On GearLimits we have often reviewed backpacks from Osprey, mostly packs aimed at being used during intensive action sports (our core activity of course). However, Osprey’s collection includes many other packs and during my recent summer vacation with my family to Canada I had the opportunity to experience what Osprey had to offer in the travel segment. So a slight side-step to this “genre”, and seeing if Osprey is also good at these types of packs.

We received the Fairview, a 2-1 in one pack by Osprey, specifically designed for women. The Travelpack consists of two packs, the main large pack, and a smaller 13L daypack that, when you don’t use it separately, is zipped onto the outside of the main large pack. The daypack has a main compartment with a pouch for smaller items and a laptop/tablet sleeve. Furthermore, it has a small top pocket with scratch free material for your sunglasses (we see that on most Osprey packs) and two bottle pouches. As we said, the daypack can be zipped onto the pack and tightened further with the compression straps. I have to say that the bag is very “clean”, with a minimum of straps hanging loose.

The main pack is a smartly constructed pack. If you do not wear it on your back, you can stow away the shoulder straps behind a zippered panel. When traveling by plane and car that is a function that will protect your shoulder straps from being damaged. Carry the pack with one of the two handles on the top and on the middle of the pack. When you do use the shoulder straps the zipper panel is stowed way, and you will find a mesh-ventilated back panel and a load bearing system specifically engineered for the female anatomy. The inside of the the pack is one big compartment, with a mesh bag for your dirty items for example, there are no further side pockets to the bag.

The features of the bag are basic but simple, the versatility of the daypack is a really interesting feature. My wife (who used the bag), reported that carrying the complete bag on your back is comfortable. The back panel and load bearing systems are not as elaborate as you would find on a technical trekking pack but is certainly adequate for the kind of travel/backpacking you would do with this pack. The 13L daypack was a less comfortable carry, certainly with more weight in the pack, so after using it a couple of times on 2-3 hour walks, she turned to a different daypack. “I’m really enthusiastic about the concept. Certainly, for city trips, this worked really well. And because the Fairview is designed really nice – I would buy it solely on how it looks – it is a pack I look forward to using again.