Cotopaxi Allpa 35 Review: A Great Travel Backpack

Interested in the Cotopaxi Allpa 35 backpack? Then you’re certainly in the right place because this detailed review will tell you everything you need to know about the pack!

We’ve covered materials, comfort, organizational features, and value for money, so no stone is left unturned. Read on to learn more about the Cotopaxi Allpa 35 backpack and see if it’s the right option for you.

Materials and Durability

In this section, we’ll talk about the materials of the backpack and their durability. This includes both the fabrics and the hardware on the Cotopaxi Allpa 35.

Shell Materials

The Allpa 35 is made from 1000D polyester with TPU coating and panels from 840D ballistic nylon. Both nylon and polyester are tough and durable materials, which can easily withstand frequent use.

Also, the TPU coating makes the exterior of the backpack water-resistant, ensuring that your gear is safe and protected even in wet weather. It’s important to note that the shell isn’t entirely waterproof, mostly because of the breathable back panel. However, you can put a rain cover on the backpack, which will keep your gear dry even in heavy downpours.

YKK Zippers

The Allpa 35 bag is equipped with sturdy YKK zippers of excellent quality. YKK zippers are generally considered the best zippers on the market, so you are getting premium materials even when it comes to hardware.

The zippers are durable and smooth, with anti-theft webbing that makes it impossible for someone else to open your bag’s main compartment without you noticing. So, not only are the zippers of great quality and durability, but they’ll also give you the necessary peace of mind while traveling.

 

Carrying Comfort

Will you be comfortable wearing a fully-loaded Cotopaxi Allpa 35? Find out in this section!

Back Panel and Shoulder Straps

The Allpa 35’s back panel features breathable mesh and thick padding for ultimate carrying comfort. The low-profile harness allows for easier weight distribution, while the comfortable shoulder straps don’t cut into your shoulders.

The shoulder straps are adjustable, so you can easily make them fit your body perfectly. This is one of the first things you should do when you get your backpack, since adjusting the straps to fit your body is the only way to ensure that you’re not in pain when you’re carrying the backpack.

The breathable mesh on both the back panel and shoulder straps allows your body to breathe and almost guarantees that you’re not left with sweaty patches on your body when you’re walking around with the Allpa 35 on your back on hot summer days.

It’s worth noting that the shoulder straps on the backpack are stowable, and you can hide them behind the back panel if you want. This is convenient if you don’t want to wear the Allpa 35 on your back, and would rather just carry it in your hands.

Hip Belt and Sternum Strap

The Cotopaxi Allpa 35 is equipped with a sternum strap and a removable hip belt. Both features are excellent and necessary in a backpack this size, since they help distribute the load of the bag more evenly across your torso, and transfer most of it onto your hips. This helps keep you comfortable and pain-free even when the pack is filled to capacity and ensures you’re not sore the next day, after carrying a lot of weight on your back.

The hip belt is padded on the sides, so it’s much more comfortable than just a thin webbing strap. It’s also removable, so in case you want to use this backpack without filling it to capacity, or you just want to carry it in your hands, you can take off the hip belt and hide it away in a pocket. This way the straps won’t drag on the ground, and they won’t get in the way.

It’s worth noting that there aren’t any pockets on the hip belt, and that’s perhaps the only downside.

Accessibility and Organization

Capacity, pockets, and other organizational features of the Cotopaxi Allpa 35 backpack are all covered in this section.

Suitcase Style Main Compartment Opening

The main compartment of the Allpa 35 opens up suitcase-style, to reveal two separate packing compartments. Each of them has a zippered divider that ensures your belongings stay in place, with several smaller pockets on those dividers.

This allows for intuitive organization while packing, and helps you find a dedicated spot even for those smaller items.

The backpack has a total capacity of 35 liters, which is enough for a weekend away and can be enough even for a week if you can pack light. Also, it’s important to note that the main compartment can be accessed through a zipper on the back panel, so you can easily grab some stuff from inside the backpack, without unzipping it entirely.

