Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Bag | Review - Outdoors Magic

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Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Bag | Review

A vibrant pack with some excellent sustainability credentials – and a heck of a lot of pockets

This is one of those bags that can make your kit disappear. There are so many pockets, some of which are hidden, that you need to be quite mindful of where you stow your stuff. If you’re an organised person, I think you’re going to really love this bag. If you’re like me, then you will like it if you just learn to practise some organisational discipline: ‘this pocket is for this, that pocket is for that’ – that kind of thing.

There are 11 pockets in total, all of various sizes and for different uses. These include a dual, padded laptop sleeve, mesh organiser pockets for clothes and smaller pockets for books and bits and bobs and a stretch pocket for an insulated flask or water bottle.


Its 35-lite capacity makes it the perfect size for most airlines’ carry-on requirements and there are loads of other travel-friendly features, including lockable zips, a harness and hipbelt that can be tucked away and a total of four grab handles. It’s like a duffel bag but one that’s just as comfortable as a normal backpack.

Handily, I found it can also be packed down pretty flat when it’s empty, and that makes it something that you can realistically stuff into another suitcase or duffel bag to use for forays from your accommodation.

Sustainability

This is part of Cotopaxi’s Del Día collection which features vibrant, one-of-a-kind bags made from repurposed materials. Each item uniquely designed by the sewers, ensuring no two pieces are alike while promoting sustainability and creativity.

It’s also a pack that is clearly designed to last – Cotopaxi’s ‘buy less, use longer’ approach is key here, encouraging long-term use to lower the environmental impact. Add in their commitment to fair trade manufacturing, ensuring safe working conditions and fair pay, and it’s clear they’re not cutting corners. To top it off, Cotopaxi is a certified B Corp, investing in carbon offsetting and community development projects worldwide. This all makes the Allpa a solid eco-friendly choice for conscious travellers.

OM editor Will using the Cotopaxi Allpa 35 on a Lake District hike. Photos: Dave Macfarlane

Performance

The water resistance does let this pack down a little bit. It’s not the kind of thing I’d want to use in wet conditions without a waterproof cover – firstly because it won’t totally protect your stuff but also because I found the fabrics can suddenly become quite heavy once they’re wet. I also think that this pack could really do with some volume adjustment straps. That would help to give it some shape and structure which it lacks, particularly if you’ve not used it to max capacity.

Aside from those pitfalls, it’s a very handy pack that has the potential to really streamline a travel experience. From my experience using it in the hills of the Lake District, it’s not a totally unrealistic pack to use for day hiking either, particularly as the back panel and harness are quite comfortable. But again, just make sure you’ve got a waterproof cover with you if rain is on the forecast.

Pros: Made from waste fabric, unique appearance, very useful storage options
Cons: Fabric not very water resistant and the bag doesn’t have much structure or shape to it if only lightly packed

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Del Día Travel Bag

Selected for our Greener Gear Guide, sponsored by Nikwax
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