Cotopaxi Allpa 26L Daypack: A Commuter’s Dream Bag

Who is This For

• Commuters who need to carry electronic gadgets and clothes to and from work.
• Hikers who want a spacious, organized pack for day hikes
• Travelers looking for pack that works as a carry-on bag or weekend getaway bag

Field Testing

Scenario 1

Urban cycling and hiking | 17° – 65°F | Malmö, Stockholm, and Gothenburg, Sweden

I’ve been using the Cotopaxi Allpa 26L Daypack for months, and it’s become my favorite pack because it’s comfortable to wear, the organization helps me pack more effectively so that I can find what I need during my outings, and it’s quite versatile across several of my daily activities. 

I’ve been in Sweden for 10 months, and since I haven’t had a car I’ve had to combine exercise and errands. My urban hikes and bike rides often end in grocery runs. The Cotopaxi Allpa 26L Daypack’s main compartment is quite spacious and easily holds a liter bottle of sparkling pear water, a couple boxes of Wasa, two jars of pesto, a bag of nuts, a bag of carrots, a container of grapes, a large bottle of soap, and a box of soup.

Once full, the pack no longer fit into my bike basket, so I often found myself riding home wearing a heavy pack. I was surprised by how comfortable the pack was. It hugged my body, the padding was effective, and the weight was well distributed. I used the computer compartment for stashing a reusable grocery bag to carry any items that didn’t fit into the pack. 

For cycling and hiking outings, I used the top zippered compartment for dry gloves, my asthma medication, and my phone. The top pocket has a flat inner pocket with a zipper that I used for small things that would be easy to lose: thumb drives, bike lock key, and lip balm. (A small note here: this flat pocket is lined with a fuzzy, textured polyester that I think is supposed to feel like fleece, but I didn’t like the feel of it. Most people won’t even notice it, but I have very sensitive skin.)

During spring rides, I packed the Cotopaxi Allpa 26L Daypack’s main compartment with a rain jacket, snacks, and a pack cover,  then used one stretchy mesh bottle holder for my water bottle and the other for extra bungee cords. The holders are quite deep so I never had to worry that my bottles would fall out. I like the material used because it’s lightweight and stretchy, adding virtually no weight but providing an important function. After six months of use, this is the only part of the pack that show some wear, just a a couple of small snags on the material.

I really appreciated the nylon lash points straps that run along the sides of the Cotopaxi Allpa 26L Daypack, underneath the top pocket. It’s hard to find a bag that has a webbing option and usable top pockets. I bought a thin bungee cord and carabiners to turn this space into an additional carry option. I often overheat when exercising, so it’s handy to be able to quickly stash a layer into the elastic. I’ve also used it for securing my bike helmet to the back of the pack. 

Scenario 2

Commuting | 30 – 60°F | Gothenburg, Sweden

The Cotopaxi Allpa 26L Daypack is sleek enough for city use; its minimal style fit right in when I carried the pack to an evening UX design challenge. I like having that versatility in a bag. And it’s also fun to have a colorful pack since most of my other bags are black. 

I appreciated the organizational design. The entire pack is color coded, making it easier to find spaces for all of my things. I tested a dark pink pack (“Fig”) with dark blue lining and zippers and light blue zipper pulls and nylon lash points. Inside the two top pockets and the the main compartment there are flat zippered pockets, with red zippers and maroon pulls. I can’t tell you how much this makes a difference for my packing-challenged brain. 

With most packs I focus on what the main compartment can hold, but with the Cotopaxi Allpa 26L Daypack I saw so many possibilities with every storage area. The laptop compartment is densely padded top and bottom, and it has two inner sleeves, one with dense padding and the other just a thin nylon material. I used the largest sleeve for my 13” MacBook Air and her case (she always travels in a Thule zippered case because I’m paranoid) and the thin, top sleeve for my iPad mini (she also wears a thin case). I still had room for a notebook on top of the sleeves. 

