Osprey Porter 46 vs Farpoint 40 – Comprehensive Review and Comparison

If you are looking for a high-quality and durable travel backpack to take on your travels, I would highly recommend that you read this post. Both the Osprey Porter 46 and the Farpoint 40 are both durable backpacks that can be used for all your weekend adventures.

To make a comprehensive comparison of both backpacks, I thought that it would be helpful if we made a comprehensive review of both backpacks before comparing important aspects.

Quick Comparison Table

History of Osprey

Osprey was founded in 1974. It was then where every product design that bears the Osprey brand have to pass through the hands of the founder, Mike Pfotenhauer, ensuring that each product meets the required quality and standard.

The founder was relentless in his effort of ensuring that each bag meets the required standard. He was involved in scrutinizing how the bag is stitched together, how it is meticulously designed with intuitive features to communicating with the sewing operators which are responsible to construct the backpack.

Osprey Packs Porter 46 Travel Backpack Review

The Osprey Packs Porter 46 Travel Backpack is one of the largest carry-on baggage carriers. You can consider this bag as a versatile weekend getaway bag that is ready for any outdoor activities.

The bag comes with padded sidewalls, allows convenient organization and has a substantial suspension so that you can carry it like a backpack.

Material – The Osprey Porter 46 is made from Nylon.

Type – The Osprey Porter is available in 3 different volumes which are 30 Liters, 46 Liters and 65 Liters. You can pick and choose the size that you want. The 46 Liters Osprey Pack is primarily chosen because it’s the choice mainly selected by outdoor enthusiasts.

Characteristics of the Osprey Porter 46

Volume – The Bag has a volume of 2807 cubic inches. The product dimension is 23 inches (height) x 15 inches (width) x 13 inches (Depth).

Product Dimension – For the product dimension in centimeters, it is 59cm (height) x 38cm (width) x 33cm (depth).  

Weight The bag has a weight of 3.40 pounds (or 1.54 kilograms).

Rear Panel -The Rear panel is protected, and it comes with a lockable zip. There is even a dedicated zippered laptop and tablet pocket, which contains a laptop or tablet sleeve which allows quick access to your electronics while you are travelling.

The large panel comes with a lockable zip before you can access the main compartment.

Front Panel – The Front panel organization pocket is made in a way to allow easy access to small travel items. The front panel has vertically zippered pockets which are suitable for storing books or even travel documents.

Padded Top and Side Handles – The padding on the top and on the handles will definitely allow you to comfortably carry the backpack with ease, even for long-hours.

Backpack Straps – The Backpack straps are high-quality. You can walk few hundred mils with this backpack for long hours, and it should still hold up well.

The backpack comes with a chest strap which helps you with top adjustments. There is a waist strap which you can utilize too if you want to make the amount of weight carried by each part of your body equal.

You can hide these straps in a dedicated compartment too when they are not in use. You can get on the car without worrying about your straps flinging around.

Zippers – The zippers on this backpack feel really solid and should be able to withstand a fully-packed backpack.

Features of the Osprey Porter 46

Straightjacket compression protection – The straightjacket compression comes with padded wings. The lower panel helps protect the clothing you are wearing and the gears stored inside too.

The Straightjacket compression straps comes with padded sidewalls which are essential in protecting the contents in your bag. Besides, the compression straps help ensure that your bag can fit more gear in a compact size. This would be especially useful if you like your bag to look sleek and your bag is not fully stuffed yet.

The straightjacket buckles also helps take the stress off the zippers when the bag is packed.

Stowaway Shoulder Harness and Hipbelts – The bag comes with a Stowaway shoulder harness and hip belt with adjustable sternum strap and whistle buckle.

The Shoulder harness and hipbelts can be deployed if you prefer a backpack style carry bag. Otherwise, you can keep it stored away in the backpanel for safekeeping. This is particularly useful for travelling, when you are going through a security check.

D-ring attachments – You can add D-ring attachments which are used for adding shoulder straps. Take note that these are sold separately from the bag itself.

Functional Storage Options – The functional storage options for both big and small items with multiple access points will definitely ease the process of getting the items you need on the go.

Carry-on Compatible – This backpack is designed to be carry-on compatible for most of the airlines. This is particularly due to its suitable size.

Top Pocket Organization – The zippered top pocket will allow you to easily access your travel documents, phone or even liquids.

Laptop and Tablet sleeve – The sleeve is protected by the rear panel which has a lockable zip. It allows you to easily access your laptop or tablet even while you are on-the-go.

Do note that the external laptop section is only available for the new model and this is not present for the older models.

Osprey Warranty

The bag comes with Osprey’s All Mighty Guarantee. This Guarantee means that Osprey will repair any damage or defect that is caused for any reason free of charge.

My Thoughts

Excellent Travel Backpack – With the Osprey Porter 46, you can travel the outdoors without worrying about taking on too much luggage. You can use this collapsible daypack for travelling the great outdoors or even to different countries.

If you are thinking about getting a backpack for a trip around a foreign country, this is definitely the backpack to get. This backpack is compact but it is still capable of holding a lot of items.

Since you will be travelling frequently by getting on trains or busses, carrying a bunch of bags would be tedious. This backpack can fit all the items and compact them, which makes carrying them much easier.

Awesome for Airflight – With this backpack, you should be able to go through security checks without problem. Even strict airlines should give you the green light for carrying the Osprey Porter 46 onboard. Of course, you do not want to pack it to the brink if the airline is really strict.

The Osprey Porter 46 is a travel pack you should definitely lookout for especially when a duffel bag is not enough for you, while backpacking bags are just too much.

Suitable for the Outdoors – This backpack would be able to store all the essential items such as an extra set of clothes or your water bottle with ease. It should fit comfortably on your back which will help you sustain long hours of trudging.

My Thoughts about the different Sizes Available – If you are a normal built male, I would definitely recommend getting the bag with 46 liters. However, if you are smaller built, you may want to get the 30 liters option because you may feel uncomfortable carrying a bag that is big. 

Osprey Packs Farpoint 40 Review

The Osprey Farpoint 40 is similarly suitable for a weekend trip in the outdoors or even in the urban cities.

The Farpoint 40 means that it has a volume of 40 liters. In the series, there are other backpacks such as the Farpoint 55, the Farpoint 70 and the Farpoint 80.

Characteristics of the Osprey Farpoint 40

Product Dimension – The bag has a volume of 21 inches x 9 inches x 13 inches.

Weight – The Backpack has a weight of 3 pounds.

Main Compartment – To access the main compartment, you have to unzip the lockable sliders.

In the main compartment, there is a mesh pocket which you can store smaller items as well.

Front Panel – At the outside portion of the bag, you can find a zippered front panel with a pocket which allows you to keep things organized. It has sewn attachment points for you to put on extra gear.

Padded top and side handles – These padding helps allows you to carry the Osprey Farpoint 40 for long hours with ease.

Features of the Osprey Farpoint 40

LightWire Frame Suspension – The LightWire Frame Suspension helps to transfer the load from the harness to the hipbelt.

Mesh Backpanel – The mesh backpanel improves the ventilation for your back, making sure that the sweat gathered on your back can evaporate.

Also, the mesh that is on the harness and the hipbelt help to reduce the probability of the bag painfully rubbing against your body under the load.

Stowaway Suspension – The entire suspension can be stowed away under a zippered panel. This helps your bag remain sleek which is especially important when you are transporting from one place to another.

Dual Compression Straps – The dual compression straps help you keep the items in your bag from moving around. This is important especially if you transport your bag from point A to point B because it ensures that fragile things in your bag remain in-tact.

Straightjacket Compression Straps – These straps are available in this bag too which helps you stabilize the load.

Warning

Small laptop pocket – The laptop pocket is short. A 16 inch laptop should be able to fit in well but anything above that may not be able to fit in. You may not be able to zip the pocket shut.

Another option is that you can put the laptop into the secondary pocket which will easily fit the laptop but there is less padding for it.

My Thoughts

Suitable as a Hiking Backpack – The Osprey Farpoint 40 is one of the top picks as a hiking backpack. Eventhough this backpack is filled, it still feels light. The padded support gives you extra stability too. All of these features are essential for a hiking backpack.

You should be able to squeeze in all the necessary gears without jeopardizing too much of other things too.

Works great as a hand luggage – This backpack works really well as a hand luggage for most airlines. You should be able to pass through security checks without problem. The Osprey Farpoint 40 is a suitable size for all types (including regional, business or even commercial aircrafts).

Awesome for Backpacking Trips – If you are looking for a bag for a backpacking trip, this travel backpack is definitely the one for you. It can hold a huge amount of stuff which is useful for travelling. You can fit in all the necessary items into this backpack and it should fit well.

Comparison between Osprey Porter 46 vs Farpoint 40

Harness

The Farpoint 40 has a beter harness than the Porter 46.

This is important because a better harness would mean that you can carry the bag for longer hours with greater ease.

Although carrying the Porter 46 feels alright, carrying it for long hours may take a toll on your shoulders.

If you are looking to carry the backpack for longer hours, the Farpoint 40 may be a better fit.

Shoulder Straps and Weight Distribution

The shoulder straps for the Farpoint 40 is wider. Wider straps tend to spread the load better across your shoulders which is better for your body. The Osprey 46 has a thinner strap, which may wear your body out faster.

Since the Farpoint 40 comes with the Lightwire Frame suspension which effectively transfer load from the harness to the hipbelt, this bag has a better weight distribution than the Osprey 46.

Paddings and Mesh

The paddings and mesh back panels are essential to improve ventilation and comfort while you are carrying the backpack. The Farpoint has mesh back panels, which is absent in the Osprey 46.

The padding makes carrying weight much easier on your back and shoulders too.

Carry Options

Both backpacks come with 3 carry options i.e. backpack, briefcase and duffel bag.

For both packs, you can simply zip the straps and hip belt into the stowaway if you want to remove the moving straps, especially when you want to carry the bags into the airport.

The minor difference is that the Porter 46 does not have a shoulder strap if you want it to go ‘duffel bag’ mode. However, the Farpoint 40 has a detachable strap even when you use it as a duffel bag.

Concluding Thoughts

Both backpacks are highly similar, but the Farpoint 40 has a slight edge when it comes to being a better backpack if you are going to carry it for long hours. 

If you have any comments you like to share, feel free to do so below! Which bag do you think is the best for the outdoors and travel?