It was 6 a.m. when my alarm went off — and rain pounded the gabled copper roof of the 300-year-old Daishinbo Pilgrim Lodge. Sunshine or not, I used to be in Japan to hike Mount Haguro on Honshu Island. If the downpour persevered, I would definitely discover out whether or not my Osprey Fairview Journey Pack may duck any moisture.
The day trek follows one of many nation’s oldest pilgrimage routes of the traditional Shugendō non secular custom, a mix of Shinto, Buddhism, and Daoism. Earlier than assembly my Yamabushi information, I adorned the customary apparel: a white gown, a woven wire necklace — symbolizing a protecting barrier — and a head wrap. (I opted for my Arc’teryx path runners slightly than straw sandals.)
I wasn’t anticipating a very difficult journey, however there was no manner I’d be dry by the top. We had been at a reasonably low elevation, and it was pretty heat out, so I wasn’t overly involved. However since this part follows a human-made stone path — together with 2,446 steps — I actually hoped that the Fairview’s suspension and lumbar assist would stay as much as its identify.
Briefly: With a 40L capability, the Osprey Fairview 40 Journey Pack ($200) sits within the candy spot for airline carry-on dimension restrictions and simply accommodates a number of days’ value of clothes and necessities. After testing the pack on airplanes, bullet trains, and constitution buses, plus a variety of day hikes in Japan’s Tōhoku area, I discovered the ladies’s-specific Fairview offered wonderful weight distribution, lumbar assist, and suspension. The padded hip belt, adjustable torso size, and breathable again panel enhanced consolation for day hikes. The design can be loaded with travel-oriented particulars.
Our different favourite journey backpacks are highlighted within the Finest Journey Backpacks purchaser’s information.
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Supreme suspension system provides one of the best carry of any pack we tried -
Exterior compression straps restrict the amount effectively -
Comfortably padded seize handles
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Not a lot inner group
Subject Testing: A Journey Backpack Match for Hikes
Raised in Telluride, Colorado’s distant San Juan Mountains, it’s no shock that I like to hike, together with adventures and reporting that lately led to my induction because the 2025 North American Journey Journalist of the 12 months. The Journey Journey Commerce Affiliation additionally chosen me as one in all three 2025 international media delegates to discover the pure wonders of Japan’s Tōhoku area.
I took two baggage for a bustling week of outside adventures on the nation’s northern Honshu Island. That included the Fairview 40 Journey Pack for each day hikes, airport journey, transfers, and carrying my laptop computer on flights.
Once I jet set, I attempt to take a journey backpack that doubles as a day mountain climbing pack. There are caveats to that frugality, however within the case of the Fairview 40 Journey Pack, it did effectively sufficient at each.
Altogether, I pulled on the Fairview for a number of hikes that totaled 14 miles. Past mountain climbing Mount Haguro within the Yamagata Prefecture, the pack descended cliffside ladders and ascended steep, rocky faces on the Michinoku Coastal Path. It was comfy whereas bushwhacking by dense Japanese cedar, beech, and Mongolian oaks with Matagi hunter-gatherers within the Moriyoshi Mountains. It additionally served me on an out-and-back to the highest of Mt. Issaikyo, with 1,200 ft of vertical, in Bandai-Asahi Nationwide Park.
I additionally traveled with a carry-on — the 40L Patagonia Black Gap Wheeled Duffel — which I rifled by every day for gear relying on the situations. I introduced alongside my rain jacket, varied ladies’s journey pants, and dry baggage for ocean kayaking.
Supportive Suspension for Lengthy Hauls
After a morning ritual and Shojin Ryori breakfast, our group of vacationers walked to the Zuishin Gate, the beginning level of the hike of Mount Haguro. With a big, sweeping roof, there’s additionally beneficiant area beneath to flee the rain.
“Please say, Uketamo (受けたもう) to nature,” mentioned Grasp Kazuhiro Hayasaka, our Yamabushi mountain monk and information. The traditional mantra means, I humbly settle for all experiences on the journey and forces of nature. The irony of the ritual was not misplaced on me! I used to be already soaked — however not less than my pack was comfy.
I’ve examined different ski and mountain climbing packs from Osprey, so I’m acquainted with the model’s dialed-in suspension techniques. These packs undoubtedly prioritize carry consolation and aeration.
The Fairview isn’t any exception. This journey bag borrows closely from the model’s mountain climbing packs — it even resembles a mountain climbing pack when the shoulder straps are pulled out — and incorporates mountain climbing particulars. The gallery features a LightWire body, load lifters, and a ventilated again panel with padded harness straps.
In consequence, the pack distributes weight evenly and feels steady. The Haguro trek begins with a descent by a centuries-old cedar forest, and the pack felt steady and balanced on my hips with no swing weight.
Journey-Particular Particulars
As I discussed, the Fairview is sprinkled with travel-specific particulars: lockable sliders, an exterior pocket for toiletries (that matches a quart-sized bag), stashable hip belt and shoulder straps, seize handles, powerful 450-denier cloth, plus a padded laptop computer sleeve that matches laptops as much as 16 inches.
It’s an ordinary carry-on dimension that slides simply into overhead bins or beneath an airplane seat. Whereas it lacks just a few traits of a real mountain climbing pack, it matches the invoice in the event you’re making an attempt to streamline your baggage. For my part, there’s hardly a extra comfy pack for lengthy walks and heavy masses.
Adjustable Slot in a Journey Pack
The place many journey baggage follow a one-size-fits-all strategy, Osprey broke the mildew with a torso-length adjustment system. That stage of customization is uncommon in luggage-style backpacks, giving the Fairview a definite edge for prolonged journeys.
