I Took 5 Trips in 6 Months. My Go-To Weekender Bag Was This Surprisingly Spacious Backpack. | Reviews by Wirecutter

Nov 03, 2024

By Elissa Sanci

Elissa Sanci is a senior staff writer. She has found that clear ice makes carbonated drinks taste better, and citronella candles don’t work.

We now recommend an updated model of our beloved Cotopaxi Allpa, which is the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack Del Dia. The new design improved on an already great bag: It’s a bit lighter, a bit more comfortable, and a bit easier to use. If you want to read more about the changes, head to our guide to carry-on backpacks.

When I pulled out my Cotopaxi Allpa 35L backpack before a three-day trip for my friend’s wedding in Utah, I was skeptical that everything I needed to bring would fit. In theory, a weekend’s worth of clothes shouldn’t be a problem for one of our recommended weekend bags, but I was planning to pack heavy. Not only would I need to cram a bulky velvet bridesmaid dress, several pairs of heels, every hot hair tool I own, and my entire stash of toiletries into the Cotopaxi Allpa, but I also needed to pack clothes warm enough for the snowy forecast at my destination.

Somehow, after I packed all the essentials, I still had space leftover—so much that I was actually able to toss a few books in (and all hardcovers, at that). In the three years I’ve had my Cotopaxi Allpa, I’ve consistently been in awe of the amount of stuff it’s able to hold and how well it’s held up.

The deceptively roomy backpack, with its two zippered compartments and hidden pockets, has a capacity of 35 liters. Before I started using this delightful bag—which has since been redesigned and renamed the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack Del Dia—I found it hard to visualize what exactly that meant in units of vacation outfits and travel essentials. Now I know it means everything I’d need to fulfill my bridesmaid duties with room to spare.

The year 2022 was an especially hectic one for me: I traveled around the country to attend seven weddings, along with the associated engagement parties, bachelorette weekends, and bridal showers. As a result, I spent a lot of time navigating flight delays, layovers, and connections, and the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L, which I took on five of those trips, made the airport experience a little more tolerable.

Traveling with a backpack isn’t for everyone. Some folks prefer cross-body duffles or roller bags—and while it’s true that these kinds of weekend bags can sometimes hold more than the Cotopaxi Allpa, I find them incredibly frustrating to use, especially as a frequent solo traveler.

A duffle or carry-on suitcase might be fine for car or train travel, but for me, actually maneuvering them through the airport is a struggle—especially if I don’t have a travel buddy who’s willing to look out for my things when I run to grab a snack or take a preflight bathroom break. Anyone who’s tried to fit a roller bag into a bathroom stall or walk through the food court with a giant duffle bouncing against their hip knows it’s a hassle.

The Cotopaxi Allpa’s clamshell design, which opens like a suitcase, combines the roominess and structure of a suitcase with the hands-free convenience of a backpack. Its built-in packing cubes take the stress out of organizing your things, and the hidden laptop sleeve keeps your electronics safe and snug. And because the pack has contoured shoulder straps and a removable hip belt, it’s comfortable to wear during a long day of travel, even when it’s stuffed to the gills with velvet gowns and sparkly shoes.

The updated design of our longtime pick has all the same features we loved, but is constructed with a new, more durable fabric. It also has some new features, like a water bottle pocket and a luggage pass-through strap.

With the Cotopaxi Allpa, you have the freedom to travel how you like. You can wear the bag like a backpack if you want, but you also have the option to tuck those straps away if you want to carry it like a briefcase. Handles on all four sides of the bag make it easy for you to pull it down from the overhead bin or yank it out from under the seat in front of you. The only flaw I’ve found with the Cotopaxi Allpa is one that Wirecutter has already identified: This bag offers no place to store the items you’d need to retrieve quickly at the airport, so it’s best to pair with a fanny pack to have easy access to your ID, passport, cash, and headphones.

The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L helped me stay organized and sane through a particularly busy year of travel, but I know that not everyone wants to wear all their belongings on their back. There are plenty of other Wirecutter-approved bags that are durable, well suited for frequent travel, and meet airline carry-on size limits—but after more than three years, the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L is my go-to.

This story was edited by Catherine Kast and Annemarie Conte.

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Whether you’re planning a week or a weekend away, the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack Del Dia can keep you organized and comfortable on the road.

After lugging 34 duffles through airports, to beaches, and on weekend trips, we chose six bags that’ll carry what you need carried in a range of scenarios.

The lighter you pack, the easier travel seems to get. Try packing light enough to forgo not only checking luggage but also using the overhead bins.

Elissa Sanci

Senior Staff Writer

I cover a little of everything, from travel gadgets and car-organizing tools to label makers and reusable tumblers. I have an affinity for testing the buzzy products you’ve probably seen clogging your social media feeds—my goal is to figure out which trending items are actually worth your time, and which are a waste of money.

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