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Bagsmart Faro Light Backpack Review: Ultralight & Versatile
At just 430 g (0.95 lbs), the Bagsmart Faro Light is one of the lightest travel backpacks I’ve tried. And as someone who travels with just a personal item, I’m always happy when the backpack itself doesn’t take up much of my weight allowance.
I took the 20L Faro Light on a three day trip in Austria, where I used it for everything from exploring Salzburg to hiking. For me, that’s where this backpack really stands out: it works surprisingly well for trips that combine city sightseeing and hiking.
It’s not a backpack I’d choose for a serious hiking holiday, and the 20L capacity actually feels smaller than I expected. But for a short minimalist trip, I really enjoyed using it.
I received the backpack for free, but this Bagsmart Faro Light backpack review is completely honest. I’ll share how it performed on my trip and what I liked and didn’t like.
Bagsmart Faro Light Backpack Overview
Before getting into my experience with the Faro Light, here are the main specs:
| Feature | Bagsmart Faro Light |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 20L |
| Weight | 0.43 kg (0.95 lbs) |
| Dimensions | 28 x 16 x 46 cm (11 x 6.3 x 18.1 inches) |
| Material | CORDURA nylon |
| Laptop | Fits up to 14 inches (not padded) |
The 430 g weight is easily one of my favorite things about this backpack. When I’m trying to keep my entire travel setup light, I don’t want the empty backpack taking up a big part of that weight.
The 20L capacity surprised me, though. It feels way smaller than my 22L Bagsmart backpack. But for me, that was actually a positive since my 22L backpack sometimes feels too big anyway. So the Faro Light is the perfect size for a short, light trip for me.
Want to check out the Faro Light? See the current price and available colors:
What Fits in the 20L Faro Light?
Even though the Faro Light feels smaller than other 20L backpacks I’ve tried, I had plenty of space for everything I needed for my three day trip.
I actually like traveling with a smaller backpack because it forces me to think about what I really need. There’s no extra space to fill with things I might use, so it’s much easier to stick to the essentials.
For this trip, I packed all my clothes, toiletries, electronics, and other travel essentials inside the Faro Light. My water bottles went into the two outside pockets.
If you want to see exactly what I managed to fit inside, I packed the Faro Light from start to finish in my YouTube video:
Organization and Pockets
The Faro Light has fairly simple organization, which I actually prefer in a small travel backpack. There are enough pockets to separate my essentials without taking too much space away from the main compartment.
Quick Access Pockets
My favorite outside pocket is the smaller, slightly padded one. I kept my wallet and headphones in there, as well as my lip balm for easy access.
The pocket sits behind one of the straps on the front of the backpack, which made it feel a little more secure for valuables while still being easy to reach.
There’s also a larger front pocket with more space for things you want to keep separate from the main compartment.
Inside the Main Compartment
Inside, there’s a sleeve that can fit a laptop up to 14 inches. I used it for my e-book reader instead.
Personally, this isn’t a backpack I’d choose if I regularly traveled with my laptop. For my kind of short, light trip, however, the sleeve was useful for keeping my e-book reader separate and easily accessible.
There are also two smaller mash pockets inside. I used these for my electronics, which made it easier to keep small things organized instead of having everything loose.
Two Water Bottle Pockets
The Faro Light has two water bottle pockets, which I really appreciated when using the backpack for hiking. I tested them with a 500 ml and a 700 ml bottle, and both fit easily.
Having one pocket on each side also helped distribute the weight more evenly instead of carrying all that water on one side.
For city sightseeing, I probably wouldn’t need two bottles, but having the option is great for trips where I’m combining exploring a city with some hiking.
How Comfortable Is the Faro Light?
I arrived too early to check into my accommodation, and by the afternoon I decided it wasn’t worth going out of my way just to drop off my backpack. So I ended up sightseeing with all my luggage until the evening.
With two full water bottles, my backpack weighed around 5 kg (11 lbs). Without the water, it was closer to 3.5 kg (7.7 lbs).
Towards the end of the day, I could definitely feel the weight and my shoulders and back started to ache a little. But considering I’d been walking around with my full travel backpack all day, I was actually impressed by how comfortable it stayed.
I think some of my other backpacks would have started feeling uncomfortable much earlier.
Removable Back Panel
You can remove the back panel to make the Faro Light even lighter, but personally, I wouldn’t bother.