The adjustment system is straightforward and straightforward to make use of: The shoulder straps slide alongside slim rails with markers to verify it’s stage, after which are secured in place by tightening every compression strap that’s hidden close to the hip belt.
Strap Administration & Handles
Not like journey packs that cover a harness system inside the principle physique, the Fairview opts for a detachable cowl that zips over the suspension in the event you decide to verify the bag.
There’s a padded hip belt (that I dig) and a chest strap with a whistle, and each are adjustable in size. The peak of the chest strap can simply be custom-made by sliding all sides alongside an built-in rail.
One in all my favourite particulars of this pack are the 2 vast padded handles on the highest and one aspect, that are pleasant and straightforward to seize. You can even carry the pack like a briefcase whereas ready in line on the airport. I’m just below 5’6″, so these contact factors make transferring the pack out and in of overhead bins that a lot simpler.
Major Compartment
Made with a clamshell opening, the entrance of the bag can peel utterly open to entry the whole lot from cap to base. This was best achieved with the pack mendacity flat on the bottom. I discovered the pack to be fairly spacious. The aspect compression straps had been nice once I didn’t have the amount absolutely loaded on day hikes.
To enter the highest of the first compartment, you may go away the entrance compression straps buckled and unzip the 2 zippers for a partial opening. To achieve additional into the bag, it’s essential unclip one or each of the compression straps.
The sliders are lockable to the principle compartment — you simply want to provide your personal baggage lock.
Packing Format & Exterior Pockets
The structure is minimalist. There’s a separate padded laptop computer compartment that’s accessed from a top-to-bottom aspect zipper.
There’s one small zippered pocket on the prime, which is meant for toiletries throughout air journey. It matches an ordinary quart-sized ziplock bag stuffed with liquid lower than 3.4 ounces every.
On the entrance, a big kangaroo pocket has two vertical aspect openings. The pouch was massive sufficient to slip in my 21-ounce Hydro Flask water bottle and a second bottle.
Two compression straps go throughout the hammock to assist safe the bottles or different gear like my moist mountain climbing sneakers once I became sandals.
One aspect of the hip belt has a stretch mesh pocket. I used it for shoving trash alongside the path (Japan has only a few public trash receptacles). The opposite aspect has a small attachment loop. Two sturdy attachment loops are on the prime of the pack and one other two on the backside for clipping gear.
Inner Pockets
Contained in the pack is a big zippered pocket for group: an ideal spot for a journal or map. There are two compression straps for securing gear inside, like a fleece jacket.
From contained in the pack, you may see the padded laptop computer sleeve. This a part of the design is a bit complicated to me. The sleeve is partially removable. The opposite aspect of the sleeve is fastened (the place the laptop computer slides into the sleeve from the outside zipper).
The top that may be freed has two attachment toggles that slide into loops. I may slide paperwork beneath the laptop computer sleeve, stopping them from getting crumpled. However I all the time stored the toggles latched in order that my laptop computer was steady throughout transit.
Critiques
By the point I reached the Sanjingosaiden Shrine on Mount Haguro’s summit, the whole lot inside my pack was utterly soaked. The two-mile hike had 900 ft of climbing and took about 2 hours. We wove previous the Haraigawa River’s Shinkyo Bridge, Suganotaki Falls, and greater than 100 Massha shrines. After visiting a millennium-old five-storied Pagoda, we stopped contained in the Ni-no-zaka Teahouse for matcha. However my pack was within the rain constantly with no protection.
The material of the Fairview’s important compartment, liner, and base is handled with a PFAS-free DWR, but it surely’s definitely not reliable. I want the DWR had been extra serviceable and shielded a portion of the rain. Higher but, I’d like to see an built-in rain cowl that stows away in a zippered pocket on the base.
Total, the Fairview is comfy, carries effectively, and provides roomy inside area. However the restricted amount of pockets may go away some vacationers dissatisfied. For day hikes, I missed having aspect pockets for my water bottles, in order that I may seize them with out absolutely taking the pack off. There’s just one pocket on the hip belt. Inside, the one massive zippered pocket makes it laborious to remain organized with smaller objects.
Whereas the pack provides loads of utility, it feels a tad overbuilt with strap administration. The Atilon framesheet appears a bit tall, too. It may get in the way in which when you’ve got thick hair or are carrying a neck pillow within the airport.
Conclusion: Who It’s For
For a global journey, the 40L Osprey Fairview 40 Journey Pack was an adaptable, comfy design for hopping between a number of flights from North America to Japan.
I beloved the pack’s means to distribute weight evenly with out side-to-side motion. The padded hip belt and lumbar assist is a premium element for me. That manner, the grams aren’t all loaded on my trapezius muscle groups. I additionally have a tendency to interrupt a sweat on climbs, so the breathable again panel is a big plus.
There’s a males’s particular model, the Farpoint 40 Journey Pack. Stepping up the modularity, the Fairview 40 is appropriate with the 15L Fairview Daypack ($65). You’ll be able to connect the Daypack to different baggage within the lineup, together with the Journey Pack.
There are buckles on the entrance, so you may decide to hold the day pack in your chest. Alternatively, the 2 compression straps on the Fairview’s again may be threaded by the daypack. Whereas I didn’t check the Daypack, it looks like a reasonably candy combo. Plus, the Daypack has two mesh water bottle sleeves.
Contemplating this pack’s journey specificity, it’s distinctive that it really works as effectively for hikes because it does for flights. Whereas it doesn’t excel as a hiking-specific pack, it’s versatile sufficient for each flights and quick hikes. Simply keep in mind to deliver alongside a rain cowl.
