Are you planning your post-covid backpacking escape but unable to decide on the right backpack? In this post, I review the Osprey Fairview 70 specifically as an ideal backpack for curvier women.
So many backpacks out there, but still, it’s hard to find something that REALLY suits a curvier female frame. Plus, all that time locked up during the pandemic seems to have sparked a stronger desire in many of us to explore the great outdoors. If taking off to travel for an extended period of time is now on your bucket list- you’ll need a solid backpack to accompany you! For the last 3 years, I’ve been travelling long-term with my Osprey Fairview 70.
She’s come with me to India, Bulgaria, Peru, Greece, Trinidad and Tobago, Portugal, Croatia and Ecuador, and is now in Colombia with me. Thankfully still, in very good condition!
In this review, I talk specifically about the design and durability of the Osprey Fairview 70 Women’s Backpack as the stand-out backpack for curvier women.
As one of the best travel items I’ve purchased, I’d like to provide an honest review of the reliable and popular Women’s Osprey Fairview 70 backpack. A spacious, light, durable and comfortable option- particularly for curvier women looking for adventure!
This post is about the Osprey Fairview 70L backpack and contains affiliate links.
Osprey Backpacks
Osprey continues to prove its popularity worldwide amongst backpackers. As a reliable brand due to its worldwide replacement service, I’d had Osprey recommended to me by fellow travellers and many reliable channels before. Most of all I am genuinely happy to recommend this product after 3 long-term trips including a 9-month trip in India. With little-to-no wear and tear, I can highly recommend this spacious and comfortable travel buddy!
The Osprey Fairview 70- A Backpack for Curves
Men’s and Women’s bodies are inherently different, but the market is finally providing a selection of backpacks better designed to fit a women’s build and frame.
In-store however, I still found that many female packs were better suited to women with smaller and more square-framed figures.
During my research, however, I found that: 1) Most waist belts were too solid and did not sit well on my soft wider hips. 2) Around my chest, the skinny straps felt awkward. And 3) The lower padding didn’t adjust to the curve of my lower back.
On top of the size, capacity, materials, weight and added features, I felt something like Homer Simpson out of a scene at the nuclear plant.
That was until I stumbled across Osprey and the highly recommended Fairview 70 Women’s backpack. Being a size 10-12 in tops, and 12-14 in bottoms, I was relieved to find something with more flexible, wider waist straps. On top of a number of other great features to suit my needs.
The Osprey Fairview 70:
The Fairview Range is Osprey’s lightest pack yet. With a design specifically suited to women, the pack is available in 3 sizes. The Fairview 40, Fairview 55 and, the Fairview 70 (57+ a zip and clip 13ltr day pack) which this review will focus on.
Key Features of the Osprey Fairview 70 (57+13ltr):
- Weight: 2.3kg
- Dimensions- 65cm length/ 35cm Wide/ 31cm depth
- Flexible and ergonomically shaped hip belts`
- A main 57Ltr backpack
- A detachable 13ltr day pack with space for a day out that can be zipped on at the back and strapped at the front (more below).
- Cushioned carry handles at the top and side
- A large front zipped opening to the main compartment enables you to pack like a suitcase.
- Strong zips with hoop straps that can be padlocked
- Multiple adjustable straps to tighten everything in
- A back panel cover to zip away straps and handles when checking in hold luggage.
- Laptop sleeve inside the day pack
- Mesh sleeve pockets for a water bottle or small items on the day pack.
To begin with, I initially didn’t like the Fairview 70 coming as a 2-piece set. I thought having (only) 57lts for the main pack was too little! But boy was I wrong, I love the design and customisation of the Fairview travel backpack and 13ltr detachable pack!
The main compartment offered more than sufficient space and comfort for my figure. With 57ltrs of space, I am able to fit everything that I need months/years of travel at a time. Furthermore, the 13ltr detachable pack is a comfortable carry-on option at the airport. There is a laptop slot, extra pockets for documents, and a water bottle pocket making it perfectly suited for day trips!
Osprey Fairview 70 Pros & Cons- An Overview
| Pros 🙂 | Cons 🙁 |
|---|---|
| Very spacious main pack that fits 57ltrs. Plus a 13ltr detachable pack. | No pockets on the hip belt. |
| Lightweight (2.3kg) well-balanced pack on the upper and lower body | The material is not waterproof and the pack does not come with a cover. |
| An optional back panel to tuck away straps and hip belts- ideal for checking into the hold. | The whole backpack can feel ‘snail-like’ with both the main and detachable packs on your back. |
| Thick and comfortable handles on the side and front, making it much easier to lift. | The detachable pack is slightly small, when full you cannot utilise the mesh pockets for a water bottle |
| Thick and durable material that will outlive wear and tear. | Can feel very heavy if overpacked. Stay in the 10 to max 15kg range. |
| Wide and soft hip straps that can easily adjust to your shape | If overpacked, hard to attached 13ltr backpack to the main 57ltr compartment. |
Osprey Fairview 70- My Top features:
1) Comfort and Customisability for Curves
As per the table above, the Osprey Fairview 70 clearly offers many more pros than cons. Honestly, I feel like I’m having to pick at the negatives!
It’s important to highlight in this review that the backpack has high customisability. Which makes this backpack a much more attractive purchase. The Osprey Fairview 70 offers different options to balance the weight of your items and make long-term travel more comfortable.
One of my favourite features of the Osprey Fairview 70 is how the detachable pack can be either zipped on at the back or strapped on at the front. For myself, carrying all of my things on my back can lead to pressure on my lower back and hips.
So, being able to easily clip the day pack (with my laptop and camera in it) at the front balances out the weight nicely on my upper and lower body.
2) Comfortable handles for lifting
I also, just love that the pack has these thick and cushioned handles for lugging the backpack on buses, and trains and lifting it to put on your back. the comfort of the handles ended up being one of the main reasons I chose the Fairview 70 over other models.
The provision of the 2 handles allows you to easily lift the pack in a balanced way and limit the possibility of injury.
3) Wide and Flexible Hip Straps
Finally, as mentioned above, the main reason I went for this pack was the wide and soft hip belt. As your hips will be carrying most of the weight, you want to make sure you find something that fits your shape adequately. You never know how long you may have to walk with all your things on your back!
The breathable, flexible and wide straps easily hugged my waist and hip ratio. Getting rid of the boxy, harder feeling I felt with other packs. The mesh and cushioned lower back padding reduce pressure when carrying 10-15kg on my hips
Osprey Fairview 70- Summary
All in all, this backpack has so many benefits, as well as a few compromises of course. For me, it was all about space, comfort and durability. And the Fairview 70 more than delivers on all of those.
I used the Fairview 70 with a set of Amazon packing cubes which complement the rectangular shape of the backpack perfectly.
When setting sail on a long-term trip, your backpack is essentially your home. As such, everything you own and need shall be hooked somewhere onto your body and tucked safely away for your next destination. So, deciding on a backpack is a tough decision for anyone. I hope this review has made it a little easier, I would love to know of any females that agree on how comfortable it is for curves!
Read all about India: Backpackers in Lockdown: India |A Foodies Guide to South Goa | The Perils and Silver Linings of Starting my RTW Trip During COVID-19 | A Two-day Local Guide to Jaipur
thank you for the information
Finally, a backpack that will fit snugly on my wide hips lool thank you for this review! Can’t wait til we can travel again so I have a reason to purchase this rucksack.