint Trek with AirCover On — *The AirCover protects the Farpoint Trek from the elements but comes with some downsides!*

Cons

When you have the rain cover on, it becomes even more difficult to get into as unlike top-loading packs, you can’t just fold the top down slightly to get at the opening. Instead, you must unclip the toggles, pull the cover almost completely off, lay the pack down, root around and once you’ve found what you need, repeat the process in reverse. It’s fine in a hostel dorm, providing you have the floor space but not good in the rain or howling wind. The size of the pack also makes it a challenge to manoeuvre in a tent!
The hip belt pockets really aren’t big enough to serve much of a purpose. You might be able to fit some snacks and loose change in there but good luck getting much else in. You certainly won’t be able to fit a smartphone or large wallet in there. While I love having hip belt pockets, these would be much better if they were around 50% larger!

Osprey Farpoint Trek Hip Belt Pockets — *Aside from a few snacks, you won’t be able to fit much in the Trek’s hip belt pockets!*

I know that hybrid packs have to compromise on some features but I am a firm believer that a travel pack should give you some way of storing a laptop safely. I have seen that some people suggest using the water bladder pocket in the back of the main compartment to store your laptop but I would strongly advise against this!

The water bladder pocket is designed for just that, a flexible reservoir full of liquid, not for a hard, expensive laptop made of metal and plastic. Part of the backpack’s frame runs right across the back of this area so it will be pressing against your expensive computer, especially if it’s close to full!

Some users have complained that there is nowhere to attach hiking poles to the Farpoint Trek 75 but I found that the water bottle pockets, combined with the compression straps on the side can comfortably hold your poles without them getting in the way.

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Osprey Farpoint Trek 75 Comfort

Straps

Thick padded shoulder straps, an excellent padded hip belt and a well-placed sternum strap make this bag one of the most secure I have ever carried. Even with a heavy load, the thick straps take the weight without causing unexpected pain on the shoulders or hips.

Airspeed Suspension

The Adjustable Airspeed Ventilated Trampoline Suspended Mesh Back System, while being a mouthful to say, is truly fantastic. No matter how much you carry in the Farpoint Trek, the suspension keeps the bag away from your back and really is a pleasure to use. It can be adjusted to four different height settings, depending on the size of your torso.

Osprey Farpoint Trek Adjustable Suspension — *It’s quick and easy to adjust the suspension system of the Farpoint Trek!*

Not having a heavy pack rubbing on your back has two main advantages. Firstly, it gives your back a chance to breathe and stops sweat building up! It also means that no matter how you’ve packed your items inside, there will be nothing hard or sharp digging into your spine!

Full Frame

The frame in the Trek 75 is much like that of the original Farpoint. It is very unobtrusive yet still works incredibly well and makes carrying heavy loads a doddle.

Osprey Farpoint Trek 75 Comfort – Pros and Cons:

Pros

I can honestly say that this is one of the most comfortable packs I have ever used. Even when carrying loads of 30+ kilograms, which is way more than an average backpacker will need, the combination of frame, suspension and thick padded straps make carrying the Osprey Farpoint Trek a doddle.

Cons

It can take a little time to get used to all the straps and buckles. Knowing how much to tighten each strap takes some getting used to but after a couple of days using the pack, you’ll have it dialled in like a pro!

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Osprey Farpoint Trek 75 Security

Lockable Zips

The zips on the U-Zip entry to the main pocket are set up to accommodate a padlock, which provides peace of mind for travellers even if it is not necessary for hikers.

Compression Straps

While compression straps are not a security feature in their own right, they do serve to make the bag more secure than your average backpack. When done up, the straight jacket style compression straps at the front of the pack almost completely cover the main entry point for the bag. Likewise, the compression straps also cover a large portion of the zip for the front pocket. Sure, this wouldn’t deter a thief who had plenty of time on their hands but it will help to stop opportunistic thieves from snatching stuff from your bag while you’re wearing it!

Top pocket

The top pocket, below the AirCover pocket, is in a really nice position to be able to store valuable items while you’re on the move. When wearing the bag, the only way to access this pocket is right behind your head. Even highly skilled pickpockets would struggle to get past your actual face without you noticing!

Stealthy Pockets

Inside the Osprey Farpoint Trek 75 there are a few small, stealthy pockets. The internal compression straps have small pockets built in that are roomy enough for money, small electronics, passports or photocopies of important paperwork. The partition between the sleeping bag entry point and the rest of the main compartment also has some smaller stash pockets for similar-sized items.

AirCover

While we have already touched on the AirCover, it is worth noting again for the extra layer of security it adds to your gear. When loading your bag under buses, it is worth throwing the AirCover on first. This can reduce the temptation for any would-be thieves to root through your stuff while your snore away on the long journey!

Osprey Farpoint Trek 75 Security – Pros and Cons:

Overall when it comes to security, the Osprey Farpoint Trek 75 is not designed to be a theft-proof backpack but it is perfectly adequate for normal backpacking.
The lockable zips give extra peace of mind to travellers but a major design flaw is that the bottom entry point of the Farpoint Trek 75 and Fairview Trek 70 are not lockable!
Even if you attached the partition in place, it is only a couple of loops and toggles so will not hold up to much rummaging. While I wouldn’t usually suggest storing valuables in your main pack anyway, I’d definitely recommend avoiding this with the Osprey Farpoint Trek 75.
The small pockets dotted about make for good places to store paperwork and maybe even a sneaky stash of money. However, you wouldn’t want to use them for anything much larger for fear of it becoming obvious.
If you are sensible and combine the AirCover, compression straps, stealthy pockets and a dash of common sense, you should have no issues when it comes to security with this pack.
Even though an Osprey comes with a decent price tag, this pack is understated enough that it won’t stand out. Of course, if you are walking down some dodgy backstreet, it is fair to assume that any 75 litre pack will stand out. Stick with other backpackers and you’ll blend right in!

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