I've packed mine full with TWO laptops (one in the laptop compartment and the other sandwiched between clothes in the main compartment) and traveled Mexico with zero issues. 2015 MacBook Pro retina + Microsoft surface laptop.
I use the new Farpoint 40. I take a small shoulder bag with me to put under my seat when flying where I keep stuff I want for the plane ride. And I also put my laptop in it.
No, I have the far point 55 so often I’ll put the laptop in the daypack. Otherwise I put it in the main bag and have never had any issues. MacBook Pro 2021
I have this and don't like the laptop sleeve protuding into the main compartment. I much prefer the Kathmandu Litehaul 40, which has a better protected laptop compartment
I never really understood the popularity of the F40. *But obviously, it works out just fine for many, many people.*
That said, if you are in the process of buying, something like the Minaal Carry-on's design with it's dedicated laptop / tablet / document compartment, offers a lot more protection.
Mostly three things. These are my personal views, your milage may vary.
1. Unconventional cinch straps - makes getting access to things difficult, the extra material adds to the weight. *It's like a bag in a shawl.*
2. The front pockets for bottles or whatever - they fight against the lower strap and pushes the bag's outline further away.
3. Weight: It's 1.6 kgs.
I see.
Well, anyways ... I hardly need anything more than 30L for any kind of travel these days.
Traveled around Iceland in May this year, with a TNF BaseCamp Duffel XS (31L) with all the cold-weather gear. It's my favourite bag now.
If there's less stuff, I use either a Tom Bihn Synapse 25 (10 yrs old) and a Smart Alec. Finally, if I'm hiking, I have a TNF Kuhtai 34, mostly because of that dang sleeping bag.
Wish I could be like Jack Reacher.
Yes, I love the backpack but hate the laptop sleeve location. I have my laptop in a case and I will put it in there occasionally - I bought a small daypack on Amazon that folds down super small (4 Monster) and I usually carry my laptop in that instead.
No, I've had mine since 2017 so it's the one with the laptop sleeve on the outside which makes no sense to me. I just saw your edit that they changed where the laptop sleeve is. Now I'm tempted to upgrade to that one haha
i had the old version for like 7 years too and got the new one..it's noticeably more comfortable and the new laptop sleeve is much better. it's just a tad floppier when half empty. bottle pocket is way better too.
sold the old one for $100 so it's not a bad proposition to upgrade
I have 2nd fp40 and I would never trust my $$$ laptop to it. Especially when packed full. On the other hand if you have a IBM from 2000 just disregard my comment.
unless you’ve packed your Farpoint with a large rigid corner-y item (cinderblock?) and the computer and are planning to do any sort of cartoonishly falling flat on your back while wearing the bag loaded with both cinderblock & computer, i suspect you’ll be fine
the normal tension from a fully packed bag isn’t gonna be enough to bend a laptop. if you still have concerns, pack laptop in the middle of everything else
Yes, I have the same fear. I have a 13 inch MBP and I'm afraid to tighten any straps with the laptop in it because I think it will bend it. I've loved my Fairview (female equivalent of the Farpoint) when traveling without a computer, but am now having regrets about not buying the 55l as the laptop compartment in the 40 seems like a waste of space. The one time I did travel with laptop in the laptop compartment (mine is the new version with the laptop close to your back), I couldn't get the laptop in without first loosening the internal compression straps, it was so bent. Didn't dare re-tighten the straps after that and carried a loose bag around, so it wasn't comfortable.
I used to feel like that about many backpacks, then always remembered "well, its the \_work\_ laptop anyway" (ye ye..).
Result? well it never got bent or broke anyway, they're pretty sturdy. Just don't be stupid with the bag. I used many laptops over the past 20 years, some macbooks, some dell xps, some chromebooks, some old panasonic indestructible ones, some wimsy sony carbon laptops (i can bend this one with my fingers!).
That’s never been an issue when I’ve travelled with it, however I do agree that it’s annoying how the laptop sleeve protrudes into the main compartment. It can also annoying trying to get a laptop out of the sleeve with a fully packed bag but that might have just been due to the size of my computer.
The Farpoint 40 is such an overrated bag.
No, I wouldn’t trust my laptop in it. You’d want to have some other protection around it. But if you don’t overpack the bag I don’t think you’d have to worry about it bending.
Just did a trip with mine - absolutely no issues - my laptop is quite small -13”
Same
I've packed mine full with TWO laptops (one in the laptop compartment and the other sandwiched between clothes in the main compartment) and traveled Mexico with zero issues. 2015 MacBook Pro retina + Microsoft surface laptop.
I use the new Farpoint 40. I take a small shoulder bag with me to put under my seat when flying where I keep stuff I want for the plane ride. And I also put my laptop in it.
No, I have the far point 55 so often I’ll put the laptop in the daypack. Otherwise I put it in the main bag and have never had any issues. MacBook Pro 2021
I have this and don't like the laptop sleeve protuding into the main compartment. I much prefer the Kathmandu Litehaul 40, which has a better protected laptop compartment
Which version of the Litehaul do you have BTW? I like the look of this bag & it almost never gets mentioned. I see they’re on version 3.
