The Osprey Fairview backpack is a 40 Liter pack designed for optimal one bag travel.
She has one of the BEST harness systems in the game, a wide open main compartment, and comes in four stellar colors. All for the lifetime guaranteed price of $185. You can of course find it for a more affordable price. Wait for a sale and snag it for 20 – 25% off.
Backpacks are one of my weaknesses.
I can spend scary amounts of time researching and drooling over sleek optimally designed backpacks. The idea of one bag travel is such a tantalizing one. It also speaks to my core desire to crack the code on efficient travel and capsule packing.
If you’re similar, or just need a sturdy backpack, the Osprey Fairview might be a great choice for you. Keep reading for all the deets.
Osprey Fairview Backpack Design
The Osprey Fairview main compartment unzips from three sides to open into one large main compartment. This style makes it easy to pack using packing cubes. My other 60 liter pack was a top down stuff pack. Top down systems make it hard to get to everything without unpacking the entire bag.
Osprey Fairview Design Features:
- 2 compartments on the front of the bag that are shallow, but spacious.
- A padded 16″ laptop pouch.
- Front zip pocket perfect for storing keys or headphones for easy access.
- 2 water bottle mesh compartments.
- A harness system with shoulder and chest straps and a hip belt.
- Full zip back panel for stowing away the harness system.
- Padded exterior handles.
- Top of the line YKK zippers.
- Weather resistant enclosures (you’ll need a rain cover for long term water exposure.
One of the coolest features of this bag is the stowaway backpanel. The panel unfolds to zip around the shoulder and hip straps. This turns the backpack into a sleek duffle bag.
Why I Love My Osprey Fairview 40 Liter Backpack
I’ve used my Osprey Fairview backpack for 4 years now. She was initially purchased for a 10-day Italian adventure I took with my husband in 2019.
Now, the Osprey Fairview is my go to bag for traveling and work remote for months at a time. I’ve been an Osprey fan for 10 years at this point. I also have a 60 Liter Osprey bag that I used for an 18 day backpacking trip to Europe.
The Fairview backpack was the best option for one-bag travel that unzips like a suitcase. Also, the Fairview is carry-on-friendly and spacious enough to pack outfits for a 10 day adventure.
Cons of the Osprey Fairview Backpack
Aesthetically, Osprey looks very outdoorsy. They are a recognizable brand with a relatively large logo. I have to admit though, a white embroidered Osprey isn’t the worst logo. It’s just not low profile. The functionality of the pack overrides the look.
When it came to a quick trip to New York though, I grabbed a 30 Liter Columbia backpack. The harness system was less comfortable but it was a more urban-friendly look. Not to mention I was in New York for only 3 days. The current Osprey Fairview does include a nice black color vs some of the previous bright colors. I personally love my Misty Gray color from the 2019 line.
Some design cons include the front mesh pocket compartment which could be better. I typically put toiletries and miscellaneous items in the mesh zipper pouch. They tend to fall out pretty easily when I do need to unzip the compartment and grab something.
The BEST Harness System in the Game for Comfortable Long-Term Carry – Osprey Fairview Backpack
The harness system makes or breaks a backpack.
Osprey’s harness system on the Fairview backpack is ergonomically designed, from frame to shoulder straps. The Fairview is specifically tailored to fit the female body with shoulder and hip straps designed to hug a smaller frame.
If you’re worried about the pack not fitting, no worries. You can always try out the Osprey Farpoint bag.
My pack from 2019 came in x-small/small and small/ medium sizes. The XS/S size is definitely for more petite women, while the S/M size works great for more average sized women.
Keep in mind, you can always go into a store and try on the various women’s Fairview and the men’s Farpoint packs to get an accurate gauge before you purchase.
Osprey Fairview Backpack Fit Review
Figuring out sizing is probably the biggest issue when it comes to product reviews and jean reviews in my opinion. This is a problem I face often as someone who likes to buy pre-owned clothing and gear on sites like Poshmark and Ebay. Hopefully this fit info can help you decide what size to get.
For reference, here’s my approximate sizing info:
- 5’ 5.5” tall
- Under 110 lbs.
- Wear size 24 – 25 in Levi jeans and 23 – 24 in Aritzia Denim Forum jeans
The Osprey Fairview shoulder straps fit snug against my back and shoulders and the hip belt hits me at the perfect spot at the points of my hips, taking the pressure off my shoulders when synched appropriately.
The chest strap fits well across my chest, hitting me a few inches below my collar bone area. I’ve never had a chest strap that hit me correctly before my Osprey Fairview pack and let’s just say the right placement really does help alleviate the overall position of the pack during long term wear.
