COTOPAXI ALLPA 42 : REVIEW
FOREWORD
For some, travel is an arduous road, filled with sleepless nights, less than comfortable living conditions, and the constant unpleasantness of being outside of your comfort zone. For others, it’s an adventure filled with joy, unexpected connections, and memories that stay with you forever. It seems that the folks at Cotopaxi clearly belong to the latter group based on their comfortable, functional, and uniquely fun bags.
Today I would like to tell the story of an unsung hero of one-bag travel: the Allpa 42 bag from Cotopaxi.
WHO IT SUITS
Those who practice minimal travel and need a carry-on compatible bag.
Anyone who doesn’t settle for bland colors and is looking for a colorful travel bag.
Those who appreciate the clever built-in organization of their bags and are looking for quick access to their stuff. These folk will love all the pockets offered, as well as the side access to the laptop compartment and the main compartment.
WHO IT DOESN’T
Those who are heavily invested in pouches and organizers might find the Allpa 42 somewhat restricting since the bag asks you to adapt to it instead of the other way around.
ABOUT THE BAG
PRICE: $220
WEIGHT (bag only): 4lb 3oz (1905g)
DIMENSIONS: 21.5 x 13 x 9in (55 x 34 x 22.5cm)
CAPACITY: 42L (2563cu in)
DESIGN & FEATURES
If I were to describe the Allpa 42 in a single word, it would be “FUN”. The playful lama logo on the front, the vibrant blue color of my indigo version, the bright colorful zippers and zipper pulls, everything about the bag just sparks joy and excitement to hit the road and explore the world. I’ve had plenty of bags that were “mission ready” or “built to withstand anything” and these were reliable and confidence-inspiring for sure. But I don’t recall coming across a travel bag that would just scream “travel is dope, let’s do it!” with every fiber and every detail. Somehow the Cotopaxi team managed to capture that wanderlust that is often forgotten and neglected in a daily routine.
The design is quite simple, yet clever. The Allpa 42 has a distinct rectangular shape to ensure that a maximum of usable space is offered for things inside. Bright colors allow your friends to quickly notice you in a crowded airport and definitely help to identify the bag in the bag claim area, in case you had to check it in. Be prepared, however, that some budget airlines might find the bag non-compliant with their carry-on regulations.
The standout features of the bag are:
Full suitcase-style zipper that allows opening the bag clamshell-style for easy packing/unpacking.
Side access to the main compartment makes it easy to grab things without the need to open the main zipper compartment.
Brilliant built-in organization with zippered compartments dividing the capacity of the bag into sections to be filled individually. These are basically built-in packing cubes that you are never going to lose or forget in the hotel.
An included bright orange rain cover. This can be great to not only further protect the bag from the elements but is also highly recommended in case you check in the bag to keep it from getting dirty/scuffed.
4 lowkey lash points on the outside allow attaching extra gear like a jacket, water bottle, etc... with a carabiner.
The straps are stowable, which is great when carrying the bag briefcase style or if you need to check in the bag.
Multiple carry modes: backpack, briefcase, shoulder bag. So super adaptable to different scenarios.
Overall the design of and features on the Allpa 42 complement each other well, without making the bag feel overengineered or unnecessary complex. Everything is intuitive and easy to use. Great job, Cotopaxi!
COMFORT
I was relieved to find out that the Allpa 42 is not only a joy to look at, but also to carry. The wide, moderately padded, countered shoulder straps pleasantly hugged my body and did a great job in distributing even a heavy load. The back panel has a decent amount of mesh and overall complements the straps really well.
To get the bag to sit even more comfortably and distribute the weight further, there are load lifters on the straps and a wide, removable hip belt that takes the comfort from great to simply excellent.
Furthermore, there are 4 grab handles around the bag that are all very comfortable and durable, reinforced and double stitched to withstand anything. I loved the fact that I could grab the bag from any side and also carry the bag as a briefcase.
There is also a removable shoulder strap that allows carrying the bag across the body or on the shoulder. I found it adequate and quite handy during my travels.
To sum up, the folks at Cotopaxi nailed the comfort aspect of the bag and that’s already a serious achievement considering the overall size and capacity of the bag. Bonus points for keeping the weight of the empty bag below 2kg.
MATERIALS & ORGANIZATION
The main fabric of the bag is the TPU-coated 1000D polyester shell with 840 ballistic nylon paneling. In plain English it is a very durable, extremely water-resistant shell that feels a bit rubbery to the touch, does not stretch and is quite easy to maintain/clean.
The zippers are all YKK with security loops everywhere. I really appreciated this touch on a travel bag, it made me worry less about the safety of my contents and focus more on the joy of my travel experience.
Without beating around the bush, the Allpa 42 has a place for everything you need. Packing and unpacking was made easy thanks to the suitcase-style full-wrap zipper that allows you to see the entirety of the bag in just a few seconds.
Externally, there is:
a single water bottle pocket, big enough to fit a 32 oz Nalgene.
A top quick-access pocket with generous volume to store anything from a small pouch to a phone, a wallet, your headphones, etc.... I generally don’t like storing my valuables in the quick access pocket since it’s easily accessible, not just by me but also by strangers. The Cotopaxi team, however, added a zipper locking loop on all pockets, so I did not worry about pickpockets as much.
Internally, you have:
A large zippered mesh compartment on the right side;
A subdivided zippered mesh compartments on the left side;
A padded laptop sleeve up to 15 inches;
A padded tablet sleeve up to 12.5 inches;
And a padded phone sleeve up to 6.5 inches.
In my experience, I found that the built-in organization did not fully utilize the full size of the bag and that, if there was no organization at all, the bag would fit more things with external packing cubes. As someone who is already heavily invested into additional organization, I would prefer using my packing cubes instead of being restricted by the Allpa’s default compartments. In Cotopaxi’s defense, I feel like I am in the minority and most people would love that the Allpa already comes divided into useful compartments.
WHAT’S HOT
The fun, colorful and unique aesthetic of the bag with a strong emotional feedback.
Excellent built-in organization with plenty of compartments, even for the most demanding folks.
Great carrying comfort with load lifters and a removable hip belt, taking it to the next level.
Multiple access points: from clamshell opening to side access to the main compartment, the Allpa 42 was easy to use and handy to get to my things.
Durable, high-quality materials and overall build are confidence-inspiring.
WHAT’S NOT
The built-in organization might not work for someone who’s already using specific packing cubes with dimensions not compatible with the compartments found in the Allpa.
The boxy shape of the bag and the overall size might not work for everyone, but there are other Allpa sizes in case you need a smaller, more nimble solution.
VERDICT
The Allpa 42 is a cool bag that brings forth the feeling that travel should be fun and filled with excitement and joy with its bright colors and playful aesthetic.
Cotopaxi did a great job in creating a product that would embody the joy of the traveling experience while also making sure to provide great comfort and excellent organization. Everything about the bag is designed to allow you to focus on your travel and on not the stuff you are carrying with you. This is something very few bags managed to achieve.
If you are looking for a one-bag travel solution with great built-in organization and are ready to embrace what the bag has to offer, the Allpa 42 should be at the top of your list.