The suitcase-style opening allows for easy packing, and it helps you fit more items in the backpack than you could with a classic, top-loading main compartment. It’s also worth noting that you can fit even more stuff in this bag if you use compression packing cubes or bags!

Hidden Laptop Compartment

This travel backpack has a padded laptop compartment behind the back panel. Even though it’s not supposed to be a hidden compartment, it is a pretty safe compartment due to the location in the back.

This is great because it’s almost impossible for someone to try and tamper with this compartment without you noticing (while you’re wearing the bag). The thick padding in this compartment acts as a barrier between the device and your back but also assures that there’s enough impact resistance in the compartment that the laptop is protected in case you drop the bag.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that the compartment features a smaller tablet sleeve, in addition to the larger laptop sleeve. The laptop sleeve fits devices up to 15”, while the smaller sleeve fits tablets (or other accessories) up to 10”.

Small Pocket on Front Panel

The Allpa 35 backpack also features a smaller zippered compartment on the front panel. This compartment has a zippered mesh pocket inside and it’s the perfect place for any items you want to have easy access to at all times.

It could be your sunglasses, your chargers, or just your passport and boarding pass – whatever you want to have easy access to whether you’re camping or heading to the airport, you can keep tucked away in this pocket.

Capacity

The total capacity of this backpack is 35 liters, which is slightly smaller than what you get in a carry-on suitcase. The average capacity of carry-on suitcases is between 35 and 45 liters, but it’s worth noting that suitcases often have the expendable capacity, which is why you can fit more stuff inside them.

You won’t have the same flexibility with this backpack, but you do have the advantage of easier organization and better accessibility. The versatility of this bag is also amazing, so even though it can’t fit quite as many items as a carry-on suitcase, it certainly has other features that make up for that.

Extra Features

What additional features does this backpack have? You can find out this in this section of the review!

Carabiner Lash Loops

The Allpa 35 has four carabiner lash loops on the front panel. They let you attach even more gear to the front of the backpack, which is great for camping and other outdoor excursions. You can use them for bulkier gear and even attach smaller bags to the exterior of this one.

The lash loops also function as anti-theft protection of the zippers, so they’re extremely useful and convenient. There are additional webbing loops on the sides of the pack, so you can attach even more items to the exterior of the bag.

Rain Cover

A rain cover is included in the purchase of this backpack and it’s a great addition, especially considering that the Allpa 35 is not entirely waterproof. The rain cover stows into the backpack, and you can easily access it to protect your gear in case of sudden heavy downpours.

Value for Money

Is the Cotopaxi Allpa 35 worth the hefty price tag? I think it is because a really good travel backpack is priceless. It’s a bag you’ll be able to use for years to come, and it will be your go-to bag whether you’re heading to a different country for the weekend or just going camping.

But is the Allpa 35 the best backpack you can get for the money? That’s a bit more difficult to answer. There are dozens of other amazing backpacks in this price range from renowned brands like Osprey, Fjallraven, Gregory, Patagonia, and many others. The answer to this question depends on what exactly you are looking for in a backpack.

If you aren’t completely wowed by every single feature of this backpack, then it’s not worth the money. There are too many other backpacks in this price range to settle for anything less than perfection, so keep that in mind before you spend a dime.

On the other hand, if this is exactly what you’re looking for, then the Cotopaxi Allpa 35 is worth every single penny since there aren’t too many other bags with this exact design.

Verdict

Should you buy the Cotopaxi Allpa 35 backpack. If it’s everything you want in a bag, then you definitely should! It’s a great travel backpack made from premium materials and it’s going to last you years. It also boasts a large capacity and plenty of organizational features that packing is easy and intuitive.

But it has a hefty price tag, and if you’re not sure about the backpack for whatever reason, then don’t buy it. There are dozens of other amazing backpacks in this price range, and you deserve a bag that’s exactly what you’re looking for.

So, if the Allpa 35 seems like your ideal bag, then go ahead and get it. But if you want to check out some other options first, go through the bags in our related posts to see even more amazing options in this price range!

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