Is the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L worth buying?

Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L

Ranked #4 in Travel Backpacks

542 LP on the category ladder what's LP?

Excellent 35-liter pack with strong sustainability credentials; best overall value in its class.

Consolidated from 20 cited sources across 18 outlets

Where the cited sources landed, as we read them

11 positive sources
6 neutral sources
2 unconvinced sources

See the sources

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Pros & cons

✓ Balanced capacity and style
✓ Durable materials
✓ Sustainable sourcing
✓ Lightweight
✓ Rugged nylon

The sources behind this ranking

We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.

11 positive sources

Forbes Katherine Louie · reviewer

“I used this backpack on a week-long trip to Ecuador, and I felt confident that my belongings were protected—even my laptop—when it was tossed into a small boat in the Amazon rainforest or carried to a remote cabin in the woods,” she says.

Read D

David Does David Does · 2.8K subscribers · Dec 2023

One of the major areas of where this bag really takes a step above the competitors is the inside organization.

Watch N

Nomads Nation Aaron Radcliffe · reviewer

Bottom line: the Allpa 35L delivers space, comfort, and personality in one. If you want a travel bag that’s easy to live with and anything but boring, this one’s a killer choice.

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Wanderings With Bri Bri · reviewer

This one is really exciting for me, I just love great gear, and this might just be my favorite piece of travel gear I own: the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack.

Read I Instagram Article

The Allpa 35L Travel Pack is made for weekends away, beach days, and climbing trips.and somehow fits it all with room to spare.

Read G

GearLab Zach Lovell · reviewer

A travel backpack that’s easy to live out of for trips of all shapes and sizes

Read A

And Immediately Bought 3 Article

I’m hooked and can’t imagine ever using another backpack for travel.

Read V

VILANERA Vilanera · reviewer

Want suitcase-style organisation, get the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L .

Read V

VILANERA Vilanera · reviewer

Want suitcase-style organisation, get the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L .

Read F

Finding the Universe Laurence Norah · reviewer

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L: Best for Organised Packing

Read T

The Good Trade Brianna Schubert · reviewer

I was surprised by how much I could fit in it!

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6 neutral sources

Switchback Travel Chris Carter · reviewer

However, we did bump the Allpa 35L down in the rankings this year due to unimpressive carrying comfort and capacity. While this pack is very popular, Cotopaxi’s new Allpa 50L Adventure updates the harness for better carry comfort and offers greater capacity for travelers looking to maximize their carry-on space. That said, just like the Allpa 50L, this smaller Allpa is still exceptionally durable

Read N

Nomads Nation Aaron Radcliffe · reviewer

Where it starts to lose me is materials and aesthetics . I do not like the coating because it will peel over time, and the colorful look is not really my thing. Comfort carries this bag , but the look and coating keep it out of the top tiers for me.

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Packing Light Travel Anne Betts · reviewer

The bag is soft, meaning that it can take on a weird shape if it’s overpacked. This can affect the zippers that are a little clunky, making it difficult to zip up the bag if it’s packed to capacity.

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Outdoors Magic Article

What we didn’t like: Fabric not very water resistant and the bag doesn’t have much structure or shape to it if only lightly packed

Read B

Better Trail Multiple Authors Mimi · reviewer

Has a tendency to throw off your center of gravity if packed improperly.

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Moonsand Travel Adam Mahon · reviewer

Heavier than many other travel backpacks

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2 unconvinced sources

Away Together w/ Nik and Allie Etan-5 · owner · Mar 2026

I wish it was the one considered instead of the 35L. For people who like internal organization or don’t use packing cubes, it functions so well! Plus, it’s lightweight and comfortable. I have a child who takes the Allpa 20L on every trip. We have packed these to the max and never had a single issue with the mesh or zippers.

Watch R r/onebag u/Azure9000 · owner

The bag is heavier and more inconvenient to carry than my Farpoint 40L. The only pro is that I like its rip stop fabric. It held up really well on the couple trips I did take it on.

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1 stance not read source

W Window Seat at 30,000 Feet Window Seat at 30,000 Feet · 342 subscribers · Mar 2026

The next one I got was a 35L. So, similar to this one, but an  earlier version. For a week-long trip, this size, the 35L, is perfect.  Unfortunately, my 35L developed some major delamination issues where   the TPU rubber coating just disintegrated. Luckily, it fell under warranty, so Cotopaxi replaced that for me.

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