A Backpacker's Backpack Review: Osprey Farpoint 55

I’ve been asked a few times about how my backpack has held up, and how my packing faired on my travels so far. Before I do a review on my backpack, let me tell you about the results of my RTW PACKING thus far…

MY RTW TRIP PACKING RESULTS

I have to say, I did pretty well! Everything I packed came in pretty handy at some point… (You can check out my Packing List on my post HERE) And all the clothes I brought have been used, and some even worn out! I’ve thrown a couple pieces and bought a couple in return (mostly tank tops and underwear)… There may have been one or two items of clothing that I could have done without – which proves that no matter how insufficient you think you’re packing, you are always taking more than what you think you need! :)

I did have one regret though - and that is, I should have brought my ukulele with me. I never realized that I'd meet so many musicians on my travels through hostels and B&B's... so I ended up buying a cheap one... Just so I won't feel too guilty about wrecking it in the journey. It does the job though! And I have had such a great time making friends and jamming with people along the way! I've even managed to teach a couple people how to play, and inspired them to buy a uke of their own! :)

Music brings people together <3

I also happen to be lucky that my family sent me a “Winter Care Package” that contains clothes and shoes I’d need to survive for the winter in the UK. They sent it to my friend, Abby’s, house, where I’ve been staying for more than a month. When I leave, I won’t be taking any of them though… I’ll be taking only the stuff I came with, plus a couple other items I received for Christmas :)
Would I have survived without the Winter Care Package? Short answer - yes. But... I LOVE Winter Fashion. I couldn't help it... An opportunity presented itself... so... Why Not? :)

OK… on to the Backpack. How has it held up, I’ve been asked...

My answer?

Excellent.
Excellent, excellent!!!

I absolutely LOVE my Osprey Fairpoint 55! In my opinion, it is the best choice for female round the world backpackers!  Here’s why…

LIGHTWEIGHT

It’s true what they say… Pack light. It’s easier said than done, I know… but after traveling for more than 9 months, I’m soooo glad I didn’t purchase anything bigger than a 55L (they come in bigger sizes). The Fairpoint’s main pack is actually a lot lighter/smaller than a 55L, because the measurements include the 15L daypack. I know a 40L main pack may seem small, but trust me. Your body and your back will thank you for not going any bigger. See, the trick is, the smaller the pack, the less stuff you’re likely to bring because of the lack of space.

Happy Camper! With my backpacks in Mykonos. I use a binder clip to secure my Ukulele on
one of the straps of the day pack.

STURDY AS A MOUNTAIN GOAT

For realz. It’s a miracle this pack is still in one piece after all the times I’ve tried to cram the most ungodly items in there! There were moments when I thought, for sure, the zipper is going to give…. I’ve stuffed too much stuff in there at some point and I’ve popped a vein in my attempts to close it…
And still, she lives.  She’s relentless, this one. Just like her mother… (Me. In case it wasn’t obvious.)

EASE OF USE

One of the reasons why I went with the Farpoint over the Ariel (which is the other backpack I reviewed) is because of the front loading feature.

It just makes packing so much easier if you can see what you’re doing, as opposed to a top loading duffel bag type, which is what the Ariel was.
Another favorite feature is – how you can zip away the back panel, to make it easily manageable when you check them in on your flights! So nice and neat!

A BONUS CLIP

I kid you not… I’ve had this backpack for almost a year, and I never knew it had this particular feature. You can actually clip the day pack on the straps of the main pack (like in photo below), so you can carry the day pack in your front, “hands free”!

AMAZING! All this time, I’ve been strapping the day pack on my front – and it’s uncomfortable because it usually falls off, as I don’t have enough shoulder space. Now, I’m relieved of this issue!!! Yippee!!!

SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

Absolutely. In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with this pack. The size, the features and the overall look and comfort is an epic WIN for us female backpackers. It is one of my best purchases… and I’m sure I’ll be using this baby for years and years to come…

If you have any questions about it, please feel free to leave them at the comments section below.

