REI Ruckpack 40 vs Osprey Farpoint 40

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Overview of REI Ruckpack 40 and Osprey Farpoint 40

These backpacks are some of the most popular travel packs for one bag travel. Their similar features include packable backpack straps, 40 liter capacity, and ripstop nylon construction. So what is the difference in these two bags, which one is better and why, and which is better for you? It turns out they are both great bags, with some big differences.

Materials, Colors, and Size

Material and Aesthetics

Both the REI Ruckpack 40 and the Osprey Farpoint 40 are constructed from 210D ripstop nylon. This is a thinner fabric than you normally see in travel backpacks. Ripstop has good tear and rip strength, but lacks the abrasion resistance of heavier nylon fabrics. Compare this to the bomb-proof ballistic nylon material of the Aer Travel Pack 2, and the Patagonia MLC 45L.

The thin ripstop is offset on both bags with a thicker accent fabric in locations that get more wear and tear. The Ruckpack uses another thinner denier nylon material on the bottom, sides, and backpack straps. While the Osprey uses a much more robust 600D nylon packcloth fabric. I expect the abrasion resistance on the Osprey to hold up much better than the Ruckpack.

Size and Color

Like a lot of backpacking style packs, both the REI Ruckpack 40 and the Osprey Farpoint 40 come in two sizes. While marketed as having a men’s and women’s versions, the real difference is in the torso length, the length of the hip straps, and the shoulder width. Both sizes of the Ruckpack have identical capacity, while the sizes of the Osprey (Women’s pack is called Fariview) range from 38 to 40 liters. The dimensions on the Osprey Farpoint/Fairview also vary from 19.3”x13.8”x8” (WXS/S) to 21”x14”x9” (M/L).

Both of these packs have several color options. The Ruckpack 40 is available in black in both versions, while the Men’s version comes in Army Cot Green (pictured here), and Women’s is available in Cacao (sort of a maroon color). The Osprey packs come in 4 colors between the Farpoint and Fairview, some of them quite nice. I think it’s unfortunate that a smaller man should have to purchase a “woman’s” pack to take advantage of the beautiful Misty Grey and Rainforest Green colors offered by the REI Fairview 40.

External Components

Zippers

The use of high quality YKK zippers, with a locking main compartment, are utilized on both these packs. The Osprey Farpoint 40 keeps it simple with only 3 zippers: a large #10 (the largest available) nylon coil zipper on the main compartment, and two smaller ones on the laptop compartment and the exterior pocket. The Ruckpack 40 uses smaller #8 zippers on the 3 exterior compartments.

Waterproofness

When comparing the REI Ruckpack 40 vs Osprey Farpoint 40, neither of these packs use seam sealed zippers or water-resistant treated fabrics. The thin ripstop nylon won’t do much to keep out the rain. If having a waterproof backpack is important to you, then go with the REI Ruckpack 40. It has a built-in rainfly which will keep the bag completely dry during downpours. The Osprey Farpoint 40 will require the purchase of a separate rainfly, or an umbrella to keep it dry.

Compression straps

Compression straps matter. They keep your bag smaller, allowing overstuffed packs to still fit in the overhead, and keep your stuff from shifting around in the pack. The REI Ruckpack 40 has two small compression straps on the sides of the bag. They will keep the interior contents more secure, but don’t do much to reduce pack size. The Osprey Farpoint 40 has a much better compression system. The straps span the top of the bag, squishing your pack and keeping the contents secure. The fabric flaps protect the zippers, but do tend to get in the way of opening your pack.

Carry Options REI Ruckpack 40 vs Osprey Farpoint 40

Backpack straps

Both of these packs are made by companies who also have a long line of camping and backpacking packs. They put many of the same features you expect to see in backpacking bags into these packs. They both include padded, curved shoulder straps with adjustors, breathable foam backing, padded hip belt, and an adjustable sternum strap. The backpack straps can both be hidden away inside a zippered fabric flap, which can be stored in a hidden pocket when not in use.

I found both systems to be similarly comfortable for me. They are definitely more comfortable than many standard carry on backpacks, which lack curved straps, and adjustability. The most important thing here will be ensuring you get the correct size pack, by measuring your torso length. One downfall with the backpack straps is they are heavy, adding a lot of weight to the pack. None of the features are removable to reduce weight.

Shoulder Strap

The Osprey Farpoint 40 comes with a shoulder strap, while the REI Ruckpack 40 does not. Although it adds extra weight, I find the shoulder strap to be a useful option. Imagine a guy trying to use the restroom at an airport with the backpack straps stowed away. Without a shoulder strap you have no way to hold the bag, and you definitely don’t want to put it on the floor!

Top and Side Handles

Carry handles are a must for backpacks with stow-away backpack straps. They give you multiple ways to carry your bag, as well as allow easy access to the airline overhead compartment. Osprey easily wins the contest here. Their two top and side-carry handles are large, padded, and very comfortable.

Exterior organization

This refers to the pockets on the outside of the pack allowing quick access to your smaller, often used items. Size, security and access to these pockets are important while you are on the road.

Exterior Pockets

The exterior organization between the REI Ruckpack 40 vs Osprey Farpoint 40 is completely different. The Osprey Farpoint 40 lacks a cohesive organizational strategy. It relies on one small zippered key pouch, and a large external compartment. The large pocket has poor organization, with only one huge mesh zippered pocket, and the laptop compartment.