I like that I could pretty easily adjust the tightness or looseness of the harness system with the strap adjustments at the front of the shoulder straps.
Osprey Fairview Fit Cons
The con of the harness system being SO fitted is it can be hard to get the bag on and off without feeling like you’re going to rip the shoulder straps out of place. It is truly meant to fit tailored to your body, so the act of getting the pack on and off can be a bit of a tight fit. Once it’s on though, the bag feels very good and is comfortable for long term wear.
Keep in mind this review is for the Fairview version from 4 years ago. I bought the S/M size in the Misty Gray color (a nice olive green color). The current Osprey sizing list has all Fairview Bags listed as O/S, which I imagine means one size.
How Much Can the Osprey Fairview 40 Pack Hold?
As the name states, the pack can fit up to 40 liters of gear. This is about two – three packing cubes and a large toiletry bag–basically four packing cubes.
The front compartment easily fits a pair of folded up jeans, feminine products, underwear, makeup, and even space for a book. In the main compartment, there will also be space along the sides of the bag for lining a pair of shoes, or rolling up a bulkier pair of sweatpants.
I will also typically fold and lay my largest layer over the top of the packing cubes in the main compartment since there is much more vertical room to go than it appears.
When I packed this backpack for a 10 day Italian trip, it was tight, but I was able to bring everything I needed including three pairs of shoes, a pair of jeans, dress pants, leggings, a rain jacket, a nicer jacket, shorts, tanks, three t-shirts, a button down, a sweater, a scarf, and all the toiletries and pj’s etc.
Osprey’s Lifetime Guarantee
This is the story of my 60 liter (now discontinued) Osprey pack from 2013. The bag worked phenomenally on my initial Europe trip. I visited Ireland, London, Paris, and Rome and hiked through the five cities of Cinque Terre. The bag ended up getting run over by a luggage cart on the way home though! It was torn and the frame quite busted.
Luckily, Osprey not only happens to make stellar products, but the company also offers a lifetime guarantee for each product. All I had to do was pay for shipping and Osprey patched up the holes in my bag and shipped it back to me.
I have sung Osprey’s praises ever since and am still waiting on my sponsorship deal 10 years later (hahaha).
Who Is The Osprey Fairview 40 For?
Overall, I have loved my experience using the Osprey Fairview backpack over the past 4 years. As for who this bag is for, I’d say it is for the outdoor friendly traveler who enjoys one-bag travel.
The aesthetics and functionality of the Fairview make this bag a great fit for someone who plans to do a lot of walking and moving during a trip. You might sacrifice on a sharp urban-friendly aesthetic, but you will gain a lot in terms of comfort when carrying a load.
This bag isn’t for someone who is a chronic over packer. You have to at least be sold on the idea of lightweight capsule packing to have this bag be a good fit for you. It’s also for someone who doesn’t mind looking like a hiker. So, step aside fashionistas, this bag isn’t for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Osprey Fairview 38 or 40 Liters?
The answer is the new Fairview packs are O/S (one size) and a solid 40L as advertised.
Some of the original lines of the Osprey Fairview 40 packs (like mine) came in XS/SM and S/M sizes. The XS/SM was a slightly smaller pack at 38 liters while the S/M pack was 40 liters.
Is the Osprey Fairview 40 a carry-on
Yes, the Fairview 40 is a carry-on compliant bag for most airlines. The dimensions are: 22H x 14W x 9D in inches. This is the carry-on size for most major airlines (Southwest, American, Detala, Spirit, Frontier, etc.)
What’s the Difference Between the Osprey Farpoint and Fairview
The Farpoint is the pack designed with men in mind and the Fairview is the pack design with women in mind. The only difference is the harness system on the Farpoint is larger and the Fairview is smaller to fit different frame sizes.
What is the Difference Between the Osprey Fairview and Fairview Trek
The Fairview is a 40 liter bag with dimensions at: 22H x 14W x 9D in inches. The Fairview Trek is a larger line of the same harness and bag system. It comes in 2 different sizes. The 50 liter bag with dimensions at: 24.4H x 14.96W x 12.6D inches and the 70 liter bag: 26.7H x 16.15W x 14.18D inches.
Closing Thoughts
I highly recommend the Osprey Fairview bag for all my one-bag travelers out there. She is spacious enough for packing 2-3 weeks of clothing and shoes if you’re into mix matching and capsule packing. I think she is a great addition to your arsenal.
