Updated April 6, 2024

When I was thinking about buying an Osprey Farpoint 40, I wondered if the company’s highly touted warranty was any good. The warranty wasn’t the key reason I chose the Farpoint 40, but it was an important factor. Little did I know at the time that I’d need to test Osprey’s “All Mighty Guarantee” a few years later. Here is my Osprey warranty review of the process and the results.

What is the Osprey warranty?

Unlike the limited warranties offered by many manufacturers, Osprey has what they call the “All Mighty Guarantee.”

It’s a lifetime warranty where the company will repair any damaged or defective bag. If it can’t be repaired, it’ll be replaced. The guarantee covers “any reason, any product, any era.” It doesn’t matter if the bag suffered “normal wear and tear,” was damaged by an airline, or fell off the back of a motorcycle. It’s irrelevant if the bag was purchased a month ago or way back in 1974 when Osprey first started making bags.

The only cost to the consumer is for shipping the damaged bag to the repair depot. Osprey will cover the costs to repair or replace the bag, and to ship it back.

Osprey’s warranty promotes sustainability

Far too many products are cheaply made and don’t last. Replacing them is tough on a travel budget and hard on the environment. When a manufacturer stands behind its merchandise with an unlimited lifetime warranty, chances are it’s built to last. It instils confidence in the quality of materials and workmanship invested in its products. It builds a positive relationship with its customers.

When a bag can be returned to the manufacturer for repair, there’s less chance it’ll end up in a landfill. It seems Osprey wants consumers to use their gear as long as possible. That’s an admirable quality in today’s ‘throw-away’ world.

If a functional repair isn’t possible and it’s replaced with a new bag, Osprey keeps the damaged bag. The usable parts are salvaged for repairs to other bags.

My Osprey warranty review

A damaged bag

When my Osprey Farpoint 40 fell off a motorcycle in New Zealand, the result was a nasty case of road rash.

It damaged a couple of seams, several panels, and both mesh pockets. One of the external compression straps broke.

The bag was a mess, but still functional. I decided to wait until my return to Canada to test Osprey’s “All Mighty Guarantee.”

Osprey’s “All Mighty Guarantee” claim process

A search for “Osprey warranty Canada” took me to an online form and a brief description of the process. I completed and submitted the form with a description of the damage and two attached photos.

A week later, I received an email with more information on the process. It included detailed instructions on preparing the bag for shipping.

The email read in part:

• “Your pack must be washed and emptied of any personal effects. To learn how to clean your pack properly, we invite you to visit the following link: https://www.osprey.com/ca/en/fitting-learning/pack-care
• Do not fold your pack in any way. Please find a proper box to let the pack rest in its entirety.
• PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, NO PACKING PEANUTS!
• Our warranty policy covers the cost of the repair and return shipping (you, the customer are responsible for the cost of shipping the pack to In-Sport Fashions inc.). Upon receiving, our standard turnaround time is 3-4 weeks for your pack to be repaired and shipped back to you.
• In a pinch? Please indicate that it is time sensitive, and we will do everything we can to process your claim ASAP, although there are no guarantees. Please be ready to provide the given RMA number if you call or email to follow up on a repair.
• We try our best to return forgotten personal items.
• PLEASE NOTE: If your pack is not repairable and is replaced, it will not be returned to you. We will make every effort to make a functional repair to your pack. In the event that we are unable to make a functional repair on your pack, we will replace it. Your pack will become a parts and material donor as we recycle buckles, webbing, and even material for patches. For products that are no longer in production, you will be contacted by our Warranty and Returns Customer Service Team to discuss replacement options.”

The cost to ship my bag to Montreal was $23.74. I took the repair depot up on their offer to note any time sensitivities. My next trip was 5 weeks after my shipping date and I indicated as much on the form.

Testing Osprey’s “All Mighty Guarantee” — the results

A brand new Osprey Farpoint 40 arrived four weeks later.

Another Osprey warranty story

After reading my story, reader Holly Frazer decided to test the Osprey warranty. Her treasured Osprey bag had seen a lot of travel over the years and Holly had extended its lifespan by patching vulnerable spots and mending frayed and split seams. It had been a labour of love but the end was clearly in sight.

Holly contacted In-Sport Fashions in Montreal and sent the required photos and description of the issue. She received the go-ahead to ship her bag and include a copy of the warranty claim form in the box.

The form included Holly’s description of the issue:

“The attached several photos show that almost all of the seams of my Osprey pack are severely frayed out and in dire need (once again) of repair. I have sewn most of them once and some twice. Others you will see have also been patched as extra reinforcement. These repairs have been frequent over the last several years and most done on the road while travelling. I am at the point of no return, however, with regard to investing more time (and finger pricks) on this never-ending endeavour.

A friend recently told me about the lifetime Osprey warranty, which I either never knew or had long forgotten. I would like my most beloved and well-travelled travelling companion (my pack) either better and fully repaired and/or replaced. Thanks so much.”

A brand-new Osprey Sirrus 36 arrived a few weeks later.

Conclusion

The warranty claim process is simple and efficient. I bought my bag in Canada at La Cordée in Montreal, and I was pleased to learn that Osprey has a repair depot in Canada. In fact, Osprey has an International Customer Service page listing distributors around the globe. 

The “All Mighty Guarantee” is top-notch, and Osprey’s/In Sport Fashion’s customer service is second-to-none. I’d spent many hours of research before choosing the Osprey Farpoint 40 and I’m pleased I did. Osprey has made me one happy customer… for life.

A customer for life

I’ve since invested in a rolling bag: the Osprey Daylite Carry-On Wheeled 40L Duffel, a hybrid backpack and rolling bag.

For my personal item, I bought the Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack. I’m a fan of nesting, where secondary bags, empty or partially packed, nest inside the main bag when it’s preferable to manage just one bag. I’ve since added the waterproof version of the Stuff Pack, the Osprey Ultralight Dry Stuff Pack.

This reads like a sponsored post. It’s not, and I haven’t received any requests, instructions, or rewards from Osprey, La Cordée, or In-Sport Fashions. When companies get things right, it’s important to spread the word.

So, if you’re in the market for a travel bag, check out what Osprey has to offer. With their “All Mighty Guarantee,” it might be the last bag you ever buy.

 

For ideas on what to look for in a travel bag, see  33 Features of a perfect carry-on bag: buying guidelines. For more information on nesting, check out How to travel with just one carry-on bag using nesting and One bag carry-on travel by nesting: how and what to pack.

 

If you found this post helpful, please share it by selecting one or more social media buttons. Do you have any experience with Osprey’s “All Mighty Guarantee?” Is there another manufacturer of travel gear whose warranty has served you well? If so, please add to the conversation in the comments. Thank you.

 

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