Cotopaxi Allpa 42L Travel Backpack Review

Cotopaxi has made a reputation for itself with high-quality, brightly-colored baggage and out of doors attire that’s sustainability-focused. I’ve additionally heard numerous good issues about Cotopaxi’s new Allpa 42L Travel Pack so like several good backpack nerd I needed to try it out for myself… which is precisely what I did.

In this real-world Cotopaxi Allpa 42L backpack evaluate, I’ve personally examined this funky backpack to seek out its strengths and weaknesses to see if it’s the appropriate backpack in your travels.

UPDATE (November 2024): Cotopaxi simply up to date their Allpa line of backpacks. These baggage now characteristic further padding on the shoulder straps and again panel, a water bottle pocket, and total improved weight distribution. I hope to evaluate the brand new model quickly.

How I Tested The Cotopaxi Allpa 42L Travel Backpack

For the preliminary check of my Cotopaxi Allpa journey backpack, I headed out on a two-week solo journey to Prague and Berlin. I favored it a lot that I took it on a two-week journey round Japan a 12 months later.

I used my Allpa as a carry-on baggage on my worldwide flights from the US and had no points. It additionally labored properly after I used trains in Europe and Japan. I’ve additionally used my Allpa throughout varied shorter home journeys and I’ve by no means had an issue utilizing it as my carry-on baggage.

Ok, let’s get into my evaluate…

I’ve personally examined almost all the preferred journey backpacks available on the market. Read my information to the finest journey backpacks to see the remainder of my favourite picks.

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A Quick Overview Of The Cotopaxi Allpa 42L

Cotopaxi designed their Allpa 42L journey backpack to be an eye catching, weather-resistant backpack for multi-day/week+ city adventures. It’s loaded with sensible organizational options like pockets for all of your gear and mesh dividers for the primary compartment to maintain all of your stuff simply accessible.

Here’s how Cotopaxi describes the Allpa 42L:

The Allpa 42L Travel Pack protects and comfortably carries all of your gear, whether or not it’s in your again, strapped to the roof of your automotive, or within the stomach of a puddlejumper. The Allpa’s extremely burly shell repels the weather and abrasion, whereas its padded, mesh suspension system and cargo lifter straps present a cushty carry throughout lengthy walks to the hostel or all-out airport dashes.

Via Cotopaxi.com

Cotopaxi says the Allpa 42 is designed for journeys lasting 2 weeks or extra however I nonetheless suppose 42L additionally works for shorter journeys. That mentioned, the Allpa additionally is available in 35L and 28L variations in the event you’re in search of one thing smaller—go to REI to see the model Allpa variations.

Cotopaxi Allpa 42L Travel Backpack Specs
PRICE: $220 – Purchase at Cotopaxi and REI
VOLUME: 42L
DIMENSIONS: 22″ x 14″ x 11″
TYPICAL TRIP LENGTH: 7+ days
WEIGHT: 4lb 2oz
COLORS: Blue, black, oak, or multi-color
PADDED LAPTOP & TABLET SLEEVE: Fits 15” laptop computer
CARRY-ON SIZE: Carry-on compliant (home)
KEY FEATURES: Suitcase-style with full-wrap zipper on the primary compartment – Weight-distributing, adjustable hipbelt (detachable) – Robust YKK zippers with anti-theft security measures – Rain cowl included – Water-resistant TPU coating
WARRANTY: Lifetime guarantee

Quick Note About Cotopaxi’s Values

One of the issues that attracts lots of people to Cotopaxi is their firm values. In addition to being a licensed carbon-neutral firm, they’re a Certified B Corporation—which implies they meet excessive requirements of verified efficiency, accountability, and transparency on elements from worker advantages and charitable giving to provide chain practices and enter supplies. They allocate 1% of our income to the Cotopaxi Foundation, which helps nonprofits just like the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and United to Beat Malaria.

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My Full Cotopaxi Allpa 42L Travel Backpack Review

Ok of us, let’s get all the way down to the nitty-gritty options of the Cotopaxi Allpa—together with areas the place the Allpa excels and the place I feel it might probably enhance.

Looks and Aesthetics of the Allpa 42L

Overall, the Cotopaxi Allpa is a glossy and classy backpack. There aren’t a ton of dangling straps or cumbersome pockets so you may transfer round with ease. The llama silhouette brand on the again is noticeable however not excessive—I respect that they didn’t stick an enormous “Cotopaxi” below the emblem.