The REI Ruckpack 40 does a much better job with exterior organization. They have a large “brain” pocket on top of the pack, as well as two large side pockets that run the length of the bag. The one side has a ton of pockets inside, great for electronics, and travel documents. The other side however, has one major security flaw. You can access the main interior compartment through its non-locking zipper.

Water Bottle Pockets

Many travelers like to carry a water bottle, and both these bags have water bottle pockets. The REI Ruckpack has two LARGE pockets, one on either side of the bag. Combine these with the laptop compartment and you could easily carry a gallon of water in this bag. Why you would need to is another story. The pockets are easy to access, are expandable, and have an adjustable strap to secure them in place.

The Osprey Farpoint 40 on the other hand has some pretty miserable water bottle pockets. They are small mesh pockets on the back of the bag. They won’t hold a very large water bottle, and they don’t do a good job keeping it in place. Chances are good that it will fall out if you lay your bag down sideways. You can keep it under control if you use the compression straps to hold it in place, but this isn’t a great system.

Packing REI Ruckpack 40 vs Osprey Farpoint 40

Packing Style

The main zipper on the Osprey Farpoint 40 opens lengthwise, into a large storage compartment, similar to a suitcase. The large space is relatively easy to pack, however the bottom of the pack is difficult to access because the zipper does not quite run the length of the bag. Two interior compression straps keep your gear secure and allow for easy packing with, or without, packing cubes.

The packing style on the Ruckpack is awkward. The flap starts on the top, and runs most of the length of the bag. This gives the bag the disadvantage of being both a panel style backpack, and a top loading back at the same time. I will show you my strategy to overcome this in the next section.

Interior Organization

Both packs have a big mesh pocket on the top flap of the opening. These are perfect for laundry, socks and underwear, or smaller items you want to keep secure. The Ruckpack has an additional small zippered mesh pocket under the brain with a keyring inside.

Laptop Compartment

Neither of these backpacks has a great laptop compartment. The REI Ruckpack 40 tries to do double-duty with the hydration pocket, also calling it a laptop compartment. You can fit up to a 15” laptop in this sleeve, but it lacks proper padding, and is difficult to access.

The Osprey Farpoint 40 does a better job with padding, however their laptop compartment is located on the front of the pack. This allows better access to your laptop, but will put undue pressure on it when your bag is fully packed. And because it’s in an exterior pocket, your laptop could be damaged if you drop the pack.

Packing The Bags

I’ll demonstrate how to pack the REI Ruckpack 40 vs Osprey Farpoint 40, and show how much they hold, I will pack them both with the same items. I chose gear based on what many one baggers might pack in a 40 liter backpack, which is good for either a short 1-2 week trip, or indefinite travel.

This is what I packed for this demo, for a full list of my travel gear click here. (http://www.geoffmeetsworld.net/ultimate-one-bag-pack-list/)

Clothes

• (2) Eagle Creek Medium Packing Cubes (14” x 10” x 3”)
• (5) t-shirts (3 cotton and 2 merino wool)
• (1) pair Outlier New Way shorts
• (1) long-sleeve Wool & Prince button up shirt
• (1) Aviator travel jeans
• (6) pairs underwear
• (6) pairs of socks
• (1) Icebreaker merino wool jacket

Electronics

• International travel adapter
• Ear buds
• Smartphone
• USB-C charger cord
• Eagle Creek XS cube
• External battery backup

Extras

• Wire security cord
• Leatherman Style PS
• Small paper notebook
• Mechanical Pencil
• Black ballpoint pen
• Sunglasses
• Passport
• Chums Surfshort wallet
• Travel towel
• New Outlander Packable Daypack

Toiletries

• Eagle Creek Specter toiletry kit
• Toothbrush
• Tom’s 1.0 oz toothpaste
• 3 oz shampoo in silicone bottle
• 2 oz hand sanitizer (mini bottle from travel section at Target)
• Mini shaving mirror
• Small roll of toilet paper
• Floss
• Mineral sunscreen (Bare Republic)
• Mineral deodorant (Crystal)
• 2 oz travel soap (Dr. Bronners)
• Band-Aids
• Moleskin (for blisters)
• Small roll of athetic tape
• First-aid kit (Ibuprofen, antibiotic gel, Pepto Bismol, decongestant, antihistamine, Immodium AD)

Packing The Osprey Farpoint 40

Because of the panel loading style, this bag packs similar to a suitcase. Clothes in packing cubes, jacket, and other smaller heavy items can be packed in the main compartment. Use the compression straps to keep items in place. Your laptop, and other smaller items can be stored in the external pocket. Use the small pocket for easy to access items including sunglasses, keys, etc.

Packing The REI Ruckpack 40

This bag is a little more awkward to pack because it combines a panel loading bag, with a top loading backpack. My strategy is to put clothes in 2 medium packing cubes in the bottom of the bag. Zip the bag halfway up, then put your smaller items on top. Easy to access items can be stored in the brain compartment, or the zippered side pockets.

Summary

Both of these packs are great, especially for newer one bag travelers. They are both well made, inexpensive, have great backpack straps, and large capacity. The thin ripstop material will be sufficient for most people, but does not offer enough abrasion resistance to folks who abuse their bags, or travel a lot. These bags will be an easy transition for anyone who is familiar with backpacking style bags. But travelers who have experience with many bags might find the packing style, and some of the features on these bags to be frustrating.

Worst features

Best features

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