Cotopaxi makes cool backpacks and the Allpa is no different. They are so proud of this one bag travel pack that even the CEO left a review on their own website, which is both cool and a bit funny. Cotopaxi included three carrying methods with the Allpa, including: a shoulder strap, backpack straps, and side handles. Each version is fairly comfortable and easy to set up. The internal storage is what really stood out to me during the review. I like having a place for everything, and the Allpa’s internal mesh pockets made that very easy to do.

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Cotopaxi is well known for its fluorescent designs and one-of-a-kind packs. The packs are made using recycled material and, for the most part, are all completely unique. You can even select the option with some of the packs of “Surprise Me,” and they’ll send you a random color design of the backpack you purchased. It is a very cool way of operating if you ask me. 

The Allpa is their one bag travel backpack, and unlike some of the other packs Cotopaxi offers, you have to select a certain style of color for your pack. The Allpa comes in a variety of sizes, but I concentrate on the 42l. The Allpa 42 is a new member of the Allpa travel bag family, and the CEO is so proud of it that he left a review of the pack on their website—and it sounds like he travels a lot.

Storage

In the main compartment of the Allpa, there are multiple zippered storage pockets, which is a very cool way to keep everything organized once packed and keeps items from shifting at all during travel. The main compartment is opened like a suitcase to help access everything at once. 

Along the front of the bag, there is an organization pocket similar to that of the Tortuga Setout, where the front pocket is great for smaller items like headphones, sunglasses, and your passport. There is also a hydration pocket on the outside of the pack that is large enough for a water bottle about 3” in diameter.

There is also the laptop sleeve, which I will get to, but the main storage and organization of the Allpa are in the main compartment. It is a great way of staying organized and reducing the number of external zippers and pockets that things could get lost in.

Laptop Sleeve

The Allpa uses a side zipper for the laptop compartment, which will house up to a 15” laptop. There is also room for a 12.5” tablet and a 6.5” phone. Cotopaxi also included a power cord pocket in the laptop sleeve so that the cord and laptop are easy to access together.

The sleeve itself is well padded and placed on the back of the bag near the wearer. I like these pockets, as they almost add to the frame of the backpack and keep the laptop in a very secure area of the bag.

Comfort and Harness System

Cotopaxi has opted for three methods of carrying the Allpa 42. There is the standard backpack harness with a hipbelt, a shoulder sling strap, and a classic briefcase handle. All of these options are well balanced, padded, and comfortable to carry depending on the overall load.

The shoulder straps and hipbelt are thin but load-bearing, and the hipbelt is removable. The hipbelt is also vertically adjustable to fit for different torso lengths, which is a nice touch in a market where hipbelts seem to be an afterthought.

It is not the most comfortable pack in the world, but with a variety of carrying options, it is well adapted to a variety of situations. The shoulder straps do have load lifters to help manage the weight of the cargo and keep it balanced as you wear it.

Security and Material

As what seems to be standard practice in the travel bag world, Cotopaxi has gone with lockable YKK zippers. A bonus is that with so few pockets on the Allpa, you will only need the one lock for full bag lockdown. Other smaller zippers can be secured by feeding them through webbing, which makes them “theft-proof.” 

The pack itself is made with a TPU-coated 1000D polyester shell and 840 ballistic nylon paneling. Those are a lot of words and numbers that simply mean it is highly durable and weatherproof. At 4.4lbs, the Allpa is reaching Tortuga Outbreak weight territory, but again the durable material and heavy-duty zippers are the culprits for the added weight. 

The Bottom Line

Cotopaxi has created a very cool pack. The color scheme and internal organization systems are original and innovative. At $220, it is a very effective and trendy looking backpack. It won’t win any budget backpack awards, but the value for money is easy to notice. With 1% of that cost going to the Cotopaxi Foundation, a charity that gives to nonprofits who are working to alleviate global poverty and improve the human condition, you can feel good about your consumerism.

I really like the Allpa 42l, and as mentioned earlier, there are several different sizes and options of the Allpa—the 42 is just the best one bag carry-on option for extended travel.

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