Honest Review of the Cotopaxi Allpa 28 Travel Pack

My One Bag Mission

When I purchased the Cotopaxi Allpa 28 Travel Pack, I had very high hopes. I had a grand idea of this dream-bag: it would come with me across borders, endure tropical rainstorms in Indonesia, weather splashes from boats in Thailand, and ultimately fit everything I needed for a months-long adventure.

I’m a minimalist packer (more of that in a future post!) so I was determined to get all of my things down to “one bag”. This bag would have to do it all— long-lasting, durable, and built with a traveller in mind. After months of research, I finally picked the Cotopaxi Allpa 28 Travel Pack and have been traveling with it for the last 5 months.

Choosing a Backpack – My Top Criteria

I did extensive research on what bag to buy for my nomad adventure. I had a few main criteria:

• Should be small enough for carry-on
• Comfort is a priority for long carry distances
• Should have a laptop sleeve
• Preferably something designed for women specifically

Backpacks That Almost Made The Cut

I was close to taking my 36L Osprey Sirrus, but one limiting factor with that bag is that it is not kind to laptops because it curves along the back. It’s a great backpack for trekking, but because I wanted to bring my laptop with me it didn’t fit the bill.

Another top contender on nearly every “What is the best bag for nomad travel” list was the Peak Design Travel Backpack 45 L. I was nearly convinced by reviews online so I went to try it on in store. However, as soon as I slipped it over my shoulders I realized it would be way too big. Even completely empty it was heavy, and I realized that most of the reviewers were broad-shouldered men. With my shorter torso, some of the highly-recommended brands just won’t work. (There is a 30 L version but it didn’t make it into my top picks).

The 3 Top Contenders

After realizing 45L was much more space than I needed, I decided to look for a bag in the 30-40L range. I eventually narrowed down my top picks to:

1. Fairview Osprey (or “Farpoint” for men) – 40L
2. Aer Travel Pack 3 – 28L or 35L
3. Cotopaxi Allpa – 28L or 35L

All three made the top spots in various review publications. Of course, each had their downsides.

The Osprey looks bulky when fully-packed, and the laptop pocket is in the center of the bag which creates some balance issues and meant people were concerned that the laptop was in danger of being squished and bent. It did have a huge pro of being one of the only companies that created a separate design for women. (Great news though, since my initial research Osprey has released an updated version of the pack in 2023 with the laptop pocket close to your back instead! I wrote a review of it here.)

The Aer Travel Pack 3 was the priciest of the bunch ($249 at the time of writing), and you need to order the hip strap separately. Though I was very close to picking this backpack, the combo of expense plus the lack of a built-in hip belt made me pass.

The Cotopaxi Allpa performed well in reviews. Its main downside seemed to be that it lacks a built-in water bottle pocket. You can buy an add on for the water bottle to dangle off your bag instead (ugh). I thought this was something I could live with.

In the end, I chose to buy the Cotopaxi Allpa 28 travel pack. At the time, it was $170.

Cotopaxi Allpa 28L vs. 35L

I dithered between 28L and 35L but figured you always pack to the limits of the space you have, and I like to travel lighter. I’m sure if I had gotten the 35L I would have packed it to the gills and I wonder if it would have been as comfortable. Also, the 28L meets TSA requirements to be a personal item. So if I decided it was too small for world travel, I could use it instead as a nice weekender bag while traveling.

Most reviews said that the 35L is essentially identical but just has more space (obviously). However, one significant difference is that the 35L has an extra access pocket. That would have come in handy a few times for me. There’s also a small internal pocket to stash valuables in the 35L, which is nice for some organization.

In the end, I was happy about choosing the 28L because I have a smaller frame, it travelled great as a personal item, and I wanted to pack as light as possible. I’d still be interested in testing the 35L to see if it would have solved some of the issues I had with the 28L… more on that in a bit!

Test Drive As a Personal Item to Copenhagen

Here is the Cotopaxi Allpa all packed for a 4-day test drive in Copenhagen:

It ended up being amazing for a short jaunt to Denmark! I had high hopes after this weekend trip that it could perform well for longer journeys.

Honest Review of Cotopaxi Allpa 28 Backpack

I am not affiliated with any of these bags or companies, I’m just a random layperson who did way too much research and reading before embarking on a nomad adventure. I’ve been using the Cotopaxi Allpa 28L for 5 months. It is my primary bag as I travel full-time across the globe. So far it has been to Denmark, Italy, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Am I happy with it? I’ll dive into the pros and cons and you can see for yourself.

Pros of the Cotopaxi Allpa 28 Travel Pack

Durable and Water Resistant

The pack is no doubt very durable, and I love that there are carry handles all over. It is very easy to manage. The main shell feels like it would be water resistant but the bag comes with a convenient rain cover so I always cover it any time I encounter water.

Ease of Access – Clamshell opening

It opens right down the middle. Then there are separate compartments inside. I wasn’t sure if I’d like this style, but I’ve been enjoying being able to get at everything easily. 