Now let’s transfer on the Allpa’s to a number of colorway choices…

Cotopaxi is legendary for its trademark shiny and crowd pleasing colours. The Allpa at present is available in round 5-6 coloration combos—together with a particular “Surprise Pack” model that’s constructed with a number of random-color items so each bag is totally different (you additionally received’t know what the bag seems to be like till you obtain it so you could possibly find yourself with a fairly funky-looking bag).

NOTE: I’ve observed that the Cotopaxi web site usually runs out of sure colorways after which restocks them later so that you may need to test again in the event you don’t see the colour you need.

I really respect how every coloration combo options high-contrast zippers—which allow you to shortly differentiate between the primary compartment and the opposite compartments.

I’m a giant fan of all the colour choices since most manufacturers provide only one or perhaps two colours. I went with the “Indigo” coloration because it’s slightly extra enjoyable than the usual black I sometimes go together with but it surely’s nonetheless pretty delicate.

The cloth on the again of the Allpa has a rubbery coated shell which provides slightly extra visible curiosity (in addition to including further safety and climate resistance)—I’ll cowl the bag materials in additional element later on this article.

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Harness System, Shoulder Straps, and Overall Comfort

All the bells and whistles imply nothing if the backpack isn’t snug to hold—fortunately I discovered the Cotopaxi Allpa 42 to be a lot snug so I had no actual points when hauling this factor round Europe.

The padded backpack straps characteristic load lifters and the straps are curved to higher match the contours of your physique—each of which assist hold the bag near your shoulders. The high-density foam used within the shoulder straps is barely thinner than what I’ve discovered on different comparable journey backpacks however I nonetheless discovered it snug.

The Allpa additionally options mesh padding that covers all the again of the bag. The mesh helps promote air circulation to make sporting the bag extra snug.

Now I’ll say that the Allpa doesn’t have as superior of a suspension system (i.e. shoulder straps) as different journey backpacks I’ve used. For instance, the suspension programs on the Osprey Farpoint and Aer Travel Pack 3 extra intently resemble what you’ll discover on a climbing backpack in order that they cradle your shoulders higher.

That mentioned, the Allpa 42 remains to be a lot snug and I didn’t have any points whereas sporting it—however I needed to level it out since there’s room for enchancment.

The Allpa 42 comes with an simply detachable hip belt (I eliminated mine earlier than the journey). It’s a reasonably minimalist hipbelt so it received’t provide a ton of additional help but it surely’s a pleasant addition. The backpack’s shoulder straps may also be simply tucked away—which is sweet for carrying it by slim practice/airplane aisles and for stowing the bag within the overhead compartment.

In addition, the Allpa comes with a detachable duffle bag-style shoulder strap which helps you to carry the bag like a duffle bag.

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Materials, Zippers, Hardware, and Overall Construction

One of the primary issues I observed in regards to the Allpa was its sturdy development and high-quality supplies—after having used a number of backpacks you begin to shortly discover the place firms reduce corners. It simply feels good. I imply… Cotopaxi affords a lifetime guarantee on their baggage so it is smart that their stuff is well-made.

The exterior again shell of the Allpa is produced from a really sturdy “rubbery” TPU-coated 1000D polyester which is scuff and weather-resistant—I’ve by no means seen this on every other bag however I feel it really works properly (and it seems to be cool). The remainder of the bag’s exterior paneling is constructed from light-weight but sturdy 840D ballistic nylon. Both these materials can stand up to loads of abuse.

The stitching high quality, sturdy plastic {hardware}, and total development of the Allpa really feel good—which additionally helps guarantee longevity.

One of the weakest factors of any backpack is the zippers so Cotopaxi solely makes use of high-quality YKK zippers—together with an additional beefy zipper on the bag’s important compartment (for once you overstuff your bag… which I’m actually responsible of doing). The zippers even have lengthy zipper pulls and the zipper motion is clean.

The Allpa encompasses a novel, low-tech anti-theft safety strap that covers the outside zippers—that are designed to forestall the zippers from being simply opened (see the picture above).

I’ve conflicting views on this safety characteristic because it’s a easy but efficient approach to hold your zippers safe but it surely additionally makes opening/closing the zippers considerably of a ache. I do, nevertheless, like this method higher than utilizing these little baggage locks. So, total it’s a minor annoyance and might be a web optimistic.