The backpack already weighs just 430 g, so the small weight saving isn’t worth it for me. Without the panel, there’s a higher chance that something inside the backpack will poke into your back and make it less comfortable to carry.
I’d rather keep the back panel in and have the extra structure and comfort.
City Backpack and Hiking Backpack in One
What I like most about the Faro Light, besides how lightweight it is, is that I can use the same backpack for exploring a city and hiking.
For my trip, that was perfect. I could comfortably wear it around Salzburg, but it also worked well when I went hiking. It doesn’t look like a technical hiking backpack, so I was just as happy carrying it around the city.
Is the Faro Light Good for Hiking?
For shorter hikes, I think the Faro Light is a great option. It’s lightweight, comfortable to carry, and the two water bottle pockets are especially useful when hiking.
However, I wouldn’t choose it for a hiking focused holiday or long, demanding hikes. For that, I’d rather have a proper hiking backpack with a hip belt to distribute the weight better.
But I also wouldn’t want to carry a proper hiking backpack with a hip belt around a city. That’s why I like the Faro Light for trips where hiking is only part of what I’m doing. I can bring one small backpack that works well for both.
Who Is the Bagsmart Faro Light Best For?
I think the Faro Light is best for minimalist travelers who want one lightweight backpack for different parts of a trip.
I’d recommend it if you:
- Pack light and don’t need a lot of space
- Want a very lightweight backpack
- Take short trips with a mix of city sightseeing and hiking
- Prefer simple organization
- Want a small backpack that works for both travel and day trips
I’d choose something else if you travel with a lot of tech, want to maximize your packing space, want lots of compartments or need a proper hiking backpack for long hikes.
For me, the Faro Light hits a nice middle ground. It’s small and lightweight enough for minimalist city trips but practical enough to take hiking as well.
Think the Faro Light fits your travel style? Check the current price and available colors:
Bagsmart Faro Light Alternatives
I really like the Faro Light for short, lightweight trips, but it’s not going to be the best backpack for everyone. If you’re looking for something slightly different, these are the alternatives I’d recommend:
Bagsmart Blast 22L: If You Want More Space
If you want a personal item backpack that feels more spacious, have a look at the Bagsmart Blast 22L.
It’s only 2L bigger on paper, but to me it feels significantly more spacious than the Faro Light. I’d choose the Blast when I want a little more packing space while still traveling with a personal item.
Read my full Bagsmart Blast 22L review.
Tom Bihn Synapse 25: If You Want More Organization
If keeping everything organized is more important to you, check out my Tom Bihn Synapse 25 review.
It’s another lightweight option, but it has significantly more organizational compartments. Tom Bihn is a US company, which prioritises sustainability.
Patagonia Black Hole 25L: If You Want Something Sturdier
For something that feels a little more padded and sturdy, I’d choose the Patagonia Black Hole 25L.
It’s not as ultralight as the Faro Light, but the extra padding and sturdier feel might be worth the additional weight depending on how you travel.
Read my full Patagonia Black Hole review.
For me, I’d still choose the Bagsmart Faro Light when keeping the weight and size of my backpack to a minimum is the priority, especially for a short trip that combines city sightseeing with some hiking.
Read More Backpack Reviews:
- 9 Top Minimalist Travel Backpacks (Tested by Real Travelers)
- 7 Best Sustainable Travel Backpacks for Minimalist Travelers
- 3 Expandable Backpacks Compared: Which One is Best for You?
- Bagsmart Blast 22L Backpack Review: Best Personal Item Bag?
- Knack Pack Series 2 Review
- Patagonia Black Hole 25l Review: For Travel
- Patagonia Refugio 26L Review: For Travel
- Patagonia Refugio vs Black Hole: Which to Choose?
- Alpaka Elements Backpack Pro Review: For Travel
- Able Carry Daybreaker 2 Review
- 13 Easy Minimalist Packing Tips for Travel
- Ultimate Minimalist Packing List For Women
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Tina Riegelnegg
Tina Riegelnegg is the founder of Veganderlust. She's a vegan with wanderlust, who shares tips and stories from her travels to 31 countries as a vegan minimalist. After 2.5 years of full-time travel with just a personal item-sized bag, she’s now based in Vienna, helping fellow travelers explore the world with ease and compassion.