It can fit under the seat as a personal item (!!!)

One huge selling point was finding out that this bag can stow under the seat as a personal item. With many European airlines now charging for a full-size carry-on, this was a nice plus. I tested this out when flying to Copenhagen and again when flying to Milan. Both times the bag could fit under the seat for free, even when flying on budget airlines.

Comfortable

Though I doubted at first that the Cotopaxi could be as comfortable as my Osprey, it has been a joy. I find that I rarely even need the hip straps. It’s nice and narrow, which makes navigating airports and crowded spaces easier. While I doubted that there was enough cushion on the hip straps, the bag is overall light enough not to need much extra support. I do think it could have sat a bit higher up on my back (like the Osprey Fairview 40), it was a shame that the straps are not very adjustable.

I’m 5’4” (163 cm) and overall this bag fits my torso well:

Cons of the Cotopaxi Allpa 28 Travel Pack

Hard To Zip

Well, first off, I wish I hadn’t ignored the first comment I found online mentioning how tough it is to zip. It was more a passing note, but I ran into the issue immediately. As soon as I began using it, I noticed how tricky it is to zip around the top right side. I messaged the support team and was told this would work itself out over time. “The zippers are tough and designed to last. With use, they will get easier and easier.” Of course it’s not the zippers that are the problem, but the shape of the bag.

Unfortunately the issue has not worked itself out. It is a struggle to zip every time. I figured other people were overpacking, but this happens even with a reasonable load packed. If the bag is nearly empty, then it zips okay. When I checked the 2-3 star reviews on the website, it seems that this is the main complaint of other folks as well.

This makes me dread packing, and is the biggest downside of the Cotopaxi Allpa 28L in my opinion. If you don’t have a laptop, then you can sit on the bag and force it closed. If you pack a laptop… good luck. I’m curious if the 35L also has this issue.

No Water Bottle Pocket Built In

I ended up ordering some add-ons, so I have a shoe bag, laundry bag, water bottle holder, and best of all— thanks to a promotional deal— I also received a 3L fanny pack. The add-ons are actually amazing, but the necessity of an external extra water bottle holder is a big negative. It swings all over the place, making what used to be a nice streamlined bag quite clunky.

It’s not uncommon to see things dangling from even the largest travel packs, so maybe this won’t be a dealbreaker to some people. Sometimes I stick some extra things in the water bottle mesh (like the rain poncho shown in the photo) so at least there are some fringe benefits.

Conclusion

Would I buy this bag again?

The backpack has been very durable for the last 5 months of traveling through Europe and South East Asia. It passed as a personal item at the airline. However, two cons make me hesitate to recommend it fully.

1. Because it is hard to zip even when packed carefully, I find myself wondering if I would have been better off with one of the other backpacks. The issue resolves slightly if I remove the laptop, but the laptop sleeve was one of the main reasons for selecting this backpack.
2. The dangling water bottle is ugly and annoying.

I would be willing to try out the 35L and see if the zipper issue would be solved, but then there’s still the issue of the water bottle. I would only buy this again for short trips or if I didn’t need to bother with a laptop.

What The Cotopaxi Allpa 28 Is Good For

For short journeys, I absolutely recommend this pack if you have the money to spend. It is very comfortable, easy to pack, and has served me well as a personal item on flights.

• 1-3 day trips with consistent climate.
• As a personal item or carry-on
• Roadtrips or other journeys where you don’t need to carry a water bottle

While there were several flaws, I don’t regret buying the bag. It is seriously the perfect personal item. If the cost is no object and you want a streamlined bag to go under the seat in front of you, get the Cotopaxi!

What The Cotopaxi Allpa 28 Is Not Good For

However, I would not recommend it for longer trips.

• Not for journeys lasting longer than a week
• Not for trips with cold climates where you need a jacket
• Not for folks who have a lot to pack

In the end, I don’t feel like the Cotopaxi checked every one of my boxes, but I also realize that I was asking a lot from a single bag. I will be so happy to have this bag for shorter trips around Europe, and as a personal item (packed very lightly) when I travel for longer. I would be very interested in trying out the other bags to see if they can live up to my high standards.

Cotopaxi Allpa 28 vs. Osprey Fairview 40

After traveling with both of my top carry-on picks— the Cotopaxi Allpa 28L and the Osprey Fairview 40L— I have my opinions on which I prefer. Both backpacks are extremely high quality picks, and each one serves different functions. For those with smaller frames, who don’t travel with a laptop, and have experience packing light, I would absolutely recommend the Cotopaxi Allpa.

However, anyone who doesn’t mind the bulkier Fairview will benefit from extra comfort and space. Personally, I will reach for the Allpa for short trips because it’s so easily portable. For anything longer than a week, or a trip that involves a lot of walking, I will definitely pack the Osprey Fairview.

What Do You Think?

Do you have a travel bag you absolutely love?

Does the perfect bag exist?

What is your typical luggage setup when you travel?

Let me know in the comments below!