The laptop sleeve in the laptop compartment is slightly suspended over the bottom of the pack. I would have liked more padding at the bottom of the sleeve or having a couple of inches of suspension, but it’s a small issue considering the many ways I use this pack. I have tested packs that have a hydration bladder port in the laptop compartment, but I was happy that at the Cotopaxi Allpa 26L Daypack didn’t have one since I use it for commuting by bike in all types of weather. It’s still possible to use a hydration bladder by adjusting the dual zippers. 

Scenario 3

Travel | 30° – 70°F | Malmo and Stockholm, Sweden

The Cotopaxi Allpa 26L Daypack has been the bag I reach for the most when I travel three to  four hours between destinations in Sweden. I can pack it full and still be able to wear it while riding my bike. It carries well, even when heavy, which is important when I need to maintain my balance and my focus while navigating my cycling route to the train station. 

A few days before my trip I ship my large suitcase to the next destination. I pack items I need to use up until the moment I depart (mostly my open water swimming gear, a beach towel, and my sheets) into an IKEA duffel the morning of my departure, then I strap the duffel to my bike, Pinky. It’s a bit of an ordeal getting the duffel balanced and secured to the bike and making sure I have enough seat space to maintain control of the bike, so it’s nice that The Cotopaxi Allpa 26L Daypack is comfortable and secure.

The Cotopaxi Allpa 26L Daypack is the easiest part of the travel plan because it has some structure and stability to it; I can stand it on the ground to pack it. Somehow it feels relatively compact, with a slimmer profile than similarly sized packs I’ve tested.

Fit

I’m 6’ tall and have a very long torso; the Cotopaxi Allpa 26L Daypack fit me perfectly and remained easy to manage even when fully loaded. The pack hugged my back and distributed weight well. The pack never felt unwieldy or wobbly. 

The pack is long and rectangular, with rounded edges on top and dense, mesh-covered padding on the back. I sweat a lot when I’m active, but the pack dries quickly. So far, there are no sweat stains on the back of the pack.

The densely padded, adjustable shoulder straps have contrast colored hydration tube sleeves and an adjustable sternum strap. I like the fact that Cotopaxi kept the design smooth and sleek, leaving off a hip belt. I never wear them, so it’s nice to have fewer straps flapping around. 

There’s a horizontal panel on the back of the back that allows me to slide the pack over the handle of my wheeled luggage so it sits upright on my suitcase. It’s an unexpected feature, and it’s quite handy when traveling, allowing me to quickly access items in my pack.

Too small

Slightly small

Fits well

Slightly big

Too big

Materials & Construction

Material/Fabric: The the Cotopaxi Allpa 26L Daypack is made out of 100% recycled materials, with recycled polyester 450D TPU used for the main body, recycled 840D ripstop used on side and bottom panels, and recycled polyester 135D lining. 

The pack is highly water-resistant, especially across the front, which has a smooth finish. (It’s easy to clean that part of the pack with a damp cloth.) I’ve been caught in snow storms and rain storms and been surprised to find the contents of the pack dry when I got home 30 minutes later. 

When I plan on using Cotopaxi Allpa 26L Daypack to carry electronic devices while traveling in the rain, I use a rain cover.

Sustainability Creds: made out of recycled fabrics

Bottom Line

The Cotopaxi Allpa 26L Daypack caught me by surprise. It looks and wears like my favorite 18L pack, but it allows me to pack much more. Its stellar organization and structure make this spacious pack feel compact. I appreciate being able to wear the pack when it’s almost empty, and it never feels floppy or too big.

Having a separate, padded laptop compartment gives me peace of mind, and the effective use of contrasting colors to highlight zipper pulls and inner zippered pockets helps me quickly access items in the various pockets.

The Cotopaxi Allpa 26L Daypack is durable, versatile, and very comfortable to wear. It’s one of my all-time favorite packs.

Specifications

• Weight: The pack weights just under two pounds (1.875 lbs (30 oz)
• Dimensions: 20.5 long x 13 wide x 9 in deep (52 x 33 x 23 cm)
• Colors: Available in several fun colors combos: Blue Spruce/Abyss, Fatigue, Whiskey, Fig, Del Dia (random color combinations), and Cotopaxi Black. 
• Price: $150 (on sale until July 6th at Backcountry)

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Main image and gallery images from Cotopaxi.

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