Osprey Fairview 70L Backpack Review 2025

Last Updated on 18th March 2025

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One of the things that I was least looking forward to when we started travelling all the way back in 2019 was the thought of lugging all my belongings around on my back whenever we moved from one place to another. However, I can safely say that my beloved Osprey Fairview 70L backpack changed my mind in pretty much no time at all (and, spoiler alert: I’ve been using it on most trips ever since!).

This post is all about my raving review of the Osprey Fairview 70L backpack, including the pros and cons of the backpack, the specifications of the luggage, and why I recommend it so much!

Why Osprey?

The Osprey Fairview backpack series offers three different models: the Fairview 40L, 55L and 70L. While carrying out extensive research before we chose a backpack for travelling full time, we’d heard nothing but great things about the Osprey brand from fellow travellers who’d all used and highly recommended Osprey.

In terms of travelling for extended periods of time, the Fairview 70L cropped up time and again as one of the most highly commended backpacks for travellers. While its smaller counterparts were also praised, we knew that we needed a backpack that would sufficiently fit all of our belongings in for an indefinite number of months/years.

Osprey is also one of the most popular brands for travellers of all kinds; whether you’re a full-time backpacker, an avid hiker and day-tripper or you just really want a bloody good sturdy backpack for a weekend away, Osprey offers something for everyone.

Oh! I should also mention that Matt has the men’s version of the Osprey Fairview, which is called the Osprey Farpoint 70L. It’s exactly the same measurements and weight as the women’s version, but I think the only difference is that it’s intended to sit better on a man.

Features of the Osprey Fairview 70L Backpack

• 2.27kg weight
• 57L main pack
• Dimensions: 65cm (L) x 35cm (W) x 31cm (D)
• Zip off 13L day backpack
• Mesh panelling
• Straps, hip belt and harness
• Back panel that zips up to conceal the above (perfect for putting the bag in hold-all luggage)
• Mesh front pockets
• Laptop sleeve inside smaller backpack
• Inside and outside straps that tighten to hold everything together
• Strong and sturdy top and side handles
• Large zip that allows bag to open widely

The Osprey Fairview 70L backpack for women comes with a “main” backpack and a detachable 13L daypack. The large backpack fits everything I’ve needed for travelling over the last 6+ months, including all my clothes, shoes, toiletries, safety gear and much more. The daypack is a great addition as you can leave it attached to the front (I often do this when travelling by plane as it gives me more room to put things in, and then I have a smaller day bag to carry on with me) or you can use it as a daypack (I used this every single day in New Zealand).

The features of the backpack make it comfortable, stylish and most importantly; lightweight. This is especially important to me as once I have all my things in, the backpack weighs around 15kg so having an incredibly lightweight backpack in the first place, makes this process much more comfortable.

Main Backpack

The main backpack has huge, thick back straps that sit comfortably on your shoulders, back and waist (providing that you adjust them accordingly). While I won’t pretend that the bag doesn’t feel heavy and comfortable once I’ve got all my things in, the dynamics and specifications of the backpack definitely make carrying 15kg of weight on my back much more manageable.

One of my favourite features about the bag is that it has a stowaway harness, back straps and hip belt for when I check my luggage in at the airport. This means that the straps aren’t loose and won’t get caught in the machinery at the airport.

Another great thing about the Osprey Fairview series is that the material is incredibly durable and tough. We’ve been carrying these bags (and by carrying, I literally mean lugging, tugging and throwing them) around for almost seven months now and despite a few dirt marks from being tossed around the baggage system at the airport, there’s virtually no sign of any wear and tear!

*Update March 2025 – we’ve now had our Osprey backpacks for over six years, and we’ve travelled to more than 30 countries with them, and they’re still as strong, sturdy and awesome as ever. I honestly cannot recommend them enough!

I also love how the backpack really doesn’t look all that spacious (see picture above), yet when you’ve got everything crammed into it (see packing cube picture below), it actually fits so much stuff inside.

My “outsider” best friend when it comes to my Osprey backpack is packing cubes. I talked about my love for them in my post about what I’ve packed for a trip around the world, but they really are one of the best inventions for full-time travellers with big backpacks.

I use three large packing cubes from this set from Amazon (Matt uses the other ones), and I honestly couldn’t be without them. They fit seamlessly inside my Osprey backpack and make carrying all my possessions effortless.

13L Detachable Day Pack – Osprey Fairview 70L Backpack review

The 13L detachable day pack is such a great addition to the Osprey Fairview 70L backpack. It zips onto the front of the main backpack and can be used as one giant bag, or you can easily remove it and use it on day trips.

I love the padded mesh laptop sleeve compartment inside the backpack, which, with its Velcro locking system, helps keep my laptop safe and secure.

The back of the bag is soft but durable, so it sits comfortably on your back without issues. The front mesh pockets are also great for holding water bottles (although they might not fit in quite right if the bag is really full).

One slight negative about the detachable backpack is that it doesn’t fit both my camera and laptop at the same time, which means I have to wear my camera in a separate bag. It’s really not the end of the world, but it’s just not overly spacious.

Pros – Osprey Fairview 70L Backpack

• Incredibly spacious
• Affordable price
• The convenience of having a detachable backpack
• Much more spacious than it originally appears
• Choice of colours
• Incredibly lightweight (2.27kg)

Cons

• Detachable backpack not incredibly spacious
• It becomes heavy on your shoulders after wearing it for 15+ minutes (this is to be expected, though, when you have 15kg inside)!

Price

The Osprey Fairview 70L backpack for women is £200 on the Osprey website or around £60 cheaper on Amazon right now!

Related posts:

• Ultimate Travel Packing List For A Trip Around The World
• How To Plan A Trip Around The World – 13 Things No One Tells You
• How To Pack For 3 Days In A Backpack
• Osprey Porter 46 Backpack Review
• 13 Things No One Tells You About Long-Term Travel

Pin for later – Osprey Fairview 70L Backpack

What backpack or brand of suitcase do you use for travelling? Let me know in the comments or on Instagram at @imjustagirl_16.