I have had this bag for years. I have the old version and am considering buying the new version. It is a terrific bag for traveling. On a month long trip in Europe I took this bag and a small Tumi roller suitcase. I felt totally portable.
Got this pack in 2015 and it’s still going strong. I absolutely love it! My only complaint is that it’s not the most comfortable pack on the market but it works great from city to city.
After comparing the Farpoint 40 and the Porter 46, I've come to the conclusion that the Porter is not only a better design but also better quality. I thought the Farpoint was an awesome bag until I began looking into the Porter. I'm going to grab one end of the month. I plan on doing some traveling this spring/summer. One bag travel is my style! 👍
Love this pack just got back from a 2 month Thailand trip. I put a small 20L pack inside for day trips. Never had to pay for check in bag always carry on so saved money on flights. My only issue is it’s a little short for my 21” torso but it’s not a deal breaker and wish it had a water bottle holder. 20-25lbs carries perfect but I have over stuffed it with over 30lbs
Awesome way to save money! A water bottle holder would be nice but I remedied that by buying a Vapur collapsable bottle that has a built in carabiner which I have attached to the loop where the strap would go.
I have had my Osprey Porter 46 since 2013. Quality is absolutely amazing, It has been on travels over the past decade, and all airlines have let it carry-on, especially S.E Asia. it's missing the laptop compartment, attachments at the top of the harness for more comfort, and the front layer pocket. Now looking for something for a new laptop, though can't seem to find the updated version anywhere, may consider the farpoint 40 which is smaller and lacks the inside side pocket, though also has laptop pocket (supposedly 16") and looks like a more comfortable harness, especially in hot weather.
Definitely depends on your needs. The Farpoint 40 is 6 liters smaller and still weighs a bit more. But that may be more important to you if you like that back of the Farpoint.
Hi i will travel to Europe in 4 months and i have a Osprey Porter 46L. ¿Have you to travel to Europe with Osprey Porter 46L?¿How was ypur experiences? i ask why in Europe the low cost airlines measure personal luggage. I will appreciate your answer.
Super stoked. I just bought the Porter 46, then saw your video. I have some other Ospery packs that are awesome so I figured I couldnt go wrong with this pack. I really enjoyed your review and looking forward to getting the Porter for some upcoming trips. Also, I smashed that effing subscribe button! PS; Sadly, I kinda liked your meat jokes.
I've travelled the world several times over with this bag. The only times it has not fit in the overhead is when I'm flying on a smaller Embraer or Bombardier jet. If I'm worried about that, I pack lighter, and it will cinch down as small as I need. I have the new-ish version where the laptop pocket is on the back, accessed from the top. My only complaint is that the straps are made for narrower shoulders than God gave me. I purchased the Farpoint 40 thinking to solve that problem, but I'm returning it because the Porter 46 just packs so well, and everything tucks away so perfectly. Does anyone know if Osprey improved the straps on the Porter 46 in the latest version? If not, has anyone experimented with replacing the straps with aftermarket straps?
Love this comment. Thanks for sharing your experience. I also have very broad shoulders. Didn’t have any issues on the older model but hoping someone can help answer your question about aftermarket straps!
I took the 2017 model to 8 countries and I finally replaced it with the new one. It’s still in great shape, just a dirty because for some reason they made a lime green one back then and I chose it
Hi there, from Ouray, Colorado! I am wanting to transition to backpack/carry on luggage. I do travel for work. But, my work travels are either I fly my boss to a location and hang out for the duration we are there; then fly him back. Or, I fly him there and airline back home to Colorado. I am mid 50s; and hoping to retire in a couple of years. So, while still working, I'm envisioning mostly just flying on US carriers; maybe taking my wife on 1 or 2 international trips per year. After retiring, I would like to transition to heading out on 2-3 month international trips (I am very well traveled, but I do want to get my wife those opportunities); then returning home for a month or two, then repeat. I do work out daily also; but that is just walking. So, maybe aside from bringing some very walk friendly shoes too, I don't need a bunch of work out gear. I currently carry a 17 inch laptop; which is due for modernizing soon. I will definitely downsize to a 15 inch when I do that next! So....I am struggling to decide between a Farpoint 40L and one of these Porter 46L. I do like the option of "better to have the space and not need it" than "Need the space and don't have it". Though I'd love not to get one, I'm totally down to getting one of those "personal item" packs too such as the Daylite or Daylight Plus's from Osprey. Thank you very much for this awesome video highlighting the 46L!
