We are loyal Osprey customers. We have tried backpacks of all varieties and brands. We have never found a brand that is as reliable as Osprey. They will cost you a little extra, but what you spend more than makes up for peace of mind. We have had the same bags for nearly a decade. Yes, they have muck on them from our travels, but the bags themselves have held up through hundreds of train rides, scores of airplane rides, and God only knows how many times being tossed around in hostels. They have a lifetime warranty, so if anything, from the buckles to the straps breaks, they will either mail you a replacement part or a replacement item. We use multiple Osprey bags for different trips.
Fairpoint/Fairview by Osprey
For traveling around the world, we highly recommend looking into the Farpoint/Fairview line from Osprey, see the Amazon page below. Please, if you purchase an Osprey bag do so using our page as we receive a percentage of your purchase.
The Features
So, what makes the Farpoint/Fairview so good? It comes down to design. There are two features that set this bag apart from others.
The Detachable Daypack
Firstly, it comes with a detachable daypack. This means that you can travel with all of your gear in a single bag and when you get to your hostel/hotel/B&B, you can leave your main bag with all of your clothes and take simply what you need for each day’s adventure.
Full-Opening Backpacks
The second feature of these bags that make them stand out from their competitors is the way in which they open. When you backpack across Europe, you will see hundreds of young travelers with backpacks. Most use your normal camping-style bag which is designed with an opening at the top. Osprey has some of these, which I highly recommend, but for backpacking across Europe, the Waypoint/Farpoint are far more useful because they have zippers that go around 75% of the bag. This means that you can open your bag fully.
There have been multiple times that we have shown up in a hostel or hotel with a group and been ready to go out for the day’s travels in under a few minutes, while everyone else is still shuffling through their bags.
The Cost and the Size
Besides this versatility, the Farpoint/Fairview line is also quite economical. Depending upon the size/color/sale, these can range anywhere from $130 to $200. If you can carry the weight, I highly recommend the largest size they offer, even if you don’t fill it up all the way when you depart. In fact, we always encourage travelers to leave with 30% of your bag empty for various things. See our article under Tips and Tricks: Packing a Backpack.