Finding the Best Vacuum Backpack for Travel: Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Review
Choosing the right travel bag can significantly impact your journey. For travelers seeking efficiency and organization, finding the Best Vacuum Backpack For Travel often leads to exploring versatile carry-on options. Among the top contenders is the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Del Dia Travel Pack, a thoughtfully designed bag that excels in organization, durability, and comfort, making it a prime choice for trips ranging from a few days to a full week.
Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Del Dia Travel Pack top pick displayed
Why the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Stands Out
This backpack has proven itself as a reliable companion through extensive testing, effectively replacing multiple other travel bags for many users.
Versatility for Various Trips
The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L is designed as a do-it-all carry-on. It’s an excellent all-around choice for anyone committed to packing light or for smaller individuals seeking a manageable load. Its versatility is enhanced by handles on three sides, ensuring easy grabbing from overhead bins or car trunks. Additionally, a handle pass-through allows convenient attachment to rolling carry-on luggage. Backed by a full lifetime warranty, its build quality inspires confidence. After over six years of consistent use and testing, this single backpack, paired with a personal item, has met nearly all travel needs.
Sizing Options
While Cotopaxi offers the Allpa in 28-liter and 42-liter sizes, the 35-liter version strikes the best balance for most travelers. Testers found the 42-liter model could become uncomfortably heavy when fully packed, suggesting a need for a more substantial hip belt. Conversely, the 28-liter felt slightly small for extended trips, and its level of internal organization seemed excessive for very short journeys like overnight stays. The 35L hits the sweet spot. For added convenience, Cotopaxi also makes a hip pack designed to fit perfectly into the Allpa’s front top compartment, ideal for those who appreciate fanny packs during travel.
Durable and Resilient Materials
Constructed from 100% recycled 840-denier ripstop nylon, the Allpa pack boasts impressive durability. The fabric feels robust, akin to strong canvas but with a more defined weave, ready for both airport overheads and rugged adventures. Uniquely in its category, it includes a rain fly for extra weather protection. Cotopaxi produces the Allpa with variations in back panel construction, including TPU-coated nylon (nylon bonded with a water-resistant polyurethane membrane) and classic nylon. While TPU offers enhanced water resistance, earlier versions showed potential breakdown over time. Updates tested in 2024 feature revised fabric to address this, and long-term testing is ongoing to assess its durability.
Smart Design for Easy Travel
The Allpa 35L incorporates features that streamline packing and enhance security on the go.
Organized Packing
Employing a clamshell design, the backpack opens like a hard-sided suitcase. A robust YKK zipper runs along three sides, allowing the bag to lay flat. The right side features a deep main compartment accessed via a zippered mesh flap, spacious enough for two large packing cubes or a significant amount of clothing. The left side houses space for another medium packing cube behind its own zippered flap, along with two smaller pockets featuring high-visibility backing – perfect for locating small personal items quickly. A recent addition is a stretch mesh pocket capable of holding a water bottle up to 1 liter.
Secure Yet Accessible Features
Accessibility hasn’t been sacrificed for organization. The Allpa includes two side-access zippers ideal for retrieving items while the bag is slung over a shoulder. One zipper opens to a flat laptop pocket with a padded false bottom, protecting devices from impacts if the bag is dropped. The other reveals a discreet “secret” pocket with a concealed zipper that also offers access to the main compartment. For enhanced security, all main compartment zippers feature security loops; threading the zipper pull through these loops deters quick, opportunistic theft.
Comfort on the Move
Carrying comfort is crucial for a travel backpack. The Allpa’s stowable hip belt provides effective support when needed. Whether using the hip belt or not, the backpack remains comfortable over long distances. However, individuals with longer torsos (over 19 inches) might find the waist belt sits slightly high unless the shoulder straps are fully extended. Notably, the shoulder straps are contoured to comfortably fit a wide range of body types, accommodating both larger and smaller chests – an improvement appreciated by testers.
Potential Drawbacks
Despite its strengths, the Allpa 35L isn’t perfect. Its 35-liter capacity might feel limiting for heavy packers. As mentioned, the long-term durability of the updated TPU coating is still under evaluation. Lastly, the fit of the waist belt might not be ideal for everyone, particularly those with longer torsos.
Specifications:
- Capacity: 35 liters
- Weight: 2 pounds 7 ounces
- Main-compartment access: clamshell opening
- Colors: assorted (Del Dia models feature unique color combinations)
Conclusion
The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Del Dia Travel Pack emerges as a top-tier carry-on solution, particularly for those valuing organization, durability, and carrying comfort. While the search for the absolute Best Vacuum Backpack For Travel might involve specific niche features, the Allpa 35L’s all-around performance, smart design, and resilient build make it an outstanding choice for a wide array of travelers and trips. Its thoughtful features, from the versatile carrying options and secure zippers to the comfortable straps and practical clamshell opening, solidify its place as a highly recommended travel companion.