Happy travels, everyone!

My RTW Update: 1 Week Till Takeoff

A little more than 6 months ago, I made the decision to quit my job so I can travel the world.

About a month ago, I got up and went to work at Bosley for the last time and I said goodbye.

I have been unemployed for almost 4 weeks, bumming around... recovering from my first tattoo, my eye surgery, trying to enjoy my time here at home in Manila as much as I can.

Next week, on Friday to be exact, I leave for Australia... and the Round The World Trip begins!

HOW DO I FEEL?

A little freaked out, I have to be honest. I mean, I'm excited - but still nervous. I'm leaving in a week!!! Plus, it's just been increasingly difficult to be productive without being able to SEE clearly yet. AGH! All the preparations that I should have done the past few weeks I'm only able to do now because I could hardly even see my own reflection after the surgery, let alone the computer screen! Thank goodness I'm getting waaay better now, and I'm doing my best to catch up on some prep work for the trip.

INSURANCE

What kind of preparations, you ask? Well... there are a few. First, I need to sort out my Travel Insurance. I'm sooo tempted not to get one to save on some cash, but with everything else that's happened to me in the past, I'd rather not risk it -- and by that, I mean - I have a tendency to get really weird illnesses. Long story.

Anyway - I'm getting one, and I'm just trying to compare prices. At the moment, it looks like World Nomads is the leading contender on travel insurance. It is highly recommended by all the travelers I've been in contact with, and they seem like a pretty legit company.

NECESSITIES

I've recently realized that the Glagla Water Shoes I purchased a few months ago although very practical and efficient are not aesthetically pleasing. They make my feet look as big as Ronald McDonald's. And so I found these new ones from K-Swiss... they are called "Vertical Tubes Recovery Shoes" and look like a cooler version of Crocs sandals. The function is the same (good for water, walking, working out, etc) and they look better on my feet.

I got my tetanus shot a couple weeks ago - the last remaining one I needed to be fully vaccinated. YES!

I have a Runnur Personal Cargo Pack I purchased months ago for this trip. It's basically a "Hands Free Carry All" sling, which is sort of like a Messenger Bag without the Bag. I got a white canvass pack in the hopes of getting it designed and painted - and my graphic designer friend, Jamnagar, is working on it as we speak.

One of my best purchases!

PACKING 

This is probably the biggest cause of stress at the moment. I'm only going to bring one small backpack, and as I am slowly trying to lay out the clothes I'm going to bring, my heart palpitates due to the fear of not being able to fit them all. I'm going to try and do a packing "trial run" this weekend, and pray to all the masters of the universe that my compression sacks will do the trick. IT HAS TO! And I will post about my "Ultimate Round The World Trip Packing List" next week before I leave. Wish me luck!

Agggh What a mess!

UNFORESEEN EVENTS

I've also had to deal with issues regarding trip itineraries and flights. Due to unforeseen events, my travel buddy won't be able to join me in New Zealand anymore, so I had to make some changes. I was quite upset at the beginning... I mean who doesn't when things don't go according to plan, right? Well, I've come to terms with the fact that things sometimes just have a way of working things out... and that I just have to trust the course of nature and the universe. As I was making changes and arrangements, I started to realize my itinerary was shaping up to be a lot better than it would have been... No offense to my travel buddy - but because she can't make it to New Zealand with me, it now seems like I have been given more time to explore the areas I want to visit! :)

TRAVEL MASSIVE MANILA

I was also invited to speak at a Travel Massive Manila event, to talk a little bit about my story, and how I deal with "Culture Shock" when I travel. It was quite astounding to realize that most of the people who came already knew who I was... these are people who have been keeping tabs on me through my blog! Amazing like-minded people who also have a passion for traveling! I can't tell you how thrilled I was to be around them!

