Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Review

The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L finds a rich balance between simplicity and features for personal trips that don't involve a bunch of electronics. We loved how easy it was to find the clothes we needed and could pull out the laptop even when crammed into a tight plane seat.

Storage & Protection

The storage of the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L can hold about 4 to 7 days' worth of clothing before needing to do laundry. If you really need to lug around more stuff, there are also 4 attachment loops on the outside of the bag to tie or clip additional gear to, like a travel neck pillow or an umbrella. This clamshell bag also easily accommodates extra footwear, from sandals to dress shoes, which we typically put in its own pocket opposite the main compartment. The Allpa's computer compartment also fits 16" laptops and, in a second slot, can fit a tablet, smaller computer, or book up to about 11" long.

The Allpa doesn't have a ton of padding on the front or sides of the bag, but it offers enough protection for electronics on the back, with a back panel we measured at half an inch thick. Cotopaxi kept the Allpa 35L fairly light, but they put ultra-durable 840 denier ballistic nylon in the shell with a DWR finish that repels water. In plain English: this bag uses more robust materials than much of its competition.

The Allpa has 35 liters of carrying capacity and its clamshell design splits the main compartment into two, each further divided into zippered sections for packing-cube-style organization. Both sides of this compartment are about 5 inches deep, which came in handy for squeezing in an extra outfit change or bringing a pair of shoes with a thicker outsole. We were also able to fit more clothes into the Allpa by rolling them rather than folding them, with dimensions that favor depth over width or length.

The main compartment of the Allpa makes packing easy.   Credit: Zach Lovell

The side-access computer compartment fits even larger laptops, and has a second slot for a tablet or book.   Credit: Zach Lovell

A few past versions of the Allpa that we have tested. Cotopaxi has made subtle changes to the backpack over the years, but it has remained a favorite of ours throughout.   Credit: Hale Milano

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There aren't any organization-heavy admin pockets on the Allpa, but it does have 2 exterior compartments. The outermost pocket is about the size of a single hand and is only a couple of inches deep; a good size for keys, sunglasses, or a passport. The larger outside pocket can fit a bundle of charging cords, a 20,000 mah battery bank (which can charge a cell phone several times), sunscreen, and headphones. The single water bottle holder can just barely squeeze a 1-liter Nalgene inside, but can easily accommodate a half-liter bottle, whether carrying a reusable model or a single-use option.

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Comfort & Fit

Despite a lower weight, the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L still includes a removable hip belt, which we love for days when we want to do a bit of sightseeing before checking into our hotel, or when traveling across Europe on public transit, where long walks are often the norm. The hip belt is widest toward the back and, at 4.5 inches, helps spread weight across the iliac crest (the bone you can feel when you put your hands on your hips).

We also greatly appreciated the 3-inch-wide shoulder straps. We had a few different testers try on the Allpa and found that it fits travelers as small as 4'11" and as tall as 6'2", with a relatively narrow back panel making for a more universal design.

There's plenty of cushion on the Allpa's back and shoulder straps, with a two-pad design that runs the entire length of the back. However, Cotopaxi didn't design the back panel with as much airflow in mind, with a single air channel running along the spine, making summer trips sweaty unless in an air-conditioned terminal. The flexible support system was great up to about 25 pounds, but for loads heavier than that, the back panel didn't hold its shape as well and caved slightly. For fast-paced trips where we spent every evening unpacking, and every morning repacking, getting heavier loads just right was challenging, and we preferred to simply pack a bit lighter.

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Ease of Use

While the Allpa has a few separated compartments for clothing, toiletries, and shoes, it favors shoppers who need simplicity on the go. At only 2.96 pounds, this is a bag that won't slow you down for on-foot travel, and is very likely to be allowed as carry-on luggage (in the overhead bin) across most airlines, though it's technically too large to be used as an under-seat personal item.

The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L has a classic suitcase-style opening, also called a clamshell, that makes packing and repacking easy, which we always appreciate when rushing a hotel checkout to catch the next train. The main compartment has two sections: the “primary” clothing pocket that fits most of our essentials, and the “accessories” section with two zippered areas to help you access a belt, socks, or a pair of flip-flops. On trips that required fewer clothes, we could use one of the zippered pockets in this area for electronics, but you'll need to stay more systematic with how you pack. The two frontside pockets are where we put our charging cords, hand sanitizer, and travel docs; however, these pockets are relatively small, and you'll need to be thoughtful about what you place here.

Sometimes fewer pockets are better, and that's the case with the Allpa.   Credit: Zach Lovell

There aren't a ton of smaller organizational pockets, but the orange and black zippered pockets give you enough space for a few essentials.   Credit: Zach Lovell

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The laptop pocket of the Allpa is a side-entry design, which can be an acquired taste if you're used to a top-loading design. If the bag is upright and one opens the computer compartment, the laptop can slide out onto the ground unless your hand's there to catch it, and we ultimately resorted to tipping the Allpa on its side each time we needed to use our computers. We did love the secondary sleeve inside this compartment for a tablet or small travel monitor, but again, we suggest putting the bag on its side before pulling out your iPad.

When hand-carrying the Allpa, the three grab handles on the top, side, and bottom were easy to hold, though the narrower handle on the bottom is best for briefly bumping the bag into a security checkpoint bin or laying onto a hostel bed. For multi-bag trips, the luggage pass-through loop in the back panel of the Allpa was easy to slide onto the telescopic handle of wheeled luggage, and the anti-slip zipper retainer for the laptop zipper gave us peace of mind on long walks. If you want more security, the main compartment's zipper is also lockable.

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Versatility

This is a capable backpack for beach vacations or sightseeing in Paris, but it is not our first choice for business travel. The Allpa has enough room to bring more clothes for a longer trip, yet it's small enough in profile for quick weekend getaways or weddings. While it can be used for work travel, we found its relatively minimal organization to be less ideal if bringing along a bunch of chargers or an HDMI cord, since they all eventually end up tangled together in one of the exterior pockets.

When we enjoy personal travel, many members of our testing team love a quick on-trail hike between train rides or a paid sightseeing tour. The Allpa's lightweight build and comfy hip belt make such side quests possible, and we love that this backpack can be used for urban and outdoorsy trips. The laptop compartment also accommodates a larger computer, which was great for our testers who use a larger screen for photography edits. Last but not least, the Allpa has a slim enough profile to be carried in a crowded city square or in a packed subway without knocking people over.

Should You Buy the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L?

This is a phenomenal backpack for travelers who need a bit of organization, lots of space, and a comfy carry. The Allpa is best suited for personal travel, but if you don't need to bring a bunch of tech gear for your job, it can also work for business trips, especially if your boss appreciates a more vibrant bag. This model's hip belt is a game-changer for long walks across a city, but ultimately it lacks the structure needed for heavier loads. If you want some separation from electronics cords, wall chargers, and battery banks, we'd recommend a backpack with a proper administrative pocket, but if you often misplace things in pocket-heavy luggage, the Allpa might be a great fit.

What Other Travel Backpacks Should You Consider?

The Aer Travel Pack 3 is our top recommendation if the low pocket count on the Allpa is giving you hesitation. The Travel Pack 3 truly has a pocket for everything, and we appreciated this when packing more work-related items like an extra mouse, notebooks, or a portable keyboard. But you'll have to buy its hipbelt separately if you like to take the weight off your shoulders.