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Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Review: Worth the Hype?
Thinking about getting a Cotopaxi Del Día backpack but unsure if it’s right for you? This honest Cotopaxi Allpa 35L review will help you decide!
After years with my old backpack, I upgraded to the Cotopaxi Del Día edition, an eco-friendly pack with a surprise color combination. I literally had no idea what colors it would have since they use leftover fabric to stay sustainable. (Standard color options are also available.)
Now, after a few months of use, here’s my honest take on whether it lives up to the hype. Just so you know, I have the old model of the backpack, but I’ll also talk about what they improved on the new model.
✅ Unique & Colorful Design
✅ Suitcase-Style Opening
✅ Removable Hip Belt
✅ Eco & Socially Responsible
❌ Side Opening Feels Useless
❌ Too Large for Minimalist Travelers
❌ No External Water Bottle Pocket (new models have one)
❌ Straps Could Be More Comfortable
❌ Durability Concern, my bag got a small tear
Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Backpack Features
Colourful Design
When I switched to minimalist travel, I noticed most backpacks were plain black. Then I found Cotopaxi. I love colorful gear, and the Allpa Del Día instantly stood out!
The Del Día collection is the boldest, made from fabric scraps, meaning every bag is a one-of-a-kind surprise. If surprises aren’t your thing, the standard Allpa collection offers the same design in pre-selected colors.
Suitcase Opening
At first, I loved the suitcase-style opening, it makes organizing easy and finding things effortless. But after using it for a while, I realized I actually prefer a traditional top-opening backpack. It’s just more convenient for grabbing things quickly on the go.
The main compartment is very spacious, I use packing cubes to stay organised since I don’t pack enough clothes to fill it.
Different Compartments
The Allpa 35L has multiple different compartments:
- Outside: A roomy top compartment with two smaller pockets inside. There’s also a laptop sleeve with a padded tablet section (though I don’t use the tablet slot).
- Inside: There are one large, one medium, and two small compartments on the inside. One small pocket holds a rain cover, which I removed since I never use one. There’s also a hidden compartment for a passport or cash.
- Side Access: You can access the main compartment from the outside, but since I use packing cubes, I still have to open the whole bag to grab what I need, so it’s not very useful for me.
- Water bottle pocket: The new backpack models have an external water bottle pocket, but mine doesn’t. I missed it since a reusable water bottle is one of my top eco-friendly travel essentials.
🎒 Get Your Own Colorful Cotopaxi Backpack!
Different Carrying Options
The Allpa 35L isn’t just a backpack, it’s a travel pack with multiple ways to carry it.
- Backpack Mode: Shoulder straps and a removable hip belt for long-distance carrying.
- Duffle Mode: Tuck away the straps and use the grab handles on every side for a duffle-style carry. I wouldn’t recommend this carrying way for longer periods of time.
Security Features
The Allpa 35L has built-in security to keep your belongings safe.
- Anti-Theft Zippers: Locking loops make it harder for pickpockets to unzip quickly. You can skip the loop in safer areas for easier access.
- Built-In Key Chain: Keeps your key secure in the front compartment, so you don’t have to worry about it slipping out while traveling.
Pros of the Allpa 35L Backpack
- Unique Design: Every Del Día pack has a one-of-a-kind color combo, even the more neutral ones have fun accents.
- Spacious & Well-Organized: The suitcase-style opening and multiple compartments make packing easy.
- Versatile Carrying Options: Removable hip belt lets you customize how you carry it.
- Eco & Socially Responsible: Made from leftover fabric, plus Cotopaxi is part of 1% for the Planet.
Cons of Cotopaxi Allpa 35l Del Dia
- Too big for minimalist travelers: The 35L feels too big for me and doesn’t fit under an airline seat. A 28L would’ve been better. That’s my mistake though.
- No external water bottle pocket (on older models): My version doesn’t have an outside water bottle pocket. Newer models have added this feature.
- Tablet padding isn’t useful: The padded section is too small for a laptop, and I don’t use a tablet. I rely on my own padded laptop sleeve instead.
- Straps could be more comfortable: Shoulder straps are decent but could use more padding for better support. New models have improved padding for more comfort.
- Hip belt may not suit taller travelers: It fits me well, but I’ve seen reviews mentioning that it sits too high on taller people.
- Durability concerns: After six months, I noticed a small tear at the seam. They sent me some money to get it fixed. Not a dealbreaker, but I expected better quality. The new models use a more durable material.
What’s Different at the New Allpa Backpack
My Cotopaxi backpack is already a few years old, they made some improvements which sound amazing:
- Improved padding on the shoulder straps, back and hip belt for more comport
- Water bottle pockets on the outside
- Small front compartment for small travel gear like headphones
- Now made of 100% recycled fabric that’s super durable and water resistant
Alternatives to the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack
If this Cotopaxi review made you realize the Allpa backpack is not the best travel backpack for you, there are numerous alternatives.
- The best alternative if you like the suitcase opening is the Knack Pack. The best feature of this backpack is that it is expandable, perfect for any trip no matter how long. Read my full Expandable Knack Pack review.
- Tortuga Travel Backpack is another great option with a suitcase-style opening. However one of the downsides of this backpack is that it’s only available in black. Read all the pros and cons of the Tortuga Travel Backpack.
- If you’re looking for a way smaller and simpler carry-on backpack from an eco-friendly company Patagonia has some great travel backpacks. I really like the sleek design of the Patagonia Black Hole. If functionality is more important than design, I’d recommend the Patagonia Refugio backpack instead.
🎒 Get Your Own Colorful Cotopaxi 35L Del Dia Backpack!
Final Thoughts: Cotopaxi Del Dia 35L
While the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Del Día is a highly rated backpack, my personal experience was a bit mixed. The 35L size felt too big for my minimalist travel style (which is totally on me!), and I was disappointed to see a small tear after just a few months of use.
That said, there’s still a lot to love, the colorful design, the smart organization, and Cotopaxi’s commitment to sustainability. If you need a spacious, eco-friendly, and unique travel backpack, this could still be a great fit for you!
Looking for more sustainable travel backpack options? Check out my post on the best eco-friendly travel backpacks and find the perfect one for your adventures.
Read More Backpack Reviews:
- 9 Top Minimalist Travel Backpacks (Tested by Real Travelers)
- 7 Best Sustainable Travel Backpacks for Minimalist Travelers
- 3 Expandable Backpacks Compared: Which One is Best for You?
- Bagsmart Blast 22L Backpack Review: Best Personal Item Bag?
- Knack Pack Series 2 Review
- Patagonia Black Hole 25l Review: For Travel
- Patagonia Refugio 26L Review: For Travel
- Patagonia Refugio vs Black Hole: Which to Choose?
- Alpaka Elements Backpack Pro Review: For Travel
- Able Carry Daybreaker 2 Review
- 13 Easy Minimalist Packing Tips for Travel
- Ultimate Minimalist Packing List For Women
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Tina Riegelnegg
Tina Riegelnegg is the founder of Veganderlust. She's a vegan with wanderlust, who shares tips and stories from her travels to 31 countries as a vegan minimalist. After 2.5 years of full-time travel with just a personal item-sized bag, she’s now based in Vienna, helping fellow travelers explore the world with ease and compassion.
