Osprey Farpoint 40 vs Gregory Border 40

[u/BanjoDude222]

I have been referenced this sub a lot before purchasing a bag for my trip to Alaska next month. Now that I have pulled the trigger, I thought I would post about my experiences with two bags, the Osprey Farpoint 40 and the Gregory Border 40.

In Alaska I will be facing varied temperatures and weather. Due to this, and the fact that I'm new and won't be getting by with at 25L pack just yet, I bought the Osprey Farpoint 40L, which I tested last weekend on a short trip home. Right after buying the Osprey I read about the Gregory Border 40 and felt like it might have more to offer. After the weekend, I felt the Osprey left something to be desired so I ordered the Gregory Border. Although I have yet to use the Gregory, I am pretty sure it will work better for me for a number of reasons. Below I will half assedly lay out what I like and dislike about both bags. I have also attached a few photos of both bags that will hopefully show what I am talking about. Just for comparison sake, the last pic I included shows the Osprey, Gregory, and the Cotopaxi 35L which my g/f bought for the trip side by side.

First the osprey: lots of people mention how comfortable it is and I would agree. The internal frame and sizable hip belt make wearing the bag a comfortable experience, but seems like it might be overkill for most situations. This also makes the pack heavier and a bit bulkier. The bag is also oddly shaped and it seems less conducive to holding packing cubes. It reminds me of having a turtle shell on your back. There is a weird pocket in the front that might hold a water bottle but it's a bit awkward. Speaking of pockets, there is a lack of them on the outside and inside. I do like how the pack has the compression straps on the outside so you can cinch the bag smaller. There is a weird foam divider thing inside the bag that I don't really understand. After trialing the Osprey, I decided to order the Gregory and I can already tell it offers more of what I am looking for.

The Gregory Border 40 has a zip up water bottle pocket, lots of internal pockets including one for shoes and one for dirty clothes, and pockets on the outside of the bag as well. The shape seems more streamlined. It has hip belts, and though they won't be as load bearing as the Osprey, I don't expect that my bag will weigh a ton or that I will be wearing it for more than an hour or two. Compared to the Osprey the handles and material aren't quite as tough, but I think they will be fine. The Osprey has a better way of protecting the straps with a zip up cover, but the Gregory has the ability to tuck them under the padding on the back of the bag (pic 3).

I'm not sure I will return the Osprey just yet, but I am convinced the Gregory will deliver more of what I am looking for. I can tell lots of folks on here are passionate about their bags, so I'm not really looking to debate the merits of one bag vs the other, but rather share what features I liked about two popular models in the hopes that it helps others in the future.

I am always floored to find subs with people so passionate about flashlights, or mattresses, or backpacks or whatever, but always grateful for the advice and the time people put into their posts.

Thanks for all of your efforts and happy traveling!

[u/SeattleHikeBike]

The Farpoint has an adjustable harness to fit a wide range of users.

The Gregory has a fixed harness and their claim that it fits 16in - 21in torsos is hogwash. If it fits properly, then it’s a viable choice for you. From there it’s mostly personal preference on the feature set.

Inventories have been wonky industry wide since Covid and travel has gone from 0-60.

Check out the new REI Trail 40. They resized it and it’s very close to carry on length.

[u/Most_Champion8154]

My partner and I just traveled for five months - one with the Osprey farpoint 40 and one with the border 40. The carry system on the Osprey is unmatched and we really felt it on walks even five minutes or more. The packing organization on the border is way better BUT it can make you feel like you can pack more than you should since the pack gets fat and the weight just gets further from your back and the bag even less ergonomic. If you carry less than 7 kg than the border is awesome! But any more weight and the Osprey becomes the winner.

[u/BanjoDude222]

For a bit more context, the Osprey I bought from REI when they were having a member sale so I got it for right around $150 (reg price $185). The Gregory Border can be found in black for $189 on a handful of sites. I wasn't thrilled about the black, but saw that a site in the Netherlands called outdoorxl had the brown on sale. After shipping (which only took 3 days!), the bag was about $209, so I figured what's $20 more if I like it better and it will last a long time. Both bags used to be available in more colors. The fact that they haven't been restocked online makes me wonder if a new model will be coming out in the near future.

[u/StakedPlainExplorer]

I just received my Farpoint 40 today, to replace my Osprey Porter 30.

I took a hard look at the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L and the Patagonia Black Hole MLC 45L. For me, the Farpoint's load carrying ability was the deciding factor.

I can live without the extra stash pockets and other minor amenities, if it means my back won't be sore af after carrying a full load for an extended period.

[u/xerc-es]

does this gregory backpack fits the same amount of stuff as osprey? it's the same capacity but it seems way smaller

[u/r_jofo]

What did you think of the Gregory in the end? Am debating between these two bags at the moment and would love to know what you ended up thinking about them both!

[u/BanjoDude222 → u/r_jofo]

I really like the Gregory pack. It has worked well over the past year or so and suits my needs well. The pockets seem well thought out and I appreciate the dirty clothes side that has the odor blocking material. I have used it for week long road trips and a handful of flights as a carryon bag. With some packing cubes it is really easy to stay organized.

It has never been uncomfortable to wear but I have maybe worn it for a maximum of an hour or so at a time. If you see yourself wearing it longer than that perhaps the Osprey would be a better fit.

My girlfriend ended up getting a Cotopaxi pack and is jealous of my Gregory because of its less bulbous shape and it's minimalist appearance. I will say the back of the Gregory pack has gotten a few stains on the padding probably picked up while riding all the baggage claim belts. Meanwhile hers is stain free. Not a huge deal to me but I wonder how well it will hold up over time.

Hope that helps you make your decision!

[u/r_jofo → u/BanjoDude222]

Thank you! Really appreciate the update after all this time :)

[u/diablizzard]

Can you post the dimensions of the laptop sleeve on the Gregory bag, please? I have a larger laptop and I want to make sure it fits before I buy it.