Kelty Redwing 44 vs Osprey Farpoint 40: Tactical Backpack Review

Kelty and Osprey are the makers of hiking backpacks that are durable and versatile. They have garnered popularity all over the world for their high-end products.

Comparing the Kelty Redwing 44 Tactical and Farpoint 40 is something that many people do because there are such similarities between them. We have created this Kelty Redwing 44 vs Osprey Farpoint 40 comparison to give you some information on how these backpacks are unique. We will then discuss which we feel is the best value.

Related: Kelty Redwing 50 vs 44: What Are The Differences?

Kelty Redwing 44 vs Osprey Farpoint 40

Preview
Kelty Redwing 44 Backpack
Kelty Redwing 44 L Backpack 2013 - Black
Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack
Osprey Packs FARPOINT 40, Volcanic Grey, Medium/Large
Title
Kelty Redwing 44 L Backpack 2013 - Black
Osprey Packs FARPOINT 40, Volcanic Grey, Medium/Large
Price
Price not available
Price not available
Dimensions
22" x 15" x 12"
21" X 14" X 9"
Materials
500D nylon
210D Nylon
Weight
3 lb 3 oz.
3.17 lbs
Capacity
44 L
40 L
Back Panel
Padded and Ventilated Back Panel
Stowaway back panel
Hydration/Laptop Sleeves
Compatible with Hydration Sleeves
Lockable 15" laptop Sleeves
More Information
Kelty Redwing 44 Backpack
Preview
Kelty Redwing 44 L Backpack 2013 - Black
Title
Kelty Redwing 44 L Backpack 2013 - Black
Price
Price not available
Dimensions
22" x 15" x 12"
Materials
500D nylon
Weight
3 lb 3 oz.
Capacity
44 L
Back Panel
Padded and Ventilated Back Panel
Hydration/Laptop Sleeves
Compatible with Hydration Sleeves
More Information
Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack
Preview
Osprey Packs FARPOINT 40, Volcanic Grey, Medium/Large
Title
Osprey Packs FARPOINT 40, Volcanic Grey, Medium/Large
Price
Price not available
Dimensions
21" X 14" X 9"
Materials
210D Nylon
Weight
3.17 lbs
Capacity
40 L
Back Panel
Stowaway back panel
Hydration/Laptop Sleeves
Lockable 15" laptop Sleeves
More Information

Which Is The Better Value?

The Farpoint 40 is a backpack that is made of the most durable material. While the Farpoint is made mostly of nylon, The Redwing is made mostly of polyester. Nylon is more durable than polyester, which means that the Farpoint will stay intact longer and resist abrasion more than the Redwing.

Apart from the durability, the Farpoint 40 offers a stowaway back panel. This means that you can move the shoulder straps and zip them up in order to keep them out of the way. This means that you can easily check your backpack in at the airport or store it on a bus. What makes this even easier is the fact that the Farpoint 40 has top and side padded handles for heavy lifting.

That being said, the Farpoint 40 is the most expensive of the two backpacks. But to really examine them in detail, we will provide a list of differentiating features below.

What Makes The Redwing 44 And Farpoint 40 Different

In order to really delineate the differences between these products, we will list their unique features one by one. This way, you can make the choice using what you know about your own personal feature preferences.

Kelty Redwing 44 Tactical Backpack

Kelty Redwing 44-Liter Backpack, Port

  • Dual-sided loading pocket: The pocket at the top of the Redwing 44 loads from the top and from the sides.
  • Large stash pocket: In order to store your wet gear, there is a spot between the main compartment and the front pocket. This Stash pocket is an excellent way to reduce the amount of space that you take up in the main compartment, does keeping the rest of your gear dry.
  • Attachment points: The Kelty Redwing 44 pack has attachment points on the front pocket so that you can attach gear that will sit externally from your backpack.
  • Front compartment organization: The front compartment of the Redwing 44 is great for organizing your small items. You can even fit some Electronics in there.
  • Trekking pole attachment points: You can easily attach trekking poles to the Kelty Redwing 44 pack using the attachment points on both sides of the backpack.
  • Side water bottle pockets: You can carry your water bottles using the side mesh pockets.
  • Hydration/laptop sleeve: The hydration sleeve in the Kelty Redwing 44 Tactical doubles as a laptop sleeve. Since that is padded, your laptop will stay nice and protected. This sleeve resides in the back of the main compartment.

What Makes The Osprey Farpoint 40 Unique

Osprey Packs Farpoint 40 Travel Backpack, Volcanic Grey, Medium/Large

  • Made of nylon: The Farpoint 40 is made mostly of nylon, which makes it more durable than the Redwing 44. Nylon is one of the most durable materials that are used in backpacks.
  • Highly accessible main compartment: The main compartment of the Farpoint 40 is optimized for accessibility.
  • Stowaway back panel: The Farpoint 40’s back panel can be stowed away to create a slimmer profile.
  • Straightjacket compression straps: The compression straps on the Farpoint 40 have extra fabric where they meet the backpack in order to provide more compression than regular compression straps.
  • Front panel slash pocket: Instead of having a large stash pocket like the Redwing 44, the Farpoint 40 has a smaller zippered slash pocket.
  • Daisy chain: The Farpoint 40 has a daisy chain for attachment points, just as with the Kelty Redwing 44 pack.

As you might have guessed, the gear capacity for these backpacks are slightly different:

  • Kelty Redwing 44 Tactical: 44 liters
  • Farpoint 40: 38 or 40 liters

You can select the size of the Farpoint 40, as it comes in two different options. The S/M comes in a 38-liter backpack, while the M/L comes in a 40-liter backpack.

Price Comparison

If you would like to compare the prices between the Kelty Redwing 44 Tactical and the Farpoint 40, please see the links below:

The Verdict

As mentioned above, the Farpoint 40 is more durable than the other. Despite the fact that it comes in a smaller size, it is also the price of your backpack. Also, if you enjoy having a stowable back panel, the Farpoint 40 is a great option.

Related:
Osprey Ozone 46 vs Farpoint 40: Want A Great Value?
North Face Overhaul 40 vs Osprey Farpoint
Kelty Redwing 44 Pack vs Osprey Porter 46

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