One of the neatest options of this backpack is the multi-colored zippers (i.e. the primary zipper on this bag is orange and the others are blue). This is tremendous useful for serving to shortly differentiate which zipper to make use of—most backpacks solely use black zippers so it’s laborious to inform which compartment you’re opening since all of the zippers look similar.

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Exterior Organization Pockets and Laptop Sleeve

As I discussed earlier than, the Allpa is a comparatively minimalist journey backpack so there aren’t a ton of exterior organizational pockets. Plenty of baggage I check go overboard with pockets and compartments which provides to the bag’s weight so I respect Cotopaxi’s restraint.

On the entrance of the backpack, you’ll discover a small organizational stash pocket. It’s nothing loopy but it surely’s good for carrying a couple of smaller objects like a pockets, small pocket book, telephone/digicam, and different stuff you may must shortly entry. There is a smaller zippered mesh compartment inside and a useful key clip for added group.

There can be a stretchy water bottle sleeve on the aspect of the bag (that may simply maintain a wine bottle… I can personally attest to this).

One of my greatest criticisms of the Allpa is its laptop computer compartment.

On a optimistic be aware, I do just like the aspect entry zipper as this makes taking the laptop computer out of the bag a breeze—which is tremendous useful on the airport.

But Cotopaxi didn’t construct a false backside into the bag’s laptop computer compartment so the one factor between your laptop computer and the laborious floor is slightly bit of cloth. Therefore, in the event you drop your bag or overlook to set it down gently, there’s a likelihood your laptop computer will smack the bottom. I like to recommend sticking a rolled-up shirt below your laptop computer but it surely’s slightly annoying you need to try this.

However, there’s a pocket for a pill that’s protected so all good there—I personally attempt to keep away from touring with a laptop computer anyway.

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Main Storage Compartment

I actually like the best way Cotopaxi designed the primary storage compartment on the Allpa 42.

First, the Allpa has a “clamshell” fashion opening—which is only a fancy method of claiming it opens like an ordinary suitcase. This is precisely what you need in a journey backpack because it makes packing/unpacking a lot simpler.

Second, the Allpa 42 has roughly 42L of space for storing so it might probably maintain a surprisingly great amount of stuff.

Third, in contrast to many different journey backpacks, the primary storage space of the Allpa 42 is cut up into two zones—the bigger “main” compartment on the appropriate aspect of the bag and two smaller compartments on the left aspect of the bag.

I used to be shocked how a lot I ended up liking the bag’s strategy to compartmentalization. For instance, I might hold smaller issues like socks and underwear on the left aspect of the bag and bigger objects (shirts, pants, and many others.) on the appropriate aspect. This made discovering what I wanted a lot simpler.

Furthermore, every compartment has a sturdy zippered mesh flap so it’s virtually just like the bag comes with built-in packing cubes. However, I nonetheless suggest utilizing packing cubes with this bag for further group.

The Allpa additionally has a zipper on the aspect of the bag that opens to the backpack’s important compartment. This is a useful characteristic since there are sometimes occasions once you wish to get one thing out of your bag however you don’t wish to open all the bag.

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Other Features of The Allpa 42

The Cotopaxi Allpa had seize handles on the highest of the bag, on each side, and the underside—so it’s tremendous straightforward to seize irrespective of how the bag is saved away. This is a good characteristic once you put your bag within the overhead compartment because you don’t have to consider storing it in a sure place.

The Allpa additionally comes with a rain cowl to make your bag rainproof—it’s a pleasant bonus since many firms cost further for a rain cowl.

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My Final Thoughs on The Cotopaxi Allpa 42

After utilizing the this in style journey backpack for a couple of weeks in Europe, I’m completely happy to say that I used to be pleasantly shocked with the Cotopaxi Allpa 42.

It’s well-constructed, the supplies are good, it’s snug, it comes with a lifetime guarantee, and it holds numerous stuff. I imply, what else might you ask for?

The 42L measurement works properly for longer 10-14+ day journeys but it surely’s additionally nice for shorter journeys (the Allpa does are available in smaller sizes as properly).

If I needed to nitpick, I’d prefer to see Cotopaxi give the Allpa a extra superior suspension system/shoulder straps to offer it slightly enhance in consolation however the present idderation remains to be fairly good. Again, it’s a minor criticism.

Otherwise, the Allps ticks all of the bins in what you need in a stable journey backpack.

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More Travel Tips From The Savvy Backpacker

I’ve been writing about Europe journey ideas since 2010 and listed below are a couple of of my hottest articles that will help you plan your subsequent journey: