Amalgamated Adventure Backpacks

For far too long, travelers and outdoor adventurers have had to make awkward compromises between the convenience and organizational features of travel backpacks and the advanced trail-ready features of hiking packs, but Osprey has mercifully broken down this obsolete barrier with the 'Farpoint Trek 55,' a backpack that masterfully blends the best of both worlds so you can explore every corner of the world unhindered.

Before embarking on a treacherous hike of the ice fields of Patagonia, you first need to navigate your journey there, and this is where the travel-focused features of the 'Farpoint Trek 55' come in, highlighted by the large, suitcase-style main compartment that allows for painless packing, unpacking and organization. And while Osprey offers some of the most popular packing cubes on the market, they won't be a necessity to most 'Farpoint Trek 55' users thanks to the dual internal compression straps with fabric wings that do a fine job keeping your clothes together. This feature, in addition to the handy rear sleeve (ideal for undergarments and socks), distinguish this backpack from Osprey's regular 'Farpoint' pack.

If you're accustomed to conventional travel packs, prepare for a scarcely believable degree of comfort with the 'Farpoint Trek 55.' Its fully adjustable suspension system does away with the need for clothes-style size options and can be customized for the needs of everyone from the giants among us to the more vertically challenged. Weight distribution is a cinch thanks to the peripheral frame, which transfers the load from harness to hipbelt. The sternum strap further aids load distribution, in addition to including a handy safety whistle which you will forget exists until you really need it. The hip belt, meanwhile, offers generously padded protection as well as thoughtful bonuses such as zippered pockets for easy access to smaller items like your keys. Finally, the breathable, trampoline-style mesh backpanel keeps the weight off your back and promotes lateral ventilation, so you won't have a nasty backpack-shaped sweat mark on your shirt when you lay your pack down at the hostel reception.

Elsewhere, the 'Farpoint Trek 55' offers an assortment of common-sense design features, such as its waterproof AirCover, which protects your backpack from the hazards of airport conveyor belts as well as the threat of rain. There's also the hydration compartment that lets you fit in your hydration reservoir - with a handy opening through which to slip your drinking tube - or a laptop in a padded sleeve, an elegant feature that takes into account the fact that you're highly unlikely to carry both a laptop and a full hydration reservoir at the same time. Further travel features include attachment loops and compatibility with Osprey's Daylite carry-on backpack, so you can carry an extra pack atop your mothership.

By offering this well thought-out and intelligently designed combination of travel and hiking features for a price of $220, Osprey is poised to satisfy a demographic of backpack users who don't limit themselves in the box of globetrotting urban nomad or intrepid outdoor adventurer, but like to delve into the best of both.

Image Credit: Osprey