@earth2eartha meets @mylifeonboard

MAXIMUM SUPPORT

Since I've been here, I've received nothing but good thoughts and support from my friends and family - which is great! It helps ease the fear somehow. And because everyone knows I'm on "frugal mode" at the moment trying to hold on to every last penny I have, they have been taking me out, treating me to dinner, movies, drinks... I am being treated like a queen, basically. My friends are amazing. I feel the love... :)

On this final week of bumming around in Manila, I'm basically going to run around, get my teeth cleaned, buy last minute travel necessities, print all my documents, get a few hangs in with my friends, and spend some quality time with my family. After that, there will be nothing else to do but leave...

It's hard to believe that after EVERYTHING that happened over the last 6 months, I'm finally here at this point. It's been QUITE a journey already, and I haven't even officially started yet!

Get ready, folks. This is going to be one crazy year. :)

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Hi There! Have we met before? You look familiar! Those shoes look great on you, by the way! I’m Eartha and I recently decided to quit my job to travel the worrrrld! Join me in my adventures by checking back on my blog, and leaving me a comment or two!

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Come and visit me again soon! :)

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A Backpacker's Backpack Review: Osprey Ariel 65

I actually thought that I could go on a Round The World (RTW) trip lugging around one big suitcase. When I first came up with the idea of traveling – I didn’t think I was going full-on backpacker. I thought backpacks only worked for campers and hikers and hippies… Boy was I painfully mistaken. 

After doing tremendous amounts of research, I have discovered that backpacking isn’t only the best way to go – it’s practically the ONLY way to go with the kind of thing I plan to do. My resources, of course, are other travel bloggers who have done it before. According to them, you want to travel as light as possible, bringing only a week’s worth of clothing with you. 

Now… I have written posts in the past about how I like to “look as good as the places I visit” when I travel. So naturally, the realization that I’m only supposed to bring a week’s worth of clothes for months (or even a year) of traveling - brought about a slight panic attack. I’ve never been a light packer… but I’ve never been one to back down on a challenge either. If I’m ever just one thing – that’s that I’m creative. If it means buying reversible clothing and washing every week, and only bringing 2 pairs of shoes (gulp!) so be it! Challenge Accepted!!!

Another harsh realization I’ve discovered is that backpacks are practically like cars… there are SO many things to consider before buying one. There’s size, fit, comfort, color, cost, etc. It’s crazy. You have to find one that’s specific to the type of traveling you’re going to do, and you have to make sure you’re as comfortable as you can be while carrying it on your back – because the weight of the pack has to fall on your hips, not your back. I know… my head is spinning as well. 

Enter Adventure 16

Adventure 16  is an outdoor and travel outfitters store where you can find anything and everything you’d need for activities under the sun (literally). I love them because they’re local… they’re exclusive to Southern California, and the company started out catering to specific needs of adventurous backpackers! 

Adventure 16 in West LA

They’ve been doing this 50 years and they have such a “homey” feel to them. I love locals!!!  I went to the West LA branch - which was the closest one to me. One of the many awesome things about them is that they rent out backpacks! For Thanksgiving, I had a quick 5 day trip to San Francisco, so I thought I’d rent one of their backpacks to give it a test run! I figured it would be smart to see how I felt when I carried it, or if I’d have any problems with it being a carry-on luggage at the airport.

Out of all their options (and with the help of their uber friendly and knowledgable staff), I decided to rent the Osprey Ariel 65L pack.  A lot of the other backpackers might say that 65 litres is too big for an RTW trip. I’ve seen a lot of them recommend nothing above 40 litres, or 55 litres at the most. But then I thought – I’m not really going camping or trekking or hiking on my travels. I’ll mostly be staying with friends, or couchsurfing, or HelpEx-ing… A lot of the walking I’ll be doing (with my pack) will be in airports and train stations only anyways, so maybe I could stand a little bit more weight. A lot of the backpacker guys I’ve spoken to carried 80 – 85 liter packs, and since I’m a big girl, I thought 65 might be an okay size to start with. That’s what this experiment is for anyways, right? To see if it works or not?