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I would say if you need those extra 6L, you will be less limited. It sounds like you would prefer to heir on the side of more space, so that is an important note to consider.
Here's thought based on the adage that wear black is slimming😂 A black backpack may not actually be small(er) in real life dimensions, but if u pack it up smartly and cinch things down it will LOOK smaller due to the optical illusion that the color black plays on your eyes. This will allow u to get away with being maybe a bit over dimensions and avoid checked bag fees!
For sure. And if you don’t carry it in a way that looks super full or very heavy, people usually don’t bat an eye at the idea that you are just wearing a regular sized backpack. Whereas if you wear a “backpacking” backpack, the optics is that it’s stuffed full of all the things you would ever need to survive forever.
I'm looking for a bag to take as a carry-on to Europe this summer, and plan to be flying Lufthansa and ITA Airways. I really love this pack design and style, but should I be worried about the 46 X 40 X 31 cm dimensions?
Definitely check the carrier for their dimensions limit. With that said, if you don’t stuff it to the max, they usually ignore backpacks. Worst case you can throw a couple layers on as you get onto the plane if need be.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us, the only thing to mention is that American airlines are less strict on dimensions and wight compared to European and Middle Eastern airlines.
For sure! But I’ve travelled overseas with it too. They tend to look at roller bags before backpacks. I put my coat/layers on if need be and then put them back in the bag once on the jetway. Always a risk, but just plan for it 👍
Going on a 2 and a half week trip to Europe, I will be staying in hostels and will be on the move a lot, do u think this bag will be good for that or do u recommend going a little smaller?
I LOVED it on similar trips I took. Easy to put on your back when you need to hop trains, can tuck that straps in when storing it and easy access to clothes. I took it with me on a 2 week Italy/Spain trip where I stayed in Hostels.
4:09 laptop compartment on the far side was not only bad for weight distribution, but also exposed the corner of laptop to external force, which cracked the screen of my Surface Pro when I set the fully packed bag down.
I haven’t had a problem with this one. There are smaller bags for sure, but this one will fit the most of all of the ones I’ve seen if that’s of interest to you.
Been using the old version for years. Upgrading crossed my mind but my current bag is holding up so well it would only be due to the laptop compartment moving to the rear.. not sure if that is worth it to me, I carry a 3 lb laptop so not too heavy :) Thanks for the review. Btw, I just visited my REI today and the bag is now called the "Sojourn Porter 46" which confused me a bit at first.
I'll use my 40L Osprey Ozone trolley bag with wheels for city travels. I never have a Porter yet but will try to get one someday or Farpoint 40L. Would you recommend Farpoint?
The Osprey Ozone 40L is quite a bit heavier than both the Porter and the Farpoint. When you add wheels and telescoping components you also run the risk of more things breaking. It's all about risk, reward, and everyday importance of use. The downside (to some) of the Porter and Farpoint is that you have to carry that weight on your back. The Farpoint 40 is 6 liters smaller and is a bit heavier than the Porter 46. So again, a bit different uses. Depends on where you are going, how much you pack, and the key features that matter most to you!
So this is the Farpoint killer? I was just about ready to get that one but now I’m tempted. If you could pick one thing, what would that be to make my decision swing towards the porter?
It may also come down to body type and size. I think there will always be a need to travel packs in smaller dimensions, especially for people of smaller stature.
It’s the same dimensions as the Osprey Porter 46 so it will fall into the same category as what I describe in the video: technically can be a bit bigger than some airlines but it can be squashed down and if you wear it as a backpack when boarding, my experience has been they don’t bat an eye at it.
The Porter 46 seems ideal for being designed to carry everything I would need for over seas travel while allowing me to remove some bulkier stuff, CPAP camera and after cinching down meet the strictest carry-on dimensions. I like the organization the multiple pockets provide and the slightly more squarish interior dimensions which allows more flexibility in packing. My only concern is in knowing whether or not the insubstantial hip belt has been upgraded to a more supportive wrap around design as is found in the Farpoint 40. Can anyone answer that for me?
Great question! Maybe someone here can weigh in. I don’t have the Farpoint 40 in front of me but they seem similar. Not super substantial but not a flimsy hip belt you would see on something super cheap.