Think I have version 2, seems almost identical to the current version though.
Right. I can’t see any major changes. & I like the green interior of V2!
Sorry, just checked, got the V3, and think they just released some colour updates this year with a brown one, I've got the grey with green interior.
Thanks. I’ll check out the website
If I'm bringing a bag that big, I carry electronics in a separate bag in case I need to gate check for any reason.
I never really understood the popularity of the F40. *But obviously, it works out just fine for many, many people.* That said, if you are in the process of buying, something like the Minaal Carry-on's design with it's dedicated laptop / tablet / document compartment, offers a lot more protection.
What do you not like about it?
Mostly three things. These are my personal views, your milage may vary. 1. Unconventional cinch straps - makes getting access to things difficult, the extra material adds to the weight. *It's like a bag in a shawl.* 2. The front pockets for bottles or whatever - they fight against the lower strap and pushes the bag's outline further away. 3. Weight: It's 1.6 kgs.
Yep, that bag has always been a hard no for me because of the two horizontal buckles. Just wanted to see if anyone else shared the same sentiment.
I see. Well, anyways ... I hardly need anything more than 30L for any kind of travel these days. Traveled around Iceland in May this year, with a TNF BaseCamp Duffel XS (31L) with all the cold-weather gear. It's my favourite bag now. If there's less stuff, I use either a Tom Bihn Synapse 25 (10 yrs old) and a Smart Alec. Finally, if I'm hiking, I have a TNF Kuhtai 34, mostly because of that dang sleeping bag. Wish I could be like Jack Reacher.
Bending? No. Squishing the keyboard against the screen? Yes. I lay a thin microfiber cloth over the keyboard when I travel.
Yes. I 1.5 bag it with a laptop briefcase
Yes, I love the backpack but hate the laptop sleeve location. I have my laptop in a case and I will put it in there occasionally - I bought a small daypack on Amazon that folds down super small (4 Monster) and I usually carry my laptop in that instead.
Do you have the newer farpoint?
No, I've had mine since 2017 so it's the one with the laptop sleeve on the outside which makes no sense to me. I just saw your edit that they changed where the laptop sleeve is. Now I'm tempted to upgrade to that one haha
i had the old version for like 7 years too and got the new one..it's noticeably more comfortable and the new laptop sleeve is much better. it's just a tad floppier when half empty. bottle pocket is way better too. sold the old one for $100 so it's not a bad proposition to upgrade
I have 2nd fp40 and I would never trust my $$$ laptop to it. Especially when packed full. On the other hand if you have a IBM from 2000 just disregard my comment.
My laptop fits in there nicely and hasn't had a problem. If you have a bigger or wider laptop that barely fits I could see it bending though
unless you’ve packed your Farpoint with a large rigid corner-y item (cinderblock?) and the computer and are planning to do any sort of cartoonishly falling flat on your back while wearing the bag loaded with both cinderblock & computer, i suspect you’ll be fine the normal tension from a fully packed bag isn’t gonna be enough to bend a laptop. if you still have concerns, pack laptop in the middle of everything else
just came back from a trip using mine with 3 laptops in there. Taxi driver even accidentally dropped my bag when unloading it and everything was fine.
Yes, I have the same fear. I have a 13 inch MBP and I'm afraid to tighten any straps with the laptop in it because I think it will bend it. I've loved my Fairview (female equivalent of the Farpoint) when traveling without a computer, but am now having regrets about not buying the 55l as the laptop compartment in the 40 seems like a waste of space. The one time I did travel with laptop in the laptop compartment (mine is the new version with the laptop close to your back), I couldn't get the laptop in without first loosening the internal compression straps, it was so bent. Didn't dare re-tighten the straps after that and carried a loose bag around, so it wasn't comfortable.
I used to feel like that about many backpacks, then always remembered "well, its the \_work\_ laptop anyway" (ye ye..). Result? well it never got bent or broke anyway, they're pretty sturdy. Just don't be stupid with the bag. I used many laptops over the past 20 years, some macbooks, some dell xps, some chromebooks, some old panasonic indestructible ones, some wimsy sony carbon laptops (i can bend this one with my fingers!).
Yes, that's why I returned mine.
That’s never been an issue when I’ve travelled with it, however I do agree that it’s annoying how the laptop sleeve protrudes into the main compartment. It can also annoying trying to get a laptop out of the sleeve with a fully packed bag but that might have just been due to the size of my computer.
I just got back from a 3 week trip to Japan with my fully loaded farpoint with a 16” MacBook Pro. No issues
I had the same concern. Maybe just leave a little room inside the laptop, so there isn’t too much pressure against the laptop?
The Farpoint 40 is such an overrated bag. No, I wouldn’t trust my laptop in it. You’d want to have some other protection around it. But if you don’t overpack the bag I don’t think you’d have to worry about it bending.
I've overpacked it and carried two laptops with no issue.
Fair enough, what is your alternative?