I ended up going for the Osprey Fairview 40 as my travel rucksack. It is the female version of the Osprey Farpoint 40, so designed for smaller/shorter people. I was slightly unsure at first as it’s not cheap! Ordered from Amazon as had 30 day free returns and decided it was worth the money. Have used it on a couple of short trips and so far think it’s great.
Pros:
Carry on size – no additional fees on budget airlines
Opens up like a suitcase so easy to pack. This is one thing that really drew me to this bag as I find top loading rucksacks very annoying to pack/unpack!
Straps can be zipped away so won’t get in the way if you do want to check in as hold luggage
Padded top and side handles mean when straps are zipped away you can use like a duffle bag/suitcase – easier when loading/unloading onto shelves or overhead cabins. The handles are very robust and durable, so can safely take a lot of weight
Comfortable to wear and feels sturdy/well made so expect it to last (and it comes with a lifetime warranty so it should do!)
Sternum strap with rescue whistle – the strap does a good job at taking the weight off the shoulders so makes it more comfortable when carrying longer distances
Front compression straps add an element of security (zippers are hidden). They also stabilise the bag if its badly or over packed
Cons:
At only 40L, you can’t pack too much. (I was also looking at the Fairview 55, which has a slightly bigger capacity and also a detachable daypack which I loved the concept of however decided against it in the end as not sure you can get away with taking it as carry on luggage)
I love the suitcase style opening, however this with the soft sides means the bag isn’t the most stable when open – not a big deal, but things can spill out when you open it. Using packing cubes helps with this.
Laptop sleeve is at front of bag, rather than against your back so unless you have a very lightweight laptop it can throw off the weight distribution
Not quite as many pockets/compartments as I’d ideally like
Emma and Pete’s Asian Adventure 