I just did a very thorough comparison of the farpoint 40 and the new Porter 46. As a point of comparison I am an experienced backcountry backpacker as well as having done my fair bit of European train/travel backpacking in my younger days. I have to say that the Farpoint has much more substantial shoulder straps and waist belt than the porter. Enough so that it could double as a trekking backpack or even a long wkend wilderness backpack in a pinch. They have had to redesign how the waist belt and shoulder straps stow away opting to use a zipper flap that encloses the straps instead of having them tuck away. The Farpoint straps/belt rival the Osprey line of wilderness oriented backpacks now. I did opt for the Porter as 1-it was mis-marked in my local outdoor retailer as being 30% off (making it a relative bargain in my eyes) and 2-I never plan on needing the substantial shoulder strap/waist belt set up on the Farpoint. It is def a trade off and I opted for the extra pockets and space at the expense of the straps. In the end, its still an Osprey and will hopefully hold up for many years to come!
Hi i will travel to Europe in 4 months and i have a Osprey Porter 46L. ¿Have you to travel to Europe with Osprey Porter 46L?¿How was ypur experiences? i ask why in Europe the low cost airlines measure personal luggage. I will appreciate your answer.
Yep! I went many places in Europe and had no problem getting on the budget airlines with mine. Just make sure you don’t make it SUPER full and it shouldn’t be a problem.
Would you recommend this bag for a 5'3 woman? I am organizing a one-month trip to Europe and I am between a Carry-On Bag or a personal item-size bag with a trolley carry-on.
Possibly! They also make a Porter 30 which is of course smaller, but also fits less stuff. Trolley carry-ons, while convenient, can also break which would be unfortunate if you were in the middle of a trip. (i.e. broken wheel from cobblestones) If you are near a store that sells the bag (like REI) you could stop by and see if it feels big. The weight and size will fluctuate depending on how you pack it. Hope this helps! Thanks for commenting.
@@packtravelhike I ended up buying the Porter 46! Now I have to wait one month or so until it gets shipped to my country from the US :) This review really helped, thanks! Best regards from Argentina
I am just 5 feet and the porter46 is a bit long for my torso. Having said that I have had mine since 2018, have used it for trains, busses and flights In the US and Asia mostly, but also recent trips to American samoa and Morocco. It is my absolute favorite bag and goes with me everywhere. The quality is a amazing and the straight jacket sides are awesome at protecting fragile contents. I just bought the new sojourner version for my daughter who has the porter 30, but is finding that too small, the more she travels.
Have anyone experience discomfort with this backpack regarding that "pocket" where hip straps are? When you put it on the floor and then pick it back up for example, this "pocket" becomes bulky/sticking out and can cause a discomfort on your lower back?
to me it always happened, of course backpack was always very full. And when you put it on the floor standing up, so that it compresses down and causes to squeeze this pocket. Even when I pick it back up, it doesn't even with a back of a backpack :(. @@packtravelhike
Can anyone tell me how this is vs the new fairpoint 55 which everyone is saying the new design is also carry on compatible ? Would be using it for a Europe travel bag thanks!
Technically, based on the sizes listed on Osprey’s website it would. However, I wouldn’t overfill it or you will get some looks from personnel at the gate. I’ve never travelled with the Fairpoint 55 but I also air on the side of being safe size wise. If you don’t pack the very top of it you can squish it down when they have you put it in the bag size checker.
It also depends on what airline you fly. The budget airlines in Europe are notorious for having very small dimensions bags must adhere to. Be sure to check out the website of the airline you plan on flying for their rules, dimensions and regulations.
What happened to "And stay tuned to hear what you need to do to make sure the airline doesn't stop you before getting on the plane with this bag as your carry-on"? What was your advice? Don't carry premium raw meat cuts? By not actually providing this information, you're not only a dog tease, you're a viewer tease as well. Also, I'd rather have seen you turn it into duffle bag from a backpack than vice-versa, as you don't explain exactly how to "tuck away all the loose ends" - cinching the straight-jacket compression straps so that its ends aren't hanging out! Where do they go?
My advice for the airlines is to wear it as a backpack when boarding the plane and not as a duffel. They don’t seem to notice the size when on your back. As for turning it back into a duffel, you just reverse the steps. Unclip everything. The two arm straps go back into the zippered pocket on the upper back and the hip belt tucks into the slots at the lower back. Thanks for watching!