OK, so this is the Osprey Ariel 65 (pic above)  Since this is my first ever encounter with a backpacker’s backpack, all these little straps intimidated me. What the heck were they for? Why are there so many zippers? And dayumm it looks so small!!! But thanks to Devin, my Adventure 16 aid, I sort of got the hang of it eventually. This pack apparently works best if you go camping because it has a lot of compartments you can use for water or a sleeping bag, or anything else you might need out in the wild. I just figured if I wasn’t doing any of that, it just leaves much more space for all of my other stuff.

Even if technically the size is 65L, you also have to find your size as a user, as it comes in S, M, L, XS – depending on the length of your torso. I was all too happy to discover that I was a small. :)
One of the fun things about this pack is that you can get the hip belt molded to sort of go with the shape of your body for maximum comfort! One not so cool thing about it (in my opinion) is that the top portion is detachable and converts to a fanny pack. When you think about it – it actually isn’t bad, but I don’t really do fanny packs. There are other backpacks that have detachable small daypacks – and I think I prefer that over this.

Anyway, after picking up my pack, Adventure 16 gave me free coffee to wish me well on my journey, AND for being their fan on Facebook! Aren’t they awesome? I’ve never had coffee from a paper bag before --- they actually taste really REALLy good! Thanks guys!!!

Yay for freebies!

The review

A girl took this photo for me in the restroom

Ok let’s move on to the nitty gritty details. After stuffing my pack the way Devin taught me how (heavy and electronic stuff nearer to the body resting on my back, lay clothes flat – not rolled, pull strings backwards not downwards) I have to say that the backpack was quite comfortable. I think I was carrying about 20 – 25 pounds on it, and walking around the airport didn’t really bother me… it felt like the weight was evenly distributed. Devin also gave me a tip – when I get to the counter, wear the pack on my back instead of carrying it by hand… He says usually, the airline attendants don’t even weigh your bag or check the size if it’s worn like a backpack… and true enough, he was right. One attendant did stop me once to see the size. I turned around to show it to her, and she just nodded and let me right through. Phew! I would’ve hated to have to check it in! The dimensions of this pack when filled to the brim I think is exactly the dimensions allowed for a carry-on on a US domestic flight. I guess that’s why the lady had to inspect me. She probably thought I was cutting it close.

On my way back though, the ground attendant stopped me right before I boarded the plane. She said she thought the pack looked too big and I might need to check it in. I protested and said I flew in with the same pack just as a hand carry! She asked me to drop it in the size checker thingie so she could verify. I plopped the backpack and it fit snugly inside the alloted space. “I can even compress it further – look!” – and with the hands of a pro, I started fiddling with the straps, tightening them to make them look small and sexy --- and it work! The agent looked satisfied and let me through. Double Phew!!! That was a close one.

This is what it looks like from behind

The Verdict

Well, since this is the first backpack I’ve ever tried – I don’t know what the verdict is just yet because I don’t have anything to compare it with. All I know is that the size and dimensions work for domestic US flights – which is good. I don’t know if the limitations are the same for International flights so we’ll have to see. The beauty is that I’ll be spending a bulk of my RTW trip in Europe so I’ll be in trains more than planes, then this wouldn’t be a problem. The pack is comfortable, I didn’t have any problems carrying it around, and it was easy to stuff my clothes in and take them all out. Like I said – the only thing I wasn’t too crazy about was the fanny pack. I don’t have to use it if I don’t want to though, so that’s okay too.

I think I’ll have to go on another mini trip with another backpack of a different size before I can decide. If I ever do end up traveling with the Osprey Ariel 65, I don’t think I’d mind though.

Have you ever gone backpacking before? What kind of backpack have YOU used? What do you recommend? :)